Karting Nation Blog

Go karting is just about the most hair-raising, heart-pounding, blood-pumping, thrill ride that you’ll ever experience, but if you’re not doing it right you’ll never know just how amazing it can be!

And bad news people… most of you aren’t doing it right!

But don’t hang up that helmet just yet, because I’m here to turn you from a karting klutz into a karting king!

This isn’t exactly Formula 1, but just because you’re not borrowing Jenson Button’s car keys doesn’t mean this is easy. Karting, like most sports, is simple to pick up but challenging to master. I’m going to tell you how to do it.

I’ll also be going over some important safety information because you’ll have a hard time winning a race if your kart’s upside down at the edge of the track!

BASICS

Let’s start with the basics…sitting in the kart! We all know how to sit down. I’ve sat down pretty much every day of my life and so have you! Yet some kart racers aren’t doing it right. The key to a smooth and controlled ride is to sit back comfortably in your seat and resist the temptation to lean forward as this will affect your handling of the kart. These are small, sensitive machines and the slightest imbalance could be the difference between getting around the track and getting around it faster than everybody else.

STEERING

Maintaining stable control of the steering wheel is equally important. Keep those hands of yours at 10 and 2, or 9 and 3. And remember the secret to a great kart drive is keeping that wheel straight as often as possible.

Ok, so we can’t keep the wheel straight all the time (you’re bound to find a wall before too long) but by mastering an efficient cornering technique, you’ll find your lap times coming down and your excitement levels heading up and up.

CORNERING

The key is not to get things too muddled up in your brain-box, and we do this by breaking the turn into separate stages and conquering them one at a time.

Stage 1: Braking! We hit the brakes early and firmly, so that the rear wheels lock, and then we release the brake before we reach the apex of the turn.

Stage 2: Steering! We steer into the corner with an even and controlled turn…but we don’t do it too early! This is really important. Too many racers jump into the turn too quickly and then they’re forced to compensate in the other direction which makes the kart go a little crazy. We take an outside line around the corner and keep the wheel straight as long as possible before turning the wheel evenly into the bend and holding this position until the momentum of the kart has pulled it beyond the corner. At which point, we straighten as efficiently as we can.

Stage 3: Accelerating! Once the weight of the kart is evenly distributed across all four wheels again, and we’re straightened up with the next section of the course in front of us, we can hit the accelerator and power into the straight. If we hit the throttle while the weight of the vehicle is still leaning to one side we will unsettle it and make our exit slower and more awkward. We apply firm, even pressure to the pedal with our right foot and we build up as much momentum as we can until we reach the circuit’s next braking zone. Then we repeat stages 1 to 3…and before you know it, we’re hosing down the competition with our celebratory bottle of bubbly, while they feign excitement and wish deep down that they could have cornered as well as we did!

Go karting is such a challenge to perfect because raw speed isn’t enough to make you a great competitor. Flying into the turn will probably leave you flying off course! It’s not how fast you get around it but how fast you blast out on the other side.

Slow into the corner, fast out.

Practice makes perfect (if you’re practicing the right things) and while most karting venues require you to complete practice laps before your race, it is also possible to visit the track for a GP Experience session, in which you pay to hit the circuit for a designated period of time, in a non competitive format. These arrive and drive experiences give you the opportunity to experiment with different driving lines. Hitting the corners later and wider and then narrowing in the straights. You’ll learn how to optimise the effect of the stages and you’ll shave seconds off your time. If you’re interested in a GP Experience drive our helpful Karting Nation staff will be happy to make the necessary arrangement, so don’t hesitate to give them a call.

SAFETY

Now that we’re done with the fun stuff, let’s talk about safety. This is crucial, not only so that we can avoid accidents, but also because the safer and smoother we drive, the better we drive too!

Before we get down to business, it’s time to don our helmets and the rest of our karting gear! This includes a helmet which covers the whole of the face, a set of fireproof overalls, and a pair of gloves, all of which should be provided by the karting facility. Your job is to bring the right footwear. Sorry guys, there’s no room on the kart track for those killer heels! The preferred footwear for racing here is a comfortable training shoe, and it is recommended that the shoe have a thin sole, as this greatly improves the driver’s control over the pedals. Kart pedals are extremely sensitive and the best way to master them is to have total appreciation of this fact…which means no platforms either!

Every karting session is preceded by a short safety briefing, conducted by venue officials. There seems to be a very little known fact about this tutorial…it helps if you actually listen to it! Many of us are ignorant of race rules and procedures before we take the wheel and this information could well be the difference between a really fun and memorable experience and one that you remember for all the wrong reasons.

During your race, venue officials will communicate to drivers using a series of coloured flags, and you’re going to need to know what these flags mean. The flags colours and their meanings are as follows:

• Green – You guessed it! Green means go! This flag signals the start of the event, though has been replaced at some facilities by a green light.
• Yellow – Caution! In the event of an accident or a spin, marshals may wave a yellow flag instructing you to slow and approach the obstruction with caution.
• Blue – Allow a faster driver to overtake by yielding the racing line.
• Red – Stop! The race has been stopped and all racers must slow and leave the track or follow the instructions of the safety marshal.
• Black – Disqualification! This flag is used when a serious foul has been committed, usually involving dangerous driving, and results in your ejection from the race. You don’t want to see this one!
• Black with white circle – A mechanical fault within your kart means that you are required to leave the race.
• And finally…The Chequered Flag! The one you want to be the first to see! This flag signals the end of the race. Reach this one first and you’ll be stepping higher on the podium than anyone else.

So, that’s all you need to know to get you started. Karting really is the most fun you can have while zipping along a racetrack at up to 70mph with your butt-cheeks mere inches from the ground.

It’s an adrenaline fuelled activity that anyone can enjoy, but in the right hands, it can be an experience unmatched in speed and skill.

The karting buzzword is ‘smooth’: the smoother the ride the more successful. These nippy little vehicles won’t respond to being manhandled, they’ll skip and spin. If you’re braking too hard, slamming the throttle and wrestling the wheel you’ll never be in total control and you won’t be able to focus on the contours and intricacies of the track. But master a calm and efficient technique and you’ll be able to manage your opponents, and the twists and turns of the circuit.

Zooming around the track feels great, but zooming around first feels better. Enjoy!

Book your karting experience now or call us on 0844 745 5006

“When my best mate told me he was getting married, it was up to me to give him the perfect send off…’cause it was all down hill from there!

We’re a sporty bunch of lads, and I knew he’d want the chance to let loose and act like a bit of a big kid again. I wanted the weekend to be a hundred mile an hour and chock full of laughs and stories to tell. As fans of the Formula 1, go karting was an obvious choice but we still wanted more.

When I spoke to one of the guys at Karting Nation, about places to kart in Birmingham, they suggested we try paintballing too and found places we could do both within half an hour of one another!

They even put us up in a hostel in the city centre which matched our budget. Ok, we were in bunk beds but seeing the groom’s dad try and get on the top bunk after a few beers was worth the money on its own.

Saturday morning, was when battle commenced at the amazing paintball facility in Coventry, just half an hour outside Birmingham! Nothing wakes you up like a bit of fresh air and a hail of paintballs flying right at you! The site was huge, a massive outdoor war zone with 5 different gaming areas, each with their own design and strategy. The games were great! We were split into two teams and each given missions to carry out. It was like being a soldier, ducking for cover while the bullets (well, paintballs) flew past in every direction!

The lads were rolling around in their army gear, like Rambo, getting really carried away. Plus, we’d signed up for the Stag Hunt package, which meant we got more paintballs and even a smoke bomb each! It also meant the stag was in for some special treatment. The poor lad was getting pelted from every direction, but he gave a few good hits back too!

Paintballing is a brilliant idea for a stag weekend. It gives the lads who might not know one another that well a chance to break the ice while storming the enemy base, and it gives the lads who do know each other a chance to splat the hell out of one another for fun!

In the afternoon we headed to the karting place in Birmingham city centre. Paintball was a team sport…but this was every man for himself! We all took part in a massive Grand Prix event, which gave us exclusive use of the facility’s 700m track.

The venue uses the fastest indoor karts in the UK and the adrenaline rush, as I sped around the track, was amazing!

We raced in a series of heats and then the best drivers made it into the grand final. The rest of us cheered on from the spectator’s area and the atmosphere was fantastic! I’d have rather been out there, but I’m no Jenson Button. The lads flew around the circuit and the outcome was really close! The stag even made it on to the podium in 3^rd place…and got the winner’s bubbly over his head.

The party continued long after the brakes had been slammed, at the venue’s licensed bar. We all got a print out of our lap times and they all had a good laugh at mine. Then it was off into town with my mate showing off his bronze medal to any girl that would look! Everyone had a great time and the whole weekend was a massive success. If it wasn’t for the guys at Karting Nation and Go Ballistic, I’d have had a much harder time putting the whole thing together, they did all the leg work and I just had to worry about getting all the blokes together on the day.

If another of the lads is soft enough to take the plunge, I won’t hesitate to get in touch with these guys again, and you should definitely do the same!”

Lee – Best Man & Karting Nation Customer.

Are you organising a Stag Weekend? Give the team a call at Karting Nation on 0844 745  5006

Go karting is accessible motor racing madness that’s taking the nation by storm! But not everybody has the inside track on this super-speedy social event, so we’re here to provide the answers to all your nagging karting queries.

What should I wear?

Few of us drive like The Stig, and even less of us share his fashion sense! But when it comes to the big race there are some definite clothing DO’s.
All racers are required to wear a helmet which covers the face, a set of fireproof overalls and protective gloves. Sometimes waterproof overalls may also be appropriate, if racing outdoors in bad weather. These items will almost always be provided by the karting facility, however, you will be asked to bring sensible footwear. This means no flip-flops, sandals or heels…save those stilettos for the post-race party!
It is generally accepted that a comfortable training shoe be worn once you hit the track, though it’s believed that a thick sole can reduce our control on the pedals and our ability to judge how much pressure we’re applying.
The thinner the sole, the better control!

How old do I need to be to race?

While some go-karting experiences may be reserved for adult kart racers of 16 years+, the majority of venues will provide an option for junior drivers.
Kid karting events are usually offered to children between the ages of 8 and 15, and can involve karts with lower spec engines or separate racing circuits. Often minimum height requirements can also apply…because it’s difficult to put your foot down, when your foot doesn’t reach the pedal. Height restrictions may vary, and are often upwards of 4’6’’, but our helpful Karting Nation staff can inform you of any requirements concerning your preferred events. This information is also available on this site.

Are there any height/weight restrictions?

Some facilities may impose certain restrictions on their adult experience. These requirements can vary from one karting venue to another but are mostly common sense. You’ll have a hard time winning a fast and furious kart race if you can’t reach the accelerator!
Many venues impose a minimum height restriction of 4’6’’. And for those of us who are more chocolate button than Jensen Button, the generally accepted weight limit of most karts is around 18st, though this figure can also alter.
If you’re unsure whether you or one your group will meet the requirements of your local facility, the Karting Nation team are on hand to clarify. This information is also available via the site.

How much time should I allow for my event?

Karting Nation offer a variety of exciting racing formats and the duration of your experience will depend upon the activity. The vast majority of karting events will take between 1 and 3 hours to complete.
Grand Prix events are epic, group competitions which play out over a series of races culminating in a spectacular grand final, and take around two hours in total, if you’re good enough to go the distance!
Endurance races can take longer to complete and involve being the first team or individual to accumulate the target number of laps. Alternatively, you may be required to complete as many laps as possible within a rigid timeframe of up to 3 hours.
For the racer in a rush, our GP Experience options are a great way to have some fun in a shorter spell of time. The vast majority of karting venues offer these ‘Arrive and Drive’ packages, which allow the driver to tackle the circuit for a designated period of time, be it 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes. These options serve as a great introduction to this zany pastime, or a chance for the committed racer to briefly practice and shave some seconds off their lap time.
However much time you intend to kill, there aren’t many better ways to do it than slamming your foot down and conquering your local course.

Is karting a good activity for corporate events?

Go karting is a fantastic option for your corporate hospitality event! Motor races can be team sports or individual battles. Either way, the adrenaline-fuelled action of the kart track is the ideal way for your colleagues to loosen their ties and blow off some steam!
There’s a bit of a Top Gear fanatic in all of us, and this is a chance for people to taste the excitement of high speed motor racing, have tons of fun, and get to know one another better in the process.
What’s more, most reputable karting venues offer conference facilities, catering and corporate event packages so that all the firm’s needs can be met under one roof, in a presentable and professional manner.
There is surely no better way to liaise with a client or colleague than having them eat your dust afterwards! Don your overalls, hit the gas, eat up the track and take the chequered flag! Although, you might prefer to let the boss overtake you on that final straight…or it may cost you your job!

Does karting accommodate stag or hen groups?

Kick start that last night of freedom with an action-packed karting experience! It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on! These events are ideal for groups of friends and have been a popular staple of the stag and hen party industry for years.
The stag may think he’s The Stig, but once the lads get behind the wheel of our motorised monsters, it’s anybody’s race. This is the chance to let loose and leave mirror signal manoeuvre at the door…this is a fast, furious frenzy that’s sure to give your mates plenty to talk about long after your big day.
Karting is the perfect mixture of all the things that make a great stag do: the lads, the adrenaline, the excitement and lots and lots of laughs!
But this isn’t just for the guys, and most karting arenas offer hen party packages too! The wedding day is all about perfect hair and stifling dresses. Hen party karting could not be further from that experience! Get into your helmet and your overalls, get behind the wheel, and get your adrenaline pumping!
With so much to plan in the run up to the big day, let our fantastic Karting Nation staff handle the planning process and secure an arrangement with the local track of your choice. And with party and catering facilities at many venues nationwide, you’re sure to find the perfect experience for your group.
Don’t walk up the aisle, until you’ve powered down the track!

Is there a karting circuit/track close to me?

With go kart facilities available nationwide, you’re bound to find an activity to suit you. Punch your desired location into the Karting Nation search engine to find a venue in your area. From there you’re free to book a place online or do so through any of our helpful team of Karting Nation staff.
If you’re geographically spoiled for choice, we can provide comprehensive information on each karting site, which allows you to make an informed decision. Then you can relax in the knowledge that your foray into the thrilling world of motor sports could not have been better suited to you and your team of karting kings!

Are there differences between indoor circuit and an outdoor circuits?

There are several differences between the indoor and outdoor karting formats, but ultimately both are guaranteed to provide an electrifying day out and plenty of memories to take away with you.
Perhaps the most obvious difference is that outdoor karting is very much beholden to the elements and bad weather can greatly alter your racing experience, where as indoor karting will be the same regardless of the time of day and year.
Many outdoor facilities boast all-weather circuits but kart handling will still be affected by wet weather, and you’ll have to exercise much better control if you want to avoid a stack of tyres! And heavy rain will also affect how you dress for the big race and waterproof clothing is recommended throughout much of the year, here in the UK.
Outdoor tracks tend to be longer and, thanks to twin-engine go karts, they’re most often faster too. It’s possible to reach ridiculous speeds of almost 70mph on an outdoor course!
Indoor circuits, while shorter, are generally more intricate and challenging. If outdoor karting is about raw speed and power, indoor karting is about skill and manoeuvring. These karts may have single engine power, but hitting speeds of up to 40mph on a tight indoor course can be just as exhilarating. These indoor tracks tend to offer slick, slippery surfaces which add to the competitive nature of the drive.
If you can demonstrate control, if you can manage the corners, if you can power into the straights but not overshoot, you could race to victory.
Karting is always challenging, competitive and tons and tons of fun. Choose your experience, choose your environment, hit the accelerator and never look back!

What’s the difference between karting and off-road karting?

While regular karting often features on track competition, off-road karting is all about one driver versus the elements. Drivers race against the clock over uneven and sometimes unpredictable terrain.
Off-road karts are larger robust vehicles, built to withstand a much more physical and action packed run.
Regular karting is much more akin to conventional track-based motor sports, which can be enjoyed as an individual or as part of a team. Off-road karting is a solo-rollercoaster ride, but a competitive element can be introduced through a time-trial format.
These two formats require a different set of skills, as well as a different build of vehicle. Off road vehicles feature much larger wheels and greater suspension as they are geared for an immensely bumpier ride.
To recreate the excitement and electricity of professional motor racing, look no further than go-karting. But if you want to test yourself against the clock, the elements and the British countryside off-road karting is engine-powered experience unlike any other!

Do I need experience?

Karting is the most accessible of all motor sports!
Our karting facilities require racers to take part in a comprehensive safety briefing before they take to the track. These briefings generally last for 15 minutes, after which even the complete rookie can hit the accelerator and blast around the track!
The exhilaration of karting is available to everybody. You don’t even need a driving licence to be a motor racing champion!

Can I go on the course with my kids?

Age requirements may differ, not only from one facility to the next, but also between racing formats. Many competitive races will be strictly for adults and most facilities’ junior karting options will have minimum and maximum age requirements.
But if you really want to show your little ones who’s boss there are ways that you can take to the course together thanks to the GP Experience format.
GP Experience is a non-competitive karting format. It is a chance for drivers to enjoy some time on the course to practice or test themselves against the clock, without a competitive element. Age requirements are generally lower for these sessions, meaning that you and your tiny terrors can take to the track in tandem!
But do beware…they may be able to show you a thing or two!

How fast do the karts go?

The top speeds of our karts can vary from location to location, and is as dependent on the layout of the track as the engine size of the kart.
In most indoor venues, where tracks tend to be shorter or more intricate with fewer straights, karts generally reach speeds of 35-40mph (which still feels incredibly fast when you’re seated inches from the floor).
In bigger outdoor facilities, with larger straights and twin-engine go karts, it is possible to reach breathtaking speeds of 65-70mph!
These karts might not be Formula 1 rockets but they pack more than enough punch to get the adrenaline pumping through your veins!

What are open racing events?

While many of the racing packages on offer guarantee exclusive use of the circuit for your firm, or your friends and family, you don’t need a team to take part in this sport.
Open races are competitive events in which members of the public can come along to a karting event and test their driving skills against a line up of strangers.
Often these drivers have some karting experience already, meaning that these races can be incredibly competitive and intense. They are a fantastic way to recreate the buzz of competitive motor racing. So, if you fancy yourself as a wheeled-wizard, open races give you the perfect chance to prove it.

Still have questions?
Give the extremely knowledgeable team at Karting Nation a call on 0844 7455006 – they will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about karting and our circuits.

Karts, and karting as a sport or activity, have come quite some way since starting out in the USA as little more than feisty ride-on lawn mowers ridden by the odd amateur enthusiast.

The karts driven in the professional sport itself are now capable of speeds of around 160mph and are raced by aspiring F1 world champions, whilst karting as a leisure activity migrated across the Atlantic into Europe during the 60s and has steadily grown in popularity on this side of the pond ever since.

Karting’s origins in the USA

Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father of karting. A veteran hot rodder and a race car builder at Kurtis Kraft, he built the first kart out of scrap metal and a surplus two-stroke cycle engine in his garage in Southern California in 1956, and his new invention immediately caught the imagination of an audience of a few hundred people when he tested it in the car park of Pasadena’s famous Rose Bowl.

In 1958, American outfit Go Kart Manufacturing Co became the first kart manufacturer, whilst another American company, McCulloch, was the first to produce engines for karts. Its first engine, the McCulloch MC-10, was an adapted chainsaw 2-stroke engine.

Karting quickly caught on, with karting facilities springing up in many towns and cities across the USA.

This initial widespread enthusiasm, however, lasted only until a lack of finances towards the end of the 1960s saw many of these facilities begin to disappear and karting become a much more select sport with only those who could afford it able to take part. Karting as a sport also suffered at this time from lacking a governing body, meaning it had no basis on which to develop a bona fide professional sport, so for decades was predominantly enjoyed on a recreational basis.

The shift to Europe

Unlike other motorsports with origins in the USA such as Demolition Derbies, Drag Racing or Stock Car Racing, karting and kart racing has succeeded in making the transition from the States to Europe, becoming a highly popular leisure activity as well as a key learning ground for professional drivers.

In the late 1960s, European engine manufacturers became more popular than their American counterparts. This trend continued into the 1970s as McCulloch, the leading American Go Kart engine manufacturer, was bought by Black and Decker, who had no interest in producing kart engines. It was during the 1970s that today’s modern Go Kart designs came into force. The engines were at the side, rather than at the back of the kart.

Karting becomes a sport for real

The creation of several regulatory bodies in the 1980s strengthened the idea of Go Karting being more than just a hobby. Karting had, for several decades, predominantly enjoyed on a recreational basis, but the introduction of regulatory bodies helped it to open up to people who wanted to get a good grounding in motor sports.

Though it is a relatively short one, the history of karting as an organised sport is extremely illustrious, to say the least. Karting has acted as a high-octane kindergarten for some of the greatest drivers in the history of modern motorsport. Senna. Prost. Schumacher. Alonso. Räikkönen. Button. Hamilton. All of them used competitive karting as their first stepping stone towards the eternal glories that F1 world championships bring with them.

Karting as a leisure activity

Kart racing is generally accepted as the most economic form of motorsport available. As a free-time activity, it can be performed by almost anybody, and as a motorsport in itself, it is one of the sports regulated by FIA (under the name of CIK), permitting licensed racing for anyone from the age of 8 onward.

Besides traditional kart racing, many commercial enterprises offer karts for rent, often called “recreational” or “concession” karts. The tracks can be indoor or outdoor. Karts are rented by sessions and use sturdy chassis complete with dedicated bodywork to provide driver safety. These karts also often contain limiters, which allow those running the circuit to slow down or even completely stop karts remotely if they feel that there might be any danger to drivers out on the track. Most of these enterprises use an ‘Arrive and Drive’ format which provide customers with all the safety gear (helmets, gloves and driver outfits) and allow them to show up any time to race at a reasonable price, without the hassle of owning one’s own equipment and gear.

Karting, then, has enjoyed a varied history, but has now firmly established itself as one of the most popular motorsports in the world.

How can a country that struggles to make it mark on the international sporting scene have so many motor sport champions?

Brazilian champions Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet had a wealthy family to finance their considerable expenses as they climbed to the top of the prestigious motor sport ladder. But British champions had a much harder time. Damon Hill was penniless when he started racing, despite his father’s achievements on the track. Lewis Hamilton’s father financed his son by taking on several jobs to enable his son to practice on his local karting track and Jenson Button’s father’s pockets were not deep enough despite his forays into the world of Rally Driving

You would be right to look for the answer at your local go karting circuit where children as young as 8years, and on some tracks even younger, can get behind the wheel of a go kart and feel the thrill of racing at a very young age and their parents can see if they have any talent before applying for a loan or a second job to finance their rise to fame and glory.

We spoke to Karting Nation, the UK’s only network of karting circuits for their take on Jenson Button’s success.

“This country has a huge numbers of karting circuits, both outdoor and indoor. We have best of them on our network. Jenson Button, like Lewis Hamilton had the advantage of access to tracks up and down the country to hone their skills on their way to the top. Many countries only have tracks for an annual spectacular of motor sports so we are lucky here. A future champion will show their potential very early on and if it is there the atmosphere and the smells will get into their blood and they will be hooked. It is very easy to get your kids booked in just visit www.karting-nation.co.uk and check out the circuit nearest to you. Good luck!”

So British racing fans can celebrate the achievements of the last two world champions, and maybe be involved in the next generation training hard to join them. But, be warned, other countries are seeing the pattern of success too and will be getting their youngsters booked in to go karting at the earliest opportunity. Most of them have a way to travel to get to their local circuits but it is all about determination and persistence and for that the rewards will be great.

Congratulations Jenson!