G Force Karting write up

[Dragon]

Damn fine writeups so far Scotty, can't wait for the 3rd.

Just out of curiousity how long were the stints between driver changes? From the sound of it with a checkered flag at the end of the first stint, it wasn't hot pit changes (or maybe I read it wrong and that checkered was for the end of the warmup).

they were hot pit changes, the guy just gave us a white flag to show when 15 min was up. We just pitted close to that lap.

Ah I guess Scotty's "checker" note in the first writeup was actually supposed to be "white". Very cool, although if y'all are getting that exhausted after 1, 15 minute session y'all really need to practice more (not criticizing).

I should do a writeup for one of our employee races at Allsports (with a few MMers in there usually). MMMM 30+ minutes of karting goodness

[Chris]

whats the longest session you've been in a kart?

I'm not exactly sure on this but it seems like all-sports karts/track isn't as brutal on the body as g force... maybe I'm wrong, its been a while since my last all sports?

[Dragon]

Longest straight session in the 6.5 karts, was 35 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break and then another 25 minutes. The main difference between Allsports and G-Force is that G-Force is almost all turns where Allsports has that long straight. Now that they've been letting me and a few others wrench on the karts they are actually keeping fairly well tuned (talk to Evan if you wanna know how bad it used to be). The longest session I've done in the 9.0 HP's was about 15 minutes. We usually don't race those at night just cause of the fact we only have 5 and there's usually like 6 or 7 of us that race.

[.RJ]

The G-force karts are easier to drive (the chassis is different), faster (maybe its the surface or the tires, or that they're not busted all the time) but they will beat you up if you do a whole 30 minute stint in one when compared to the allsports 6.5's. They are pretty demanding and I'm wiped after being there all day, but have done 80-lap races, and 3x40 lap races at allsports and not been as tired.

[Dragon]

but they will beat you up if you do a whole 30 minute stint in one when compared to the allsports 6.5's.

New or old track config? Also remember when you were doing your league nights, 75% of the karts were the old 5.5's. IMHO the old config was easy as pie to drive, this new one + the good 6.5's actually has ya working a bit.

I remember being a lil tired after my 3 sessions at the NASA year end event (times were dropping off at the end), but that was before all the time I've been spending in karts in the past 6 months.

[.RJ]

The 6.5's were being phased in as we did the league, and we ran both configs.

[Dragon]

Gotcha, well either way I'm sure I'd be exhausted after a 2 hour team race. I'm quite tired after one of our lengthy employee races (RJ & Evan have just been present for short ones). All I was saying was that (based on the writeup), if he was that exhausted after his first session, really needs more seat-time to build up his tolerance.

[.RJ]

if he was that exhausted after his first session, really needs more seat-time to build up his tolerance.

:thumbup:

I bet i could do an hour in a g-force kart.....

[Evan]

the biggest difference is the track. the long straight at allsports makes a huge difference.
Gforce works you with constant cornering, to the point where you are aerobically exhausted

[Dragon]

Very true, that straight gives you a nice breather, that's where you see everyone stretching their hands for a couple seconds mid race.

[ScottyB]

yeah my bad, i meant the white flag, not the checker in the first part of the story

Dragon - i wouldn't consider myself out of shape but i will fully admit i was half dead after 30 minutes total that day. i definitely need to (and want to!) build up my tolerance. it's mostly in my arms, so i will stretch my upper body better next time and bring a pair of mt. biking gloves to make my hands a lil more comfortable.

[Dragon]

Yeah it has nothing to do with being out of shape, people come into allsports that are uber jocks and still are beat to shit by the end of their race. That's why I said tolerance, it's an entirely different exhaustion. Gloves are a must and I suggest a foam pad for your sides.

[Mike]

i think it just works a different set of muscles that you usually wouldn't work out (i.e. lower back, wrist/forearms, gluts).

[Chris]

i think it just works a different set of muscles that you usually wouldn't work out (i.e. lower back, wrist/forearms, gluts).

come to the climbing wall (where I work) and you won't be sore in the arms. I tried working out lower back and sides a lot the past couple weeks, but I was still sore as hell.

[Dragon]

There's a climbing wall at my Gym, I hit it up twice a week.

[Mike]

i think it just works a different set of muscles that you usually wouldn't work out (i.e. lower back, wrist/forearms, gluts).

come to the climbing wall (where I work) and you won't be sore in the arms. I tried working out lower back and sides a lot the past couple weeks, but I was still sore as hell.

i used to love climbing, i just don't have the time to maintain more hobbies... climbing owns your back, abs, arms, and legs if you're doing it right

[ScottyB]

the final riveting chapter, woot



I haul into the pits and Jay is right there to help me out (and I need it). I guess he got some good rest because he looks ready to rock. I just concentrate on trying to get out of the thing and out of the way. Once Im out of the kart I look at my other competitors, and they all look like I would imagine myself.hair tangled and soaked in sweat, hunched over from a sore back, red faced and wobbly. I also notice that my throat is totally parched and I can barely swallow.I need water bad. Me and a few guys gather up and hunt down a fountain, which with my thirst tastes like the best water Ive ever had. Once I kind of regain my legs and composure its back to spectating, and its easy to see the lines have really cleaned up and people are not lifting for a lot of turns they did at first. The brake lights arent on as much, and the slides are less pronounced. Nice. There are some good battles going on, and one of the professors (they both got to use a super kart since G Force ran out of regular ones) is really cutting through the rest of our slow karts. I see a few great passes as Jack and HuntOr go at it, and Jay and Dave are rubbin a little bit through the front section. Although my hands are really tired, Im amazed that I have recovered so well in just 10 minutes.

The karts file in again after the 15 minutes is up. Im feeling pretty good, the adrenaline is still rolling, and I feel like Ive learned the line pretty decently. The karts controls feel like second nature as I take off past the 3rd shift drivers and leave the pits as fast as I can. Now turn in points are getting more second nature, and before I know it Im passing people with some regularity. The thing is though.passing itself isnt nearly as much fun as the chase. Seeing someone up ahead and just barely gaining on them lap after lap is a great rush, especially once you start closing in. My concentration is getting much better since Im more in tune with the kart and can keep my mind off of the physical strain and keep my mind processing the track and the karts ahead and behind. Taking some of Johns advice during my last break, I start using a little throttle with the brakes to help stabilize the car with a smooth transition from flat out to hard braking and keep from locking up the rear wheels when I really have to lay into it. I can tell everything is really coming together at this point because I know Im being consistent. Amid the noise and action Im figuring Im dropping a second off the laps my first time out. The consistency leads to pushing limits.the fast turn in of the kart is suddenly becoming too slow as I begin to realize that Im flat out through sections I normally took at half throttle. Lancing through the esses on the back straight is such a rush with your foot to the floor! I definitely spent a few laps trying to catch Mike. It was awesome because Id be faster in one section but hed be faster in another, so I could barely catch up, then Id fall back again, forcing me to adapt newer and more momentum-efficient lines. I tried to sneak in a pass on the inside of one of the hairpins, and ended up almost punting Mikey. Once I slammed on the brakes, all my momentum was destroyed, and from there on out all my corners that lap were botched because my entry speed was low due to my low exit speed out of the hairpin. It really amazed me how 6.5 horsepower can make you fly or totally fall on your face if you manage to kill your speed or get out of the powerband. Ah young paduwan, much to learn.

The last lap finally came and went and I somehow stumbled out of the kart to the spectator area, partly due to my weak limbs and partly due to my eyes still not focusing right thanks to my tunnel vision. Everyone was replaying their favorite move or corner to another driver, using hand gestures to imitate diving in or opposite lock or something of the like. Smiles, pats on the back, looks of exhaustion, and jokes (good and bad) were the order of the day. After a few moments confusion we managed to assemble for a few good group pictures on the podium, in the midst of complaints regarding hunger and the pictures taking too longwhich comes as no surprise of course. Minutes later we had put the helmets and other gear back on the shelves and gathered in the lobby to check out our times. Somehow Jay and I managed to place third in the enduro, not too shabby! My feelings about my consistency were proved correct too, I had a few occasions where my laps were within a tenth or two of each other for five or six laps. It was a great way to end an awesome motorsport experience. I was glad to leave in my exhausted state at the time, but I know Im definitely ready for more! Karts are amazing machines and are great tools for learning all the basics (and more) of how to drive a car faster in any situation. I will definitely take karting more seriously from now on.

As I type this now, just about every part of my body aches or hurts in some way or another. I cant help thinking, if a 6.5 horsepower kart did this to me, what must an F1 car feel like? Man, it must be insane. F1 drivers arent athletes HA!

[Feersty]

Nice writeup Scotty, I just couldn't justify 4 hours of driving for 30 minutes in a kart.

[Chris]

Nice writeup Scotty, I just couldn't justify 4 hours of driving for 30 minutes in a kart.

thats a shame... you're missing out... I'd drive much further.

[Dragon]

Nice writeup Scotty, I just couldn't justify 4 hours of driving for 30 minutes in a kart.

You truly are missing out Rob, it's not just the karting, but the fun of hanging with good friends doing something you all love. Then you add in the stories you can tell, the competition before, during, and after, not to mention all the trash talking you get to do. If I didn't have to work I would have been there.