New Karts at Rush Hour

noahfleming · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:48 pm

KouroshNeshat wrote:

leaning forward helps a lot. or at least trying to set your position towards the front of the kart. i dropped more than half a second by doing that.

there was a guy hitting 29.0 on youtube with these new karts. unfortunately you cant really see seat position with the go pro cams. but if you see his videos of the back corner, its very smooth. not sure if he lifts of not, i havnt watched it with sound yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewfxzK0rLjU

a critical turn (other than that back corner) is the first left then right turn after the start. ive seen many of seconds (or at least fractions of sec) drop by trying a different line there.

You're spot on, these 2 corners are the ones I worked on specifically while I was there last and shaved lots of time of by using a little scandenavian flick at the last corner to get the kart to turn in and keep momentum. A wide fast line with no braking or just a jab to get turn in on the first corner after the straight is key in order to maintain momentum through he following corners. Basically, you try NOT to use the brakes AT ALL on the course unless it's a quick jab on the first turn.

Leaning forward is really important or at least keeping the weight toward the front based on your seating position, it also helps with the terrible wheel hop in certain corners due to too much rear traction. It'll shake your insides loose...

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:06 pm

Okay, explanation needed -

I get the point about moving the seat forward, but how can you possibly "lean forward" when snugly harnessed into the kart? Do you run the harnesses loose? Surely you'd take a beating doing that. The only part of me that could possibly lean forward while harnessed into the kart was my head, but leaning my head forward would just have me looking downward instead of where I'm supposed to be going.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

They have foam pieces to put between you and the seat.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:19 pm

So am I understanding correctly that you stick a wad of foam behind your upper back only?

noahfleming · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:30 pm

I leave my straps loose and/or move the seat way forward since the peddles are adjustable and can be moved farther away from you. Mostly, though, i leave the straps loose so i can move about during the course. You don't have to have them super loose to have them loose enough to shift your weight forward when entering a corner. They just have to be "not tight". I usually lean forward as much as i want to be able to and tighten the straps down before leaning back into my seat.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:44 pm

Ohhhh - I had no idea the pedals were adjustable. I'll be sure to move them all the way forward next time. Thanks!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:48 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Ohhhh - I had no idea the pedals were adjustable. I'll be sure to move them all the way forward next time. Thanks!

I didn't know the pedals were adjustable. I know the seat is. There is a lever on the left side of the seat so you can slide it, at least on the one I drove....

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:45 pm

the pedal adjustment is on the right side below your calf. its a little knob you pull up on and slide the pedals to different slots.

btw, the negative of leaving your harness loose so you can distribute weight is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgSaAd8LHlA

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Slide the seat forward... hmm.. for so many years I've been fighting nose heavy cars, it never occurred to me that I should move weight forward in a go kart. Things to try next time.

Now, do the new karts at VIR have adjustments for seat and pedal position?

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

KouroshNeshat wrote:

the pedal adjustment is on the right side below your calf. its a little knob you pull up on and slide the pedals to different slots.

btw, the negative of leaving your harness loose so you can distribute weight is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgSaAd8LHlA

I was going to mention my first visit to Rush Hour they didn't even have seat belts on the karts and I was leaning forward quite a lot while racing, then I got punted into a wall at around 30mph and cracked a rib on the edge of the seat, that hurt like hell and took 2+ months to completely heal from.

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New Karts at Rush Hour

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