Seems like there will always be lots of advice on how to setup your kart. Not that I am complaining, any advice that makes you go faster is always welcomed. You should change your jetting? You should change your final gear? You should lower your seat?
I have resisted all and just played with kart tire pressure only. In this respect, I am still a newbie, but in simple terms, you need to have your tires at the correct pressure for it to work at its optimum. For short races, best you start at a higher pressure as the race would be too short for the temperature to rise till it hits the tire's optimum pressure. For long races, best to start at a lower pressure else you will find late on in the race that your tires are losing its grip.
We can see in F1 where those teams that changed from Michelin to BS tires will struggle with managing the new tires. Which is a fact that I am facing. Why? Because here in Singapore / Malaysia, we do not have a constant supply of the same tires. I am using a set of Yokohamas now, and after this, I do not think I will be able to get another set. Most probably, I will have to switch to Mojos, and I hope we can get a steady supply of these.
Also last week, I have set down to create a list of data that I want recorded. Time to get a little bit more professional. In this respect, I would need to be able to measure Pressure, Temperature and Humidity. Any sponsors?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
390cc Enduro Race Report
21st June. Met up with the kakis and had breakfast at a new location. After discovering Grandpa, which is located in the bunch of shops right after bhp petrol station, we have been going there for breakfast eversince! This time, we were introduced to Kim's and I must say, the KOPI is definitely good! I believe not only must you kart, you must also know where to get your food as well! With the track moving to a new location soon, I will try to update on the nearby eateries there as well. Hopefully with my GPS up and running, you can get your GPS co-ord here too!
Thats for food, now back to the race! This time, our team members are made up of
Jon - Team Principle
Leo - Driver Uno
Des - WRC wannabe
KP - Spin too much
We started off drawing kart no.41, and from initial inspection, suspect the kart may not turn well. But when Leo started his timed qualifying laps, he hit a timing of 1:16:xx which was 1 secs faster than P2! We got P1 !!! Now THAT was a surprise as we thought P2 using kart 916 is the strongest kart.
When the race was flagged off, we can see that 41 does have speed as well, beating 916 to the first turn, and there after, Leo continued to build up his lead during his first 26mins. While we were discussing whether to bring Leo in as his timing was starting to drop from a consistent 1:18 to 1:19 and 1:22, when he suddenly came into the pit lane with his brakes smoking. We could hear him shout "Throttle JAM!", somehow, we were so surprised we spent 1 minute looking at his kart before I got into action by suiting up and jumping into kart 33. On hindsight, we should have gotten Leo to jump straight into kart 33 and not wait for me to suit up.
Now Kart 33 was handling well during the first 3 laps, in fact, I managed to overtake another kart. It does not accelerate well, but if you can maintain the revs high, it does go well. But our TP decided to call me in to switch back to kart 41, as I found out later, I was only doing laps of 1:21 to 1:22. In Kart 41, I had to relearn how to drive another setup again. I found the handling is not as good as kart 33, but its brake is solid. Also, there were no acceleration! Looking at how well Leo was getting on earlier, I can only surmise that the throttle line was not repaired properly, and I can hear the engine not reving up to its peak.
This mean I have to start defending! On the straights, I can see the karts behind have the power to overtake me, so I had to drive on the left and let them commit to overtake me on the right. Once they are commited, all I had too do was close the gap as turn 1 is a left turn, if they cannot get ahead of me, they will not be able to overtake. In fact, I had to rub tires with one of the kart. This I did for 3 laps, before I made a mistake at hairpin 1 and drove a bit wide, losing revs and not able to pick up speed to defend my line before the kart overtook me just in time. And our TP was waiting for me at the entrance of the pit lane, signalling that my race is over.
Leo hopped back on, and I was told Leo cannot take it when I was overtaken...heehee...I was also doing laps of 1:20 to 1:21, but I told our TP the throttle cannot be opened full, which Leo later confirmed when he came back in to change driver with Des.
All in, it was fun racing the 390cc again, and we can see what an enduro can do to a kart. 3 karts had brake fade, and in the final 10 minutes, the kart lying in 2nd had to come in via banging into Jason's kart as he has no brakes! That enabled us to move up from 5th to 4th.
Oh, did I mention our dear TP - JoN spun on his first lap out? Heehee, he still owes us lunch for that! As he did spin more than the Spin A Lot.
Thats for food, now back to the race! This time, our team members are made up of
Jon - Team Principle
Leo - Driver Uno
Des - WRC wannabe
KP - Spin too much
We started off drawing kart no.41, and from initial inspection, suspect the kart may not turn well. But when Leo started his timed qualifying laps, he hit a timing of 1:16:xx which was 1 secs faster than P2! We got P1 !!! Now THAT was a surprise as we thought P2 using kart 916 is the strongest kart.
When the race was flagged off, we can see that 41 does have speed as well, beating 916 to the first turn, and there after, Leo continued to build up his lead during his first 26mins. While we were discussing whether to bring Leo in as his timing was starting to drop from a consistent 1:18 to 1:19 and 1:22, when he suddenly came into the pit lane with his brakes smoking. We could hear him shout "Throttle JAM!", somehow, we were so surprised we spent 1 minute looking at his kart before I got into action by suiting up and jumping into kart 33. On hindsight, we should have gotten Leo to jump straight into kart 33 and not wait for me to suit up.
Now Kart 33 was handling well during the first 3 laps, in fact, I managed to overtake another kart. It does not accelerate well, but if you can maintain the revs high, it does go well. But our TP decided to call me in to switch back to kart 41, as I found out later, I was only doing laps of 1:21 to 1:22. In Kart 41, I had to relearn how to drive another setup again. I found the handling is not as good as kart 33, but its brake is solid. Also, there were no acceleration! Looking at how well Leo was getting on earlier, I can only surmise that the throttle line was not repaired properly, and I can hear the engine not reving up to its peak.
This mean I have to start defending! On the straights, I can see the karts behind have the power to overtake me, so I had to drive on the left and let them commit to overtake me on the right. Once they are commited, all I had too do was close the gap as turn 1 is a left turn, if they cannot get ahead of me, they will not be able to overtake. In fact, I had to rub tires with one of the kart. This I did for 3 laps, before I made a mistake at hairpin 1 and drove a bit wide, losing revs and not able to pick up speed to defend my line before the kart overtook me just in time. And our TP was waiting for me at the entrance of the pit lane, signalling that my race is over.
Leo hopped back on, and I was told Leo cannot take it when I was overtaken...heehee...I was also doing laps of 1:20 to 1:21, but I told our TP the throttle cannot be opened full, which Leo later confirmed when he came back in to change driver with Des.
All in, it was fun racing the 390cc again, and we can see what an enduro can do to a kart. 3 karts had brake fade, and in the final 10 minutes, the kart lying in 2nd had to come in via banging into Jason's kart as he has no brakes! That enabled us to move up from 5th to 4th.
Oh, did I mention our dear TP - JoN spun on his first lap out? Heehee, he still owes us lunch for that! As he did spin more than the Spin A Lot.
Friday, June 20, 2008
K[p] - Bumper sticker
Saw this on the bumper of a car, modified it to this
"A bad day karting is still better than a good day at work!"
"A bad day karting is still better than a good day at work!"
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Strategies! jOn
21 June, 10am, 390cc 2 hours Enduro Race @ Permas.
we will be having 4 drivers, KP, Des, Leo, and myself. the aim is simple. get more laps around the track than any other teams. if we are on par with the teams on number of laps, get in front of them! easy rite? haha not so.
our competitors are not so 'easy meat'. and since there are 4 of us, we will have to decide who will be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th driver. also we will need to think when do we switch over, having the information of each full tank of petrol can last ~ 45mins.
having considering some or all factors, this is wat i have come up with: starting with the easiest.
Plan 1 :
all driver change over will take place at every 30min interval.
that pit stop will also include petrol top up.the only qnn is who to go 1st.
i will go for Leo. he can push almost any kart fast enough to give us a lead or a respectable position in the 1st leg. regardless of strategy, i will have him to go 1st and hope the kart we draw and his skill can be use to our advantage. i will not go on to say who's our next few drivers, as it will not be really important now. will have to play by ears.
==============================================
Plan 2: Longer stints, out of sync pit stops
1st driver will drive for 35mins. then change over with petrol top up.
2nd driver will go for 25 mins. change over will take place at 60min mark. no petrol top up!
3rd driver will drive for ~18mins or less. this is very impt and risky. we should be faster due to lower fuel load, and hope to gain some advantages. however, we do not know for sure if the engine will be using more fuel. pushing it very near the 45min mark is a risk.
4th driver will hope on at the 78-80mins mark. top up petrol and drive 42 mins! that should do it!
==============================================
Plan 3: Long mid stint.
1st driver will drive for 25mins.
2nd driver will hop on, with petrol top up. he will hit the track for about 40mins.
3rd driver will be on at approximately 65mins mark. likewise, he will drive for 40 mins with petrol top up durin pit stop.
last driver will be driving for 15 mins only with the change over at 105mins mark. the petrol top for the last change will be short with only less than half tank needed.
the idea of the longer mid stint, should the drivers can take it, have significant advantage. as other teams will stop during these times while we continue to pound the track.
==============================================
while these may 'look' like 'good' plans, it will only work better if we have an above average kart. our team of drivers will no doubt deliver no matter of the plan choose to use. but if the kart sucks, that's it! so, we pray for Good Luck!
we will be having 4 drivers, KP, Des, Leo, and myself. the aim is simple. get more laps around the track than any other teams. if we are on par with the teams on number of laps, get in front of them! easy rite? haha not so.
our competitors are not so 'easy meat'. and since there are 4 of us, we will have to decide who will be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th driver. also we will need to think when do we switch over, having the information of each full tank of petrol can last ~ 45mins.
having considering some or all factors, this is wat i have come up with: starting with the easiest.
Plan 1 :
all driver change over will take place at every 30min interval.
that pit stop will also include petrol top up.the only qnn is who to go 1st.
i will go for Leo. he can push almost any kart fast enough to give us a lead or a respectable position in the 1st leg. regardless of strategy, i will have him to go 1st and hope the kart we draw and his skill can be use to our advantage. i will not go on to say who's our next few drivers, as it will not be really important now. will have to play by ears.
==============================================
Plan 2: Longer stints, out of sync pit stops
1st driver will drive for 35mins. then change over with petrol top up.
2nd driver will go for 25 mins. change over will take place at 60min mark. no petrol top up!
3rd driver will drive for ~18mins or less. this is very impt and risky. we should be faster due to lower fuel load, and hope to gain some advantages. however, we do not know for sure if the engine will be using more fuel. pushing it very near the 45min mark is a risk.
4th driver will hope on at the 78-80mins mark. top up petrol and drive 42 mins! that should do it!
==============================================
Plan 3: Long mid stint.
1st driver will drive for 25mins.
2nd driver will hop on, with petrol top up. he will hit the track for about 40mins.
3rd driver will be on at approximately 65mins mark. likewise, he will drive for 40 mins with petrol top up durin pit stop.
last driver will be driving for 15 mins only with the change over at 105mins mark. the petrol top for the last change will be short with only less than half tank needed.
the idea of the longer mid stint, should the drivers can take it, have significant advantage. as other teams will stop during these times while we continue to pound the track.
==============================================
while these may 'look' like 'good' plans, it will only work better if we have an above average kart. our team of drivers will no doubt deliver no matter of the plan choose to use. but if the kart sucks, that's it! so, we pray for Good Luck!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
K[p] - Last Race in Permas BIG Track
Well...well...well...looks like we will get to race on the big track in Permas this coming Saturday for the 390cc Enduro. Which will probably be the very last time, probably, because look at how many times our Kallang Stadium has held its last game?
Anyway, it will be tiring on the big track, and jOn has plans for us to race 30mins at one go! At least Des and me are still quite used to the way a rental kart can handle, but if it does not turn well, it will have to be manhandled to turn.
Anyway, it will be tiring on the big track, and jOn has plans for us to race 30mins at one go! At least Des and me are still quite used to the way a rental kart can handle, but if it does not turn well, it will have to be manhandled to turn.
Friday, June 13, 2008
K[p] - Home Track Going Soon
The Go-kart track in Permas Jaya, Johor, Malaysia where I became seriously interested in the sport, will be demolished soon. The so called inner track is scheduled for demolition starting next week.
A short eulogy.
Started using the 80cc 2-stroke fun kart for 2 months, then preceeded to use only the WPP 80cc 2-stroke before they ran out of spares. The WPP is still one of my favs. So I was introduced to the 100cc 2-stroke Yamahas (dont know which engine version was this) before they too ran out of parts and was retired. But I probably only karted twice in these karts. Next up was the 390cc 4-stroke which we are still using till today and coming up next week, we are using these 390cc for the endurance race. In between popped in the so called Road Rats, which are actually 80cc 4-strokes Honda engine, and they could keep up with the 390cc if you drive them well. But if you have a good driver in the 390cc, you would probably lose 2 to 3 secs per lap. But hey, they are RM15 cheaper to rent!
Have not seen the new track in Plentong. Will post more when we do. And this time, we will prob try to name the corners so everyone knows which corner we are talking about rather than, turn 1, 2, 3, S-bend, U-turn etc.
A short eulogy.
Started using the 80cc 2-stroke fun kart for 2 months, then preceeded to use only the WPP 80cc 2-stroke before they ran out of spares. The WPP is still one of my favs. So I was introduced to the 100cc 2-stroke Yamahas (dont know which engine version was this) before they too ran out of parts and was retired. But I probably only karted twice in these karts. Next up was the 390cc 4-stroke which we are still using till today and coming up next week, we are using these 390cc for the endurance race. In between popped in the so called Road Rats, which are actually 80cc 4-strokes Honda engine, and they could keep up with the 390cc if you drive them well. But if you have a good driver in the 390cc, you would probably lose 2 to 3 secs per lap. But hey, they are RM15 cheaper to rent!
Have not seen the new track in Plentong. Will post more when we do. And this time, we will prob try to name the corners so everyone knows which corner we are talking about rather than, turn 1, 2, 3, S-bend, U-turn etc.
Monday, June 9, 2008
K[p] - Front End Crash
I just don't react FAST enough!
Whats the first rule about driving and avoiding something? You just don't look at it! Look at a tree, you will crash into a tree, look at the wall, you will crash into the wall, and STARE at the fun kart, you will crash into the fun kart. Good driver do not get into scraps. Remember that!
On the Gillard, finally found out its a 010 chassis. But still to find the year of manufacture. On wet, went too fast into turn 1 and spun twice! Spun at u-turn twice! Jeez. Time to sit back and rethink my driving.
Anyway, there is another enduro coming up on the 21st. This time using the 390cc, hope they are in good condition. Watch out for our team list.
Whats the first rule about driving and avoiding something? You just don't look at it! Look at a tree, you will crash into a tree, look at the wall, you will crash into the wall, and STARE at the fun kart, you will crash into the fun kart. Good driver do not get into scraps. Remember that!
On the Gillard, finally found out its a 010 chassis. But still to find the year of manufacture. On wet, went too fast into turn 1 and spun twice! Spun at u-turn twice! Jeez. Time to sit back and rethink my driving.
Anyway, there is another enduro coming up on the 21st. This time using the 390cc, hope they are in good condition. Watch out for our team list.
wat goes around will comes around..
8 June, Canadian F1 Grand Prix... BMW scores 1st win with
Robert Kubica! excellent win for the guy who does everything
to make himself competitive this season, not that he is
uncompetitive last season. but before the start of this season
he goes on a diet, making himself leaner so that he can move
some ballast to the front of the car giving the car more front
end grip.
yesterday win is deserving for a guy who 12 months ago suffered
a horrific crash, but only to have a sore ankle after that!
well done Robert! wat a win!
however, the highlight of the race was another crash... at the end of
the pitlane no less! red light, Kubica and Kimi stopped side by side,
but Lewis seeing the red light late, can't stop in time and hit Kimi's car.
sounds familiar? last race, Kimi hit Sutil's car when he can't brake
in time for corner after exiting the tunnel..
but Kimi has this to say: “Obviously, anyone can make mistakes, as
I did two weeks ago in Monaco, but it's one thing to make a mistake
at 200 miles per hour but another to hit a car stopped at a red light."
hey... Karma, my fren. CARMA!
and hey hey... wat did i say abt braking?
Robert Kubica! excellent win for the guy who does everything
to make himself competitive this season, not that he is
uncompetitive last season. but before the start of this season
he goes on a diet, making himself leaner so that he can move
some ballast to the front of the car giving the car more front
end grip.
yesterday win is deserving for a guy who 12 months ago suffered
a horrific crash, but only to have a sore ankle after that!
well done Robert! wat a win!
however, the highlight of the race was another crash... at the end ofthe pitlane no less! red light, Kubica and Kimi stopped side by side,
but Lewis seeing the red light late, can't stop in time and hit Kimi's car.
sounds familiar? last race, Kimi hit Sutil's car when he can't brake
in time for corner after exiting the tunnel..
but Kimi has this to say: “Obviously, anyone can make mistakes, asI did two weeks ago in Monaco, but it's one thing to make a mistake
at 200 miles per hour but another to hit a car stopped at a red light."
hey... Karma, my fren. CARMA!
and hey hey... wat did i say abt braking?
Sunday, June 8, 2008
brake to be Fast
It's quite incredible but it's true...
If you are not comfortable and not confident with your kart's braking, you're F(finished). With Engine not performing up to par, it will just mean that you will be slower. But if brakes are F then your entry will be too fast, pushing the kart too wide and then spending time at the same spot. Worse is to come, you generally lose time in getting power back on again and that is worse than just been slow!
gees... that's what happened when i got back out on the track for the 2nd time. Braking has to be done earlier and earlier over each lap. Brake fade? Tiredness? Tyre pressure? to be frank, it's actually just the bloody brake system!
I think I have lived with this cock up and FU brake system more than i should. It is time to change. People who had tried my kart always wonder how i brake before corners...I wonder myself too. Maybe I'm just too darn good! hahahahahaha
Tony gave up after 2 laps...well his is Brembo brake, mine is Bimbo
=X he just cloudn't 'handle' this soft brake.
kp, tried yesterday... and well, crashes heavily into a fun kart just after Turn 1. Can't slow the kart in time, he mentioned. That's one, he didn't spot far ahead enough to see the crawling fun kart in front of Des, who slowed too much too soon, and simply my kart can't brake & he can't react in time.
I guess it just go to show, enough is enough. Time to change.
On hindsight, during my 1st run, when the brake was newly bled, I managed to pull away from kp slowly there and then and that was with more weight on my kart, but his tyres were starting to slip too
Thus, yes, it does sound silly, better braking makes u go faster & it so darn bloody true!
Oh, I am now determined not to spend a second more than i need to behind anyone. Concrete very nearly flew into my helmet and smash my visor! And I realized that my suit is getting a lot of exhaust fumes. The odour stink out my room when i bring it out to hang eeeekkks good motivation to be fast!
If you are not comfortable and not confident with your kart's braking, you're F(finished). With Engine not performing up to par, it will just mean that you will be slower. But if brakes are F then your entry will be too fast, pushing the kart too wide and then spending time at the same spot. Worse is to come, you generally lose time in getting power back on again and that is worse than just been slow!
gees... that's what happened when i got back out on the track for the 2nd time. Braking has to be done earlier and earlier over each lap. Brake fade? Tiredness? Tyre pressure? to be frank, it's actually just the bloody brake system!
I think I have lived with this cock up and FU brake system more than i should. It is time to change. People who had tried my kart always wonder how i brake before corners...I wonder myself too. Maybe I'm just too darn good! hahahahahaha
Tony gave up after 2 laps...well his is Brembo brake, mine is Bimbo
=X he just cloudn't 'handle' this soft brake.
kp, tried yesterday... and well, crashes heavily into a fun kart just after Turn 1. Can't slow the kart in time, he mentioned. That's one, he didn't spot far ahead enough to see the crawling fun kart in front of Des, who slowed too much too soon, and simply my kart can't brake & he can't react in time.
I guess it just go to show, enough is enough. Time to change.
On hindsight, during my 1st run, when the brake was newly bled, I managed to pull away from kp slowly there and then and that was with more weight on my kart, but his tyres were starting to slip too
Thus, yes, it does sound silly, better braking makes u go faster & it so darn bloody true!
Oh, I am now determined not to spend a second more than i need to behind anyone. Concrete very nearly flew into my helmet and smash my visor! And I realized that my suit is getting a lot of exhaust fumes. The odour stink out my room when i bring it out to hang eeeekkks good motivation to be fast!
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