Ready, set, go – it’s time to hit the tracks and enjoy some good old-fashioned go-karting. Whether you’re a novice racer ready to take your go-karting to the next level or are totally new to the scene, we’ve got the go-kart tips you need to come out on top.
From mastering the track to learning how to position yourself, there’s a lot to consider when learning how to go-kart. You can count on Pinballz Lake Creek to help you have a great time, no matter how familiar with go-karting you are.
6 Go-Kart Tips and Tricks for Beginner Racers
Get ready to impress your friends and zoom past the competition with these six tips for go-kart racing. Keep them in the back of your mind as you build up your skills.
1. Wear comfortable clothing.
This go-kart racing tip is often overlooked, especially by beginners. It’s essential to ensure you arrive at the track wearing comfy clothing.
Go-karting involves sitting low to the ground in a small vehicle, and that’s never comfortable in super-tight jeans. On the other hand, you don’t want to wear anything too loose, either. All that extra fabric can fly around as you drive, getting in your face and blocking your vision.
You’ll also want to skip the heels or open-toed shoes as you pick your karting fit. For your safety, employees at most tracks won’t let you race if you’re not wearing something with a closed toe.
2. Drive in the correct position.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people forget how important proper driving positioning is. And that’s understandable — it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of getting fast lap times and forget that how you’re seated plays a role in those.
Before you put the pedal to the metal, check your posture. Your back should be firmly positioned against the kart’s seat, and your elbows slightly bent as you hold onto the steering wheel. And speaking of holding the steering wheel, do so with a somewhat relaxed grip with your hands in a quarter-to-three position.
Last but certainly not least, make sure your feet reach the pedals with your legs slightly bent. This is super important, as incorrect leg positioning means you’ll have a harder time with braking and acceleration.
3. Practice using the pedals.
Before taking off on your race, practice pressing the gas and brake pedals a few times to see how sensitive they are — but don’t press them both at the same time!
4. Get familiar with the track.
Shave a few seconds from your lap time by familiarizing yourself with the track you’re on. Every go-kart track is different, each with its own set of turns, signage, and barriers. Memorizing them by order of appearance helps you create a strategy for effectively — and quickly — navigating it. Of course, finding an indoor track, like the one at Pinballz Lake Creek, helps track racers learn the course without weather conditions playing a factor.
5. Learn the racing lines like a pro.
This is arguably the most important of all the tips for go-kart racing. If you want to earn the title of “Fastest Go-Kart Driver on the Track,” you’ll need to understand its racing lines.
Basically, driving a straight line yields the fastest results. So, learning the racing lines means finding a route that allows you to stay as straight as possible, even as you’re taking on the curves. The straighter the path, the less you have to brake to slow down, and the faster your lap time will be.
There’s more than one racing line on each track corner, so you may need to do some experimenting to see which one is fastest.
6. Practice, practice, practice!
You know what they say: practice makes perfect. The adage applies here. Your best bet at learning how to go-kart like a pro is to practice as much as possible. Make sure you put all those other go-kart tips to use as you do!
Pinballz is Your Top Spot for Austin Go-Karting and Fun
Find a quality track to practice on, like the indoor go-kart track at Pinballz Lake Creek. The indoor Pinballz go-kart track is the perfect place for adults and children to put these go-kart tips into practice. Kids aged six and up who are at least 48 inches tall can hop into a Junior Go-Kart and zip around the LED-lit track. Anyone over 14 and at least 58 inches tall can speed around in an adult-sized version of the establishment’s European-style kart.
The best part about practicing at Pinballz Lake Creek is that you don’t have to go it alone. Our Austin-based entertainment center hosts group events often, giving you and your coworkers, family, or closest friends a place to have fun. Contact Pinballz to learn more about Austin go-karting with your group and to find out what other attractions you can enjoy.