How to Give Feedback to Your Kart Mechanic that Works

Cut out feedback for the sake of it and deliver quality feedback that helps a mechanic deliver the kart you need

Welcome to another edition of Terence Dove on Racing Drivers.

Today’s focus is feedback—how to give high-quality feedback about what the kart is doing, so your mechanic can use it to make changes that get the kart exactly the way you want.

…about how the damn kart is denying you the chance to drive how you want is killing you. It needs to be that dramatic!

Here’s the typical way a driver does their performative feedback after a session:

Mechanic: "How’s the kart?"
Driver: "It’s alright."

Mechanic: "Do you want changes?"
Driver: "Yeah."

Mechanic: "More front grip?"
Driver: "Yeah."

Mechanic: "More rear grip?"
Driver: "Yeah."

Mechanic: "More top-end speed?"
Driver: "Yeah."

Mechanic: "More bottom-end acceleration?"
Driver: "Yeah."

Mechanic: "You know, you can’t have both top-end and bottom-end at the same time, right?"
Driver: "Oh. Okay… but yeah."

Mechanic: "If I give you more front, you’ll lose that rear grip you like."
Driver: "Yeah, but I still want both."

Mechanic: “FFS”

The mechanic eventually says, "I need proper feedback mate" but the driver hasn’t prepared themselves how to give it. Feedback becomes a black hole of miscommunication, frustration, and wasted time.

This doesn’t have to be the case. Drivers can learn how to give great feedback. In fact, I’ve got two clear paths for you to follow. Whether you’re an experienced driver or just starting out, you’ll find a way to transform your feedback into something mechanics love—and that leads to results on the track.

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Option 1: For Experienced Drivers