How to Escape the Karting Catch-22
When your driving affects the kart, and the set-up affects your driving, how the hell can you tell what needs to change?!?
Welcome to a free edition of Terence Dove on Racing Drivers. This week I’m answering a question most drivers prefer to avoid!
Here’s what is on offer today:
A precise method to isolate driver technique from kart setup issues.
How deliberately slowing down in specific corners can reveal kart handling problems.
Why avoiding "magic bullet" parts and making small, targeted setup changes leads to genuine performance gains.
I asked a karting Dad in the states to put this question to his son Lucas Grek for me:
What would be a magic solution to make him faster, or what mystery of driving is eluding him, what's his big question?
And his answer:
"How can a driver tell if a problem is himself or the kart?"
His Dad elaborated:
What he means is when its time to give feedback about the kart’s handling, deciphering whether there is actually a problem with the setup that needs to be addressed or if he is making the kart feel that way. And if he is inducing it, having a way to tell while on track so he can make the driving adjustments accordingly.
It's a cracking question, and one that doesn't have a straightforward answer. The complexity of interaction between kart and driver is so vast, that trying to come up with an answer is paralysing!
Here’s the only effective way out that I know of!
The Trap of Searching for Magic Solutions
When you're stuck in this quandary, it's tempting to look for a magic bullet. You might find yourself buying some super-duper cut-down factory spec axle from Italy, made of Vibranium and blessed by the Pope. Or perhaps you'll shell out for special white rims that come from Kart Republic that ‘let the kart release’. Maybe you'll even invest in a super floor tray that doesn't create stiction because it's made of some magnetic alloy from Lord of the Rings.
The problem with this approach is that you're looking for a golden ticket solution. You spend a load of money, and eventually, one of these "solutions" coincides with something else - maybe the track changes to suit you, or you relax a bit due to the placebo effect of your new magic axle. You hit the time, and suddenly you think you've found the answer.
But this novelty effect wears off, and before you know it, you're back to being two-tenths down. It becomes a vicious cycle, a Groundhog Day of swapping parts and chasing times. Walk around the pits at most tracks, and you'll see people swapping axles like they're violin bows, constantly searching for that part that transforms the kart.
Breaking Free from the Setup Trap
So, how do we break this cycle? The key is to find a process that eliminates variables, rather than searching for a magic solution. And the biggest variable you have control over is yourself.
Lock In Your Driving
The first and most crucial step is to be able to say, with absolute certainty:
In this case I wanted Lucas to be able to say:
"Dad, my driving is spot on. Perfectly clean. No mistakes. My head's clear. I'm not trying to do anything faster. I'm just hitting the marks perfect."
This is harder than it sounds. When I ask drivers this question, they rarely can answer with a resolute "yes" without hesitation. But it's essential.
You need to lock in your driving at a level that you can absolutely vow is your style perfected. even if it means slightly under-driving. It's better to lose a tenth by ensuring everything's perfect when we are trying to sort out whether the driver, or the kart, needs the work.
This means reliable perfect driving:
Hit every apex
Hit every exit point
No rear slides,
No flicking the kart when you could just load it smoothly
You’ll find more on driving like a robot that will get you into the right frame of mind here:
Bring the Kart into the Performance Window - Even if You Have to Slow Down
I reckon this is the key to this whole procedure, don’t skip past this step - nobody does this and it is why they get stuck!
Once you've locked in your driving, if the kart still misbehaves, you need the discipline to dial it back.
In other words slow it down until everything looks and feels perfect in terms of stability.
If the kart slides out on an exit, next time, back it down so it doesn't slide again.
Bring your driving and the kart to a level where an observer would say, "Your driving looks perfect, and the kart looks fine." without referring to the lap time.
This process might solve your problem right away - you might find those missing tenths just by smoothing everything out.
If not, at least you know you're keeping the kart in its performance window, and you know for sure that you are not creating the problem. Now the kart will tell you what it needs.
Pinpoint Where You're Forced to Hold Back
When you have to dial down your driving, you'll likely notice specific parts of the track where you're really having to hold back. Usually, it's two or three corners where you think,
"Bloody hell, this is ridiculous. I should be able to go quicker here."
These are your problem areas. You can now say, "I'm having to hold back on turn two and turn four. If I go any quicker than I am now (and I should be able to because those guys are pulling away from me there) the rear just steps out."
Now you are diagnosing the problem accurately - you are getting somewhere!
Maybe you are losing a few more tenths in the process but who cares? If you are confident in your own driving, you certainly won’t be perturbed.
Make Targeted Setup Changes
Now that you've identified specific issues, you can make targeted setup changes.
Don't go big - make small tweaks. For example:
If the rear is sliding, bring the rear track in a few millimetres each side.
If the kart's not turning in, even though you're driving it sweetly, add a couple of clicks of caster.
After each change, reassess. Are you still having to dial down your driving, or is there a slight improvement? This gradual adjustment approach pushes the kart towards where your driving says it should be.
The Importance of Starting from a Baseline
When you embark on this process, start from a basic, standard setup. Use the bog-standard setup for your kart brand, or your own regular setup. Ensure your gearing and tyre pressures are in the right ballpark - these make a massive difference.
Even Mild Frustration Can Ruin Everything
Remember, most drivers suffering from this issue are driving on frustration. Every little slide the kart makes elicits an "Oh God, not again!" reaction. It drives you to push too hard or to drive in a fed-up way. You might want to flick the steering because you're pissed off with the kart.
This frustration kills your sensitivity. By following the process outlined above, you can overcome this emotional response and approach the problem methodically.
It takes a bit of self-discipline, but if you keep your driving locked in, the kart is going to completely reveal itself to you exactly where the problems are. If you instead push the kart, all you get is noise and before you know it you’ll be shelling out again for a set of rear hubs that ‘conduct heat away from the rims using quantum effects’.
The Path Through the Unknown
In the end, there's no simple answer to the question, "Is it me or the kart?" Instead, we have to create a path through the unknown:
Assume it's you first: Focus on perfecting your driving technique before blaming the kart.
• Hit every apex and exit point consistently
• Eliminate rear slides and unnecessary kart movements
• Drive smoothly, even if it means slightly under-drivingMake yourself a "robot driver": Achieve a level of consistent, repeatable performance.
• Lock in your driving style to a point where you can confidently say it's flawless
• Prioritize clean, error-free laps over pushing for maximum speedBring the kart into its current performance window:
• Slow down if necessary to maintain perfect stability
• Ensure an observer would say both your driving and the kart look fine
• Accept temporary slower lap times to diagnose issues accuratelyIdentify specific problem areas:
• Note corners where you're forced to significantly hold back
• Pinpoint exactly where the kart misbehaves (e.g., rear stepping out in turn 2)
• Compare your performance in these areas to faster competitorsMake targeted, gradual setup changes:
• Start from a baseline setup for your kart brand
• Address identified issues with small tweaks (e.g., adjusting rear track width for sliding)
• Reassess after each change to determine improvementMaintain emotional control:
• Avoid letting frustration affect your driving or judgment
• Stay methodical and patient throughout the process.
Start by nailing your driving. If you can't say with 100% certainty that you're hitting every mark perfectly, you're not ready to blame the kart. Once you've got that sorted, you can start picking apart where the kart's letting you down.
Remember, most drivers are held back by their own frustration more than anything else. Get your head straight, and you'll be amazed at how much clearer everything becomes.
Hopefully I’ve saved you a grand in exotic parts the factory let out the back door, and you’ve found a route through the confusion!
Thanks for reading
Terence
PS: Once you have sorted yourself out, maybe you can bolt on a set of cryogenic ceramic axle bearings from NASA’s secret karting lab on the moon and go faster - now you will be in a position to verify that indeed they do work, with authority.