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Howdy – During this off season I’m wondering what karting related publications might be of the most interest to a rookie in terms of learning about karts, engines and related equipment, tools and maintenance info., driving technique, kart setup, and so on?
Thanks!
Sheldon Potter
I have Memo Gidley’s secrets of Speed for Two Cycle Kart Racing book. I found it to be informative and clearly written. I found another book of his on Amazon called’Everything you need to know’ etc etc.
If prior work is an indicator, I’d say this would be a good title for winter reading as well. Amazon/Google Memo Gidley or Jeff Grist. (coauthors).Subscribe to Kartsport magazine. (just an opinion)
Sheldon,
The best place to get everything you are looking for is at http://www.ekartingnews.com
Rob Howden used to publish Shifter Kart Magazing and has since put all og his efforts into the web site. There are other rags out there but they focus on either the IKf or WKA. Go Racing mag is OK reading and found at every kart shop and track in town. I find out everything I need at E Karting or the Co Karter from the latest driver information, schedules, technology, rumors, and classified offers.
Jeff Franz does a great job with Kartsport as Kirk mentioned, but I have only seen 2 issues in the past year. He does get three thumbs up for his photos however. (Escpecially the female spectator shots 😯 )Post by sjpkarter on Sat 12 8, 2007 10:32 am
Howdy – During this off season I’m wondering what karting related publications might be of the most interest to a rookie in terms of learning about karts, engines and related equipment, tools and maintenance info., driving technique, kart setup, and so on?Thanks!
Sheldon Potter
Hey Sheldon,
Don’t know if you have a kart yet? But the internet is awesome if you search for “Crg Chassis setup” or “Leopard rebuild manual” or “Delorto Carburetor” or “driving eye exercise”for instance. Or whatever specifics interest you, there is a lot of information out there. Just because it’s on there does not make it gospel, but a lot of it is supplied by manufactures, Kart Shops etc… and is awesome.
As Curt mentioned, Ekn is a wealth of knowledge. Perform a search before posting a question to see if it has been hashed out before. You can do the same on this site as well. If you’re not at Billet Performance today, you’re missing out on information opportunities. Doug’s seminars should be a “must do” as well. Call or hang with Aj, Brad, Doug, Barry, Jim, Jb (or people in the know) and pick their brains and Bs. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Pm some of the others that post on this site. Ask particulars. Racers may not give you the whole play book, but there is a lot to learn before you get down to the “Nat’s A$$” stuff anyway.
Look on Youtube for on board video. Search “shifter kart” sort by rating, it will usually bring up the best stuff to watch. Grand Junction Motor Speedway has on board video of the track. It can be very help full to start learning an unfamiliar circuit and the fast line around it. That will help you visualize, which is an awesome method for driving consistent laps anywhere and how to keep you hands still and relaxed. It will soak in.
If you are not going to race in the enduro (pretty sure it will happen this year, with some thought put into it) go help or hang out with a team. It really doesn’t matter what kind of chassis or motor you bought. Point is, you’re racing karts. Which is good for the whole karting community.
Hook up with the some of the other new racers who are hanging around this site. Learn together, go to the track together an so on.
In print. Memo Gidelys books are pretty good. There are chassis dynamic books that apply to karting. Go Racing magazine is a free publication available at your local kart shop. National Kart News (NKN) A Wka membership will get you their monthly magazine, but it covers a lot of forms of karting which are vague in this area. Kart Sport had such a great magazine, but the future seems a little uncertain.
Dig,
Rick
As far as books……
Kirk’s right, definitely invest in Memo Gidley’s book. FOr a n00b, its invaluable for setup info (id recommend picking up their Pit-Kit/Book combo).
If your looking for a good book on driving, check out Bob Bondurant on Race Kart Driving it does a pretty good job of explaining things.
They don’t necessarily apply to Karting, but the Speed Secrets books are great. Most of the concepts they talk about can be applied to karting in some form. You can usually find some of them at Barnes and Nobles.
And if your looking to gain some advantage with physical training, i like the book Fit For Motorsport. Should help you get some idea of a motorsport-specific training regimen.
And like Curt said, the EKN forums are invaluable. As far as magazines go, i’ve got a subscription to National Kart News….i like it.
Winter time is the perfect time to educate yourself! Since we cant drive, might as well think about it, right? :loony:
As another newbie I find the following things have helped me learn the most: (In order of importance)
1) PMing Rick and others 20 times a week with incessant questions. (Calling works pretty good as well, but then you have to take notes.)
2) Searching the forums here and at ekartingnews.
3) I actually just picked up a pretty decent book for beginners at the library called “The Karting Manual” it is quite recently published out of the UK and had some great notes on driving posture and style.Driving my kart has still been the best learning tool, but looking outside it might be a while till the next seesion!
Hope to meet you at the track soon!
-Nick
@Uber Wagon wrote:
As another newbie I find the following things have helped me learn the most…
Be sure you get a MyChron or similar data acquisition package that you can upload to a PC. Having real-time feedback of lap times is great, and looking at your RPM traces later (comparing max/min RPM from one lap to the next at various points on the track) really helps you see where you’re gaining or losing time. The latter is a little like listening to baseball on the radio, but I find it helps me visualize what to try differently, plus it’s amusing to go back and look at what you were doing in your first few sessions once your comfort level increases… :loony:
As far as the publications go, Bondurant’s book is good because it focuses on the driver. A Memo Gidley book is next on my list. Books on equipment tend to try to be all things to all people, and aren’t a huge help IMHO. Better to learn about the classes that are supported in your area by going to tracks and kart shops.
I’ll second the vote for Bob Bondurant’s book. It’s quite unique because it focuses a lot on the mental aspects of driving. Very interesting, and inspiring.
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