Q&A for How to Successfully Drive a Go Kart

Lifting your bum off the seat when exiting a turn can be slightly more effective, so leaning forward going into a turn could help a bit. But we are only talking half seconds.

Yes. Some professional ones aren't, but you will always get an automatic when renting.

You shouldn't be spinning out in the first place. Try letting off the gas, turning the wheel the right way, gently braking, or crashing safely into a wall. The guys will help you out if you crash. To avoid spinning out, stop drifting so much and try to avoid bumping into objects and other cars.

"Smooth is fast" sums this up. You have a limited amount of traction and, at a very basic level, you can either use this for braking, turning or accelerating. Smoothly transitioning between braking, turning and applying power on exit will allow you to use this 'traction budget' to the maximum throughout the phases of the turn. In reality, the turning and braking/acceleration budgets are separate to a degree, and 'trailing' your brakes can load the front wheels more, allowing for a more aggressive turn-in, but at first, using all controls smoothly is going to get you a much better foundation upon which to develop those more advanced skills.

Always come off the accelerator when braking, or this will damage the kart. Brake and don't just lift off, because this will slow the kart down much faster.

It's a good technique if you have limited fuel and are trying to save it, but if you are trying to get the fastest lap time, don't do it. It wastes valuable seconds and, in karting, every second counts to get the best lap time.

Try to brake before you make any turns and accelerate when coming out of the turns. That should reduce your sliding.

No. All rental style go karts use a centrifugal type clutch, which is the same used by chain saws. This means if you press the accelerator pedal to try and rev the engine, it will start moving!

If it's safe to reposition yourself and carry on going, do that, especially if its after a blind corner where other drivers can't see you. If it's a bad crash, or you can't move, wait for a marshal.

The karts shown and described in this article are for track use only. You might want to look into "KartCross," though, as this sport uses karts with bigger wheels and better suspension that are suited to rocky, muddy, and sandy terrain.

Most karts are automatic, but manual ones are available as well. They're called "Shifter Karts."

Brake as little as possible.

Some karts called Shifter Karts can shift with a stick movement behind the wheel. Individual Go Kart locations might have Shifter Karts, but you would have to check with them individually.

Yes. The clutch allows the engine to keep running when the kart is not moving, so if the kart didn't have a clutch then it would cut out every time it stopped (and you wouldn't be able to start it in the first place).