Enjoying the Go-Karting Experience: 10 Helpful Tips for Beginner and Intermediate Racers

Published 21 June 2023 at 12:47

Tickikids Blog Dubai >  After-School Activities >  Enjoying the Go-Karting Experience: 10 Helpful Tips for Beginner and Intermediate Racers

Whenever you have a weekend to spend as you wish, you're always faced with a variety of activities that you can choose from to enjoy your free time. 

There's the option of having a laid-back weekend, perhaps spent simply indulging in good food and drinks, watching a movie or show, or lying back at home and catching up on a book or TV series.

You could also go out with friends or family for some retail therapy at the mall, swim in a pool or at the beach, or explore a new city – still relatively leisurely pursuits with some moderate activity.

And then there are the kinds of weekends wherein you crave a little (or a lot) more action--perhaps going for a hike, running a marathon, playing a team sport, or whizzing around a racetrack on a vehicle made for speed, such as a go-kart.

If you're gravitating toward the more adrenaline-pumping options mentioned above, consider one of them – go-karting in Dubai, specifically – for your next weekend activity.

3 Reasons to Choose Go-Karting as a Recreational Activity

Go-karting can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike (some places may also cater to kids), making it a fun weekend adventure for families and groups of friends to try. Here are three reasons why go karting can be a good idea:

• You can let off some steam

Sometimes, after a long week at school or busy days at work, you need to feel the wind in your face and the power of a vehicle you control all on your own. It can be exhilarating to drive laps around a racetrack and feel the energy all around you coming from the other racers and the entire racing environment. It's an exciting way to shake off the routine of the past week. 

• You can engage in friendly competition with fellow racers

While it's certainly relaxing to enjoy some activities on your own and at your preferred pace, you can also enjoy an activity where you can see how you perform against other participants. A little friendly competition can give your leisure time extra excitement and camaraderie.

• You can have fun in a safe environment

Any motorsport venue will be specially designed to ensure the safety of all racers. There are sure to be marshals, instructors and other trained staff to supervise all activities and help all participants have peace of mind so they can thoroughly enjoy the experience. 

Whether you're driving a go-kart for the first time or ready to dig deeper into the more competitive side of racing, you can always follow tips to make your go-karting weekend more extraordinary. Here's some excellent advice to keep in mind.

5 Tips for Beginners

1. Wear comfortable clothing that's appropriate for go-karting

First of all, the clothes you wear can affect how well and safely you can race, so remember the proper go-karting dress code.

Choose tighter-fitting but comfortable clothes. Long skirts and hoodies might fly around and get caught on components, so steer clear. The same idea goes for long hair – keep it tied, and remove your accessories for safety. Super tight jeans can be too restricting when you sit for a long time, so pick a comfy pair. Wear fully enclosed shoes that protect your skin and toes and won't kick off.

2. Learn about the different kinds of go-karts for every skill level

Generally, there are junior and adult go-karts and a two-seater go-kart that can accommodate a passenger. Go-karts for beginners can be heavier and more stable, while adult go-karts can be lighter for greater maneuverability and faster speed. It's best to get the professionals to assign the best kart for your age, height and weight.

3. Find out how to safely operate a go-kart

Before you go out on the track, you'll be taught how a go-kart works. Basically, go-karts have a steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, seat belt, and safety bumpers. The typical way to operate go-karts is to accelerate with the right foot and brake with the left foot. Make sure to get all the information from your instructor and ask all questions you may have about driving the go-kart.

4. Become familiar with the race track

Look over the track you'll be driving on to be aware of the right direction to go, the upcoming corners to turn, and the different ways to tackle specific areas of the overall layout. 

5. Watch how more experienced racers drive

If you've never driven a go-kart before, it'll help to see how people who have done it several times before handle their go-kart and approach the track. You can learn valuable pointers about how to brake, turn corners, and manage the steering wheel, among others.

5 Tips for Intermediate Racers

1. Learn how to navigate around other drivers

More than focusing on your driving, you'll also have to drive around other go-karts on the track properly. Missing the timing on a turn or recklessly swerving can also affect how the other drivers move, so be mindful about keeping a safe distance from others and maintaining a good rhythm and speed as you drive.

2. Practice picking up speed

You'll be excited to start speeding up and passing other racers, so practice driving in a straight line. It's a good strategy for reaching your go-kart's top speed. Learn how actions like turning, braking, and skidding reduce your speed so you can adjust your technique and slowly become faster on the track.

3. Make turns without drifting

It may look cool in movies, but drifting isn't the goal for turning every corner. You drift when you brake while making a turn, but it will reduce your momentum and can be dangerous, so learn how to brake correctly before a sharp corner so you can clear it safely without affecting your speed.

4. Understand how to overtake with efficiency

It takes careful calculation and smooth handling to pass your fellow racers without making jerky swerves or excessive speeding, which could be dangerous to everyone on the track. Get a professional to teach you how to choose the right time to accelerate, select the best side, focus on the gap, and understand the limits you face when overtaking other drivers.

5. Prepare your mind for a safe and fun race

Lastly, learn to be focused on driving with intention and caution. Being calm and cool-headed in a relatively stressful environment such as a race track takes practice and time, but it will ultimately be worth it when you can fully enjoy the spirit of every race because you drive well and respect other racers. 

Racing through a fun-filled weekend

You can try several adventure sports options for a truly thrilling weekend, such as riding ATVs or dune buggies, or jet-skiing. You can even take advantage of desert safari Dubai deals for a combination of heart-pumping activities for you and your friends. If go-karting is your adventure of choice, keep these helpful tips in mind so you can look forward to more fun and safe races in the future.