DirtKarting

AceCo55

Taken at last meet. These karts race on a dirt track rather than bitumen - so the better drivers just power slide through corners (bit like drifting I guess) and often lift a wheel as they do it. In wet weather (if they can still race) it pays to be the fastest in your class ... back markers get showered with wet dirt! Real family sport with Mum and/or Dad also racing.
#1


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#3 This kid (13yo) is current State champion in his class


#4


#5 Red tape over the number means he has just moved into this class and must race from the "rear of the field" for 6 race meetings


#6 Young guy ... won two classes that day

jmp2204

nice

mercphoto

Very different from the pavement kart racing I used to do! In that you want (need!) the rear tire to lift in order to corner. In dirt you need the front tire to lift in order to corner.

AceCo55

How do you get a rear wheel to lift? Certainly makes for exciting racing.

mercphoto

AceCo55 wrote: »

How do you get a rear wheel to lift? Certainly makes for exciting racing.

It has to do with the fact that a kart's steering has a large castor angle and the fact the kart has no suspension whatsoever. That castor angle in the steering means that as the tires turn one will drop and the other will lift. At this point all four tires do not exist in the same plane anymore, so one tire will have to be airborne (because there is no suspension to drop to keep the tires all down). The question is, will it be the inside rear or the outside front that lifts? You can make the kart lift the rear tire by driving the kart into the corner while still under brakes and with a rather quick and deliberate turn-in on corner entry.

AceCo55

Then I'm very glad to be on this side of the camera!!!! Glad to see you survived!

Dirtkarts are a really good day out - exciting, great people (nothing for competitors to help each out with spares, tools and advice). I just have a great day at each meet ... and with no photographer for a 100miles, they are appreciative of someone taking action photos of them. I come away each weekend feeling good.