Beginners Guide to Go-Karting

Go-karting is a fun and exciting way to get out of the house and experience the most popular of motorsports. Of course, it can also be dangerous if you are not careful. That’s why it’s important that everyone who participates learns how to do it correctly so that they can have a safe time on the track. Here’s PMG Karting Worlds guide to everything you need to know about your first go-karting session!

What to expect

Before you race, it’s important to know what to expect. To start, go-karting is like any other sport: You need the right equipment and a good level of fitness if you’re racing to win. You’ll also need to be aware of the rules and regulations at your chosen track. Here are some things you should do before taking part:

Dress appropriately. Wear comfortable shoes that have good traction and protect against abrasions (they’re not just for football players). Comfortable clothing you can move and stretch in is best.

Warm up (or stretch!) before racing —this will help prevent injury during activity! Go Karting is a sport and you should ensure your body is warm and ready just like you would for any other sport!

Learn all about go-karting from our knowledgeable staff who can teach you how to drive safely and avoid accidents on the track — as well as give you tips and tricks to get the best lap times.

Go-karting is more physically demanding than you might expect

Unlike in a car, you have to use your whole body to control the kart. You’ll need to be able to shift your weight from side to side and steer while using both hands on the steering wheel. Your arms, back, and core all engage during a good racing session so you might find they become tired during and sore the day after.

It’s not like driving a car

You may be surprised to learn that the steering wheel of a go-kart looks like a car’s. This is because, on the surface, it is similar to driving a car. However, once you get behind the wheel yourself, you’ll find that there are some significant differences between driving a go-kart and a car. In order to drive well and have fun while doing so, there are certain things you need to keep in mind about how your body can affect your kart’s performance on the track.

Pedal Power

Keep your feet on the pedals at all times. You will need to be accelerating or braking at all times so keep looking ahead and planning your next move.

Do not press both pedals at the same time or press them too hard! This is an easy way to lose control of your kart and make an accident happen no matter how careful you are while driving.

It’s simple: The harder you press on the accelerator pedal, the faster your kart will go. But breaking is essential for a smooth lap! 

After you’ve got used to the pedals, start thinking about the breaking points.

You’ll have to brake at some point, so it’s important to get used to the pedals and where they are on your kart. Braking allows you to take a smoother, overall faster lap. While braking means losing some speed from an acceleration point of view, it also means that you won’t lose control of your kart and drop off the track – a costly mistake for most beginners!

Always try to keep your head up rather than looking down, you can plan your drive better that way, the key is looking ahead and anticipating what you need to do, and then reacting accordingly.

Always drive safely and obey all safety regulations. 

Wear all of the safety gear provided to you for your sessions.

Keep your distance from other drivers and the barriers, this will help you avoid unnecessary crashes!

Go steady until you’re confident in your control of the Kart.

That’s all there is to it! 

Go-karting can be a fun and exciting activity for anyone, but it does require some preparation. We hope this guide has made your first experience with go-karting even more enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you on the grid!