In many ways, the structure of the go
kart is simpler than that of a race car, but that constructive
simplicity can make the tuning and optimization even more complex.
While it may be possible to use advanced structural and aerodynamic
analysis to improve your kart's performance, most karters will agree
that is not necessary.
Following general guidelines for assembly,
seat mounting, and weight balancing should get you pretty far. The
little tweaks that come after that will improve your performance.
Some understanding of the forces on the kart will help the mechanic
and driver predict what happens when a parameter changes.
When it comes to driving, the most
impactful differences between a kart and a car are that the kart
lacks a differential and it lacks any suspension components.
Inside wheel lift
The most important part to remember is
that the kart must lift the inside wheel while cornering. Inside
wheel lift is what allows the kart to corner in a controlled way
Because there is no differential on a
kart, the two rear wheels are attached by a solid axle and must spin
at the same speed. When you go around a corner, the inside wheel is
traveling a shorter distance than the outside wheel. If it is
correctly lifted, it can rotate without skidding against the track.
If the inner rear wheel is not lifted
you may experience an initial understeer because the tire is
dragging, and then as you correct for it, the wheel lifts and you go
into a skid. This occurs because when the inner wheel lifted, you
did not have enough traction on the outer wheel to overcome the
centripetal (side) forces at the speed that you were going.
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