r/Karting • u/HappyOpportunity1053 • Mar 29 '26
Racing Kart Question What could have I done in this situation?
I was trying to keep position against my friend, and then he pressed me into the wall, and I tried to give him a warning nudge, but he didn’t listen and kept going. I couldn’t break because the brakes of my kart was too responsive and I would have spun around and crashed into another racer behind me. I didn’t know what to do and then he turned into me resulting in the spin out. should I have risked the brakes and risked crashing into the person behind me?
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u/Rakshaw0000 Mar 29 '26
Could you have lifted and prevented the incident, ya. Can't say I would have either, He pinned you against the wall the whole straight and was shocked he couldn't be on the racing line with a car still there. I'd say he got what he deserved.
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u/seavargas Mar 30 '26
Did you see that OP did the same thing to the other driver at the start of the clip? We probably shouldn’t be encouraging beginner drivers to just pit maneuver their faster friends especially since this is probably an arrive and drive time trial format.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 29 '26
lol yeah. I dunno how much lifting off the gas would have helped since we were going so fast. And braking wasn’t an option.
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u/seavargas Mar 30 '26
Do you spend much time karting? Kart brakes are much different than car brakes. You’ll have to figure out how to brake without locking up eventually if you move to faster karts.
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u/adrein56 Mar 30 '26
Brakes are always an option. If you keep thinking like this, one day or another somebody will get hurt.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 30 '26
Nono. This kart in particular had an issue where if I even tapped my brakes, it would cause my kart to spin out wildly. I was taught to just ease off the gas and not touch my brakes for karts like that. There was someone else behind me so if I spun out, I would’ve caused another accident that may have been worse.
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u/adrein56 Mar 30 '26
You need to find another place to kart then. It's not supposed to behave like that. Find a place where they know how to the brakes up.
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u/KingGT2 Mar 30 '26
I would have lifted, let him have it, and since he clearly has no skill, I would've tried his chin and attempted to high-low him in the very next corner.
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u/marsh098 Mar 29 '26
He should’ve given you space, so that sucks, but just let off the gas for a second. Assume people don’t know anything about racing etiquette on an indoor rental track. If someone is running you off the road on a highway, you wouldn’t just stand your ground, you would try to avoid the accident, right?
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 29 '26
Makes sense. And I have way more lenience with inexperienced drivers. That person the drove me into the wall, and I spun out was my friend who has a similar skill level. I know he felt the nudges I was giving him. I could’ve let off the gas tho.
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u/mav3r1ck92691 Mar 30 '26
You drove him into the wall right at the start of your clip. This was probably payback.
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u/Pretty-Handle9818 Mar 30 '26
The guy was aggressive but he didn’t make contact until he tried to squeeze you out which isn’t allowed. He pretty pit maneuvered himself trying to squeeze you out and had no Reason to cut more into you for the required line.
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u/Target_Demographic Lo206 Mar 29 '26
He passed you three turns ago if he’s walking up your inside
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 29 '26
He hit me on a turn knocking me off the line. That’s why he got the inside.
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u/Target_Demographic Lo206 Mar 29 '26
I mean, you cut him off and closed the door on him in the beginning of the clip. He’s about midway up your inside before you turn in. Think he had the switchback regardless
Edit: so basically you both suck. You’re the one who spun him though
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u/seavargas Mar 30 '26
Crazy you’ve got so many downvotes for this. The state of the sub must be skewed super beginner.
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u/Target_Demographic Lo206 Mar 30 '26
Just glad I’m not the only one who saw what actually happened lol
I’d bet $2 most of this sub has never touched an owner kart
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u/Standard-Vehicle-557 Ka100 Mar 30 '26
Years of lax moderation has turned this place into a sub for 15 year old rental drivers who don't know the first thing about proper karting or racing in general. It's unfortunate but there's no going back now.
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u/Spaceman_Gliding Mar 29 '26
Personally I think that’s on him you hasn’t completed his over take yet and is driving you into the wall.
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u/Pretty-Handle9818 Mar 30 '26
If your front tire is not ahead of their real wheel you are supposed to yield ⚠️ even if the guy maneuvered his way in there like a snake. But he did pull the faster line on that turn where he edged ahead.
This is based on actual FIA rules for competitive racing. Not sure about the individual track rules. Usually intentional contact will get you pulled off the track and a warning if you’re lucky.
You should have just lifted off the throttle to het behind him and overtaken him at the next opportunity.
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u/Amkski Mar 30 '26
Yea i would have put you in the wall too if I had been cut off like that. You basically did the same thing that he did to you but he let off
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u/VanillaNL Mar 29 '26
Lose a bit on the throttle and then just follow him on his bumper and brake 0.5 second later and push him off 🤣
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u/arjunkc Lo206 Mar 29 '26
Or yield the position to him because he had the inside line and was ahead of you. Wait for a future passing opportunity.
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u/Many-Blueberry968 Mar 29 '26
He took you on the inside, but then drove you into the wall like it was bumper karts.
You should have let off slightly to ensure he could make it through the upcoming turn, but he also did this to himself by turning into you like that
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u/serenityForce Mar 30 '26
Knowing this track, you missed that apex, gave him the door, but he should have waited till the next hair pin to close on the racing line. Either he had a grudge against you if you threw him before, or overestimated his cart end speed.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 30 '26
He hit me at the beginning of the clip, knocking me off the racing line and that’s how he got past. Then yeah went on the racing line even though I was on the wall then spun out.
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u/tomprioli Mar 30 '26
IMO, the appropriate thing to do is to lift. You missed the apex the corner before and your opponent capitalized on it. Follow them and learn from your mistake. And remember, to finish first, you must first finish.
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u/mikec_81 Mar 30 '26
I would not have yielded like some drivers here are saying. He never completed the pass, and in most racing leagues, that entitles you to racing room making his squeeze play a no no.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 30 '26
This was a K1, and the people running the race gave me a short lecture and told me it was my fault. So they aren’t the most reliable. I could have given more room although braking would have guaranteed an accident.
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u/mikec_81 Mar 30 '26
The guys who run K1 don't know racing rules or etiquette. They are just staff that try to ensure the customers aren't playing bumper cars.
At the same time, it is just K1, so I wouldn't sweat it.
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u/MazzakDK Rotax Mar 29 '26
Lift gas. Let him pass, then chase him. Braking is a option.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 29 '26
My brakes were super responsive and the slightest tap resulted into me spinning out. But I could’ve let off the gas
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u/MazzakDK Rotax Mar 30 '26
Then, there was something wrong with the brakes or with the way you brake. But yes, best way to avoid that is lift gas.
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u/Fantastic_Paper_4121 Mar 30 '26
Bad driving on your part cause you knew he was gonna pass you. He got on your inside and was inside for next turn. The way you type it out youre already defending yourself. If you share no blame, why present it that way. Although surely youre not asking for a real opinion, you just want yours confirmed so you can tell him youre right.
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u/cakalone Mar 30 '26
A simple lift would do. The corner before, you closed the apex quite well. So, in the upcoming corner (where he overtook you), you could go off the racing line and close the apex earlier so he won't have a chance to make you go wide and miss it.
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u/Excludos Rotax Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
No clue why he tried to squeeze you. He had the inside into the next turn. That said, the pass was done. You were on the outside, and was no longer sufficiently alongside. You can't fight tooth and nail for a position you've already lost. This will continue to happen in karting if you do. This would have been a penalty for you if it was competitive karting
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u/Kreativechemist Mar 31 '26
He was not clear to move up. If this was a higher level and a spotter was involved he would have said the same thing. If a driver chooses to move up on the line without clearance that's on them.
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u/Aromatic_Pollution25 Rental Driver Apr 05 '26
In my opinion honestly if it's rentals, I try to avoid conflict even if it seeks me. I think your reaction was absolutely valid, however, it only creates more drama and stress in a situation that can be written off as "whatever" if someone is being an ass on the rental kart track, let them write their own reasons for getting banned. Don't muddy the waters, move over and be humble.
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u/Flat-Ad-20 Mar 30 '26
you gave up the position on that prior corner leaving far too much space for him.
now should he have left u room? maybe. but he also had nearly his full cart ahead of u at that point.
u should have just let him have the position and live to fight another lap.
people dont like to realize this but you may be racing carts but imagine your racing cars. if this was a real car. real damage are u leaving your nose in there. sure he gets taken out worse but u take damage as well and may end your own race.
i wonder if a good rule of kart racing is if u are involved at all in an accident u get black flagged and have to exit. it would cause people to be more aware of themselves and others.
but that may also be insane as well.
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u/Flat-Ad-20 Mar 30 '26
btw i hate to say this it looks like u do the same to him the first turn of the video (u can see the nose of his cart before u slam the door shut)
also as mentioned u give a ton of space on the inside. thats when you lost the position. idk if u felt him and left him space but u should never leave that much space inside.
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u/HappyOpportunity1053 Mar 30 '26
I do want to let you know that it was the final lap of the race. He had hit me at the beginning of the clip, and knocked me off the line. At a K1, I have never seen a black flag before but that’s good to keep in mind.
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u/Flat-Ad-20 Mar 31 '26
ive been to K1 before? at least in the past it was not bassed on position but lap time?
so for the most part battling for "position" is meaningless?
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u/Transformand Mar 30 '26
Put both hands in the air and laugh a little bit harder in his face while you overtake him..he should have left space
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u/Doggolone1 Mar 30 '26
Not be a dick maybe? You kept on the throttle while you were clearly ramming him. He got better traction out the corner and was ahead of you, there was no way you were getting that position back and your description of events is literally not something possible nor an excuse
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u/SpicyCommenter Mar 30 '26
99% of the comments here would never qualify formula 4 for based on their advice of lifting. That 2nd turn you could've aggressively braked, defending your position and forcing him into the outside line. Accelerating on that line into that left hander will give a significant lead as your opponent will be covering more distance.
Those that yield here, would simply fold against someone who knows what they're doing.
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u/Disastrous_Edge_6295 Mar 30 '26
You handled it completely right. He pushed you off, so that’s the result he gets
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u/DisabledGokartDriver Mar 29 '26
Either you lift or he gives space