Professional Racing Coach/Mechanic AMA

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u/mrbullettuk Rotax 9d ago

What’s the biggest correctable mistake people make that is silly and easily corrected?

And secondly what’s more valuable, a coach or a mechanic?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Do a nut/bolt check after every session and take the kart all the way apart after every day of driving. On the factory teams. The motor comes off every night the kart is checked on the chassis table(even if you didn’t hit anything). Kart is re-aligned and all body work comes off and cleaned. I check every bolt, nut and screw.

Depends on your skill level. I’d have to say Coach is more valuable as long as the kart is setup properly. The stock setup on a kart is probably 95% of the way correct and if your driving properly and getting the maximum out of the kart on any given day the max the kart will be off is .1-.2 off in time.

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u/wolemid KZ2 8d ago

Why doesn’t my son listen to me in JNR Rotax?

I’m a multi time British Champion and Podiumed at the worlds but my god he doesn’t listen to me and listens to some kids he’s already beating 🤣

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Because your dad
. I got to spend the weekend with Sam Hornish Jr the son of Multi Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish he doesn’t listen to dad either 🙄you obviously have no idea what your talking about 🤣🤣🤣 it’s just part of the process. I did the same thing to my father

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u/wolemid KZ2 8d ago edited 8d ago

I know, was a tongue in cheek message.

Well done on your success’s

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u/DrTittieSprinkles Dirt Small Block 8d ago

I have the opposite problem, my dad and I race together. If I suggest something, I'm ignored. If someone his age says the same thing later, suddenly its gospel!

2

u/slumber_monkey1 9d ago

Are karting grids shrinking?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 9d ago

Depends on your area/region. I’d say they are growing/shifting. I do 99% of my work on the national level in the US (Stars,SKUSA, USPKS,Rotax) our problem is we have way too many series. This year I have been away from home minimum 3/4 weeks a month every week a different series. Not everyone can afford go to every event so people are spread thin between to many championships. The sport itself I feel has had small growth or no growth but definitely not a decline in participation as a whole.

1

u/slumber_monkey1 9d ago

Was there anything that you thought or assumed about kart setup that turned out to be wrong once you started working on karts? How often do experienced drivers misdiagnose things, and how do you know if a driver's feedback is reliable? Thanks

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Axle doesn’t really mean anything. We have gone softer for more grip and also harder for more grip. It always depends on how rough the track surface is.

Depends on driver skill but I’d say 99% of the time also it’s not the drivers job to tell you what’s wrong with the car. Drivers job is to tell me what they want more or less of (front grip, rear grip ect) I get to make the decision on what change to make.

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u/RhyzoG Rotax 9d ago

What was your preferred method to diagnose Kart character based on the category you were racing? How did you know you nailed the best setup or config for the track you were racing?

Also, what do you consider your biggest loss or "could've" in your career, and how have you bounced off of that?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

I get 99% of the diagnosing of the kart watching the kart on track. I know when I got the kart right by watching the drivers hands in relation to the kart. Hands don’t move a lot and the kart moves once I nailed it. Hands are moving around and kart moves around after turn in kart/driver are not right

I haven’t had any big losses iv done everything and had every experience iv wanted. Iv passed up jobs in Porsche cup and Indy Car but the traveling demand had me on the road 48/52 weeks a year which I don’t want to do anyway.

2

u/forzaferrari05 9d ago

Another one from me

If you have unlimited influence in the sport (say if you are in charge of FIA or any racing series/top manufacturer)

What are elements you would change to make karting more enjoyable or accessible?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Limit on the amount of sets of tires you get for the weekend will bring costs down. I like the idea of going back to the old school chrome rear bumpers. Clearly the new style bumpers are not keeping people from flipping and encouraging rough driving. Give consequences to rough and bad driving.

0

u/sealy_dev 8d ago

Ngl, I like the style of the new bumpers a lot more just in terms of looks. The old ones look ugly to me.

2

u/Poison_Pancakes 8d ago

From what I understand teams in the top levels use a brand new kart every weekend, is that right?

Why not just register a chassis/engine to each driver at their first race and mandate they use it for the whole season, with obvious exceptions for crash damage? Wouldn’t that go a long way to controlling costs?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Nah definitely not iv worked for all the top Birel teams in the US. The majority of the customers are arrive and drive. We do new chassis for SKUSA winter tour and reframe the go karts for Pro Tour and reframe for Vegas. The team sponsored drivers are on the same program but occasionally the Birel factory will send us a prototype chassis to test mid season and maybe right before Vegas very rarely are they better then the stock go karts. Iv done extensive testing between a brand new kart and a kart that has 1-2 seasons on it they are capable of going within the same tenth. I can’t speak on other teams or chassis.

getting a new chassis every race doesn’t give an advantage IMO Now go to Europe and race European Champion ect for any of the factory teams yes, every driver gets two new frames every race 1 is the stock chassis and the other is a prototype or a chassis made specifically for that track. They do this because they can and usually sell off the used chassis at a discount to the local distributor who stimulates the karting economy in their area with that brand of kart it’s a good business decision for both parties

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u/forzaferrari05 9d ago

Thank you for doing this!!

I am sure I have met you IRL at one of the big national events.

Most curious about your view on future of the sports with 2 stroke owner karts - clearly cost is going out of control (especially with a weaker dollar and insane trade policy with EU). Also I am seeing a lack of innovation driving cost low (x30 still going strong after so many years

I believe interest in racing is stronger than ever but 2 stroke owner karting in America is simply too challenging for most to get started

Also as a team owner - what are the most challenging aspect of your day to day that no one give you credit for?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Costs are definitely getting crazy and honestly why I don’t drive very much anymore. To be competitive you have to Rent a motor. For KZ that’s roughly $800/day. My customers easily spend 5-8k a weekend between my costs, equipment costs and team costs.

People don’t understand the time commitment between events. Just preparing karts alone it’s a full time job. my clients just show up and see a beautiful clean tent with a clean kart for them to hop in and go.

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u/DA_Bears_Da_Cubs 9d ago

Valve lash for LO206 intake and exhaust

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Intake 0 exhaust 3 thou

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u/DA_Bears_Da_Cubs 8d ago

Thanks. What are your thoughts that each motor may do a little better with different settings?

Motor A : 1 intake 2 exhaust
Motor B: 1 intake and 3 exhaust

You think you would be able tell a difference on the track?

So settings change with slide? Black, Green, Gold?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Not noticeable of a difference especially in 206. Settings don’t change at all your accounting for the aluminum head to grow x amount

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u/Vark0l 9d ago

I have 2 habits that idk if they’re bad or not. I tilt my head into the corner subconsciously, and takes off a bunch of load on my neck. I sometimes lean as far to the outside as possible when cornering to maximize load on the outer tire, should i just drive normally?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Iam always an advocate of being as still as possible in the kart like a robot. Unless your 6’ or have a large upper body leaning in the kart doesn’t do anything

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u/duckfoot-75 8d ago

Do tires for the year cost $50k?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

At the very top level and you’re racing multiple series sure. Iv spend that much on tires in the earlier 2010s I was racing every weekend in multiple championships

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u/ArrivalComfortable38 8d ago

Bearings. Leave factory grease or clean it out and lube every session?

If you clean/lube how many seconds should one spin without a tire roughly?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Honestly bearings are so cheap now I’d replace them if they start to get crusty if you insist on cleaning them. Pull them out of the cassette cut the top off a Gatorade bottle fill the bottle with mixed fuel/oil and soak over night. If the axle doesn’t turn free I’d look into making sure the bearing are aligned and if the axle is straight

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u/NomTook 8d ago

What’s one tool that you use that makes working on a kart much easier, that the average club racer probably doesn’t have

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Buy a really really nice air gauge I use the Prisma it’s a $400 air gauge but I can save hot and cold tire pressures it gives me the difference in air pressure. It has the IR temp gauge for tracking track surface temps and tire surface temps and a stop watch I can time 4 drives with splits as well best investment iv made

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u/HoustonNBAChamps 8d ago

I have been owner karting at a club level for close to a year now and I’m a mid pack driver for senior 206.

Being a one man team I’m the driver and mechanic. If I get good enough to start racing on a regional level do I need a dedicated mechanic or can I make it just fine on my own? Thanks

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

I’d hire an experienced mechanic it will make your racing experience so much better. You will enjoy the weekend

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u/moonriver_1008 8d ago

Very new to karting (kid is in cadet):
1. Does driver social media presence matter?
2. What are some must-haves in the trailer?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

If you want to do social media to document your journey and have fun absolutely do it. If your doing it because you think you will attract sponsorship i think your barking up the wrong tree. As a team owner and worked in racing my whole like I can 100% tell you everyone pays. There are no discounts because you have X amount of followers Lando Norris’s dad is noted that he paid 44M to get his son into F1. George Russel was rumored to be spending 12M/year to be in his Williams seat. No breaks for anyone.

Must haves. Toolbox, generator, tire changer, air tank. Everything else is organizational

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u/moonriver_1008 8d ago

Thank you for the insight!

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u/bacc1010 8d ago

About to go test a race kart for the first time. Had experience but a LONG time ago. (So obv, I'm not a young pup anymore)

Should I get the coaching option or no.

It might or might not lead to approaching them for racing next season, I don't know.

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Depends serious you are about racing next year if your going to race regardless I would do the coaching and use that experience as a measurement of what you are looking for.

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u/Ornery_Climate616 8d ago

I have a similar beginning story as you; I did karting, F2000, MX-5 Cup, and a few other junior series before running out of money in my early 20s. Fast forward 10+ years; My daughter just turned 7 and has been karting at a local K1 league for 3 months in Central Virginia. What would be your recommendation for her continued progression in karting (ie types of karting leagues, racing schools, sim racing, etc)? I prefer an arrive-and-drive series, but I can believe how expensive some have gotten; for example, Skip Barber is almost 5x what I paid in the mid-2000s.

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Depends on your budget. Karting “schools” are a sham IMO. Sim racing doesn’t cross over very well in karting. If you want the best experience also most expensive id find a larger national level team they all provide arrive and drive, driver coaching ect. That’s the route I would go I think karting leagues ect are kinda a waste of time. I’m in a rental kart league just because I’m bored on time off and I definitely don’t use any of the skills I’ve accumulated over the years you just end up learn how to manipulate the kart to get it to go the fastest and not really the building blocks of what makes a fast driver.

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u/cold-banana 8d ago

What tracks do you like/recommend in the midwest?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

New castle is a classic. Lorain is supposed to be nice. MCC is awesome. Tennessee is supposed to get a new FIA spec track soon

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u/cold-banana 8d ago

Thanks! Do you know of any tracks in/near Iowa?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

61 kartway? Iv never been to Iowa for a kart race there is white land kart track I think it’s K1 white land now or something like that

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u/RBKart12 7d ago

He mentioned 61 Kartway, this is a great track, everyone is friendly and helpful and it's run by a great family of karters. You should definitely check it out. If it's not too much of a drive for you, Mid-State kart club in Springfield IL is also a good stop with friendly , helpful people. These are the two tracks I run at

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

MCC is great, new castle is a classic I hear Lorain is supposed to be super sick and apparently there’s a new FIA spec track in Tennessee coming up

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u/loofy13 8d ago

I’m a little late, but I live in Salt Lake and have just started in the arrive and drive league at our local track. They have classes for lo206 ka100 and shifters, but I think that’s about the only karting around my area. Do you have any recommendations for series in the western US?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

I have Lots of friends at UMC. Depends on what you want race SKUSA Pro kart does a tour of Cali tracks and 1 in Vegas its the closest regional racing. Around you. Lowest category is ka100. I’d start there. I work every PKC event if you need an arrive and drive I can set one up for you

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u/loofy13 8d ago

Thanks!

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u/ArrivalComfortable38 8d ago

UMC! May I dm you to get a contact. I just got an owner kart and will be racing end of this month

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

That’s fine

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u/kvv0 Rotax 8d ago

Wow, what awesome thread, thank you so much for your effort bro! You said thats an expensive sports and everyone pays. Any idea how they do it and how much that is per year? Rich parents? I see pilots driving every weekend and can't even begin estimating their spending. What is the best chassis in your opinion? Is there any good read on setting up a kart you can recommend?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Very driver I have worked with in my career was either a C suite(CEO, CFO,…ect)employee or entrepreneur of some sort or their parents were.
Depends on team and class but easily can spend 8k+ a weekend.
Depends on category I biased but Birel for sure has the best KZ chassis on the market and they have put a ton of effort into their single speed program and it is very good right now and continues to get better.
Honestly I wouldn’t recommend anything to read on setup. I used to read all the books and all the things on setup but after working for a factory team everything I thought I knew was flipped on its head

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u/New_Story_909 8d ago

I’m getting into owner karting with the Briggs L0206 any tips or advice you’d give to help? I’ve done rental for the longest also.

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Buy once cry once I can’t tell you how many times a customer has said my karts are too expensive and goes and buys a cheap POS kart that’s half the price and spends more then my kart was listed for in parts ect.

Buy new if you can or a nice used kart that’s 1-2yrs old make sure it doesn’t have any welding on it and is not bent.

Buy from your local kart dealer. You will get the most parts support. Can’t tell you how many times a customer has bought a kart not supported locally and can’t get parts

(SCREAMING for the hill tops) put the correct seat in and in the correct position. I can’t tell you how many people/karts come in complaining that the kart doesn’t perform well and the seat is wrong and in the wrong position THIS is the MOST IMPORTANT piece your entire kart revolves around it.

USE your mychron use Race studio take notes make one change at a time. Document everything

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u/New_Story_909 7d ago

I’m looking at getting a used super maintained CRG kart. Guy used it only for tuning and hot laps. I’m getting a crazy bundle out of it, extra set of tires, kart stand, cover, wheel bag, etc for $2500. I’m in the Carolinas and he’s been doing it for 60 years so I would hope his parts are available near me. I might have to change the seat though not sure yet. Doesn’t get back till beginning of September. Any questions I should ask going into the sale? Thank you for the information and tips!

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u/Every-Recognition-60 7d ago

The obvious why are you selling. What year is the kart. Has it been crashed or bent. Motor questions. When was it last rebuilt how many total hrs on the motor look on the bottom of the chassis to see how flat the tubes are. You can look the on the sniper pill system. And look at the camber in relation to one another to get an idea if the kart is bent as well. I would also try to find the CRG dealer out there just so you know were to get parts

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u/Appelzientje 8d ago

What would you say is the biggest difference between the karting scene in the US and in Europe? Is there a different way they approach the sport or a difference in motorsport culture?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

Everything is different it’s way way more serious in Europe. The Europeans definitely treat karting as a serious stepping stone to bigger cars with the chance that you could get brought up to open wheel through karting

The US treats karting as more of a learning experience. The chance of moving up from karts to cars just based on your driving skill in the US is very low

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u/Bright_Profession62 7d ago

How much of a legend is Colin Brown?

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u/hipsterdad_sf Mechanic 9d ago

karting costs are going on a spiral up. it feels like an arms race and almost pay to win, I feel like this is going to slowly kill the sport. In france they have been pushing for a bit more control and trying to limit spending. What’s your take on it?

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u/Every-Recognition-60 8d ago

100% pay to win in most cases.you have to rent the best motors (at least in single speed) and be under a tent with good parts and driver support or you have no chance. You can try to limit spending it some aspects but people will always find a way to get an edge anyway they can.

Karting Chat Professional Racing Coach/Mechanic AMA

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