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Nikos Alexiadis
Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 15
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: KZ2 Karting tips |
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Hello!
Nikos from Athens, Greece here!
Been karting for about two years...started from a 2002 CRG Road Rebel with a iame leopard, then moved on to 2006 Road Rebel with a rotax, then took that rotax and placed it onto a '09 Black Star (CRG again), then replaced the rotax with a Sonik-Maxter Senior KF4 engine and now finally I moved into real karting. The KZ2.
So here's my relatively new (one month old) KZ2 package. CRG Road Rebel '12 with a Maxter MXO. The chassis is straight from the CRG Italy racing department (used, with only one race) and the engine is brand new.
Here's a few pics:
Check out the carbon exhaust:
Since I am quite new to KZ karting, I would appreciate if you could give me some tips on mistakes I am making in the below video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs6qmIwB0dE
Thanks!  _________________ Nikos
CRG Road Rebel '12 / Maxter MXO '12 |
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Steve Buckner
Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Looks to me like your turn in is kicking out your rear. Look at the video and watch your hands, as you start your turn in you get out of the wheel right away. The fast left hander is ok, but the tight stuff is in,out,in. Take some grip out of the front.
Work on the shifting, which will get better as you put laps on it. I feel you are driving it like a stock honda. Keep the revs up and dont let it fall on its face. Icc needs to be on the pipe.
Now people will post back for ya.  |
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Mike Goebel
Joined: 28 Jul 2001 Posts: 5763 Location: United States, California, Winnetka
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I didn't watch the video but I can tell you that your helmet and driving attire match very well with your kart and when you think about it, that's all that really matters.
Mike G. |
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Nikos Alexiadis
Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 15
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| Steve Buckner wrote: | Looks to me like your turn in is kicking out your rear. Look at the video and watch your hands, as you start your turn in you get out of the wheel right away. The fast left hander is ok, but the tight stuff is in,out,in. Take some grip out of the front.
Work on the shifting, which will get better as you put laps on it. I feel you are driving it like a stock honda. Keep the revs up and dont let it fall on its face. Icc needs to be on the pipe.
Now people will post back for ya.  |
Yes, I've noticed that. I need to take some grip out of the front cause I keep turning into the corner too many times.
How's my braking? I feel that I'm loosing time on the tight "U" shape corners.
This is my 5th time ever in a KZ kart, so I think I'm doing OK although I am still about 1 second off the very top karters in this track (with same tires).  _________________ Nikos
CRG Road Rebel '12 / Maxter MXO '12 |
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Steve Buckner
Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Work on one corner at a time. If you feel that the U- shaped corners are your week spot then work on that corner. Go in deeper and try different line, play with your front to rear brake adjuster and see if that helps. I like 60/40 front to rear. Watch other drivers that are fast and see where whey start braking. Watch there foot and try to note that spot on the track.
I think if you work on the shifting going in and out of the corners, that is where you will pick up the most time. When you start to run 10-15 laps with .200 diff then you can change things and see what works for ya. Right now it will be hard to see if the small changes helped or not. SEAT TIME. |
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Spencer Uzri
Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 798
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Nice rig, Nikos.
What is that metal "flare" extending inward behind the back, left side of the radiator? Looks like it might be there to protect the radiator from rocks being flung up by the left, rear tire, but not sure so I thought to ask. |
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Chuck Parker
Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 506 Location: United States, New Jersey,
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Wish we could drive through the pits here in NJ. Been to NCMP during the week and did it, not sure if it is allowed there though. Are there any tracks here in the states you can drive through the pits legally. |
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Jimmy McNeil
Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 1453 Location: United States, California, visalia
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Looks like it might be there to protect the radiator from rocks being flung up by the left, rear tire, but not sure so I thought to ask. |
Thats it.
Love that radiator, same one I run in cold weather. |
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Jimmy McNeil
Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 1453 Location: United States, California, visalia
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Are there any tracks here in the states you can drive through the pits legally. |
All tracks in Cali, except on race day. |
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Nikos Alexiadis
Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 15
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:14 am Post subject: |
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| Spencer Uzri wrote: | Nice rig, Nikos.
What is that metal "flare" extending inward behind the back, left side of the radiator? Looks like it might be there to protect the radiator from rocks being flung up by the left, rear tire, but not sure so I thought to ask. |
Thanks man!
As mentioned, it is there to protect the inside of the radiator from rocks, rubber, etc.
But I'm not that happy with the radiator. My Maxter is working at around 60-62 C which is hot, cause here in Athens the temperature is a scorching 35+C! I'm looking into a pentagon KZ2 radiator in order to drop it down below 59C.
| Steve Buckner wrote: | | Work on one corner at a time. If you feel that the U- shaped corners are your week spot then work on that corner. Go in deeper and try different line, play with your front to rear brake adjuster and see if that helps. I like 60/40 front to rear. Watch other drivers that are fast and see where whey start braking. Watch there foot and try to note that spot on the track. |
I use the same brake distribution. 60/40 front vs rear. I like to have more brake in the front.
Question.
I'm thinking of changing the line as follows:
Instead of:
So I'll go deeper in the braking zone. Will I loose time by doing more meters in the track than others? Also, should I SLAM on the brake, or go in sloowly but steadily? I am doing the latter (as you can see).
| Quote: | | I think if you work on the shifting going in and out of the corners, that is where you will pick up the most time. |
Can you please explain what do you mean by this? Do you mean quicker shifting? _________________ Nikos
CRG Road Rebel '12 / Maxter MXO '12 |
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Steve Buckner
Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:44 am Post subject: |
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I'm thinking of changing the line as follows:
Instead of:
So I'll go deeper in the braking zone. Will I loose time by doing more meters in the track than others? Also, should I SLAM on the brake, or go in sloowly but steadily? I am doing the latter (as you can see).
The line you are going to change to will allow you to brake later or go in deeper to the corner. You can trail brake using that line. The only problem is it leaves the door open for some GUY to block your turn in point. The best way to find out what is faster overall is to have a Mycron system that lets you see segment times. Point A to B, B to C, C to D. ect.
So, the corner in question is in segment B to C and you try different line in and brake harder, then try the tighter line in and slow and steady braking. Look at the data and see which is faster for ya. Its not all about braking, your chassis setup can change all of the though. With all that grip you have in the front you feel that a tighter line is faster. Take some grip out of the front and it will change how you brake going in. TEST,TEST,TEST. | Quote: | | I think if you work on the shifting going in and out of the corners, that is where you will pick up the most time. |
Can you please explain what do you mean by this? Do you mean quicker shifting?[/quote]
Consistency is what you are looking for. Watching the video you can see miss shifts and being in the wrong gear on exit. Your timing on your shifts will get better and faster the more you drive that bitch. Try and count your downshifts in your head, this corner is 2 down, this one is 3 down and such. This works for some drivers and just overloads the mind of other drivers.
Hope this helps. 
Last edited by Steve Buckner on Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:40 am, edited 1 time in total |
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Tyson Henry
Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 341 Location: United States, Texas, Arlington
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| Steve Buckner wrote: | Try and count your downshifts in your head, this corner is 2 down, this one is 3 down and such. This works for some drivers and just overloads the mind of other drivers.
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So true. That's how I do it also. But, I have a couple friends that just can't seem to keep track of counting and driving at the same time. Guess they will just have to lap until it is second nature. |
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Steve Buckner
Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:26 am Post subject: |
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http://youtu.be/WEdNrA_0qIM
Here is the master at work. Listen to the rpm and shift points. |
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Nikos Alexiadis
Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 15
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:56 am Post subject: |
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Yeah! He's awesome!
Many thanks for your valuable help Steve!
Although I have an Alfano that shows which gear I'm in, some times I keep count in my head, i.e. "here I'm going 3 gears down..." etc.
I will work on all of those this Saturday. Step-by-step. Practice makes perfect they say.
The package is just phenomenal and gives you LOADS of confidence to push! _________________ Nikos
CRG Road Rebel '12 / Maxter MXO '12 |
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Steve Buckner
Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 839
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:03 am Post subject: |
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Have fun Nikos. Checking to see if you balls are there before you go out is a good thing. |
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