Sharing of Set-Up information

Brian Kay · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 8:58 am Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

Here's something I've meant to bring up for some time.

Question: To what extent does chassis set-up info transfer from one driver to another on the same brand??

I have my opinion, but I trust you guys (and girls) to shoot it down if I'm off base!!

I hear alot of newer drivers talk about buying a brand that is common at the track so that, in theory, there will be abundant set-up info.

After subscribing to that way of thinking some years ago, I began to doubt it's merit. At one race, there was 6 or 7 of us, all on the same make / model chassis under a factory team tent. The set-ups varied wildly!! Basically, each driver had to tune his own chassis his own way to get it to work.

I've witnessed drivers who walk from tent to tent for set-up info, only to tune themselves off the planet in the end.

So I ask you, to what extent is someone else's set-up info usefull with all of the variables involved? Are general terms like: soft, wide, hard, in, out, etc, etc, even applicable? AND if so, would they have been applicable to some extent for a different chassis?

IMO, if you have a basic knowledge of set-up, it shouldnt matter if there's 1 or 100 other karts like yours at the track.

Am I on crack? Do I ask too many questions?

Thanks,

BK - T2R

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

If you've got a new kart or are at a new track, you might as well put on the set up that someone else has found to work to start with and adjust from there rather than start from scratch. It's not really a reason to choose a kart though, easyness of getting spares is a far better reason for choosing a popular kart.

Steve Clark · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 9:21 am Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

Brian,

This is not an answer to your question. As a rookie I will be looking the answers.

I saw you a few weeks ago running down in Leamington, ON. Based on what I overheard you were doing some kind of corporate training session. Will you be in Leamington again. I would really enjoy a training session like that.

Sorry if the forum is the wrong place for a question like this.

Steve

Rick Blood · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 9:43 am Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

Doing some basic math with the basic elements of setup, there are 784 combinations on a kart. This does not include weight bias or the fine tuning of most components or geometry. What are the chances that you would end up with the same setup as the next guy?
I agree with Mary-Ann for a starting point and then rely on the best data aquisition you have, yourself.

Mark Schmidt · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 12:46 pm Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

okay for those of us stuck in antiquated syatem that do no collect data, how do you start from Scratch. I know what I did was find someone in the same brand close to me build and talked to him. THat was a good starting point.

Brian Kay · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 1:28 pm Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

Steve, you can e-mail people privately by clicking on the little envelope above their post.

Saw your other post about jetting.

If we hook up some time at PKC, we can find your motor's jetting baseline. Definately try to pick up a RAD guage in the meantime.

I use a Flex-Light to inspect the piston top for burn pattern, or "wash". Be happy to show you what I mean.

Talk to you later,

Brian K - T2R

Charlie Tackett · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 2:44 pm Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

What share set-up info with T2????

I agree with you on the issue. That's one reason I have always willingly shared info with folks who ask for help. One, I think it is better for the sport overall. Two, it reflects well for our sponsors. Three, they ain't got Ted driving there kart.

What may work for one driver and his/her style may not work for another. It may get you into the ball park, but it may not be 4-bagger set-up for you.

ps THough I agree with your comments, that does not necessarily rule out whether or not you are on crack!

Marc Miller · Advertiser Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1834

That is true... BK is definately on crack... but Brian is right.. driver's have different likes. Brian likes a kart to push like a pig *grin* coming from sedans and autoX.... I come from formula cars and like the kart to steer super easy and have it loose in the rear.

I have no qualms about giving my set-ups, gear ratios, carb settings..everything away.. I even will give data from the DA.... because (1) like Charlie said, it may make the competition better and (2) I am the one in my kart and I have faith in my set-up and driving.

I think every driver has or WILL find their comfort zone where THAT individual will be at their best. They just need to have enough knowledge or help from someone to adjust the kart to their comfort zone. The speed will come from that comfort. I think there are very few who would like my kart if they drove it.... and vice versa with them.

MM

Chris Wehrheim · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2001 5:23 am Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

I believe that shraing info on set up is always usefull and this is why. My teammate and Brandon Adkins like are set up tottaly 2 different ways. He likes his Loose and I like mine with lots of grip. So if my kart has to much grip and it hops i can go over to him and ask whats your set up in the rear. So if he says I am running 53 in. wide in the rear; I can take an inch or an inch and a half off that number and widen my rear track out.

Brant Williams · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2001 10:59 am Post subject: Sharing of Set-Up information

I think a fast setup is a fast setup, no matter who drives it.

Before the 99 GN's I was testing at Santa Maria. There were some fast guys there (Gold number panels) and felt pretty good about how I was stacking up.

Just for the heck of it, I asked Matt Johnson to take some laps in my KT-Hvy Set-up. I wanted his opinion. I thought the car was really good...and the clock said it was. In reality it was a driver check as much as anything as Matt is one of the best Region 7 guys despite not having the yellow panels....

I told him to drive 100%...like he was qualifiying...didn't care if he put it off...After about 12 laps, when he came in he told me the kart was awesome, and it made him want to run KT again.

The thing was, when I looked at the data later, we had RADICALLY different styles. I tended to not trail brake nearly as much & turned in later, and was generally faster into the turn. Matt would trail brake BIG TIME...all the way to the apex when he jumped on the gas. He was almost getting on the gas before he got off the brakes. He was faster off the turn..by about 1-1.5 mph in #3! Overall he was about .10-.12s per lap faster. Which was about what I expected as I had about 10-15 Lbs on him..and frankly, he's pretty damned good....

Interestingly we both thought the kart couldn't be much better, even though we had totally different styles.

So a fast kart is a fast kart. But if I some one with the same chassis came over and asked me about the settings and I agreed to tell them what they asked for, and they didn't ask for ALL the settings, they would be lost.

Widths, Tire Pressures, Gear, Pipe Clutch, Seat Placement won't do much for you if you don't ask about the other 1/2 of the story:

That maybe I am running the rear axle 2cm Aysymetric, that I have special splindles on the car to put more positive camber into the front, that I have taken caster out of the front with eccentrics and I have the front spndles low and the axle high!

This sounds funny, but it is almost exactly what happened at that years GN's when someone came over to ask me for help. They asked me a bunch of questions, and I told them the truth. Only they only asked 1/2 the questions! Half a set-up will slow you down like you won't believe.

[ August 02, 2001: Message edited by: Brant Williams ]