Load it up! The Key to Smooth and Fast Driving
The missing link between being silky smooth AND fast
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Some drivers are naturally gifted and don't need any concepts to drive fast, but for the rest of us, loading is a crucial concept to understand. Loading is what connects smoothness and speed, and allows us to drive at the limit of grip.
What is Smoothness?
Smoothness is not just about being gentle with the steering wheel, it's also about steering less and more gradually. In a kart, you can often barely see the steering inputs of a smooth driver.
When we drive fast we tend to want to speed up everything and that includes steering inputs. That leads to little slides and speed losses that aren’t that easy to perceive, except by the stopwatch.
But telling you to maintain that speed and ‘just drive a bit smoother’ isn’t all that helpful.
So you need a whole other way to think about it, and that's the idea behind thinking in terms of load.
Loading is the concept that will allow you to combine going as fast as you can, with being as smooth as you can.
What is Loading?
Loading is the term used to describe how forces build in the kart, especially the tyres and the chassis.
When you are cornering at the limit of grip, the kart is fully loaded.
The tyres are working hard to keep you on track, literally stretched to their limit. The chassis is flexed and twisted, the steering feels heavy, and you can feel a strong lateral force through your seat.
That's the feeling of being loaded to the maximum, and you have definitely experienced it, when hitting a nice fast corner, right on the limit.
The target with racing is to achieve that maximum loading feeling, for as much of the lap as you can.
How to achieve maximum loading
You can't just switch load on, you have to build it, steadily. You can't build it, then drop it, then build it. That way you'll never hit the target maximum load, you have to build build build, and squeeze to the limit.
My favourite way to describe it is with archery.
Loading is about how your kart bends and twists as it absorbs forces, it has no dampers so has to be carefully controlled to get the most from it. Considering how a skilled archer draws a bow is a great way to explain how you need to work your kart chassis.
If you want to fire an arrow with maximum force and accuracy, you have to draw the bow back at a steady and forceful rate, and you have to hold it perfectly still right at it's limit, and aim perfectly at the same time.
You can't wobble, release it a bit, have a rest then pull again. If that happens you can't hold the bow steady, and if you can't hold it perfectly steady, your aim will be shocking!
Equally, with a large bow, you can't pull it out too aggressively. You'll hit the bow's limit too hard, something will give. The bow might give up, the string can snap.
Now apply drawing a bow to loading up your kart
Think of it this way: when you enter a corner, you have to steer smoothly and progressively, increasing the steering angle until you begin to turn into the corner.
This is like drawing a bowstring back steadily and forcefully, building up tension in the bow as it bends. The kart is doing the same, building tension in the frame, and steadily loading the tyres.
Then, when you are at the apex of the corner, you have to hold the steering angle constant, keeping the kart on the limit of grip.
This is like holding a bow at full tension, aiming at the target and holding everything perfectly still, but at the same time full of energy.
Finally, when you exit the corner, you have to accelerate smoothly and progressively, reducing the steering angle until you straighten up.
This is like releasing an arrow smoothly and cleanly, while keeping your posture steady.
By loading and unloading the kart in this way, you can maximize your grip and cornering speed, while minimizing your steering inputs and corrections. You can drive smoothly and fast, just like an archer shooting accurately and powerfully.
Slack - Your enemy
Slack is the opposite of loading, and you want to avoid it as much as possible. Slack is how a bow feels when it is not drawn; limp and useless.
If you try to shoot an arrow with a slack bow, it will fall to the ground miserably. That's how a kart feels when no load is built up in it.
How to Eliminate Slack in Your Kart
Before you enter a corner, the kart's frame and tires are relaxed, without any significant tension.
They have some slack in them, which makes the kart less responsive and reluctant to steer without jerking the wheel.
But if you can eliminate this slack before entering the corner, something amazing happens.
The kart comes alive, exhibiting a heightened responsiveness that allows you to initiate the turn with less steering angle.
It feels dynamic and enables you to maneuver more accurately.
How do you eliminate slack in your kart before cornering? Here are some steps you can follow:
Leave a gap to the edge of the track. On the approach to the corner give yourself room at the edge of the track. This will allow you the space needed to take up the slack in the kart.
Use up the gap. Aim the kart toward the edge of the track gently, and get ready to begin loading the outside tyres to start taking up the slack.
Start taking up the slack. As you approach the edge of the track the kart will be steering away from the corner. Now is the time to gently begin the turn where you want to go, toward the corner. This will start to load the tyres on the outside of the kart, and that loading will take up the slack in the tyres and frame.
Keep the kart in a slight curve. Hold the load that you have built up in the chassis and tyres by keeping the kart travelling in a very slight curve (the slack curve). Hold that load in the kart until your reach your turn in point.
Turn in with a very responsive kart. When you reach your turn in point, you will feel the kart is ready to turn in. It might be so ready that you do not need to use any steering angle at all to initiate the turn.
Another cool way to eliminate slack in your kart is to brake with some rear slide but only if your corner requires heavy braking. You can learn more about braking here: (link to article)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
What are some common mistakes that cause drivers to lose load and grip?
Turning in too hard: If you turn too sharply, you will overload your kart too quickly, causing it to turn too much towards your apex. But then, when you steer away from your apex, you will reduce your load and grip, and lose speed.
Lack of gradual load buildup and smoothness: If you are not smooth with your steering inputs, you will prevent steady load buildup. Jerky motions in your kart will disrupt its load balance, ultimately reducing grip in corners.
Allowing your kart to slide, especially at the rear: When your rear slides during a corner, your kart loses load precisely when it should be at its maximum. Rebuilding that lost load takes time, leading to a loss of grip and speed.
Here’s your loading summary
Loading is the key to smooth and fast driving.
By loading and unloading our kart effectively, we can maximize our grip and cornering speed while minimizing our steering inputs and corrections.
We can become smoother and faster drivers by paying attention to how we load and unload our kart.
By following some simple tips, we can load and unload our kart effectively, eliminate slack in our kart, and avoid common mistakes that cause us to lose load and grip.
Thanks for reading (and listening!)
If this article doesn’t click with you, have a listen to the audio version at the top of the page, it should add context, because I talk off the cuff and approach it differently. Please have a listen.
Terence
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