karting is fun (first time kart experience)
 

Went with a buncha friends to <a href="http://www.lemanskarting.com/index.html">LeMans Karting</a> in Fremont, local digs for the "Bay Area AW Crew" (you know who you are). All of us were noobs, with one person having gone there once before, and one other person who did karting at some other place (I'm guessing Speedring?).

I started off a little tentative, being a little worried about spinning out, plus just getting to know the kart and track. Then, when I though I cooked a turn, the car hung tight. "whoa..." *big ass grin* Now we're talking!

So I'm not doing too bad, my times are dropping fairly consistently, move up a few spots, then I have my one and only spinout (locked up the brakes :( ), at turn 1
<img src="http://www.lemanskarting.com/images/about/lemans_karting_circuit.jpg">, the end of the fastest stretch of track. I end up spinning 180 degrees, facing oncoming traffic. Oddly, I'm not <b>too</b> freaked, as (what was IMO) plenty of space on either side of me to go around. The guy behind me ("A") brakes, and ends up just tapping me. Okay, that wasn't so bad. Then, WHAM, I get hit really hard, and thrown partway out of my seat. It all happend pretty fast, but I found out after we were done, another guy ("B") apparently slammed into A, who then slammed into me. Which going over it afterwards in my head makes sense. It was a pretty severe (IMO) impact, and I was a little worried my kart was damaged, but she apparently held up fine. We all were back up and running in a few seconds. I however, now have a bruise on my butt somehow from that [either by being shoved forward in the seat, so my butt slammed into the raised front lip of the seat, or due to me being lifted up and slightly forward by the impact, and then promptly landing hard on the front lip of the seat].

After that incident, I was in 9th. I then worked my way back up, my lap times dropping consistently as I got in a groove. Most of my passes were of the "I'm sticking to your ass until you make a mistake" type passes, and one "influenced" pass. I ended up finishing 4th, a fairly respectable finish if I don't say so myself. 1st was my friend who'd been here "once" before, who with his scrawny ass (maybe ~40-50lb difference), has a slight power:weight ratio advantage (assuming the cars were close in power). 2nd and 3rd were two "regulars" (one guy who goes weekly, not sure how often the other guy goes) who joined us.

A great time was had by all, but I'm a little glad that the track is a bit of a drive for me, otherwise, I'd probably end up spending more time/money there than I should. Dispite that, I think I'm hooked :) If you haven't tried karting before, I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Nogaro for a couple of pointers before hand, as they did help as the race went on.

Re: karting is fun (first time kart experience)
 

I was lucky and got to go shifter kart racing down at the Willow Springs kart track a while ago and I have been itching to return ever since. Those little karts are QUICK (0-60 under 5 seconds)!!! Here's a link to the place I went to if you are ever down in So. Cal and were interested.<ul><li><a href="http://www.kartracingco.com/">http://www.kartracingco.com/</a</li></ul>

40lb???
 

Thats a massive advantage. Like having a second engine heeheheh... Ask me how i know..

I was there earlier during the day upstairs checking out their outdoor karting business. I'm pretty close to buying one.

I just did a 6hr at willow not long ago.
 

The track gets old since its mostly hairpins.