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F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:01 pm
by theholycow
Overall: 3 / 5

Performance: 3 / 5
The go-karts seem to have common centrifugal clutches, but very timid ones. It's not like a snowmobile or the go-kart I had as a kid where it engages aggressively and you accelerate hard; it goes BMBMBMBMBMBMBMBMBMBMBM and you go nowhere until you slowly get up to speed. That may also be from tall gearing. There is a nice amount of oversteer, so handling is fun...you can really rotate the machine to aim it as you come out of a turn. The rear of the go-kart flares out wide, so if you try to pass on the inside of a turn and get cut off then you can get stuck on the turn and need an employee to yank you out.

Features: 3 / 5
You get a printout of data from each race with your lap times, starting position, ending position, etc. You get to wear a racing suit that might be nasty if you think too much about it but doesn't look or smell nasty, and it seems like they wash them after each use. The neck braces don't get washed though, and the helmets (though you wear a balaclava under the helmet and that DOES get washed).

Comfort: 2 / 5
The suits and helmets aren't too bad. The go-karts fit small people, but the steering is for large people. I was a little cramped; the seat was snug around me, offering plenty of side bolster support, but length was a bit short so my legs were more bent than I'd prefer. One machine had a fairing that interfered with my feet reaching the pedals properly. The steering is quick-ratio...VERY quick-ratio. You get all of your steering from a few degrees of steering wheel. I suspect there is a whole lot of friction in the system too. At every speed, it required about as much force as my Buick takes for a whole turn with the engine off.

Economy: 1 / 5
I didn't pay; it was an event paid for by a vendor who was presenting a seminar. I think I got about $100 worth of racing. I could not pay $100 for that.

Interior: 4 / 5
The main floor is really nice. There's a nice looking bar, some real race cars on display (but you can't get close enough for a good look), and a good view of the tracks. The track area has a couple rooms where you watch an instructional video and put on the suit...they're craptastic. The benches are wobbly and the lockers are lock-free (but you can keep your phone and wallet in your pocket while you race).

FOSE: 1 / 5
Your only chance is if your girlfriend/wife gets turned on by the vibrating go-kart or by seeing you win.

BTW lighter people are definitely more likely to win...the laws of physics cannot be violated and the weight ratio of driver to go-kart means 50 or 100 pounds makes a big speed difference.

Other tips:

- It's not fair. Just accept that it's unfair. Enforcement of rules is spotty and seems biased and that's just the way it is.

- Don't be confused by the yellow and red lights for the pits and the penalty lane, which can look like they're for the track when you're going fast past them.

- A yellow flag can be canceled mid-lap. Don't be surprised, do watch for the yellow lights on the track to quit.

- They tell you about not driving too fast for full traction as if it's a rule but it's not; you're expected to screech through the turns (except maybe one specific turn, the corkscrew). They also say most of the turns are full-throttle and, if you use a good line and the tires are warmed up, they're right.

- Reviews online claim that contact is treated the same way but I'm not so sure...I got a few warnings (though I was never sure what for) and one person got a penalty.

- Accelerate early coming out of the corkscrew turn to get loose and rotate the go-kart for the right line into the tunnel turns, otherwise you can't get the right line at all.

- When you leave, don't forget to recalibrate your arms for power steering and your attitude for public roads.

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:49 pm
by AHTOXA
I need to try but I probably won't fit.

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:25 am
by 94Corolla5Speed
I've done go-karting in some Rimo knockoff karts around here maybe 6-7 times. They say it goes to about 39 mph, maybe, maybe not. Feels fast. But one thing I've found out, no matter what, is it RUINS one of the bumps (discs?) in my spine. It forms a big lump over that one every time since I'm so damn skinny and my spine rubs against the hard plastic during racing. I guess I don't notice it during since I'm concentrated and the adrenaline is flowing, but after?

FFFFUUUUUU-

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:45 am
by theholycow
94Corolla5Speed wrote:It forms a big lump over that one every time since I'm so damn skinny and my spine rubs against the hard plastic during racing.
I'd tell you to eat a damned cheeseburger, but light weight is a big advantage...so maybe wear a thick shirt?

I have a painful spot on the side of my knee, like a bruise or something (I can't get a good look at it). I can't remember when I first noticed it but it may be from the go-kart.

I thought of another tip. Don't try to race the other drivers, just pretend you're alone and try to make the best lap times you can. There's no need to worry about who's behind you, it's tough to pass and you'll get blue flagged if you block someone anyway. Obviously you still need to pass slower drivers who hold you back but other than that, just be you and your lap times.

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:36 am
by Squint
Well, did you win!?!? That's all we really wanted to know (besides the FOSE, of course). 8) :wink:

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:47 am
by theholycow
Four qualifying races, one championship race.

Q1: Started in pole position, came in second-to-last.
Q2, 3, 4: Started mid-pack, lost a couple positions.
Championship: Started dead last, came in mid-pack (gained 5 or 6 positions). I believe this was a top-quality performance and a 100 pound person performing the same would have won from any starting position. It wasn't until this race that I realized that they won't penalize you for getting loose around a turn.

I keep forgetting to bring the data sheets in from my car so I don't have exact numbers.

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:36 pm
by theholycow
Ok, got my data sheets.

The track is .25mi (1320 ft). Track lap record is 20.376 seconds.

Q1: 8 drivers, 12 laps. Starting position 1, ending position 6. My best lap was 26.269.
Q2: 8 drivers, 12 laps. Starting position 5, ending position 6. My best lap was 24.022.
Q3: 8 drivers, 12 laps. Starting position 6, ending position 7. My best lap was 23.131.
Q4: 8 drivers, 12 laps. Starting position 6, ending position 5. My best lap was 22.52.

Final: 12 drivers, 15 laps. Starting position 12, ending position 6. My best lap was 21.725. I was the last position that didn't get lapped. Fastest lap by any driver was 20.529 (he came in 11th). The winner didn't turn a single lap under 21 seconds. My average speed was 38.85mph and my top speed was 41.43mph. The graph of lap times between me and the winner is pretty even and flat except for the caution lap where apparently he did not slow down.

Re: F1 Boston go-kart racing

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:53 pm
by Squint
You certainly got better every go around, so that's good. Also, the winner apparently cheated! That means you came in 5th! See how easy that was once you're gone from there and no one else will argue? :lol:

But I do like how they kept stats for you on the races. Gives you something to think about after you leave.