Every single time the pack starts to go, it's like my engine bogs heavily and doesn't want to go for a couple seconds... And I lose positions and/or time every time and I can't attack coming into the first few corners...
Anything I can do to fix this?
Comments4
FWIW,
On the roll up laps, accelerate, brake, accelerate, brake, but don't slow down excessively or suddenly (you don't want to be hit from behind).
Once traffic bunches up, intermittently apply the brake while holding the throttle fairly open, but when you back off the brake also back off the throttle enough to keep speed reasonably consistent with surrounding karts. Play one pedal against the other. This also gets heat into the brake, so it works properly in the first corner. It also helps to stop the plug from fouling up (by making the engine work harder at lower roll up speeds, i.e. keeps the plug hotter so deposits are more likely to burn off). If the plug fouls up you will have a poor start...
Look ahead, past the karts just in front of you, to see what is happening up the front of the field (but do pay enough attention to the gap between you and the kart in front of you).
When you think a start is likely imminent, push the throttle fully open while keeping the speed down with the brake simultaneously applied. When the start happens, let the brake off, quickly!
Develop a sixth sense for when the light is about to go green (easy to say), but be aware that if you accelerate too soon you will have to back off, inevitably just as the light changes, and you'll likely get swamped...
If you are starting in the outside lane, when the lights go green do whatever you reasonably can to get into the inside lane as soon as legally possible.
This is what always worked for me, and I tended to get good starts (it can go downhill from there...).
Also, run it a bit rich on the 'low speed' jet, though this means you have to be more careful to not let the plug foul on the roll up laps.
And, cross your fingers, there's a degree of luck involved...
Regards,
John.
If as the 'pack' takes off you naturally by instinct put your foot down a Rotax engine will splutter & not accelerate. The power needs to be fed into it gradually. One way around this is to put the accelerator down a bit on the last warmup lap but keep your speed in check by also using the brake. When the pack takes off take your foot off the brake, instant revs!
Squeeze the fuel line to cut the fuel out it will take a bit of practise to get it right but will fix your problem
what engine are you running? the posts already are very good points. at the end of the day race starts are very complex while seemingly simple. there is never a hard and fast rule cause every start will be different. experience is invaluable with starts.
keep your head up also as self confidence in your ability and speed will help loads with both starts and in general.