Rain setup tips

K

k_bell

New member
Newbie here and after a few hours searching couldn't find anything on rain setup tips.

Just started karting and two races in now in L0206 heavy class and looks like a rain race coming up this weekend.
Love to get any setup tips like tire pressures or any other easy adjustments as I'm still doing Arrive & Drive program and can't ask for too many adjustments.

Just like to compliment all the very knowledgeable posters here. Incredible amount of detailed info available in all your posts, some of which are so far over my head right now but I have already learned a ton in a few short hours checking things out here.
 
k_bell said:
Newbie here and after a few hours searching couldn't find anything on rain setup tips.

Just started karting and two races in now in L0206 heavy class and looks like a rain race coming up this weekend.
Love to get any setup tips like tire pressures or any other easy adjustments as I'm still doing Arrive & Drive program and can't ask for too many adjustments.

Just like to compliment all the very knowledgeable posters here. Incredible amount of detailed info available in all your posts, some of which are so far over my head right now but I have already learned a ton in a few short hours checking things out here.
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What you have failed to learn is that not all the info on this site is correct, or even close to right.
Theres some here who are very knowledgeable, and some who think they are, you need to decipher here who you can and cant listen to.
A lot of the good ones have left...:(
 
I narrow the rear and widen the front, put 3 teeth on the rear and place an 1 1/2" stirofoam block in the bottom of my seat.
 
He could just mean rain leading into the event knowing dirt is gonna be wet and softer, like here this weekend rain right into fri late afternoon if we race it will be wet, soft tacky all night.
 
If it's leading into an oval race I wouldn't change the kart setup for either dirt or asphalt. Asphalt I'd prep the tires at the track to grip for the early run til they got to temp. Dirt I'd go with a softer more grippy tire. If it gets tacky then maybe not as much grip
 
Freezeman said:
I narrow the rear and widen the front, put 3 teeth on the rear and place an 1 1/2" stirofoam block in the bottom of my seat.
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This is assuming you are talking sprint, and will have rain tires to use.

X2 on the widen front and narrow rear. Definitely put the front tires all the way out. You may be able to get away with leaving the rear track width where it is for your dry set up. I would also echo the suggestion stacking on 3 teeth.

For my personal preference, I still keep one spacer on the outside of the wheel on the front spindles. For rain racing, it allows me to make very small very smooth movements and find the edge of grip better. When I have the wheels jacked all the way out on the spindle, I find myself dealing with snap oversteer/loose quite often. Just some food for thought. All very quick and easy adjustments you can try out.

I would also jack a ton of caster into my kart as well. I would go from 10 or 12 degrees up to 16 or 18. Not sure what type of chassis you have but that is another easy adjustment to consider.

Going up in Air helps as well. It helps you present more contact patch to the pavement.

Gary10 could probably shed some more light on this for you.
 
racing promotor said:
For Dirt or asphalt ?
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I am going out on limb to assume that he is wanting some tips for rain setup tips for racing in the rain which is quite commen for sprint style racing that is also traditionally preformed on asphault tracks.
Do you have rain race set up tips for when you have a rain race on dirt?
My tip for a dirt rain race would be to bring a good canopy, a comfy chair and a full cooler.
 
Thanks for the heads up SoCo.

Of course I've seen lots of contradictory info which is always the case on whatever forum you happen to be investigating. Forums are certainly not the only place I educate myself and I find it's pretty easy to determine who knows what they're talking about and I mainly use the insights I gain here to bounce off the people at the track where I'm racing. There are always so many different ways people have of doing things and I like to hear them all before I decide what to try for myself.

Sorry to hear a lot of the good ones have left. Have they migrated to some other forum? This is the best one I could find in my search.
 
For very wet conditions
Caster full or close to full.
Add toe out.
Widen front with long hubs
Narrow rear to same width as front or all the way in if 50mm axle.
Seat cushion or raise seat back.
Air pressure depends on tires but 18-22 is good start on most
Probably add more like 5 teeth
Get rid of negative camber
Consider raising ride height
Maybe lean the needle one clip (usually air is worse)
 
Thanks a ton Gary!

I will see what changes to the setup they are willing to make for me if/when they determine it will be a wet race. Nice to be able to give them a list for consideration.

Much appreciated!!
 
Hey Gary,
If it's a damp track but not wet enough for rain tires, what tire pressures would you start at with the MG Reds?
 
Freezeman said:
I am going out on limb to assume that he is wanting some tips for rain setup tips for racing in the rain which is quite commen for sprint style racing that is also traditionally preformed on asphault tracks.
Do you have rain race set up tips for when you have a rain race on dirt?
My tip for a dirt rain race would be to bring a good canopy, a comfy chair and a full cooler.
Click to expand...

Have yet to see a rain race on dirt, would be a wreck fest to say the least, with the mud/dirt sticking to peoples visors and not being able to see, not to mention the track would get slicker and slicker as the race goes on. Not a good idea
 
Hey thanks everyone. Sorry I didn't see all the earlier posts and forgot to mention it is sprint on asphalt and rain tires would be used if it is deemed to be a wet race. Thought that would have been obvious but I see there are lots of oval and dirt racers here.

Thanks for all the feedback and info. I suspect because I'm just renting the kart and they certainly aren't going to give me a pit crew with it that I might only be able to adjust tire pressures myself but the idea about putting a foam block in the seat was something I hadn't thought of. Now looks like the track might be wet or damp for morning practice and qualifying but drying out for the races in the afternoon so I have no idea whether I'll be on slicks or rain tires. Supposed to be raining for Sunday though.
 
Its just about all oval in this part of the forum. There is a sprint section somewhere on Bobs for you circuit guys.
 
double what Gary said. Do need to some practice. Also, the Less wet the track is, the closer to the dry set up you would be.

I have seen guys take the kart full wet, (when there is time to do ALL of the changes) and a different driver just bolted on some rains and Whooped up. A "perfect" rain setup wont help a poor technique. And in testing in the rain (which is not much fun) is needed to know what items on Gary's rain set up list make the biggest improvement to your own technique. Some times when its time to go to rains, there isnt much time. 5 min, you have time to move the hubs. 10 min, you have time to do toe and maybe front ride height. 20 min can do more, maybe change axle... So when time is tight, make the changes that make the most improvement.
 
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