I decided to add this page to give people an idea of how
I've learned most of what I have learned about karting, chassis design,
setup and how to make a kart fast and what things I believe are critical
to being successful in learning. The first six to eight years I
raced I had many theories that were attempts to explain what happened on
the track. I figured that I had a mechanical engineering degree and
I should be able to explain it all purely theoretically - I was
wrong. Even after deriving equations, studying chassis dynamics from
just about every source I could find and learning a bit from my employer
(a major tire manufacturer) there were still so many areas that it just
didn't add up.
Late in 2000 and early into 2001 a couple of things changed that
radically changed both my theories and my approach to karting. I was
blessed to become friends with a few of people who are among the best in
the sport. Not only was I able to see what they did on dirt but I
also started learning about pavement and coke syrup as well. Another
thing that happened about the same time is that I started working with
karters all over the country. What became obvious was that my
theories that had seemed to explain the very limited envelope of karting to
which I had been exposed fell woefully short of covering all conditions,
surfaces and chassis. It's very easy to discount something that is
done differently on dirt and pavement as totally different games but the
truth is that the laws of physics are the same for both so a good theory
will accurately explain what happens equally well no matter what the track
surface or chassis.
In addition to thinking about and researching the physics, one of the
most important sources of my continued learning is being able to work with
truly great drivers who are able to isolate their own comfort from the raw
speed of the chassis (in other words, they can get all the speed out of a
chassis which isn't handling well, which doesn't drive well and on which most would be way off) and
also being able to work with so many different karters running under so
many different conditions. This allows me to see trends across the entire spectrum of oval karting as well
as seeing likeness and differences between geographical location, track
surfaces, chassis, classes, ages, etc.
In the end I hope that all I've been able to learn can be used to help
those who have helped me so much and to help the sport.
God Bless
Todd |