How to Look Proper Good in a Kart!

You cannot underestimate the importance of looking good in karting! But there is more to looking good than just having a cool visor. It’s the whole package! You have to consider many more things about your driving, and your team, before you can become the ultimate kart driver.

To look Proper good in a kart you have to consider the way the kart looks, the way you (the driver) looks, the way you drive, and what you team looks like!

The Kart

Kart Manufacturer

The first decision that must take when you want to look proper good in a kart is which kart manufacturer to go for. Now, many people say choosing a chassis is all about the way it drives etc... It isn't, it's all about how cool it looks. Let's be honest - 90% of new kart chassis's are all the same anyway. You will not be able to find significant differences between them that mean any advantage in time! So how do you know which chassis's are proper? Well most chassis's can look proper if you follow all the rules. But the best looking karts are Marenello, CRG, and Birel.

Tire Marks

Now you have got your new kart, it's time to decorate it a little. A pristine looking kart is all well and good, but to look proper good you have to add a little character in the shape of tire marks. You only need a little graze here and there. What this does is make you look like you don't care about a few nudges. And thus making you slightly intimidating. Now if you have too man marks, that shows that you are the one getting nudged, and that is bad! A few well controlled, and well placed ones can remove that!

If you don't have any marks, you look like a pussy! And that is bad also!

Rims

Very important! Silver Rims look bad. There is no escaping that. They can get dirty, and look cheap. The best rims are either black or gold! Black ones look better overall, as they don't ever look dirty, and they just look mean!

Cleansing

You do have to decorate your kart with tire marks, it is vital you keep you kart clean. If you sitting on the grid, and your kart looks dirty in any way, you look bad. You might think it is important to concentrate on setup etc... Yes that is true, but if you don't make sure your kart is nice and shiny all the time, then all the setup is worthless. You should be ashamed to win on a dirty kart. There is no glory in that!

Even Davide Fore (Karting World Champion) knows the importance of keeping his kart clean.

Brake Cleaner and Some Tissue are a Must for the Modern Karter!

Number Plates

For some reason or another black numbers on yellow plates just looks right. Maybe its because that what the premier classes run in Europe. I don't really know!
So when choosing the class you want to compete in make sure that they have the right coloured number plates!

It Just Looks Right!

Here are the class's you can run in the UK

Cadet
Formula A
Trackside Premier TaG
Mini MAX

Tyres

For some reason or another Dunlop tires looks brilliant. Maybe its because its a yellow logo on black tires, or the little D arrow logo on them. They just look right.

So when choosing tire manufacturer go for Dunlop. If not go for the manufacturer with a yellow, or white logo. Another other colour doesn't really stand out.

And that’s what looking flash is all about - Standing out!

Engine

Karting is brilliant. And one of the things that make karting brilliant is the sound of the engine. Unfortunately, Rotax has brought its drone to karting and is definitely not cool. So if you want to look proper in a kart, you need an engine that sounds proper. Obviously a Formula A motor is the pinnacle, but a Parilla Leopard, PRD Fireball, and TKM are worthy options.

Stickers

Here is a quote from Valentino Rossi -

'I love going into the pits at night a spending time on my own with my bike. Sometimes I like to check that everything is right where it should be. Including the stickers...'

Rossi clearly has an understanding about what looking good is all about, and how it makes him feel at one with his bike!

In the example he illustrates the importance of where the stickers are! So if you want to be the next World Champion you need to take into consideration where you stickers are.

My tips would to have them diagonal, and parallel with each other motorbike 'styley'!

Any larger stickers have to be considered carefully. Because over sized stickers can look naff.

You have to be subtle to achieve the right effect.

Matching Anodised Parts

It is important you achieve a sense of co-ordination with your kart it is vital that all your anodised (yes everything has to be anodised) parts are matching. One gold, with one blue one makes you look silly. They have to match

Its is essential you kart is co-ordinated!

Max Rear Width

Karters all around the world spend too much time messing about with rear end width. You must ignore them! A kart needs to have maximum rear width at all times in the dry. Its just looks better. When the rear is not a maximum the kart looks all poky and small, and little pathetic!

Max rear end width just looks proper good!

The Driver

No matter how good your kart looks, you have to consider yourself. The way you look, and the way you drive!

Posture

Before you even start driving, you need to consider your posture.

Have you ever watched a bunch of hire-karters driving round on lawnmowers? And when they turn, they lean in to a corner. Notice how stupid they look. You should not do that. You need to convey strength and confidence to your opponents and onlookers and this is where you posture is key. Have a look at how cool this driver looks



He is bolt upright, and attacking the corner. He's not leaning in, pulling the steering wheel, and looking like a retard. He looks confident.

And looking confident adds a whole lot to how people perceive the look of you kart.#

You can follow all my rules of looking flash, but if you drive like a fool, your kart will look stupid swell!

Proper Breaking

If you you are going to break, make sure you look good when doing it. And that means sideways action. Here's a photo from one of the masters Martyn Lyell.



So you don't want to do any softy soft braking. It makes you look gentle, and weak. And because of that you no longer carry the same confidence!

Visors

If you can get an Iridium visor, get one. They are worth every penny. If you can't get an iridium visor, a dark tinted one will do.

Never use a clear visor. And never use sunglasses under a clear visor, because then you'll let even worse!

Which one of these looks better?



It must be said, that I do use a clear visor. The reason is that I haven't got a proper visor yet. Yes I am ashamed to use it, but I will have a proper one soon.

Helmet Design

White helmets with a decent visor do look quite good. But if you are going to get your helmet done make sure it is unique! So that means no 'pre-designed' stock helmets. They look cheap!

Do or Die Driving

If you on not willing to go all in Poker, then there is no point of playing the game!

if you want to be respected, and look brilliant in a kart, you must be willing to put your entire chips in at any point. If you are not willing to risk the result, over a move you have no place in karting.

If you want to look like a God you must not caring about coming off, or spinning. You need to take every opportunity. Just look at the coolest Motorsport driver in the world at the moment, and his approach to racing - Valentino Rossi!

Remember the one who is just concerned about the result is the one who fears losing. And the one who fears losing will!

If you want to look badass, you need to drive like you don't care whether you win or lose! And with this attitude the opponents will naturally fear you!

Messing About With the Carb Looks Cool!

When you are watching a good driver, you'll sometimes notice him reaching down and fiddling with his/her carb. They don't know it, but it makes them look good. The reason for this is because it makes them look as if they know what they are doing in a kart. It gives of a form of confidence that can affect the onlooker, and the opponent.

So my tip is to know your carb, and if you don't, just pretend to fiddle with it when you get on the straight. It makes you look cool as well intimidating!

But do not at the carb to see where it is, and do not slow down to change it either! You'll look bad else!

Visor needs to open slightly

A slightly open visor shows that you are relaxed and confident. And again this adds to the whole picture of you looking proper good.

Be Individual

It is important you have something that is different than all the other drivers. Rossi has his weird celebrations, and pre race ritual. Some karters (pictured below) like to celebrate in strange ways.

He is the only Karter Ever to Win Standing Up!

But it is up to you to come up with something.

Visor stickers

Visors are too big. They look stupid. SO you need to shove a nice fat sticker on it to make it look god!

No Neck Brace

What would you think of Mike Tyson walked into the ring with a head guard on!

Neck braces make you look clumsy and weak in a kart. That’s the last thing you want. Don't wear one!

The actual safety of a neck brace is under question, and whether they work at all is inconclusive!


Rib Protector must be worn on the inside

you must wear your rib protector on the inside. If you wear it on the outside you look like a fool. It is like you are saying - look at me I need a rib protector because I have sensitive ribs. KEEP IT HIDDEN!!!!

The Team

It’s not just your on-tack image that you have to worry about! Your off-track one is important to. Remember, you spend most of your time in the pit-area

Well Dressed Mechanics

your mechanics must be as neat and tidy as you. This means proper aprons and gloves. If its possibility matching team clothes helps.

No cheap jeans, no white T-Shirts, and don't pull your trouser to high (Simon Cowell style).

Closed awning

If you have an awning keep it closed as much as possible. You need to be a mystery to other drivers.

Umbrella Girl

Well, no one else will have one!

Birel Clearly Understand the Fundementals of Looking Good as a Team!