THE DRIVING POSITION FOR VERY TALL OR SHORTER DRIVERS

In karting, perhaps more than in other motorsport, the driver’s position behind the wheel plays a crucial role in finding the right setup and the best performance possible. This is because the driver, with his own weight, has a significant impact on the total weight of the kart-driver as a whole more than in any other category of single-seater or covered-wheel vehicles. As in most automotive categories, even in karting, the ideal driving position should be found by keeping the seat fixed as much as possible in the position recommended by the manufacturer (for reasons of space and weight balance) and working on the adjustment and position of standard accessories (such as the footrest, pedals and steering column) or optional ones such as additional pedals and spacers on the steering wheel hub. Up to the use of an XL chassis to give further distance to the position of the pedals, to be used in the case of particularly taller drivers. Understanding how to place individual kart drivers in the kart without compromising its setup and balance, we turned to one of the most competent racing division in the history of karting, the CRG Racing Team. Here are the answers to our questions.

1Let us start at the beginning. What advice would you give for choosing the correct seat size? In your opinion, what is the maximum space that there should be between the driver and the seat?

The choice of the correct seat is certainly one of the most important aspects regarding the driving position. This in addition to being one with the driver, must offer a considerable level of comfort, leaving a minimum amount of freedom of movement. In this way, the driver not only remains in a stable and stationary position, but is also able to drive the kart using his body as a whole, achieving the maximum performance needed to win. To understand which seat is right for us, we usually test it by sitting in it with our hands at the rib height so as to simulate the presence of a rib protector. In doing this test, besides evaluating the feeling in a subjective way, one must be careful not to force the seat and verify that there is always that minimum freedom of movement we mentioned earlier. In addition to the different sizes available, which vary according to the model and brand, the seats also differ in the types of shapes and their “opening”, that is, the angle between the seat and the backrest. For taller drivers, one usually opts for a more open seat, with a more reclined backrest. Between two models with different opening angles there can be even 4 or 5 cm of difference in the final seat height.

In the lower part, the driver must become one with the seat.

At chest level, on the other hand, there may be some space which provides greater freedom of movement for the driver.

The companies that manufacture seats make available to customers the main measurements for each size of the model considered....Read more

In this case, the suitable seat for our 2-meter tall and well-built driver is the IMAF H7 model, size 6.

In the drawing, you can see exactly the points and the methods used to take the measurements in order to find the correct position...Read more

2Once the most suitable seat for the driver has been chosen, what is the best position to secure it?

In theory, the seat must be positioned respecting some well-defined measurements that are provided by the manufacturer according to the type of kart. At CRG we make these measurements available on our website. In order to install the seat in the correct position, some measurements are taken as a reference point.
1. The distance between the seat side edge of the chassis front bar and the center of the upper edge of the seat.
2. The distance, holding the measuring tape at 90° with respect to the back of the seat, that there is between the seatback and the rear axle. Usually, the second measurement is more accurate because it does not depend as much on the model, shape and dimensions of the seat chosen. If the seat is smaller, in fact, the height of the seatback changes as well and, consequently, the final measurement between the front crossbar and center positioning. Two more measurements are needed with the two previous ones. One relating to the overhang of the seat with respect to the lower profile of the chassis and the other one which indicates the distance between the upper center of the axle and the center of the upper edge of the backrest.

3Is there a difference in the position of the seat on chassis intended for the different categories?

Absolutely, the chassis are based on different geometries, with tube lengths and diameters that are not the same for everyone. Furthermore, they are designed to have flexibility and torsional rigidity adapted to the type of category for which they were made. For example, it is known that chassis intended for shifter categories generally tend to have a more rigid structure and the seat is one of the elements that greatly affects these rigidity parameters. Precisely for this reason, the companies that manufacture chassis define standard measurements to best position the seat, measurements that are listed in designated tables. Always remember that the position of the seat in the kart is fundamental in balancing the weight on all four wheels (as we explained in the article “Advice for improving a kart’s setup by moving the seat”, Editor’s note). The parameters supplied by the manufacturer are the result of many studies and tests that have defined its ideal positioning. Precisely for this reason, we tend to exclude except in extreme cases, alternative seat positions compared to those indicated by the kart manufacturer. Any modifications that are done in this sense would change the dynamic behavior of the kart overall.

The table of measurements showing how to position the seat on the various chassis in different categories.

The standard adjustment of the pedals is guaranteed by the presence of two holes which allow you to move the pedals further away or closer by 2 cm.

The standard footrest can slide on two rails fastened directly on the lower support structure of the steering column. Additionally, the footre...Read more

Considering the previous positions and taking into account as main reference point the one with the footrest rotated by 180° (that is, in the posi...Read more

The upper support of the steering column is equipped with a multi-hole system which allows you to adjust the inclination of the steering ...Read more

Taking the floor tray and the lower part of the center of the steering wheel spokes as reference and changing only the inclination of the stee...Read more

The distance between the steering wheel and the upper part of the seat backrest varies by 3 cm depending on whether the steering colu...Read more

4What standard accessories can be utilized to meet the needs of the driver who is not comfortable with the seat positioned according to the manufacturer’s instructions?

Assuming that keeping the position of the seat fixed as much as possible, thus not modifying the balance of weight on the 4 wheels, the center of gravity and the dynamics of the kart on the track, to adapt the driving position to the height of the driver, we tend to rely on 2 aspects in particular that are part of the standard kart accessories: the pedal-footrest unit and the upper support of the steering column. After having placed the correct size seat in the proper position the first thing to do is to work on the right distance of the pedals and footrest to allow the driver to achieve the best angle of his leg extension and foot inclination. Although these two positions are purely subjective, in general most drivers prefer to drive with their foot very straight or slightly angled forwards and with their leg almost fully extended. Be careful, however, not to overdo it. If the leg were completely stretched out, that is to say, parallel to the ground and the bottom of the kart, the driver would not be able to apply sufficient force on the brake pedal. By having the leg flexed, on the other hand, it is possible to push with the entire leg without having to rely solely on the mobility of the ankle.

Going back to the adjustments that can be made, most karts are equipped with several holes to change the position of the pedals and an adjustable footrest. The footrest, which CRG has fastened to the lower support of the steering column, can move further away or closer to the driver’s seat. To allow for a greater range of adjustment, especially for taller drivers, the footrest support can be rotated as well, so that it moves towards the front part of the kart and not towards the driver. The second element that is part of the kart’s standard accessories and allows the adjustment of the driving position is the upper support of the steering column. This, in fact, thanks to a multi-hole system, allows the adjustment of the steering column inclination, bringing it higher or lower and this consequently to modify the distance of the steering wheel. With a shorter driver you will opt for a lower position while with a taller one, you will tend to raise the steering column.

Thanks to the additional pedal board, the pedals can be moved 16 cm towards a driver that is shorter. The extensions are installe...Read more

5In the event that the standard modifications are not sufficient to ensure a correct driving position for a shorter driver, what can be done?

There are extra accessories dedicated to this type of situation. The most commonly used is certainly the additional pedal board, which allows you to move the accelerator and brake pedals towards the driver by 16 cm, so that he can press the pedals all the way down in total comfort and safety. In combination with this accessory, the foot support can be used as well, which raises the heels in relation to the floor tray so that the calves do not interfere with the movement of the steering rods.
For those who have found the right position of the pedals, but still have problems with the steering wheel position despite the changes available for the upper steering column, at CRG we provide spacers that are installed directly between the steering wheel hub and the steering wheel itself.

These have a 3-pointed star shape and are available in various thicknesses and degrees of inclination (8° e 12°). In the first case, only the distance of the steering wheel from the driver is affected, while in the second case not only does the steering wheel move closer to the driver, but it also rotates it with respect to the Y axis, bringing it to a more vertical position. The more the inclination of the spacer increases, the closer the upper part of the steering wheel gets to the driver and, consequently, the lower part moves further away. Another solution that was adopted, which currently is no longer so commonly used due to the work time required, is the replacement of the entire steering column with a longer one.

The optional foot support consists of the standard footrest [1] to which two additional plates [2] are fastened, which act as a support for the driver’s foot.

The optional support for smaller drivers slides in the same rail system as the standard footrest.

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Flat or inclined spacers are inserted between the rear of the steering wheel and the steering wheel hub. In the photo we have, on the right, a “prototype” spacer (made with a 3D printer) which shows the actual shape that these accessories will have once they are placed on the market. On the left, instead, you can see the actual color and material.

Adding an inclined spacer allows the changing of the steering wheel’s inclination and bring the upper part closer to the driver.

The 5 cm longer steering column [2] has the same shape as the standard one [1] and it was used to bring the steering wheel closer to the driver.

The pedal attachment point [1] on the lower bumper of the add-on chassis allows the pedals to be moved forward by 7,5 cm w...Read more

6What about taller drivers?

The primary objective is always to try to set up the driver by working on the standard accessories of the kart. In the event that even turning the footrest and positioning the pedals in the hole furthest from the seat to achieve the right degree of the leg extension is not enough, there are kits that allow you to move away from the point of support and work of the feet, lengthening the chassis on the front end.

In this regard, at CRG we offer as a solution a kit that includes an [1] extension of the floor tray which acts as a footrest too, an [2] additional chassis that includes the upper front bumper and [3] a lower front bumper with [4] two fastening points, one on each side, for the 2 pedals. With this extra accessory the pedals are moved an additional 7,5 cm forwards from the position obtained with the standard hole farthest from the seat.