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Ready to race

Wheels, jets, tyres and gears

Welcome! There is a big kart race coming up. Your job is to build the fastest kart possible.

Use information from maps, tables and other items to help make your kart the fastest on the track.

Acknowledgements

Build your kart by moving parts onto it.

Now choose a colour and pattern for your kart.

When you are ready to start setting up your kart to make it the fastest, select Next.

Colours
Patterns

Engine

A kart has a very small engine, like the one used in a motorbike.

The engine burns a mixture of petrol and air to provide the power to turn the wheels.

Carburettor

A carburettor goes on the engine. Here the petrol is mixed with air to run the engine.

The mixture of air and petrol needs to be just right to get the most power.

Jets

A jet goes in the carburettor. It is a tube that sprays petrol into the carburettor.

A bigger jets delivers more petrol, and a smaller jet delivers less. You will need to choose the right jet for your kart.

Wheels

The wheels at the back of the kart can be moved in and out. The wheel position changes the way the kart goes around corners. If it slides too much, for example, it loses speed.

You will need to choose a wheel position that suits the racetrack.

Tyres

Tyres can be made from hard or soft rubber. This affects their grip on the track.

For the fastest speed, you will need to choose tyres that grip the track as much as possible for the whole race.

Gears

The engine turns the wheels on the kart using the series of gears and a chain.

Like on a bike, you can select gears of different sizes. Changing the size of the gear affects the power and speed of the kart. A bigger gear makes starting easier, but when the kart is moving fast, a small one is needed.

You will need to choose the gear that allows the engine to operate at its best (with the most power). This is called being inside the 'powerband'.

Chain

The gear on the engine turns a chain like a big bicycle chain. It turns another gear on the axle, which turns the wheels.

Manual

Altitude means height above sea level. The higher the altitude, the thinner the air. Altitude effects how much petrol needs to be mixed with the air for the engine to run well.

cc is an abbreviation for 'cubic centimeters'. It describes an engine's size. For example, 80cc is a typical engine size for a small motorbike, whereas a sports car engine may be 3000cc.

RPM stands for revolutions per minute. It refers to the number of times the spinning parts of the engine go around each minute. The higher the RPM, or 'revs', the faster the engine.

Hi, I'm your mechanic!

Before we go to the track to practise for the big race, we need to complete your schedule.

First we need today's date - check your clock!

You need to know the date to find out which track you're practising on today. (If you're not sure, check the clock.)

Move the name of the track for today's date onto the clipboard.

The date is very important when you're making a schedule!

Move the date to your clipboard

Hey, cool kart!

Move the type of kart onto your clipboard.

Work out when your practice and qualifying rounds are. (The fastest kart in the qualifying round gets to start the race in the best position.)

First check the other information. Is this the right track? Do you know which type of kart you're racing?

OK!

Use the other information on the noticeboard to help you fill in the rest of your schedule.

Oops!

Look carefully and try again.

That's not it. We need to know which track we're racing on today.

Check the clock for today's date, then check this date on the calender again.

Yep!

That's our practice track today.

So what time you start? To work that out, you'll need to know your kart type.

That's not the right information.

You need the engine size.

That's not the right information.

We need to know what day it is today.

Right!

That is today's date.

You've got it!

That's the type of kart you'll be racing.

That's not it.

Do you know what type of kart you're racing? If not, check your photos.

Correct!

That's the starting time for your practice round.

That's not it.

Have a closer look at this timetable. Do you know which track you're racing on? Do you know what type of kart you're racing?

Your schedule now has everything you need!

Let's go to the track to start setting up your kart.

Set-up details

Today's date:
Name of track:
Type of kart:
Start time (practice):
Start time (qualifying):
Number of laps (race):
August 8
Champion
125cc
08:45 am
10:00 am
6 laps
Gates open
Kart inspections (all categories)
Start practice - 80cc karts
Start practice - 125cc karts
Start practice - 250cc karts
Start qualifying - 80cc karts
Start qualifying - 125cc karts
Start qualifying - 250cc karts
Lunch

Start race - 80cc karts

Start race - 125cc karts

Start race - 250cc karts

Gates open
Kart inspections (all categories)
Start practice - 80cc karts
Start practice - 125cc karts
Start practice - 250cc karts
Start qualifying - 80cc karts
Start qualifying - 125cc karts
Start qualifying - 250cc karts
Lunch

Start race - 80cc karts

Start race - 125cc karts

Start race - 250cc karts

Champion Racetrack
Practice round

Welcome to the pit garage. This is where we will set up
your kart to run at its best on this racetrack.

To do this, you need to collect some information about
the track. Start by looking at the map.

This is a diagram of your kart.

It's shows the different positions you can give the back wheels. Changing the wheel position affects the way the kart drives on the track.

This is the timetable for the racetrack today.

There are two different ways to go round the track at
Champion Racetrack. Today we're using the A track.

Collect this information about the A track:

  • the number of corners

  • the number of straights

  • the altitude (the height above sea level).

These are your spare jets, which deliver petrol to the engine. This table will help you to work out which jet to choose later.

A bad choice could damage your engine!

These are your gears, which come in differnt sizes. The size affects the delivery of power from the engine. A graph like this will help you choose the best gear for the track later.

A poor choice will slow you down or make you lose power!

There are different types of tyres you can use. A graph like this will help you work out later which tyres will get the best grip on the track.

A bad choice could make the kart spin out of control!

These thermometers show the air and track temperature. They can be very different!

Move the air temperature and track temperature onto your clipboard.

There's your kart.

She's a beauty, isn't she?

OK!

Use the other things on the wall to help you fill in the rest of the track information.

Good work!

The A track curves around a lot!

Yep!

There are only a few straights on the A track.

That's not it. Remember, we're using the A track today.

Look at the table again.

That's it!

The altitude makes a difference to how a kart runs because there is less oxygen in the air at higher altitudes. Engines need the right mix of oxygen and petrol to run.

That's not the current air temperature.

Look at the thermometers again.

That's not the current track temperature.

Look at the thermometers again.

That's not the right place for this information.

Correct!

The air temperature is useful to know because it affects how well the engine burns petrol.

Correct!

This information is useful because the temperature of the track affects how the tyres perform.

To choose the best wheel position for this racetrack:

  • Check the track information on your clipboard. The more corners on the track, the further out your wheel should be.

  • Select Help to find out more.

Choose a wheel position on the diagram.

We'll start by setting the position of the back wheels.

Different wheel positions change how much the kart slides, or moves sideways, as it goes around corners.

Select the Kart diagram to choose the wheel position.

Let's see if we can make your kart go faster and get a lower lap time.

We'll use the information you collected to change some of the kart settings.

Ready for your first practice lap? This will help us check how your kart is running and see if it need any changes. The clipboard shows its current settings.

Select the doorway to get out on the track!

The stop watch shows how long it took to do one lap of the track.

A low lap time means your kart is fast. This time is not bad - but maybe we can make it lower!

Move this lap time to your clipboard.

Un oh! Your lap time is higher than the last time. That means your kart went slower! There must be a better wheel position to choose.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard and have another look at the kart diagram

Brilliant! Your lap time is lower than the last time. That means your kart went faster!

Move your improved lap time onto the clipboard.

Next we'll setup the jets.

We need to work out which jet size will make your kart engine work best.

Select the Jets to choose one for your kart.

To choose a jet for your kart, you need to know the air temperature and altitude. (Select Help if you want to find out why these make a difference.)

Find these on your clipboard and then use the table to work out the best jet size.

You aren't having much luck with your wheel position choices.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard. Then try again and set your wheel position to Out

Hmm, your kart could be faster. Maybe there is a better wheel position to choose.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard and have another look at the kart diagram.

You seem to be having difficulty with your kart's jet size.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard. Then try again and choose a jet size of 168.

Your choice of gear affects how fast or slow the engine needs to go. The right gear should keep the engine revolutions per minute (RPM) inside the powerband.

Use the arrows to find the grap that shows the RPM inside the powerband for us many corners as possible.

We need to adjust the settings on your kart for the new track conditions.

Check the track map and the thermometers again and fill in the missing information on your clipboard.

That's it for the practice round. Your changes to the kart's settings have made it much faster.

Now it's time for the qualifying round. This is when it's really important to be the fastest!

Let's see if we can make your kart go faster and get a lower lap time.

We'll use the information you collected to change some of the kart's settings.

Good gear choice - that's your best time yet!

Move your lap time onto the clipboard.

That's it for the practice round. Your changes to the kart's settings have made it much faster.

Now it's time for the qualifying round. This is when it's really important to be the fastest!

Next we'll setup the jets.

We need to work out which jet size will make your kart engine work best.

Select the Jets to choose one for your kart.

Yikes! Your kart didn't finish its lap. There must be a better jet size that you can choose.

Move the blank lap time onto the clipboard and have another go.

Hmm, Your kart could've been faster. Maybe there is a better jet size to choose.

Move the blank lap time onto the clipboard and have another go.

Nice work! You chose the right jet, so your kart went faster!

Move your improved lap time onto the clipboard.

Your tyres need to have a high grip rating for every lap of the race. This depends on the number of laps and the Track temperature.

Check these. Then use the arrows to look at the each grip before you choose a tyre type.

Let me help you.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard. Then try again and choose the gear size 73

Hmm, your kart could've been faster. Maybe there is a better jet size to choose.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard and have another go.

You seem to be having difficulty with your kart's jet size.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard. Then try again and choose a jet size of 168.

Oh no! Your lap time can't be recorded because you spun off the track! There must be a better type of tyre to choose.

Move the blank lap time onto the clipboard and have another go.

It looks like you need some with your tyre choice.

Move your lap time onto the clipboard. Then try again and choose soft tyres.

Your tyre choice was spot on - that's an excellent time!

Move your lap time onto the clipboard.

Good gear choice - That's your best time yet!

Move your lap time onto the clipboard.

That's it for the practice round. Your changes to kart's settings have made it much faster.

Now it's time for the qualifying round. This is when it's really important to be the fastest!

It's looks like there's been a crash, so you'll be racing on the B track this time. It has fewer corners and more straights.

It's also a bit later in the day, so the air and track temperatures have changed.

That's not the right track.

Look at the table again.

That's it.

The B track has more straights than the A track.

The B track has more straights than the A track.

That's not the right place for this information.

Correct!

There are fewer corners on this track.

Correct!

That's not the current track temperature.

Look at the thermometers again.

That's right!

Now that you've updated the track information, use it to choose the best new settings for your kart.

Select Next when you're ready to race.

That's not the current air temperature.

Look at the thermometers again.

That's not the current air temperature.

Look at the thermometers again.

Excellent! Are you ready for the qualifying round?

Oh, wait a second... I think the track conditions have changed.

Choose new settings for your kart.

Select Next when you're ready to race.

The air and track temperatures have gone up!

Move the current air temperature and track temperature onto your clipboard.

For this round, you'll be racing on the B track.

Collect this information about the B track:

  • The number of corners

  • The number of Straights

Um ... are you sure these are the best settings?

  • Gear: 75

  • Wheels: Middle

  • Wheels: Out

  • Jets: 168

  • Tyres: Soft

Select the back to made changes, or select the doorway to go to the track.

Great job! Your kart is ready to go!

Select the doorway to go to the track for your qualifying round!

Your kart is ready! The wheel position has been set.

Select the doorway to test out your kart on the track.

OK! I put the jet you chose into the engine.

Select the doorway to test out your kart on the track.

Now let's choose the tyres for your kart.

Finally, let's choose the best gears for your kart.

Your new tyres are on!

Select the doorway to test out your kart on the track.

Sorted! I've changed the gear in your kart.

Select the doorway to try out your kart on the track.

Excellent! Are you ready for the qualifying round?

Oh, wait a second... I think the track conditions have changed.

Practice schedule
Today's date:
August 8
Type of kart:
125cc
Start time (practice):
8:45 am
Start time (qualifying):
10:00 am
Number of laps (race):
6 laps
Track information
Name of track:
Champion
Air temperature:
15 °C
Track temperature:
20 °C
Altitude (above sea level):
800 m
Corners:
13 (many)
Straights:
3 (few)
Practice round
Lap 01: Settings

Wheel position:

Jets:

Tyres:

Gears:

Lap time:

Middle

170

Intermediate

78

Practice round

Use the arrow to move to the starting line.

Oh dear, that didn't go too well! Someone else's kart was faster than yours. I guess they made all the right choices.

But look at all the things you did:

  • You collected information from different places.

  • You made connections between peices of information.

  • You found the facts you needed to draw conclusions.

  • You tested your conclusions and made changes if necessary.

You can always try again with a new kart. Next time, check all the information carefully so you choose the best settings!

Hey, congratulations! You choose all the right settings to make your kart the fastest! That means you'll get the best position on the starting line.

    Look at all the things you did:

  • You collected information from different places.

  • You made connections between peices of information.

  • You found the facts you needed to draw conclusions.

  • You tested your conclusions and made changes if necessary.

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