Tips for beginners?

I thought about joining the series and tried GP Karting on a weekend, and heck, it was more challenging than I expected (first time Karting in my life). I mean, controlling the Kart is easy - much more direct than any car I've driven - but being anywhere close to the times competitors in the series post is tough. 

I have two particular issues:

1) how to make a turn fast.  Karts seem respond to brakes and throttle a bit differently from cars, and it's difficult to find optimal brake and throttle application strategies (how late to trailbrake and how early to get on the throttle, and how much sliding is optimal). It's not rocket science and with enough seat hours anyone can figure it out, but it would be great to hear some advice on how to get there faster. 

2) barriers make it impossible to see far ahead into turns, so it's tough to visualize the optimal line quicky.  Again, can be done with enough time, but a short turn-by-turn guide would help get there much faster. 

Maybe I'm unique in hot having driven a Kart before, but I think if one of the seasoned competitors could write a short how-to or quick tips article that would help new paricipants to jump on board and not be a liability much quicker.