diff --git a/src/network/network_string.hpp b/src/network/network_string.hpp
index 849f41a31..dafc1f39b 100644
--- a/src/network/network_string.hpp
+++ b/src/network/network_string.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 #define NETWORK_STRING_HPP
 
 #include "utils/types.hpp"
+#include "utils/vec3.hpp"
+
+#include "LinearMath/btQuaternion.h"
 
 #include "irrString.h"
 
@@ -256,6 +259,19 @@ public:
         return *this;
     }   // operator+=
 
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Adds the xyz components of a Vec3 to the string. */
+    NetworkString& add(const Vec3 &xyz)
+    {
+        return addFloat(xyz.getX()).addFloat(xyz.getY()).addFloat(xyz.getZ());
+    }   // add
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Adds the four components of a quaternion. */
+    NetworkString& add(const btQuaternion &quat)
+    {
+        return addFloat(quat.getX()).addFloat(quat.getY())
+              .addFloat(quat.getZ()).addFloat(quat.getW());
+    }   // add
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     /** Returns the content of the network string as a std::string. */
     const std::string std_string() const
@@ -500,6 +516,25 @@ public:
         *dst = getAndRemoveUChar(0);
         return *this; 
     }   // guc
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Reads the three components of a Vec3 from the given position. */
+    NetworkString& get(Vec3 *xyz, int pos)
+    {
+        xyz->setX(getFloat(pos  ));
+        xyz->setY(getFloat(pos+4));
+        xyz->setZ(getFloat(pos+8));
+        return *this;
+    }   // addVec3
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Reads the four components of a quaternion from the given position. */
+    NetworkString& get(btQuaternion *quat, int pos)
+    {
+        quat->setX(getFloat(pos   ));
+        quat->setY(getFloat(pos+ 4));
+        quat->setZ(getFloat(pos+ 8));
+        quat->setW(getFloat(pos+12));
+        return *this;
+    }   // addVec3
 
 };   // class NetworkString
 
diff --git a/src/network/protocols/kart_update_protocol.cpp b/src/network/protocols/kart_update_protocol.cpp
index d9df14c34..fa1618bc7 100644
--- a/src/network/protocols/kart_update_protocol.cpp
+++ b/src/network/protocols/kart_update_protocol.cpp
@@ -42,18 +42,12 @@ bool KartUpdateProtocol::notifyEventAsynchronous(Event* event)
     {
         uint8_t kart_id = ns.getUInt8(0);
 
-        float a,b,c;
-        a = ns.getFloat(1);
-        b = ns.getFloat(5);
-        c = ns.getFloat(9);
-        float d,e,f,g;
-        d = ns.getFloat(13);
-        e = ns.getFloat(17);
-        f = ns.getFloat(21);
-        g = ns.getFloat(25);
+        Vec3 xyz;
+        btQuaternion quat;
+        ns.get(&xyz, 1).get(&quat, 13);
         pthread_mutex_trylock(&m_positions_updates_mutex);
-        m_next_positions.push_back(Vec3(a,b,c));
-        m_next_quaternions.push_back(btQuaternion(d,e,f,g));
+        m_next_positions.push_back(xyz);
+        m_next_quaternions.push_back(quat);
         m_karts_ids.push_back(kart_id);
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&m_positions_updates_mutex);
         ns.removeFront(29);
@@ -85,10 +79,8 @@ void KartUpdateProtocol::update()
             {
                 AbstractKart* kart = world->getKart(i);
                 Vec3 xyz = kart->getXYZ();
-                btQuaternion quat = kart->getRotation();
                 ns.addUInt8( kart->getWorldKartId());
-                ns.af(xyz[0]).af(xyz[1]).af(xyz[2]); // add position
-                ns.af(quat.x()).af(quat.y()).af(quat.z()).af(quat.w()); // add rotation
+                ns.add(xyz).add(kart->getRotation());
                 Log::verbose("KartUpdateProtocol",
                              "Sending %d's positions %f %f %f",
                              kart->getWorldKartId(), xyz[0], xyz[1], xyz[2]);
@@ -103,10 +95,8 @@ void KartUpdateProtocol::update()
             {
                 AbstractKart *kart = World::getWorld()->getLocalPlayerKart(i);
                 const Vec3 &xyz = kart->getXYZ();
-                btQuaternion quat = kart->getRotation();
                 ns.addUInt8(kart->getWorldKartId());
-                ns.af(xyz[0]).af(xyz[1]).af(xyz[2]); // add position
-                ns.af(quat.x()).af(quat.y()).af(quat.z()).af(quat.w()); // add rotation
+                ns.add(xyz).add(kart->getRotation());
                 Log::verbose("KartUpdateProtocol",
                              "Sending %d's positions %f %f %f",
                               kart->getWorldKartId(), xyz[0], xyz[1], xyz[2]);