Go karts were first created in the United States in the
1950s with the majority of historians crediting Art Ingels as the inventor. He
built his first go kart in California in 1956 and it was during this post-war
period where airmen raced these go karts as a way to pass the time.
They are referred to as go karts, go carts, go-karts,
shifter karts, gokarts and many other differently spelled variations. Go karts
are related to open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Indy Car. In fact,
many top professional race car drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Sarah
Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty, got their start on the go
kart racing circuit.
Go kart enthusiasts can easily become addicted to the thrill
of racing. Once you’ve experienced the excitement it’s hard to let it go. There
are ATV all terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, mini bikes and
motorcycles, but none give a driver any more of an adrenaline-rush than the
popular go kart. They are simple 4-wheeled vehicles with no suspension (relying
on chassis flex). They are basically just a smaller version of the professional
open wheel cars and race on similar, but smaller, racing tracks.
Go karting can be a stepping stone for drivers desiring to
work their way up to professional Formula One or Indy Car
racing. It’s a cheaper way to get involved with racing. If a driver shows
talent on the go kart circuit he can then move up to the more expensive
divisions of motor racing including Formula One and Indy Car.
But go karting is not just for the professionally-minded.
Most of the time go karts are raced by non-professionals, people just out for a
little fun. Go karts have become popular all over the world and are found in
most larger cities. For the faint of heart there are extremely tame tracks
located in many family fun centers and amusement parks.
So what is a go kart? Go karts are made up of a chassis,
motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires. Since go karts have no suspension the
chassis must provide flexibility and yet retain enough stiffness to allow the
kart good grip around the track and through the turns. The chassis can be
either open or closed. Simply put, the closed, or caged chassis, allows
protection for the driver in the event of a rollover. The open chassis does
not.
Engines used in karting are typically either 2-stroke or
4-stroke. The 2-stroke engine is generally more of a specialized engine
that is made by companies such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton (who also make
lawnmower engines). In fact, 4-stroke engines are usually the standard type
used in lawn mowers. The 2-stroke is usually more powerful than the 4-stroke
and can attain up to 30 horsepower or more.
Sprint karts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the
more powerful enduro karts can reach a top speed of up to 90 mph. Shifter karts
use a manual transmission and a clutch to bring out all the engine has to offer
and can reach speeds of 160 mph or more. These are not toys.
As with Formula One racing the kart tires can be either
slicks or rain tires. Slicks have no tread and are used for best traction on a
dry track. Rain tires have tread and are used during wet weather. And in icy
conditions there are specially-made spiked tires that give good grip on the
slippery ice.
Go karts are generally considered a safer and cheaper way to
get into racing. With the many different levels available drivers can move up
the line until they reach the professional level. With the right mixture of
talent and practice racing alongside the top pros is certainly a possibility.
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