Go karting is on the rise with more and more people finding out about the fun go karts bring to kids and adults. A go-kart is a four wheeled vehicle that ranges in size form really small to large buggy style karts. They can be motorless, electric or gas powered carts depending on your preference.
They are often seen at most amusement and recreation parks as well as racing leagues and clubs all over the world. There are indoor and outdoor tracks you can race at young ages as well as adults. Most of the time you will come across go-karts at fun fairs and maybe now and again in the front parking lot of your local shopping mall. It’s the indoor go karting tracks that are getting to be commonplace.
Indoor Go Karting
Indoor go kart tracks are all the rage. Places like the Gokart Racer in California boast 3 tracks including the longest indoor go cart track (3/8 mile) in the United States with over twenty turns. Adults and juniors can race and they even have go kart racing leagues. Many friends get together and ride go carts for friendly competition. However, most of the go kart tracks will frown upon any kind of “very aggressive” driving. The go karts at the tracks are setup to have the same speed settings give or take a few mph so everyone has an equal shot. So this makes the driver utilize skill to his or her advantage. There are close to 80 indoor cart tracks in the U.S.
Go Karting Facts
Speed - Speed can vary among all types of go-carts. This is largely due to the size of the engine used or if there is more than one go kart engine involved. There are also speed restrictors put on by the manufacturer at the time of build to limit how fast a kart can go. A gokart with no restrictor can often reach speeds of closet to 120 mph while other restrictor carts hover around the 50 mph mark.
Turns – When you drive a go kart then expect one of the wheels to come off the ground at times when going into turns. This is natural because a gocart doesn’t have a suspension system like a car does so centrifugal force will torque the frame and cause the inside wheel to lift up ever so slightly.
Safety – As with anything motorized safety is key and gokarts are no exception. A go kart driver has special safety gear designed to keep them from getting hurt, scraped and burned thus deeming it “abrasion resistant.” This suit needs to be a one piece suit like Nascar drivers wear for better protection. Two piece suits will ride up and separate at your stomach leaving room for bodily harm. Helmets are a requirement to keep your head from hitting the ground when tossed from the vehicle. Protective eye wear and gloves are also recommended for go kart drivers.
Commercial Go Karting
The recreational park is the natural go to place for go cart action. But commercial indoor and outdoor karting is usually rented for ten to fifteen minute intervals. These companies offer an “arrive and drive” concept which allows the driver to show up and find all their equipment provided. This includes a racing suit, safety glasses, gloves, helmet and of course the kart itself.
Amusement Park Go Karting
Amusement parks offer outdoor go kart tracks that can be fun for the whole family. They offer low speed karts with a four stroke motor and sometimes electric motors. The electric go karts have been a popular choice as of late due to the price of gasoline. Also the electric powered carts are more environment friendly and safer, cheaper to operate.
External Controls – The outdoor amusement park go karts come equipped with external control capability which allows the the go kart to be speed limited remotely by the track attendant. This is extremely valuable if an accident occurs so the attendant can slow or stop the rest of the pack so no one gets hurt.
Go Kart Circuits
Short Circuit – The short circuit is any outdoor kart racing venue that is 1500 meters long. Average kart racing tracks are roughly 1200 meters long. They are typically road courses although often custom built for karting. The short circuit track can often accommodate gearbox and non-gearbox karts.
Long Circuit – A course longer than 1500 meters. They usually only contain gearbox karting and also share time with various motorsports. The long circuit events often see the Superkart reach speeds of 160 mph.
Go Karting Organizations
IKWC – Indoor Karting World Championship Click Here
WKA World Karting Association Click Here
IKF – International Kart Federation Click Here
MSA – Motor Sports Association Click Here
AKRA – America Kart Racing Association Click Here
