Historically, the first go-cart, was built by Art Ingels in 1956. It was a simple affair with a two stroke cycle engine. Go karting has since then, come a long way, from a popular sport for airmen in the heyday’s to the current speed demons or superkarts, some of which are reported to cross 160 mph (260 Km/h) on asphalt!

The racing go kart is slightly modified compared to children’s go carts, since they are built for more speed and more endurance over various terrain. The more noticeable changes are in the wheels, which are much bigger, to offer better traction and stability and in the engines which are more powerful, with most Off road go carts having 150-250cc engines. Besides the horse power, there are other fundamental differences in the design of these carts with

· Higher clearance, to clear more ground based obstacles
· The adult models, have both rear as well as front shock absorbers, since enthusiasts will definitely try it out, on rough terrain
· A reverse gear
· Unique styling features, sometimes it’s tough to tell if the carts a dune buggy or vice versa

Racing go carts are basically open wheeled vehicles with no suspension. The basic components of an off road go cart, are the chassis, transmission, motor, seating for 1-2 people and 4 tires. Since, there is no suspension, the chassis itself must provide enough strength and flexibility to allow the cart to maintain its grip on the road, whether its going straight or taking a sharp left.

An underlying aspect of off road go carting, is the focus on safety. Since these race go carts can easily reach the speeds of a normal car, accidents, when they occur can be deadly, so a few safety provisions are always included such as seat belts and padding with helmets, gloves, shoes and thermal suits is recommended. With carts on the racing track, roll bars and caged chassis provide protection to the driver, in the event of the car rolling over. However extreme racing go carts your dealing with rough terrain and also go kart races that can be very dangerous as well.

Go karting is considered to be a stepping-stone to the world of high-speed racing. Racing greats like Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Tony Stewart and Michael Schumacher were all Go carters, before they ventured into Indy or Formula One. Talent scouts often pick up the best talents from the go carting tracks and hone them into professionals. In fact, if you’re good enough to reach the top classes in go carting (and mind you, there are many classes), you should seriously consider professional kart racing.

There are many places to find racing go karts for sale depending on what kind of driving level you are going to be classified in. Some are built bigger and faster than others. However, if you’re just in it for the fun, forget the competition. Remember what it was like to be kids, and just have fun!

Go karting has been around for decades and every year more and more go karts can be seen on neighborhood streets or in yards alike. Children can’t get enough and every Christmas new kids go carts show up on the street reaking havoc on the rest of the neighborhood. But they are not just for street use many of them are off road go karts that have been setup for dirt trails and street as well. There are street go carts and off road go carts alike. Many of which are gas powered as well as some electric go carts. I have seen many of them on mountain ranges riding through trails like they were an all terrain vehicle and its impressive. Gas go carts are much more powerful than their electric counterparts. I have even seen pedal go carts for the much younger children who are looking at safety first.
When your a kid growing up The first thing to consider when buying a go kart is what age group your dealing with, obviously a 4 or 5 year old doesn’t need a 40 mph go kart. The beginner age which is typically 4 years old starts with a 4 or 5 horsepower go kart which usually runs about 15 mph. That’s pretty good at that age and dangerous as the same time if not properly watched out for.  The amateur age is usually 8-12 and with about a 6hp cart that does 20-25 mph which is not too shabby. Obviously the higher the age the faster you can go with these and as parents we need to make sure we are smart about what we choose for our children to get into.

Go karts are fun but also dangerous at the same time. Safety is the most important factor with anything motorized and these are no exception. They are setup from the factory with a 3 point harness or seat belt and padded roll cage so if you do flip it or wreck you drastically reduce your chances of being injured. Its just like a car and should be treated like one. Helmets are also a requirement at all times and can be accessorized to look like the cart itself if you so choose. There are half and full face helmets and as any parent would guess full face is definitely the way to go.

There are videos and manuals on go karting and they should be studied before any child takes a ride. Its the parents job to make sure they properly educate themselves and their children before letting them loose on anything that has speed. Your first plan of action is taking your child out to an empty lot or field and teaching them the basics of throttle control and braking before letting them go wild.

You can find cheap go carts at several local locations like pep boys and Walmart especially in the fall and winter months. There are used go carts all over the newspaper and internet. Brands such as Carter go carts and Manco go carts offer great dependability and safety. Your local Yamaha, Kawasaki or Honda dealers typically have go karts for sale as well but if that doesn’t suit you the internet is always a great place to find reviews on certain models and the best prices available.