Go kart racing is a common American pass time (and is popular in Europe, as well). Since the tiny, low riding, affordable kart was first produced in 1958, it has only gained in popularity. Appealing to both kids and adults, available in a variety of speeds (and even at-home assembly kits), this likeable, speedy little vehicle really has a lot going for it. Interested in the karting world but don’t know much about it? Here’s a quick overview of the kart’s structure, how it is raced, and why it is so popular.
The kart itself is really a quite simple vehicle, as motorized cars go. It consists of a steel chassis, engine, non-differential transmission, brakes and small tires. There is no suspension. Of course, as with all vehicles ‘simple’ does not necessarily mean ‘cheap’ or ‘unrefined.’ Some of the high end karts cost thousands of dollars and are designed to be extremely refined, extremely fast (up to 160 miles per hour) vehicles.
When buying a go kart, you decide whether you want a pre-assembled kart, or one that you assemble yourself. At-home assembly is especially popular among families who buy the vehicle as a gift for their kids. Learning to put it together is half the fun, and it gives kids a basic knowledge of mechanics, as well as extra pride in their vehicles. The more competitive karts, on the other hand, are probably better bought pre-assembled, as they are less of a hobby and more of as fine-tuned competitive machine.
In terms of go kart racing, there are several racing formats commonly used. Sprints are fast but relatively short races, of which drivers will race several qualifying races until making it to a final, that send drivers through right and left turns. Speedway races are faster, involving four laps around an oval track made of clay or asphalt. Endurance (“Enduro” for short) races are to karting as cross country running is to track and field. They generally last 30-45 minutes, but the famous French race, “24 Hours of Le Mans” lasts, as you would expect, for 24 hours.
Certainly go karts are popular among younger drivers due to their size, and famous racers like Jeff Gordon often get their start in karting. But it is also a legitimate adult sport, with many national and international competition organizations established exclusively for adults.