If you are interested in racing and appreciate economy, speed, and something you can make by yourself at home, then certainly you are a fan of the go kart. A relatively simple vehicle as single-seat racing cars go, this is one of the smallest and most fun motorized cars you will find.

Go-karting is popular all over the world, but it actually originated in Southern California in the 1950s. But even before then, standard automobiles lent themselves to the sport when they began to get higher speeds and could be, gradually, produced in smaller sizes.

Somewhere between a riding lawnmower and a racecar, the go kart offers a manageable size and a manageable yet exciting speed. If you have only gone karting in the controlled environment of an amusement park, you have probably gone no faster than 15 or maybe 20 miles per hour, but karts designed for speed and competition can go as fast as 160 miles per hour. Most at-home or do-it-yourself models give speeds of somewhere in the middle, often around 80 and 85 miles per hour for top speeds.

If you are considering becoming involved in karting just for fun, then you may want to buy a do it yourself kit, to build the go kart yourself. Since the sport involves small vehicles and controlled environments, children as young as 8 can usually compete, so this is a good family activity.

A kit for building the kart yourself will probably run several hundred dollars, with the price of course varying by how fast you want it to go and other factors.

If you choose to buy the kart, there are dozens of models available. Some of the most well known names in the karting industry, in terms of manufacturers, are Gillard, Margay Products, and Rotax. Other more common models are made by Stingray, Voodoo, Carson, Razor, and similar companies.

If you are looking for a fun activity for yourself or a loved one (young or not-so-young), a go kart is a fun way to get outside, get a little speed, and work on your reflexes while enjoying the thrill of the ride.