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GoKarts - Everything about GoCarts. The basics of go-karting
What is a gokart?
 A go-kart is a four-wheel vehicle. The four wheels are attached
to the four corners of a rectangular tubular frame, which is called the
chassis. The flex in the frame and the pneumatic tires provide the kart
the action of the suspension.
The engine can be mounted on the left, right or even centered on the
rear of the chassis. The fuel tank is either mounted on the engine or can
be separate and mounted on the frame depending on the engine and
appllication.
The seat is usually centered on the frame just ahead of the engine. The
right pedal is the accelerator and the left is the brake. A steering wheel
is directly connected to the front wheels through a linkage fitted with
joints. The brakes can consist of various styles from the simple old
fashion tire friction type to the newer drum and disk designs which
generally stop either one or both of the rear wheels and quite frequently
even stop the main drive axle for the rear wheels.
The engine power is transmitted either through a centripical clutch,
pictured on the left, or a new variable speed belt torque converter,
pictured on the right. These assemblies either drive a jackshaft or the
rear main axle itself, which would be attached to the rear tire hubs.
Live axles give you more traction but do make the cart harder to turn
unless you have a type of slip clutch assembly which compensates for
the different speeds that the tires turn while making a turn.
What is go-karting?
Go-karting consists of a few basic segments:
rental,
(when you go to a place and pay to ride around a track),
racing, (where you
join a circuit and compete), or just having a kart to ride around the
neighborhood.
The vehicles in each of these segments are quite different in terms of
construction and safety features. Quite often, a driver has
his/her first exposure to the sport in a rental kart or home kart. After
experiencing the pleasures of karting, the human desire for speed and
competition takes over and a driver graduates into kart racing.
Rental
 At thousands of rental tracks throughout North America, lots of
families and individuals spend untold millions of dollars to drive
go-karts. With a controlled maximum speed of 22 to 28 MPH, children and
adults learn the fun of driving a motorized vehicle on a track. Kids can
learn to drive which makes them feel like Al Unser Jr. roaring down a
speedway track.
A rental kart is built with customer safety in mind. The style is
designed, from the ground up, to withstand abuse and constant use. Heavy
grade steel tubing is employed for frame rails, with bumpers surrounding
the chassis for protection and safety of the driver.
The engine used on most rental karts is around a 5.5 HP engine. Rental
karts are built to meet a number of manufacturing and safety standards.
Each track is also responsible for enforcing its own rules to maximize
patron safety. Rental karting is by far the most popular portion of
the karting.
Racing
The early race karts, in essence, were rental karts in style and
design. As competition events became more structured and speeds increased,
the design of racing karts was dedicated by safety and competitive need.
The original single wheel drive was replaced with a dual rear wheel
system known as a "live" axle. This system allows the rear wheels to be
firmly mounted to a single drive axle, either solid or hollow,
thereby allowing both wheels to be driven for more traction. The steering
and braking systems were improved and the chassis was designed and
constructed to reduce ground clearance and add to the aerodynamics. These
changes improved the handling capabilities and made driving easier.
Todays racing karts are produced by a number of specialty
manufacturers in the US and many other countries. The design of a racing
chassis requires considerable engineering and production sophistication.
Racing chassis include high quality steel frames, geometric steering
ratios, hydraulic disc brakes, ultra-light aluminium wheels, fiberglass
bucket seats and specially designed tires. They are precision racing
vehicles capable of incredible speeds for their size.
Several different engines are used for racing. The power plants
currently available are the 4 cycle Briggs and Stratton, Tecumseh or
other manufacturers to the 2 cycles and Rotax engines. There are even
transmissions for shifting gears on many racing models.
Racing chassis and their related components have come a long way since
the early 60s, and both manufacturers and racers are constantly looking
for new ways to increase speed and gain the competitive edge.
Whether at a rental track or on a racetrack, karting offers fun and
excitement for all who participate. If you haven't yet experienced all
that karting has to offer, give it a try! It's truly popular,
affordable and is the cheapest form of motor sports.
Many of the big name Formula 1 racers have done karting at one point of
time or the other.
Karting involves the driving of a small special purpose motorized
vehicle, utilizing the skills and techniques of auto-racing. The sport
lends itself as a family activity where each member can participate on an
equal level.
What Is Rental Karting?
Entertainment is a big industry all over the world. People are looking
for various opportunities and ways to relax. Like amusement parks, Water
parks, etc., rental karting is fast becoming a popular amusement and
entertainment.
The karting center provides the customers with the karts, helmets,
jackets, etc., for them to drive. Pricing varies according to each track,
how many laps which can vary depending on the size of the track. The
karts should be fast and should provide the drivers the thrill of racing.
Rental tracks vary from a flat level area to some hills and banks
with various curves and straights. The track should be made quite safe by
providing safety barriers made up of used tires and guard rails.
Generally in the rental karting facility there should be a restaurant
and also some other different kinds of amusement like archery, roller
skating, pool, darts, game room, etc.
History of karting
 Ingels was familiar with racing as he was old time "hot-rodder" and an
employee of the famous racing chassis manufacturer in southern California.
He was involved with IndyCar design and production from 1951 to 1958.
Late in 1956, Ingels acquired one of the surplus engines, a 2.5 HP
lightweight West bend power plant. Soon thereafter, he combined a simple
tubular chassis, semi-pneumatic tires and a bicycle chain to invent the
first "go-kart".
He was amazed at what he had built, and how quickly it moved across the
"test" parking lot. But did he know what he had started? No, not yet! He
just had a fun machine that he, his family and friends could enjoy.
As one might imagine, Ingels was besieged with questions when he drove
the little machine through the parking lots and alleys in Glendale. "Where
can we get one?" "How much does it cost?" Because of the interest in the
little car, Ingels recognized the sales potential and felt he could
produce and sell them for $150.
In 1957, another auto racer from the same area, Duffy Livingstone,
built another version of Ingels miniature car. After racing his model in
the Rose Bowl parking lot and experiencing the same high level of
enthusiasm that Ingels did, Livingstone and a partner made plans to
manufacture and market the vehicle. Still, the tiny machine had no name.
Later in the summer of 1957, Rod and Custom magazine heard about the
speedy little cars and planned to do an article. At the time, there were
about 30 cars in existence. After writing the story, the Rod and Custom
editions needed a descriptive name, so they elected to call the tiny
creations "Go-karts" -- a modification of the name "Go-cart", originally
defined as a baby carriage as far back as 1689.
The term stuck, and go-karting was off and running. Soon thereafter,
Livingstone and his partner formed the Go-kart Manufacturing Company and
began shipping do-it-yourself kits.
Watching the sales soar at Go-kart Manufacturing Company, Ingels and
Lou Barelli formed a partnership and built their own karts, which they
named Carettas.
But, whats a go-kart if you can't race it?
Go-kart racing evolved quickly, and it was soon realized that some
governing body needed to be organized to set standards for chassis design
and establish racing rules. The karts of the day were all different shapes
and sizes, and they were built from a variety of materials. Some were
built from water pipe, some with three wheels, some with huge wheels, and
some with tiny wheels. There were Go-karts with the wheelbase and tread
dimensions nearly equal or very long and narrow. Whether safe or not, each
manufacturer thought that theirs was the best design.
In December of 1957, the first kart club was organized, the Go-kart
Club of America. Chassis requirements were set and classes were organized
to pit equal against equal. Safe, organized kart racing had begun!
During the next three years, go-karting exploded onto the scene. In
1960, there were over 100 kart manufacturers in the United States, along
with many others in Europe, South America, Australia and other countries
around the world.
 There were scores of models with names like Acer Racer, Hot Cart,
Leecart, Viking, Racer-kart, Swoopsters, Blue Streak, Ala-kart, Percival,
Putt-nik, etc. They had unusual designs and unusual names, but they had
one thing in common, they were a beginning of the phenomenon called
"GO-KARTING", the affordable motor sports that has brought enjoyment and
pleasure to millions throughout the world and continues to surge in
popularity.
Today the most popular motor sports in the world is "Go-karting".
Whatever your dreams or desires one thing is for sure, karting is
affordable, fun and safe for everyone. | 