| What started out as a way for airmen in the 1950s | | | | excitement. Because anyone can drive one, |
| to pass the time has turned into a popular worldwide | | | | regardless of their experience level, go carts have |
| sport for many. Go carts have quickly become a | | | | become extremely popular all over the world. They |
| phenomenon all over the globe. With most historians | | | | can be found in just about every large city either in |
| giving Art Ingels the credit for inventing the go cart, | | | | family fun centers or other venues.A go cart is made |
| he built his very first one back in 1956. But that first | | | | up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires |
| go cart was nothing compared to the models we | | | | and a few other odds and ends. As mentioned earlier |
| have today. Newer more modern go carts can now | | | | they have no suspension. The chassis must provide |
| travel 160 mph or faster. Now that's amazing.This | | | | the stiffness and also enough flexibility to allow the |
| miniature Formula One racing machine is referred to | | | | cart to grip the road well on the straightaways as |
| by a lot of names including go carts, go karts, | | | | well as in the turns. The chassis can be either open |
| go-carts, shifter carts, gocarts, gokarts, enduro carts, | | | | or caged. The caged chassis allows protection for the |
| and a number of other ways. But one thing is for | | | | driver in the event of a rollover while the open |
| sure, getting behind the wheel of one of them is | | | | chassis does not. The cage performs a similar |
| exciting. Go carts are related to open-wheel Formula | | | | function as does a roll bar.Engines used in carting are |
| One or Indy Car racing. If you've ever wanted to | | | | typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. They are made |
| know what it feels like to race a Formula 1 or Indy | | | | by manufacturers such as Honda or Briggs and |
| Car, while still being as safe as possible, go carts | | | | Stratton among others. You would think that the |
| would be your best bet. And that's probably what | | | | 4-stroke engines would be more powerful than the |
| Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, | | | | 2-stroke engines, but that's not usually the case.If |
| Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty all thought when they | | | | you have ever wondered how fast go carts can |
| were kids. They all started their racing careers in go | | | | travel you will be amazed at the top speeds. Sprint |
| carts. With speeds as high as 160 mph these little | | | | carts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the |
| machines can travel as fast as the professional race | | | | more powerful enduro carts can reach a top speed |
| car drivers do on many of their tracks.There are | | | | of about 90 mph. And if that's not fast enough for |
| many different options available today for people | | | | you how about the shifter karts that reach top |
| that want an exciting vehicle to drive. There are | | | | speeds of 160 mph or more. You heard right, that is |
| ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, go peds, mini | | | | not a misprint and these are certainly not toys. |
| bikes and motorcycles. But go carts are the closest | | | | Transmissions differ from cart to cart, but the shifter |
| thing you will find to the thrill of Formula 1, NASCAR | | | | carts use a manual transmission with a clutch that |
| or Indy Car racing. They are small open-wheeled | | | | allows the driver to get the most out of the motor.It |
| vehicles with 4 wheels and no suspension. Instead of | | | | seems as though every part of the go cart has |
| a suspension they rely on chassis flex. They are | | | | become a separate entity, a specialized piece of |
| basically a smaller version of the professional open | | | | equipment with different options available to the |
| wheel race cars.Many hopefuls who dream of one | | | | purchaser. And with regard to the tires they are |
| day racing at the pro level will get their start in go | | | | certainly no exception. In dry weather slicks are used. |
| carting. Go carts can be a stepping stone to | | | | They are smooth tires that grip the road well. And as |
| professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. The | | | | they heat up while driving they get even better |
| reason is that there are many different classes in go | | | | traction. During wet weather tires with treads are |
| carting. No matter what level of experience you have | | | | needed. These are called rain tires. And of course, |
| there is a class for you. And as you improve you can | | | | how could any respectable driver racing on ice do |
| move up to increasingly higher classes with greater | | | | without specialized spiked tires? That's correct, there |
| competition. If you can get to the top in a go cart | | | | are even go cart races on ice in some parts of the |
| you may have what it takes for Formula 1 or | | | | world.With the many different levels available for |
| Indy.Professional racing is a very expensive sport. But | | | | drivers today anyone can race at a comfortable level. |
| with go carts drivers can get involved on a | | | | And the sky is the limit to a talented driver. With a |
| shoestring budget. It's a cheaper way to get involved | | | | lot of practice, a bunch of talent and a little luck you |
| with racing. Find out if you have what it takes | | | | might find yourself racing alongside Tony Stewart |
| without breaking the bank to do it.But go carting is | | | | someday. It's certainly possible.This article about |
| not only for the professionally-minded drivers. Go | | | | racing fast go carts is brought to you by Go Carts |
| carts are usually driven by non-professionals, people | | | | Supreme. For more information about carting and go |
| just like you or me, out for a good time and a lot of | | | | carts visit Go Carts Supreme. |