"Go-kart" and similar terms redirect here. For unmotorised "go-karts", see Soapbox (car).

Kart Racing 1.jpg Kart racing (as the word is so spelled by enthusiasts) or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. By definition a kart must have no suspension (relying on chassis flex), and no differential (solid back axle). They are usually raced on scaled-down tracks, but are sometimes driven as entertainment or as a hobby by non-professionals. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher and more expensive ranks of motorsports. Karts were initially created in the United States in the 1950s post-war period by airmen as a way to pass spare time. Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father of karting. He built the first kart in Southern California in 1956. Karting has rapidly spread to other countries, and it currently has a large following in Europe. Karts vary in speed and some can reach speeds exceding 160mph. A TKM kart with a 100cc 2 stroke engine and an overall weight including the driver of 145 kilograms, can accelerate from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds, and has a top speed of 75mph. It has a better power to weight ratio than a Ferrari F50. A kart like this can be driven by race licence holders over the age of 11.

Components

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Chassis

The chassis, a very important element of the kart because it must be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stern enough not to break or give way on a turn. If the chassis were not this way, the grip of the rear wheels would exceed the grip of the fronts, and the kart would not turn in to the corner. Kart chassis are also classified as 'open,' 'caged,' 'straight,' or 'offset.' Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the driver, and open karts have no roll cage. Caged karts are not used in Europe. In straight chassis the driver sits in the center, but in offset chassis the driver sits on the left side. Straight chassis are used for sprint racing and offset chassis are used for speedway racing.

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@BrittdayCake you going go-karting tomorrrrow at 3 with us? (; i'll pick you up and papa eydlish is paying so no worrries!
pullingdaisies (rachel eydlish) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:58:39 -0000
@BrittdayCake you going go-karting tomorrrrow at 3 with us? (; i'll pick you up and papa eydlish is paying so no worrries!
Runway 9 yesterday. Go karting was krazy. Once it started drizzling, we skid and crashed. Awesome
sivakeshava (siva keshava) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:33:06 -0000
Runway 9 yesterday. Go karting was krazy. Once it started drizzling, we skid and crashed. Awesome
Anyone in Adelaide who wants to come karting tomorrow night let me know - have a few spots on grid left!
f1_power (Ryan Schembri) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:24:06 -0000
Anyone in Adelaide who wants to come karting tomorrow night let me know - have a few spots on grid left!
al karting mañana eh-eh-eh!
imarinkovic (Ivan Marinkovic) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:21:56 -0000
al karting mañana eh-eh-eh!
U.S. Indoor Karting Championships – Phoenix, AZ http://bit.ly/lxITS
NBoundZ (Clayton Peck) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:53:45 -0000
U.S. Indoor Karting Championships – Phoenix, AZ http://bit.ly/lxITS
2009 World Karting Championship (Macau) - Pt 3 http://bit.ly/1oI0sD
NBoundZ (Clayton Peck) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:52:51 -0000
2009 World Karting Championship (Macau) - Pt 3 http://bit.ly/1oI0sD

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