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Go Kart Wikipedia

Go-karts come in many varieties, from simple soapbox derby carts powered by gravity to high-powered racing machines. Recreational go-karts can be powered by small gas or electric motors and are often used for rental purposes at commercial tracks. Racing go-karts typically use high-revving two-stroke or lower-powered four-stroke engines. While most go-karts seat one person, some models accommodate two passengers.

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Preet Nagpal
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219 views11 pages

Go Kart Wikipedia

Go-karts come in many varieties, from simple soapbox derby carts powered by gravity to high-powered racing machines. Recreational go-karts can be powered by small gas or electric motors and are often used for rental purposes at commercial tracks. Racing go-karts typically use high-revving two-stroke or lower-powered four-stroke engines. While most go-karts seat one person, some models accommodate two passengers.

Uploaded by

Preet Nagpal
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Go-kart

A driver with a 2008 Kosmic TS28 on the grid at


KartSport Mt Wellington, New Zealand

Soap Box Derby at a community celebration in


Minnesota
Indoor kart rental

A two-seater rental

A go-kart, also written as go-cart (often


referred to as simply a kart), is a type of
open-wheel car. Go-karts come in all
shapes and forms, from motorless
models to high-powered racing
machines. Some, such as Superkarts, are
able to beat racing cars or motorcycles
on long circuits.

Gravity racers, usually referred to as Soap


Box Derby carts, are the simplest type of
go-karts. They are propelled by gravity.

Many recreational karts can be powered


by four-stroke engines or electric motors,
while racing karts use a two-stroke or,
rarely, higher powered four-stroke
engines. Most of them are single seater
but some recreational models can
accommodate a passenger.

In some countries, go-karts can be


licensed for use on public roads often
referred to as street tracks. Typically
there are some restrictions, e.g. in the
European Union a go-kart on the road
needs head light (high/low beam), tail
lights, a horn and indicators, and their
power must not exceed 20 hp (15 kW).

Recreational, concession
and indoor karts
Besides traditional kart racing, many
commercial enterprises offer karts for
rent, often called "recreational" or
"concession" karts. The tracks can be
indoor or outdoor. Karts are rented by
sessions (usually from 10 to 30
minutes). They use sturdy chassis
complete with dedicated bodywork,
providing driver safety. Most of these
enterprises use an "Arrive and Drive"
format which provides customers with all
the safety gear (helmets, gloves and
driver outfits) necessary, and allow them
to show up anytime to race at a
reasonable price, without the problem of
having to own their own equipment and
gear.

Outdoor tracks can offer low-speed karts


strictly for amusement (dedicated
chassis equipped with low powered four-
stroke engines or electric motors), or
faster, more powerful karts, similar to a
racing kart, powered by four-stroke
engines up to 15 hp (11 kW) and, more
rarely, by 2-stroke engines, but designed
to be more robust for rental use.
Typically, outdoor tracks are also be used
for traditional kart races.

Indoor kart tracks can be found in many


large cities in different parts of the world.
These tracks are often located in
refurbished factories or warehouses, and
are typically shorter than traditional
outdoor tracks. Indoor karts are usually
powered by a four-stroke gasoline engine
producing anywhere from 5 to 13 hp (4 to
10 kW), or sometimes by an electric
motor. Many tracks offer competitive
races and leagues. At the top level, an
Indoor Karting World Championship
(IKWC)[1] exists.

Engines

Power is transmitted from the engine to


the rear axle by way of a chain (some
rentals use a belt).

Four-stroke engines can be standard


air-cooled industrial based engines,
sometimes with small modifications,
developing from about 5 to 20 hp (4 to
15 kW). Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh
(company closed in 2008), Kohler,
Robin, and Honda are manufacturers
of such engines. They are adequate for
racing and fun kart applications. There
are also more powerful two-stroke
engines available from manufacturers
like Yamaha, KTM, Biland, or Aixro
(Wankel engine) offering from 15 to
48 hp (11 to 36 kW). They run at up to
11,000 rpm, and are manufactured
specifically for karting. PRD makes the
PRD Fireball, a two-stroke engine
delivering 28.5 hp (21 kW) at 15,580
rpm.
Electric go-karts are low maintenance,
requiring only that the lead-acid
batteries of the karts be plugged into
an array of chargers after each run.
Since they are pollution-free and emit
no smoke, the racetracks can be
indoors in controlled environments.
Most fully charged electric karts can
run a maximum of 20 minutes before
performance is affected. Some karts
have been fitted with hydrogen fuel
cells.[2]

External controls

Go-karts used in amusement parks can


be fitted with additional electronic
controls, such as remote speed limiters,
to help promote a safer operating
environment. In the event of an accident
or an out of control racer, the track
attendant can remotely slow or stop all
vehicles on the track via radio control.
This remote speed control can also be
used to limit young riders to a slow
operating speed, while a race consisting
only of adults is permitted a higher
speed. These controls can be applied to
both electric and combustion-engine
karts.

References
1. "Index of /" .
www.indoorkartworldchampionship.c
om.
2. Forze hydrogen karts Archived
2014-05-14 at the Wayback Machine

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