Racing Go Karts: A History
by: J Larry Alan
Go karts have not been around very long, but they have increased dramatically in popularity. They are fast becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
Go karts were first created in the United States in the 1950s with the majority of historians crediting Art Ingels as the inventor. He built his first go kart in California in 1956 and it was during this post-war period where airmen raced these go karts as a way to pass the time.
They are referred to as go karts, go carts, go-karts, shifter karts, gokarts and many other differently spelled variations. Go karts are related to open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Indy Car. In fact, many top professional race car drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty, got their start on the go kart racing circuit.
Go kart enthusiasts can easily become addicted to the thrill of racing. Once you?ve experienced the excitement it?s hard to let it go. There are ATV all terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, scooters, mopeds, mini bikes and motorcycles, but none give a driver any more of an adrenaline-rush than the popular go kart. They are simple 4-wheeled vehicles with no suspension (relying on chassis flex). They are basically just a smaller version of the professional open wheel cars and race on similar, but smaller, racing tracks.
Go karting can be a stepping stone for drivers desiring to work their way up to professional Formula One or Indy Car racing. It?s a cheaper way to get involved with racing. If a driver shows talent on the go kart circuit he can then move up to the more expensive divisions of motor racing including Formula One and Indy Car.
But go karting is not just for the professionally-minded. Most of the time go karts are raced by non-professionals, people just out for a little fun. Go karts have become popular all over the world and are found in most larger cities. For the faint of heart there are extremely tame tracks located in many family fun centers and amusement parks.
So what is a go kart? Go karts are made up of a chassis, motor, transmission, seat and 4 tires. Since go karts have no suspension the chassis must provide flexibility and yet retain enough stiffness to allow the kart good grip around the track and through the turns. The chassis can be either open or closed. Simply put, the closed, or caged chassis, allows protection for the driver in the event of a rollover. The open chassis does not.
Engines used in karting are typically either 2-stroke or 4-stroke.
The 2-stroke engine is generally more of a specialized engine that is made by companies such as Honda or Briggs and Stratton (who also make lawnmower engines). In fact, 4-stroke engines are usually the standard type used in lawn mowers. The 2-stroke is usually more powerful than the 4-stroke and can attain up to 30 horsepower or more.
Sprint karts can usually get up to about 60 mph while the more powerful enduro karts can reach a top speed of up to 90 mph. Shifter karts use a manual transmission and a clutch to bring out all the engine has to offer and can reach speeds of 160 mph or more. These are not toys.
As with Formula One racing the kart tires can be either slicks or rain tires. Slicks have no tread and are used for best traction on a dry track. Rain tires have tread and are used during wet weather. And in icy conditions there are specially-made spiked tires that give good grip on the slippery ice.
Go karts are generally considered a safer and cheaper way to get into racing. With the many different levels available drivers can move up the line until they reach the professional level. With the right mixture of talent and practice racing alongside the top pros is certainly a possibility.
About The Author
J Larry Alan is go kart enthusiast. He enjoys all forms of racing, but go karts are his favorite. For more information about go karts and karting visit http://www.go-karts-supreme.com.
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Understanding Your Auto Warranty
Understanding Your Auto Warranty
by: Matthew Noel
The auto warranty is something everyone thinks about when they are purchasing a car, but few of these people realize that they need to think about it after that as well. You go into a dealership, which convinces you to purchase an auto that is perfect for you. What seals the deal, in many cases, is the fact that the auto has an auto warranty on it. You think that they could not or would not offer a warranty on a product that wasn?t up to standards. So, you purchase your car and get your auto warranty.
Regardless of the car, the make or model number, you simply shove that auto warranty into the glove box and call it done. But, what you need to do is to know what is covered on that warranty, what you need to do to get those services, and what you need to do to keep that warranty up to date.
Getting the information that you need to make a decision about your auto warranty is also important....
Understanding Your Auto Warranty
Cooper tires > Understanding Your Auto Warranty
Finally, A Truly Revolutionary Soft Multifocal Contact Lens for Dry Eyes!
Finally, A Truly Revolutionary Soft Multifocal Contact Lens for Dry Eyes!
by: Steve Cogger
If you have been fit with the Cooper Proclear
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Finally, A Truly Revolutionary Soft Multifocal Contact Lens for Dry Eyes!
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Our Attitude More Than Our Aptitude Determines Our Altitude
Our Attitude More Than Our Aptitude Determines Our Altitude
by: Jim Clemmer
"There's a thin line between being #1 or #100 and mostly it's mental." ? Jimmy Conners, American professional tennis player who won 109 professional singles titles during his career
Our society admires strength and power. Since the early games of the ancient Olympics, we've had contests of strength, stamina, speed, and the like. We've approached brainpower or intellectual abilities in the same way. We're in awe of intellectual giants with memory, reasoning, or complex problem solving abilities far beyond our own. IQ tests were developed to measure this intellectual strength and power. We've come to believe that highly intelligent people make the best professors, doctors, managers, scientists, and so on. Many people believe that high IQ and high levels of success and happiness go together.
But many intellectual giants are emotional dwarfs. We all know people who...
Our Attitude More Than Our Aptitude Determines Our Altitude
Cooper tires > Our Attitude More Than Our Aptitude Determines Our Altitude