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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Online Shopping ? Is It Really So Great?
Online Shopping ? Is It Really So Great?
by: Kyle James
Online shopping - is it really so great?
That is the question among many consumers in the United States.
There are many that would rather go to the local shopping mall to make their purchases.
Perhaps it is the socialization aspect or the smell of the mall that attracts them.
Yes, I know people that like the smell of the mall!
Other consumers are still intimidated by the Internet and afraid to give their credit card number to online merchants.
This is a misnomer as online shopping has become more secure in recent years and if done correctly with reputable retailers will have no problems.
?Kick The Tires? At The Mall, Then Buy Online
Many consumers today don?t like to shop online because they cannot touch the merchandise, try it on, or smell it. Whatever the case may be, I always recommend to these folks to go to the brick and mortar...
Online Shopping ? Is It Really So Great?
Tires > Online Shopping ? Is It Really So Great?
Custom Chopper Kits
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Choosing the parts that your custom chopper will be made of can be very confusing, considering the large numbers of custom chopper bike kits available on the market today. Chopper innovators like Biker?s Choice, Phantom Cycle, Paul Yaffe and many more sell chopper-in-a-box kits available for chopper enthusiasts. Thanks to these kits, custom choppers have become quite affordable and are no longer necessarily toys for millionaires or master mechanics.
Custom chopper kits provide the future chopper owner with all the instructions and just about every component necessary to create a perfect chopper of ones dreams. Jesse James, famous for his Discovery series ?Monster Garage?, offers a Big Book catalogue loaded with individual parts and accessories needed to create a fully custom bike with truly unusual frame configurations and groundbreaking metal sheet parts as seen on his TV show. However, the most exquisite...
Custom Chopper Kits
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Auto Parts Inner Offers Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and Quality Replacement Parts for Ford, BMW, Toyota, Honda Chevrolet and More
Auto Parts Inner Offers Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and Quality Replacement Parts for Ford, BMW, Toyota, Honda Chevrolet and More
by: Terry Brown
Believing that prevention is still better than cure, Auto Parts Inner offers preventive maintenance tips to a lot of car users in order to avoid common car problems, frequent repair and car part replacement and thus, prolong the life of their vehicle.
Auto Parts Inner suggests a regular inspection of the vehicle?s major and minor parts, including the cooling system, engine system, ignition systems and the electrical system components.
It is also important to check all fluids in your car such as the transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid. They must be kept in normal level to ensure your safety.
Furthermore, you must make sure that the wheels are properly aligned and the tires are well inflated to ensure safety, better handling and ride quality.
In addition,...
Auto Parts Inner Offers Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and Quality Replacement Parts for Ford, BMW, Toyota, Honda Chevrolet and More
Tires > Auto Parts Inner Offers Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and Quality Replacement Parts for Ford, BMW, Toyota, Honda Chevrolet and More