Go Cart Racing – Important Differences Between Go Karts

Do you have any idea what single-seater racing is? If you’ve seen the Indy 500 car race, you’ve seen open car racing, a thrilling type of racing action where drivers reach speeds in excess of 230 mph. Kart racing is similar to open wheel motor sports, using a fast racing kart. Kart racing is often used as a stepping stone to faster and more expensive auto racing, where a large number of professional drivers got their start.

When most people visualize go-karts, the idea that comes to mind is usually the slow go-karts seen at family amusement parks. Top speeds achieved on almost all amusement center tracks are on the order of 15 miles per hour, but various other forms of go-karts can reach top speeds in excess of 160 mph.

Kart racing is a regulated motor sport and allows anyone aged 8 and over to drive. As young children grow in talent in a regulated environment, they can progress to faster kart racing as they become more skilled.

In addition to the various kart racing leagues, Kid Karts karting courses are offered for children ages 8 and sometimes younger. These programs are continuous until the age of 16, where the youngsters will reach senior position. This is a great approach for young children to get involved in go-kart racing in a safe and fun environment.

You can find a large number of different varieties of kart racing, including sprint, sprint, and endurance, often called enduro racing. Speed ​​races take place on small race tracks that require both left and right turns. Race tracks typically range in size from a quarter mile to a mile. A normal speed kart race that includes preliminary kart races, also called heats, that are only a few spans in length. The top drivers in each qualifying race will advance to the championship race where the ultimate winner will emerge.

Speedway races are similar to some Indy Car races, occurring on oval tracks with only left turns. The basic variation is the size of the race track, with kart racing tracks being much smaller, usually between 1/6 and 1/4 of a mile. The tracks are typically asphalt or clay and have two straights and 4 left turns.

Some race tracks will not be oval, but may have a triangular design or some other outline. Occasionally the race course may consist of dirt, allowing for extremely fun racing. A unique go kart chassis has been produced for use on these left turn race tracks that improve the handling of the kart. Despite this, the use of these “dirt track” go kart frames will not be the best if used in other types of racing such as drag racing.

As with speed races, speedway races will typically use heats to find out which drivers compete in the main event. The qualifying heats will normally last 4 or 5 laps and the final race will last a full twenty laps. Endurance races, also known as Enduro races, have a set duration, usually from half an hour to 24 hours or more. For shorter kart races, all that is needed is a single driver for a racing kart. On the other hand, for longer Enduro races, there is usually more than one driver for each kart, and they will take turns driving, allowing for a periodic break.