GO KARTS

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 usually raced on scaled-down circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher and more expensive ranks of motorsports. Karts vary widely in speed and some can reach speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour (260 km/h),while go-karts intended for the general public in amusement parks may be limited to speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). A KF1 kart, with a 125 cc 2-stroke engine and an overall weight including the driver of 150 kilograms has a top speed of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). It takes a little more than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph with a 125 cc shifter kart (6 gears), with a top speed of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) on long circuits.