Find out all about the features of the typical go kart and how simple but thrilling they are to drive!
Chassis
The chassis are made of chrome moly tubing. There is no suspension so chassis have to be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis are classified in the United States as ‘Open’, ‘Caged’, ‘Straight’ or ‘Offset’.
The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. Temperature of the track can also affect handling and may prompt additional chassis adjustments. The best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions.
Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are used in most shifter kart classes and are increasingly popular in other classes; however, certain classes do not allow them. Shifter karts have dual master cylinders, one for the front and one for the rear and are adjustable to allow for front/rear bias changes.
Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 – 175 lbs. without driver.
Amusement park go-karts can be powered by four-stroke engines or electric motors, while racing karts use small two-stroke or four-stroke engines.
Tires
Wheels and tires are much smaller than those used on a normal car. Rims are made of magnesium alloy, aluminum, or composite materials. Some car tire manufacturers, such as Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Maxxis make tires for karts. There are also specific kart tire manufacturers, which include MG, MOJO, Vega, Hoosier and Burris.
Similar to other motorsports, kart tires have different types for use appropriate to track conditions:
Steering Wheel
The all-important control center of the go kart, the steering wheel tells your rear wheels which way to go. Along with every other vital component of the kart, the steering column is regularly tested by our trackside team to make sure it’s responsive and fit for high-speed thrills.
Seats
The heavy-duty plastic or fiberglass seating is fully adjustable, so whether you’re tall or small, you’ll be able to reach the pedals without a hitch.
Pedals
Along with the steering, these are the bits you need to master if you want to know how to drive a go-kart! There are no gears to worry about on a standard kart, just an accelerator pedal that pumps juice into the engine and a brake pedal that helps you control your speed. Many karts are fitted with anti-double pedaling tech, which stops you accelerating and braking at the same time and protects the clutch from damage.
Bumpers
The bumpers at the front and rear are important safety features. Made of heavy-duty plastic, they surround the kart to absorb the worst of the shock on any impact. So even if you do lose control and go into the tires, you won’t be out of the race for long!