One of the only limitations of off-road go karts is finding a place to drive them, check with your local Parks and Recreation Department or look on the Internet for off-road go karts clubs in your area. Once you find a place to drive your off-road go karts it is now time to let the fun begin. Off-road go karts can be handmade projects or you can purchase turnkey fully equipped racing machines for around $3500. Off-road go karts been around since the 1960s in today’s models can be well-equipped with features like aluminum exhaust, race tuned suspension, stereo equipment and even iPod docking stations. Off-road go karts have certainly come a long way from putting beefier tires on a traditional road base go kart in order to take it on dirt roads. Driving fast, catching air and blasting through mud and water are all things that today’s off-road go karts are capable and designed to do. Piney model that can go 40 mph to 60 mph is not uncommon in today’s off-road go karts.

Always make sure that you have proper safety equipment especially a helmet when driving off-road go karts unlike a traditional go kart a four-point racing seat belt in full roll cage should always be a top priority before you purchase or drive any off-road go kart. Because of an off-road go karts ability to catch air, hit an obstacle, and for lack of a better word roll over, you want to make sure that your machine is equipped with the proper safety features to not only keep you inside the vehicle but safe if a high-speed roll over occurs.

Most ready-made go karts, already assembled in the go kart frame is designed specifically for the geometry of that particular kart. When it comes to homemade go kart frame geometry is very important as well as size, wheelbase and most of all go kart frame length. Many home a go karts and their builders do not place enough emphasis on the geometry of the go kart frame and you end up with a frame that is either too long and narrow or too short and wide. Longer drivers need a go kart frame that is going to give their legs enough room in stretch to work the pedals properly tour they don’t feel like their knees are pressed up against their chest. However, as you lengthen the go kart frame you need to make corresponding adjustments in the wheelbase and axle length or else you’ll significantly change the geometry of the go kart affecting the handling, stability, breaking and control.

If you look on the Internet there are significant number of plans available to build your own go kart frame some of these plans are free and some of these plans are for sale. Having good plans is the first step to building quality go kart frame, the second and probably more important component is to have the right building materials, the right tools and the ability to make strong welds to metal. Nothing is more dangerous than a go kart frame this poorly welded together. Can you imagine your go kart falling apart from underneath you as you make it turn at 40 mph? Believe me it’s not a pretty sight. So if you’re making your own go kart make sure that whatever parts you choose are securely fastened to a strong, durable and reliable go kart frame.

Craigslist: craigslist can be a great resource to try and find a go kart for sale. One of the keys to looking for a go kart for sale on craigslist is to not sell yourself to short. What we mean by this is ask as many questions as possible before driving out to take a look at the go kart for sale on craigslist. You want to make sure that you are buying a go kart that is in perfect working order or at least runs well starts on the first or second try as solid breaks and handling ability if the individual on craigslist cannot answer these basic questions about the go kart for sale you may want to look into other options before driving out to meet them.

EBay: eBay is a great place to find a go kart for sale, the great thing about eBay is true competition you can shop everybody else’s go kart for sale against other ones I know for certain that you’re getting a good price. The drawback with finding a go kart for sale on eBay is the distance and shipping. A go kart for sale online can be expensive for non-expert to ship and you easily end up using the savings you found by finding a go kart for sale on eBay on shipping costs.

Online specialty shops: if you want to find a go kart for sale fast there are a ton of online specialty shops that have nothing but go carts for sale and specialize in go carts and minibikes only. These online specialty shops is typically the best place to look if you’re in the market to find a brand-new go kart for sale. If you’re in the market for used go kart you may still want to consider the specialty shops as shipping from them and their volume discounts may get a brand-new go kart delivered to your door for the same price all in with shipping as it would have cost to find a used go kart for sale on eBay.

Local racetrack: your local racetrack is always a great place to find equality go kart for sale oftentimes drivers and rental companies will sell their old go carts at a fraction of the cost when they are done using them.

The second suggestion. for finding cheap go karts is to look for professional grade prebuilt, preassembled manufactured go karts for sale that are used or preowned. If you do a little bit of homework and look on places like craigslist, eBay, Amazon, and even your local pawn shops you’ll be amazed at the selection of cheap go karts you will have to choose from. The key in buying used cheap go karts is to avoid projects where the engine is not running, the cart does not start or stop, and the handling is so poor making the car difficult to drive. Yes you save a few dollars buying cheap go karts that need work but the price variance between cheap go karts the run great and cheap go karts that need an undisclosed amount of money to get working again is pretty small. If you’re having trouble finding well running cheap go karts that fit within your budget we suggest holding out, saving a little more money and expanding your search parameters. Another great place to look for use cheap go karts is your local kart racing club or racetrack oftentimes you’ll find professional and amateur go kart racers selling their used cheap go karts. Most of the time you are in great hands buying cheap go karts that were previously owned by kart racing enthusiasts, as these drivers tend to take very good care of their go karts and care more about carting than selling junk in making a profit. These use cheap go karts were once their babies so they want to see them go to a good home and are oftentimes very likely to give you a good price knowing that you will love and cherish their use cheap go karts the same way they did.

Even in 2010 a pedal go kart still inspires awe in just about every child. Talk about great memories, imagine dad on the driveway washing the family cruiser and his four-year-old son next to him polishing his pedal go kart.

If you’re looking for a great deal on the pedal go kart for your child the Internet is a fantastic place to start. Most car dealerships parts departments have small pedal go kart versions of their high-end vehicles. I still remember drooling over a Mercedes 300 SL pedal go kart hanging above the parts counter at our local dealership. However, to buy that pedal go kart at the dealership can be a pretty pricey proposition. I recommend looking online at local toy stores and car dealerships to find the exact pedal go kart you want for your child and then price shopping that model on places like eBay and Amazon.com. If you are not so particular about the type of pedal go kart you are looking for you can be lucky enough to find one at a garage sale, swap meet, or flea market. If you’re lucky enough to stumble upon the all metal 1950s style of pedal go kart at a good price I highly recommend purchasing it. This type of pedal go kart is now considered art Americana and some are worth thousands of dollars at art and antique auctions. If you are sitting on one of these prized beauties may be a hand-me-down from your grandmother or grandfather be sure you’re keeping it in good condition, rust free and it’s probably a good idea to have your pedal go kart appraised by a professional if it is any older than 20 years old.

The typical amusement parks go kart engines are either powered by a four stroke or an electric motor. The typical racing go kart engines are a two stroke however some racing Go karts feature a quieter four stroke go kart engine.

Electric go kart engines are  low maintenance requiring only that batteries be plugged in after each run. Electric go kart engines are a pretty expensive endeavor and unless you’re an amusement park with the ability to purchase a rotating fleet of electric Go Karts than electric go kart engines are probably not the best choice for you.

Four stroke go kart engines can be standard air cooled industrial-based engines that may or may not have small modifications to make it a go kart engine. The typical horsepower range for, four stroke go kart engines is 5 to 30 hp. Four stroke go kart engines are acceptable for both racing and fun applications however if you are looking for truly high performance and don’t mind the extra noise, tuning and maintenance two-stroke go kart engines are probably going to give you more performance.

Two-stroke go kart engines are typically going to be built, developed and tested by very specific racing engine manufacturers. Two-stroke go kart engines tend to be expensive and require a lot more tuning and maintenance however the horsepower is a lot higher on these type of go kart engines. Go karts with these go kart engines have been known to do well over 100 mph. And turn over 16,000 RPMs.

So if you have a project in mind and you are looking for specific go kart engines, do your homework before ordering these engines. You want to make sure you buy the right engines for your application, and most of all you want to make sure the engines will fit on your go kart and if you plan on driving in your neighborhood that the noise is not so loud that the neighbors call the police because of your loud go kart engines.

Racing go karts have moved from the backyard to the big-time. Some top fuel racing go karts are capable of speeds up to 160 miles an hour. If you’re interested in getting started racing go karts there are typically two phases that a driver goes through. Phase 1 is competitive racing go karts rental. Before you go out and spend thousands of dollars on your first racing machine is probably best to find a well-equipped track that offers time and rental racing go karts. This will not only allow you to discover if the sport is right for you you’ll start making headway into learning what makes you tick as a driver. Just because a racing go kart looks fast and is expensive does not mean it’s the right machine for you. Racing go karts come in all different types in finding the right horsepower, weight and breaking distribution for your particular driving style is the key to winning races.

The second phase of racing go karts is kart ownership. If you are on a budget and have done your homework with the rental karts a great place to start is your local racetrack. Attend as many racing go karts events as you can and get to know other drivers and clubs. Typically the more seasoned drivers may have older machines that they no longer use up for sale at these events. If he gets another driver you will know the history of the machine for sale and you can oftentimes get great deals on pre-owned racing go karts.

Before you buy any use machine make sure that you are allowed to take it for a test drive. There is nothing worse than blowing your budget on use racing go karts only to find out that the machine you bought needs more work and more money than it would have cost to buy a brand-new kart to begin with.

If you are interested in going beyond the rental track you need to make sure that your entire budget is not devoted toward track time and racing go karts. Proper safety equipment is key and a great racing helmet should be your first purchase. Even at speeds of 40 mph there can be an impact strong enough to cause a fatality. Although racing go carts is extremely safe sport you need to use the proper precautions and safety here before stepping out onto the track.

If you can find an indoor track that specializes in racing go carts close to you this is a very good thing. Indoor racing go karts will allow you to hone your skills as a driver no matter what the weather conditions, season or time of day. The surface area on indoor tracks designed for racing go carts is often extremely smooth and well maintained similar to that of NASCAR racing tracks.

Good luck on your journey racing go carts, be safe and most of all have fun.

There are many companies that manufacture a quality off-road go kart. Hammerhead has been a leading off-road go cart builder for 15 years. If you are looking for a good example of the quality off-road go kart check out Hammerhead. There you will find some of the most innovative designs, unique off-road go cart features an exceptional quality. And off-road go kart provides affordable fun and entertainment for your entire family. And if you are looking to get serious, there are racing off-road go carts that will blow your mind. And off-road go kart that is at the pinnacle of performance is the hammerhead super sport 250. This off-road go kart features a liquid cooled, four stroke 249 cc engine with CDI ignition and automatic clutch and rear wheel drive. The SS 250 is an amazing off-road go kart because of its world-class, exclusively tuned water cooled engine, high/low transmission with reverse, aluminum muffler, digital speedometer, iPod/MP3 compatible sound system, brushed aluminum wheels and canopy top. If you have the money to spend this is the greatest off road go kart ever built. This off road go kart is not a toy however and is strongly recommended for drivers age 16 and above.

If you’re looking for a little less expensive off road go kart or something less feature and power rich there are many many options available in a wide selection to choose from and off-road go kart. One of the best places to look for and off-road go kart is your local motorcycle shop or scooter supply store. If you’re lucky, your local pawn shop may have a fantastic deal on a preowned off-road go kart.

If you’re looking to build your own off-road go kart you can find many plans on the Internet and typically the build cost should not exceed around $500. If budget is your biggest concern you may want to rethink building your own off road go kart in order to save money, these type of projects can often run over budget and leave you with an incomplete machine that makes you and your riders depressed every time you look at it. If you’re on a fixed budget your best move is to set up budget firm and start shopping for a preowned off-road go kart that fits within your budget. Do not buy a machine that is not in strong working order if you need to wait longer and save up more money for a better machine do it. The last thing you want to buy is a project that needs an undisclosed amount of money to make the off-road go kart start, stop and function properly.

And don’t forget the most important thing about off road go kart, have fun.

Gocarts have been an American pastime since 1956. Gocarts are fast fun and affordable. And over the last 25 years gocarts have become a great way for professional racecar drivers to start their career in NASCAR or IndyCar racing.

Gocarts come in many forms, typically when most of us think of Gocarts we think of the homemade projects that utilize the donor lawnmower for an engine is simple metal frame and tractor wheels. Even today these Gocarts made by hand are some of the most fun projects a family can build. However, if you are looking to get a little more serious there are more options in ready-made and rental Gocarts than there ever was before.

There are a ton of great quality manufacturers of ready-made Gocarts and with advancements in engines today’s Gocarts have more horsepower and are more affordable. Today’s advancements in breaks have allowed manufacturers to produce safer Gocarts that handle much better than those of the 1970s and 80s.

Rental Gocarts today have come a long way just in the last 10 years, with the emergence of indoor racing rental Gocarts are now reaching top speeds of 50 to 60 mph. These Gocarts are a great way to get your feet wet in racing and decide if you have the right stuff. Some larger cities offer electric Gocarts that can go 40 miles an hour these are European built extremely expensive machines but they are easy on the environment less noisy and emit far less fumes than their gas powered counterparts.

If you are looking at used Gocarts make sure you do your homework and you are careful. Only select from used Gocarts that are in top working condition. It is our recommendation to never buy a project and always by a Gocarts that starts stops and runs well. If the person selling the used Gocarts does not allow you to test drive them it’s probably a good indication that you need to move on and shop somewhere else. Typically a great place to find great deals on used Gocarts is the local racetrack or local racing Association. Many experienced drivers sell their old Gocarts at a fraction of the cost in order to finance new ones or buy more time on the track.

No matter if you are looking for rental Gocarts, ways to build your own Gocarts or great places to find used Gocarts, you’re well on your way to miles and miles of fun times. Enjoy the driving and be safe.

Racing kart sprint. Sprint racing takes place on dedicated racing kart circuits that look like small road courses these racing kart circuits feature both left and right hand turns. Sprint racing car courses typically range from a quarter-mile to over 1 mile in length per lap. A Sprint racing kart format is a series of short races, normally the sprint races have a very small number of laps that allow you to qualify into the racing kart final. This format has multiple point scoring calculations that help officials determine the overall event winner. Most sprint races do not last longer than 10 or 15 minutes.

Endurance kart racing. In endurance kart racing drivers are forced to outlast their competitors for an extended period that can range anywhere from a half hour to 24 hours. Endurance kart racing can utilize more than one driver for the same kart in the same event the typical endurance kart race lasts around 30 to 45 minutes and has no pit stops this type of kart racing is held on full-size road racing circuits that are usually between 1 1/2 and 4 miles in length.

Speedway kart racing Speedway kart racing is kart racing that takes place on asphalt, cement or clay oval tracks that are normally up to a quarter-mile long kart racing oval tracks per merrily consist of two straightaways and four left turn corners. Speedway racing kart is the closest thing to NASCAR.

If you are looking for a less organized racing kart event look no further than your local racing kart track. Typically these tracks offer much more than just pay for a couple laps and go if you call the track you may be surprised to find out that they have weekly or monthly racing events where you can test your skills against other interested drivers. No matter what place you finish you will find that racing kart can be addictive. Whether you come in first or last I guarantee that you will have a blast racing kart.