Since 1956 gokarts have been a hobby for some, and up session for others in a steppingstone into championship professional driving for many of today’s NASCAR and Indy car drivers. Gokarts have gone from the back alleys and back yards to world-class racetracks and racing series featuring gokarts faster, lighter and higher technology than anyone could have imagined 25 years ago.
Gokarts are still a fantastic family project and can be purchased with a few hundred dollars and assembled with basic mechanical know-how. Pre-built gokarts can be found at many online reputable dealers, local shops and racetracks in hardware stores. Used gokarts can be found at pawn shops and flea markets and garage sales. If you’re looking to buy used racing gokarts sometimes the facilities that rent higher end machines will sell off some of their older stock towards the end of the season. Or if you go to your local racing Association or local track many drivers have their older racing gokarts up for sale and it’s oftentimes an easy and affordable way to get yourself into racing.
Gokarts come in gas and electric powered versions with most of the electric power plants found at amusement parks or nonserious racing tracks. Some eco-friendly indoor tracks race electric gokarts that can do speeds of 40mph however these machines are European made extremely expensive and extremely rare.
Most homemade gokarts feature engines scrapped from old lawnmowers in the past it was all about having a Briggs & Stratton motor today brands like Honda Yamaha in Kohler make fantastic gokarts engines.
With a little money some creativity in finding the right deal you can be racing gokarts soon enough and who knows you may be the next Formula One champion, NASCAR star were Indy racing hero. You would be surprised at how many professional drivers got their start racing gokarts.