How to Race Go-Carts
Racing go-carts is a fun form of competition and entertainment. Anyone can visit the local amusement park track and race friends and family members in a fairly non-competitive environment with the carts the track provides. But if you are interested in taking go-carting to the next level, you'll need to get involved in competitive go-cart racing as a hobby.
Instructions
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Visit go-cart racing tracks near your home and find out if they offer competitive racing leagues or tournaments. The information most important to gather is what weight class, age and types of go-carts are allowed in each tournament. This information will vary depending on the track and the tournament, but go-carts typically fall into two categories: 2-cycle engines and 4-cycle engines. Weight class is determined by the weight of both the rider and the cart.
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Learn the skills of driving a go-cart. Passing is important in go-carting. Grabbing hold of an opportune moment to pass a competitor ultimately means a higher finishing place. Mastering corners and turns is another essential skill. In go-carting, the term "driving line" refers to making both your corner entry and your exit as wide as possible by using the whole track. Also, never break while in a turn.
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Shop around for a go-cart of your own. One of the best places to look is right at your local go-cart track. Many times, a track will have some of its older go-carts for sale. Make sure that the cart is in running order and that it is not being sold simply because it is broken or close to breaking down. Since go-carts are a specialty item, you may have get a motor-sport dealer to order a cart in for you, or you may look for companies online. When ordering a cart, however, don't forget to factor in shipping costs.
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Coordinate a way of transporting your new go-cart to and from the track. Most go-carts will fit easily into the bed of a truck. Just make sure that you securely strap the cart down with ropes or bungee cords so it does not move and damage itself or the truck. If you have access to a small hauling trailer, you can easily transfer the cart in it as well.
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Find suitable equipment and clothing for racing a go-cart. You will need a helmet and racing gloves to race a go-cart, and some tournaments may require you to have a special racing suit as well. Check if the local track has a store that sells this type of equipment. If not, many motor-sport shops sell helmets and clothing that is suitable for racing carts.
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Sign up for practice time at the your local go-cart track. This is the best time to learn the track and how your cart handles on it. Don't enter a race until you feel completely comfortable operating your go-cart. After a couple practice sessions, you should be ready to sign up and race in a competitive environment. Just remember to take it easy the first couple of races. You are still on a learning curve, and winning tournaments will come in time.
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Tips & Warnings
In the event your go-cart breaks down, make sure you either have have the mechanical expertise to repair it or know someone who can. In addition, depending on the make and model of your go-cart, parts for the vehicle may be hard to obtain. Factor these risks into the purchase of a cart.
References
- Photo Credit karting in the rain 1 image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
