How to Build a Dirt Track for Go Karts

Tracks with clay surfaces will ride faster than those with sand or dirt surfaces.

Building a dirt track for your go-kart in your backyard is one of the easier projects you can undertake. If you have a flat, level backyard, simply remove any obstacles that might be in your way, and then pack the dirt or clay down for fast riding. While dirt go-kart tracks have different ride characteristics than the asphalt tracks used for competitive go-kart racing, you can still use a home-built dirt track for cheap practice runs whenever you want.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Lawn mower
• Hatchet or landscape pruners

Instructions

1. Outline the area where you want the dirt track to be. While the area doesn't have to be perfectly flat, that will help when preparing the track.

2. Use a shovel to remove any rocks or other debris from the track area. When the rocks are gone, fill the holes left by their removal with loose dirt and pack it down tightly. If you are routing the go-kart track through a wooded area, clear away any saplings or fallen logs using a hatchet or landscape pruners, and then dig the stump out of the ground with a shovel just as you would a rock.

3. Set your lawn mower's deck height to its lowest setting, and then use it to cut away the underbrush and weeds where the track is to be located. Make certain that the track is at least 4 feet wide with several straight sections that are at least 10 feet wide. These will be used for passing whenever you have someone to compete with.

4. Run your go-kart over the dirt track until the dirt packs securely in place, filling any spots that may begin to show depressions with loose dirt until your track has become flat and level. Eventually, with enough use, the dirt of your track will become hard enough that weeds and saplings will have a difficult time growing over it.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to ride the track several times every week to help prevent weed growth and to pack the soil after rainfall.

• Avoid riding the track immediately after rain, as the surface will be muddy and extremely slick.

References

• Grasspass: Tips for building a safe and fun backyard kart track