Go Karts

By Chris

Go Karts

Go Karts And Go Karting: Then And Now

Depending on who you ask, you might be told that Art Ingels is the "father of go karts." While he may have been one of the first people to name the trend and sell kits and parts for go karts, during the 1950s, it was actually a hobby that was blossoming all over the United States. This is considered the Golden Age of Go Karts for many reasons. That the go kart hobby has lasted until today is testament to how fun it can be to not only build them but race them as well.

Whether you call them shifter karts, go karts, go carts, go-karts, or even gokarts, there's something about them that had people all over the country excited and having fun.

They actually started as a way for racers to get around the track between matches.

Go Karts

As you might imagine, when one person brought theirs to show it off, there were many people who went home that weekend with their own plans for the ultimate go kart. And when they arrived and showed theirs, they spurred even more people to get into the hobby to try to best them. From here it just mushroomed.

Go Karts And Go Kart Kits

This was when people like Art Ingels and others began selling parts and even go kart kits to people. From here go karts really took off for quite a few years. There was a small lapse in the 70s with the oil crisis. Some thought that go karts would go the way of the muscle car and disappear, but this didn't happen. Just like the muscle car, you still see some today but they're owned (and built) by true hardcore enthusiasts who have a passion for go karts. Today, thanks a little to the Internet, go karts are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. From teens to middle aged men to bored housewives who like the smell of oil - there are many who are getting into go karts in a big way.

Getting Into Go Karting

This is maybe one of the biggest reasons you should consider getting into this hobby. While there are costs involved, there's nothing like the feeling of getting a go kart kit and putting it together for yourself. Or, if you're more advanced, an even better feeling is skipping the kit and coming up with your own go kart plans and building one from scratch. This takes a little more skill, but there are many out there with what it takes to get it done. You might be one of them.

Building Your Own Go Kart

You now know a tiny bit about the history of go karts. You should also know that they're not going anywhere. In fact, they're becoming more popular all the time. Whether you want to race them, ride them, show them off, or just bask in the satisfaction of building one on your own, there are many reasons to look into the hobby of go karts. You can bet that if you start building one in your garage, you're going to attract interest from your neighbors, who just might get into the hobby too. That's when things get really interesting.