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Ago-kart, also written asgo-cart (often referred to as simply akart), is a type of small four-wheeled vehicle, often anopen-wheel car or a quadricycle. Go-karts come many shapes and forms, from non-motorised models to high-performanceracing karts andelectric-powered models.
Art Ingels created the first motorised go-kart in Los Angeles in 1956.[1]
The exact origin of the term is unclear. One of the first appearances of the term is an 1885 painting by the Scottish artistHugh Cameron's "The Go-Cart".[2] It is also unclear why theC was later changed to aK. In the filmThe Ivory-Handled Gun (1935), the crippled father of Buck Jones refers to his wheelchair as a "go cart".Charles Dickens also usedgo-cart inMaster Humphrey's Clock and Other Stories when talking of his travel to Italy. In Genoa, he talks about "a man without legs, on a little go-cart".[3]
Robert Smith Surtees usedgo-cart before 1835 inSurrey Shooting: Mr. Jorrocks in Trouble, originally published in the "New Sporting Magazine". "'We'll take a coach to the castle,' said Jorrocks, 'and then get a 'go-cart' or a cast somehow or other to Streatham, for we shall have walking enough when we get there."[4]
Gravity racers are a popular form of non-motorised go-kart. These are karts which are propelled by gravity and are often simplistic, homemade and used for either recreational or competitive use. These are often referred to as soapbox cars inNorth America, however other regional variations such asbilly carts (Australia) are common.
Other forms of non-motorised go-karts (ie.quadracycles) may also be propelled by means such asbicycle pedals (such as in the form of avelomobile).
Thechassis are made ofchromoly tubing.[5][6] There is nosuspension, so chassis have to be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis are classified in the United States as "Open", "Caged", "Straight" or "Offset". AllCommission Internationale de Karting–,Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile–, or CIK-FIA-approved chassis are "Straight" and "Open".
The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions, a stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. Temperature of the track can also affect handling and may prompt additional chassis adjustments. The best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions.[7]
Braking is achieved by adisc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are used in most shifter kart classes and are increasingly popular in other classes; however, certain classes do not allow them. Shifter karts have dual master cylinders, one for the front and one for the rear, and are adjustable to allow for front/rear bias changes.
Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg), complete without driver. Avanti, Tony Kart,Trulli,Birel,CRG,Gillard,Intrepid,Remo Racing, Kosmic,Zanardi orFA Kart andEKS are a few well-known examples of the many European manufacturers of race-quality chassis. Emmick, Coyote, Bandit, Shadow, MGM, Titan, PRC and Margay are American companies producing kart chassis.
Racing karts mostly use small two-stroke or four-stroke engines; however, as of 2022, there has been small-scale adoption ofelectric motors in racing karts.
Purpose of transmission: There are three reasons for having a transmission in the automotive power train or drive train. The transmission can:
Karts do not have adifferential.[6] The lack of a differential means that one rear tire must slide while cornering. This is achieved by designing the chassis so that the inside rear tire lifts up slightly when the kart turns the corner. This allows the tire to lose some of its grip and slide or lift off the ground completely.
Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear axle by a chain. Both engine and axlesprockets are removable. Their ratio must be adapted to the track configuration to obtain the most performance from the engine.
In the early days, karts were direct-drive, requiring push starts. The inconvenience of that configuration led to thecentrifugal clutch for the club-level classes. Dry centrifugal clutches are now used in many categories;Rotax Max is one example. They have become the norm as the top international classes have switched to 125 cc clutch-equipped engines as of January 2007.
Wheels andtires are much smaller than those used on a normal car. Wheels are made ofmagnesium alloy,aluminum, orcomposite materials. Tires can support cornering forces in excess of 2g (20 m/s²), depending on chassis, engine, and motorsetup. Some car tire manufacturers, such as MGBridgestone,Dunlop, andMaxxis make tires for karts. There are also specific kart tire manufacturers, which include MG, Vega, MOJO, LeCont, Cobra, Hoosier and Burris.
Similarly to other motorsports, kart tires have different types for use appropriate to track conditions:
As in other motor sports, several data acquisition systems have been developed for kart racing. These systems allow the driver to monitor from a display fixed on the steering wheel some parameters such as RPM, timing of laps (including sectors), number of laps, best lap, cooling system temperature, exhaust gas temperature and sometimes speed or even gear for shifter karts.
Some of those systems are able to record (logging) laps data from the sensors, allowing replay of an entire running session or/and direct download to a personal computer equipped with a data analysis software. More sophisticated systems allow for more information such as lateral and longitudinal acceleration (g-force), throttle position, steering wheel position and brake pressure.
In some countries, go-karts can be licensed for use on public roads often referred to as street tracks. Typically there are some restrictions; in the European Union, a go-kart modified for use on the road must be outfitted with headlights (high/low beam), tail lights, a horn, indicators, and an engine not exceeding 20 hp (15 kW).
Besides traditional kart racing, many commercial enterprises offer karts for rent, often called "recreational" or "concession" karts. The tracks can be indoor or outdoor. Karts are rented by sessions (usually from 10 to 30 minutes) or on a day basis.[16] They use sturdy chassis complete with dedicated bodywork, providing driver safety. Most of these enterprises use an "Arrive and Drive" format which provides customers with all the safety gear (helmets, gloves and driver outfits) necessary, and allow them to show up anytime to race, without the problem of having to own their own equipment and gear.
Outdoortracks can offer low-speed karts strictly for amusement (dedicated chassis equipped with low powered four-stroke engines or electric motors), or faster, more powerful karts, similar to a racing kart, powered by four-stroke engines up to 15 hp (11 kW) and, more rarely, by 2-stroke engines, but designed to be more robust for rental use. Typically, outdoor tracks are also used for traditional kart races.
Indoor kart tracks can be found in many large cities in different parts of the world. These tracks are often located in refurbished factories or warehouses, and are typically shorter than traditional outdoor tracks. Indoor karts are usually powered by a four-stroke gasoline engine producing anywhere from 5 to 13 hp (4 to 10 kW), or sometimes by an electric motor. Many tracks offer competitive races and leagues. At the top level, an Indoor Karting World Championship (IKWC)[17] exists.
There is a separate category of go karts in the powersports industry that includes off road go karts. These are similar to a miniature dune buggy. Off road go karts typically feature large tires, a full roll cage, heavy duty suspension, and features to protect the riders from wind and mud. There are no longer any American made offroad buggy brands due to legal issues, so all brands will come from China.Trailmaster is the leading off-road go kart brand with a wide range of models and features. Other brands of offroad go karts also come from China and include Coleman, Tao Tao, Kandi, and Hammerhead (previously built by Trailmaster).
Media related toKarts at Wikimedia Commons
