Go-Karting, Karting and SpeedKarts are all different ways of naming the activity of racing around a small tracks on small karts at various speeds (aptly named, as almost anyone can go!).
Karts vary widely in speed with some reaching speeds in excess of 160 miles per hour while most go-karts intended for the general public in amusement parks may be limited to speeds of no more than 15 miles per hour which actually does feel plenty fast enough given the small track and up to 12 other drivers on the circuit. A KF1 kart, with a 125 cc engine and an overall weight including the driver of 150 kilograms has a top speed of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). It takes a little more than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph with a 125 cc shifter kart (6 gears), with a top speed of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) on long circuits.
I have been karting loads of times on peoples birthdays or stag do’s but the thrill for most is the race itself, the banter with your friends and the fact that someone will always get what they describe as the ‘dud’ kart. Now if others have information on whether this myth is indeed a myth or if dud can exist, then please feel free to comment. My take on this, is that they are making excuses for poor driving or a lack of skills, however, weight must surely effect it – which may have been my excuse once or twice before :-). Although, watching this clip of Lewis Hamilton shows that he had quality from day one, yet part of the clip did show a ‘dud’ with Hamilton walking behind it and therefore started the final from the back of the grid – fascinating!
Anyone interested in getting involved in the sport as Lewis Hamilton did should get involved at a circuit near them
