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Do you love riding go karts? Do you prefer indoor or outdoor go karting?
There are many different go kart racing tracks you can go to in the United States. In fact, the go kart racing tracks industry in the country grew 5.7% from 2013 to 2018. This growth simply shows people’s rising interest in go karting despite the rising popularity of gadgets and games that keep people indoors.
Today, go karting is not only limited to adults. Children also take part either in junior racing events or recreational riding. Companies also rent go kart race tracks for their team building events.
But with all the success of go karting, do you know how it all started? Do you know who invented the very first go kart? Do you know when it first hit the race tracks?
Continue reading below as we look into the history of go karting.
To better appreciate the beauty of go karting, let us briefly tackle what go karting is. A go kart is a type of open-wheel car. Some feature high-powered motors while some are motorless.
The simplest types of go karts are the gravity racers. They do not have any motors. Instead, it is gravity that propels them forward.
These are the types of karts people ride during races on single hills.
On the flip-side, there are the superkarts. These karts are fast enough to beat motorcycles and racing cars.
Moreover, we cannot deny the influence of go karts on Formula One racing. Some of the biggest names in the world of racing started with go karts.
It was in 1956 when Art Ingels built the very first go kart. A skilled race car builder, Ingels assembled the kart using scrap metal. He also used a two-stroke engine surplus from the West Bend Company.
Believe it or not, the engine came from a lawn mower. Ingels, with a little help from Lou Borelli, created a tubular chassis where they placed the engine on top.
Fittingly, the very first go kart is now called “Kart No. 1.” Some, however, prefer calling it “The West Bend.”
Going back to the engine, it generated a measly amount of 2 horsepower. To deliver the force to the left rear wheel, Ingels used a countershaft. He fashioned the countershaft using a combination of sprockets, bicycle chains, and a centrifugal clutch.
When it comes to the kart’s braking, Ingels made it simple. The driver needs to pull a lever on his right-hand side.
If you pull the lever, it will pivot a plate. The plate, in turn, will press a braking pad against a disc to initiate the stop.
Interestingly, Kart No. 1 did not see much of the race tracks. Ingels drove it to go from one place to another. The public exposure, however, drew a lot of interest.
A year after Ingels introduced his creation, a group of friends established their own kart manufacturing firm. Duffy Livingstone, Bill Rowles, and Roy Desbrow put up the Go-Kart Manufacturing Company.
The company built their own karts. To power their karts, they invested in cheap engines. These came from a lawn mower business that announced bankruptcy.
They officially called their product “Go-Kart.” They sold each unit for $129 USD.
As their company experienced growth, more people followed suit. This included Art Ingels who finally decided to formalize his efforts. He established own kart company together with Borelli and called it the Ingels & Borelli Kart Company.
The two would produce the world’s first completed karts. These karts were hand-made and they gave them the name Caretta.
At the turn of the 1960s, karting became a popular recreational sport. But despite its momentum, karting’s popularity waned a bit toward the latter portion of the decade. This is because there was no governing body that would regulate the sport.
Enthusiasts were buying different parts for their karts. The problem is that these parts did not last very long. The also did not generate much revenue.
The race tracks started to close down.
Still, the sport still had its select followers. These go kart racers belonged to society’s upper class. They were the ones who can afford to ride the karting trend.
By the 1970s, the Europeans began to take the lead in the karting industry. European kart manufacturers started to sprout.
They would revolutionize the design of go karts and give it its modern design. The manufacturers moved the engine to the side from the back. This change gave drivers more leg room.
The 70s also marked the arrival of the Yamaha racing karts. Their carts became the most popular at the decade. The karting sport started to build momentum, boosting its popularity anew.
The history of go karting took a monumental turn when the leaders of the two karting companies met. The two groups held kart races at the parking lot of Rose Bowl in Pasadena. As karting attracted more fans, different types of karts began to sprout left and right.
The need to establish karting guidelines became more evident. This was to regulate the growing number of kart riders in the country.
Thus, the Go Kart Club of America was born. Behind the group are 13 enthusiasts led by Pasadena lawyer Don Broberick. Eventually, the group evolved into the International Karting Federation (IKF) in the 1980s.
Apart from the IKF, there was also the World Karting Association. These two groups started to recognize karting as a competitive sport.
As we mentioned earlier, karting became the breeding ground for some of the world’s most accomplished race car drivers.
A number of them started young. Indy 500 drivers Michael Andretti and Al Unser became kart champions before they became teenagers. The same thing goes for NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon.
Legendary racer Ayrton Senna also rode go karts back in the day.
Today, two-tome F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi is nurturing his 9-year-old son’s love for racing. He is building the latter’s confidence through go kart racing.
Other legendary names that started out with kart racing include Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen, and Michael Shumacher.
Indoor karting initially gained popularity in the United Kingdom back in the 1990s. Indoor circuits generally cater to casual racers. These circuits often use old factories that they turn into closed spaces.
Some circuits feature an outdoor section. This tends to attract interest among spectators and racers alike.
What is makes indoor karting attractive to casual racers is the environment it offers. It offers the comfort of climate control while retaining the excitement racing gives.
Generally, up to a dozen racers compete on a particular course. They can either compete on a head-to-head action or for the fastest lap time.
First-time kart racers need to equip themselves with the proper gear. Generally, comfortable clothing will do the trick for indoor karting. Just make sure you can sit and stretch in it.
Avoid wearing anything that is too loose. T-shirt and jeans will often be enough. When it comes to footwear, you need to be in your trainers.
Before you hit the pedal, you also need to wear a pair of gloves and overalls. This can be warm so make sure your clothes are not too thick.
You will also need to wear a helmet and balaclava. If you are sporting long hair, you need to tie it back.
With the evolution of go kart racing, there is now a standard way of driving a kart. First, you need to make sure that you are sitting comfortably. You back should be flat on your seat. Your hands should be symmetrical when holding the wheel.
To move the kart, you need to press the accelerator gently. Just like driving a car, you need to get a feel of the right pedal pressure.
Familiarize yourself with the brake. If you brake sharply, you will likely slow down since you will lose your traction. The same thing goes when you hit the brakes while turning.
The key is to maintain a smooth ride. Avoid sudden braking as much as you can. If you need to hit the brakes, do it while driving on a straight line.
To help increase your speed, you need to maximize those straight lines. Keeping your car straight will help you build momentum.
Lastly, you need to maintain a safe distance from other drivers. You also need to create distance from the barriers.
Always listen to what the race staff has to say. Pay attention and be mindful of the rules. If you bump into a problem during the race, pull over to the next pit stop.
With the rich history of go karting, reading blogs and watching videos is not enough.
You need to experience it firsthand.
We invite you to check out our kids and adult karting packages. We offer topnotch rental karts that are easy to control for beginners and veterans alike.
Our race track features a combination of straightaways and challenging corners. We use a special timing system to accurately record your personal lap times.
Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting opened in 2012 and is the areas only locally owned and operated indoor karting track. Our location on RT 5 in West Hatfield serves customers all over Western and Central Massachusetts, Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York. Hatfield to some might seem far but we are only 10 minutes from UMASS Amherst near Hadley, 25 minutes from I91 exit 7 in Springfield, 20 minutes from the VT border. PVIK is visible from Interstate 91 which means no pesky lights or traffic to worry about. All skill levels are welcome, and kids as young as 8 can race alone on the track safely. We even allow mom and dad to race one of our adult karts in the same heat as their kids! We just ask parents to give kids the right-of-way. All other adults are placed in separate adult heats.
Hours of operation:
Arrive and Drive (Walk in and race)
Monday: 11am-10pm
Tuesday: 11am-10pm
Wednesday: 11am-10pm
Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday 11am-11pm
Saturday 11am-11pm
Sunday 11am-8pm
A: 10 West Street, West Hatfield, MA 01088
E: ryan@pioneervalleykarting.com
P: (413)446-7845
All online purchases are final and cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded. Please call with questions before making an online purchase to avoid unforeseen issues.
