| Open wheel go carts is just about as stimulating as it | | | | they can be raced indoors due to the fact that they |
| gets. Watching expert Indy Car drivers race around a | | | | don't create any harmful emissions. The only negative |
| 2 1/2 mile track at top speeds over 230 mph can be a | | | | to electric powered go karts is that they need charging |
| heart-pumping thrill. Open wheel racing has been | | | | after roughly 20 minutes of racing, but as |
| enormously popular for decades and go kart racing is | | | | high-performance battery technology increases the |
| a variation of this open-wheel motor sport. The | | | | times are escalating. |
| difference is that karts are smaller and race on | | | | Renowned manufacturers of 4-stroke go kart engines |
| shortened tracks, but the excitement of operating a go | | | | are Honda, Briggs and Stratton, and Tecumseh among |
| kart can be just as high. Also, a great number of | | | | others. These manufacturers make low-powered |
| racers use go carts as a stepping stone to more | | | | engines that will furnish anywhere from 5 to 20 hp. |
| expensive, competitive, and speedier racing. Many of | | | | These low-powered engines are usually used by |
| the top professional drivers got their start here. | | | | novice drivers or in amusement fun centers. But don't |
| As with everything else there is a huge difference in | | | | let the limited horse power trick you; a lot of these |
| the kind of carts that can be ridden. Maximum speed is | | | | low-powered engines can propel a go kart at top |
| mostly determined by the go kart engines, but is also | | | | speeds up to 50 mph. This may not seem speedy in |
| influenced by the quality of the go kart frame, | | | | your mind, but after you start driving through turns in a |
| principally when it comes to cornering. Super Karts are | | | | small go kart at these high speeds you'll immediately |
| the quickest variety and can reach top speeds of 160 | | | | understand just how speedy this really is. |
| mph or more. If that's just a bit too speedy for your | | | | A number of 4-stroke engines have extra power and |
| taste you can choose to drive different types of karts | | | | can provide up to 50 horse power. These engines can |
| that will be a great deal slower. Recreational go carts | | | | run at up to 11,000 rpm and are frequently used in |
| found at local family fun parks will produce top speeds | | | | many National Championship class races, but if you |
| that may reach just 15 mph so there's a significant | | | | need to go much faster you'll have to purchase a |
| range for you to choose from. | | | | 2-stroke engine. Many 2-stroke engines will produce as |
| 4-stroke as well as 2-stroke engines are generally | | | | few as 10 hp or less, but a few can also furnish you |
| used in racing. Different versions of the 4-stroke | | | | with 90 hp or more at 16,000 rpm. High speeds around |
| engine are very popular in the family fun centers, but | | | | 160 mph can be achieved with these high-powered |
| electric powered engines are rising in status. Electric | | | | 2-stroke engines. |
| motors have many benefits that make them perfect | | | | In the olden days engines were air-cooled, but with the |
| for shorter fun center tracks. They are very | | | | faster speeds of today most go kart engines are |
| inexpensive to operate and maintain and require only a | | | | water-cooled. Many of the less powerful 4-stroke |
| charge up after their power diminishes too much. | | | | engines are still air-cooled, but the high hp engines are |
| There is no need to fill them up with expensive fuel | | | | generally cooled by water. With the numerous |
| because they get their energy from long-term | | | | differences in muscle power, there is an engine out |
| batteries. And without a gasoline powered engine to | | | | there with your name on it, no matter what kind of |
| break down they are cheap to maintain. In addition, | | | | driving you wish to do. |