indoor karting

You can experience kart track racing first hand as you maneuver through challenging race courses. It is even more fun when you challenge your friends and family to a kart race. The fastest growing spectator sports in the world are motor sports and that includes go kart racing. It is only logical then, as fans realize the intense energy and excitement associated with motor sports that they want to feel the same adrenaline rush too.

Before you get started out on the track, let’s take a look at steering, braking and other tricks to help you compete.

Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can really have an effect on the performance of the gokart. Place your hands at the nine and three positions and avoid holding the steering wheel too tightly. Hold it loosely so you don’t affect the handling.

For most beginners, knowing when to brake can be confusing. Press down on the brake firmly when turning into corners. This will help avoid instances of sudden braking. Balance the pressure you put onto pressing the brake, since pressing it too hard can cause the kart to spin. Pressing it too softly can cause it to run wide.

Keep your position on the inside line of the kart track and do not slow down if an opponent tries to overtake you. You make it more difficult for the driver behind to catch up with you when you do it that way. When you approach a slower driver up ahead, you will need to close in on the straight in order to get beside him or her. Once that is done, give the other driver a chance to brake first, so that you can accelerate to move past them.

There are three types of kart race circuits – short, long and indoor. A short is an outdoor circuit less than 1,500 meters in length. The average length for a racing track is around 1,100 – 1,200 meters. They are normally custom built for gokarts and resemble road courses, since they have left and right turns.

A long is an outdoor circuit of more than 1,500 meters in length and is typically shared with other motor sport and kart races. This kind of event features karts like the superkart, which can reach speeds in excess of 160 mph.

Indoor circuits are usually used by casual racers and are a part of a closed space. Some circuits include a short outdoor section simply to add interest. Most indoor circuits have their own fleet of racing go karts or micro karts, chosen to be economical and not necessarily for their speed. It is typically in indoor karting where most people will enjoy their first time in a kart. Indoor karting exploded across Europe and the US in the 90s.

Today, modern go karts can easily be used indoors or out. Battery-operated electric carts do not require ventilation like popular gas gokarts do, so they are versatile for use on either type of kart track. No matter what your preference, racing karts can be an exciting experience.

kart race

If your memory of go karts is something similar to the bumper cars you rode as a child, then think again. Think fast and think precision handling on any go kart track and you are getting the right idea. Racing go karts is not only a cheaper and less risky alternative to Nascar-type racing, it is a great way to learn and improve driving skills before advancing to the auto racing circuit.

Getting started is as simple as heading out to your local go kart track. Most rent karts by the hour or by the lap, so it is easy to start improving your driving skills right away. Some people are surprised to find out that driving a kart is very similar to driving a car, with two key differences. Go karts have impressive cornering abilities and great acceleration. As with any sport, proper safety measures should be implemented, though it is relatively to be involved in a kart race.

Let’s talk about a couple types of racing karts; namely the Sprint and Enduro. Sprint karting uses a shorter track and the technology used is less sophisticated. Gokarts are downgraded slightly for this type of racing. The circuit is usually 3/4th mile and the racing format is a series of short laps in duration races, normally for just a few laps that qualify for a final, with a number of point scoring calculations to determine the overall winner. It is usually three qualifying heats and a final race for trophy positions. Each race typically does not exceed 15 minutes. The key to success in sprint racing is successful passing skills.

Enduro or endurance racing is a longer version of the sprint-type of racing. These races can last for an extended period, from 30 minutes to an hour and sometimes up to 24 hours or more. For this reason, the karts used in endurance racing are built to be tough and durable. Speed, though important, is not as important as it is in sprint races. It is more like a marathon where the driver makes regular pit stops for fuel, maintenance and a change of tires. Enduro karts run on the same sized road courses as full sized cars. Generally speaking, reliability, consistency and pit strategy are of the greatest importance in endurance racing.

A go kart race on a go kart track is a low-cost and relatively safe way to introduce drivers to auto racing. Though associated with young drivers, adults are also very active with go karts for fun and as a way to hone their driving skills. It is widely known that go karts are considered to be the first step for anyone who is seriously considering a racing career. To help develop quick reflexes, precision car control, and decision-making skills, karts can prepare a driver for high-speed, wheel-to-wheel racing.

racing karts

Though it may be hard to believe, Formula One race car driver Michael Schumacher got his start on the go kart racing circuit. Other pro driver’s who developed their racing skills by racing go karts include Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. They understood that gokarts are a low cost way to learn the basic principles of racing. While professional racing is usually out of the realm of possibility for most people, gokarts bring racing within reach of most everyone.

The maximum speed that gokarts can achieve depends on a lot of factors. The 2-stroke engines can provide speeds of 100 mph or more. The superkart is the fastest kart available and can attain speeds of 160 mph and it typically has a 2-stroke engine and comes equipped with a 6-speed transmission. Because karts typically only weigh about 250 pounds, they can accelerate very quickly and can pump out 50 horse power or more.

The typical racing formats are as follows:

Sprint: These races take place on dedicated go kart tracks which range from a quarter mile to a mile and are mostly small dirt ovals. Sprint Karts sit low with the engine positioned immediately on their left side. Sprint racing consists of a number of short-duration races with a set number of laps, along with point scoring calculations to decide the overall winner.

Endurance: These types of races last over extended periods of time, ranging anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. In Endurance racing, pit strategy, consistency and reliability are more important than speed. This type of racing is also known as Enduro and it takes a while to move up the ranks to get to this level.

Speedway: These races take place on asphalt or clay kart tracks, which are typically a quarter of a mile long. The tracks are normally oval in shape and consist of two straight sections and four left corner turns.

One of the huge advantages of go kart racing is its great versatility. Gokarts from a number of different classes run on both dirt and pavement, on several different sizes of ovals, as well as along the road courses at national tracks.

It is thrilling, but it can also be dangerous racing. Imagine running at a high rate of speed with your body just a few inches off of the track. Of course safety is not neglected. Gloves, jackets and approved helmets are required. In addition, with the caged karts, seatbelts and arm restraints are mandatory. Go kart frames are built of steel, and the body is made of fiberglass. They have a high-tech braking system that uses a set of rear disc brakes, and they feature a super-responsive, straight-steering system.

In just a short span of time, gokarts have evolved from homemade, backyard tinker toys to modern racing machinery. Go kart racing lets anyone from five to seventy-five experience the adrenaline-pumping thrill of competition, while having the time of their lives. Racing karts not only helps a beginning driver get a feel for the road, it teaches a person discipline and control.

gokart

In Mario Kart for the Wii, the characters from the Mario series of video games by Nintendo get together and race gokarts around a variety of gokart tracks. Players can obtain items by driving through boxes or coins, which can be used for either offense, defense or by powering up the engine for short bursts of time. Each Mario Kart game features single player and multiplayer modes, as well as several game play modes. Let’s take a look at what this latest version features.

Characters

A player can choose a character from an index consisting of up to 24 characters, separated into three weight classes. A character’s weight decides the available types of motorbikes or gokarts, as well as their performance on the go kart tracks. Each vehicle has seven different characteristics: speed, handling, drift, weight, acceleration, off-road and mini-turbo.

Motorbikes or Gokarts

Motorbikes in the game can perform wheelies for a boost of speed, but they have a limited turning ability while performing the wheelie. Gokarts can’t do wheelies, but can attain good boosts while drifting. Both gokarts and motorbikes have their own advantages and disadvantages. The 50 cc mode features gokarts, the 100 cc mode has motorbikes, and the 150 cc mode has a mix of both. All modes will eventually be made available after completing certain elements of the game, and can be used with both gokarts and motorbikes.

Tracks

Players race across various go kart tracks. Each track has a different shape, as well as different obstacles to avoid. The game includes 32 different kart tracks and up to 12 characters can participate in a kart race. There are also ten battle courses. Since they are designed to have twelve racers on them instead of eight, the go kart tracks are generally wider in Mario Kart Wii than other games in the series.

Changes in Game Play

Though the fundamental gokart experience is somewhat the same, there are a few changes that impact game play with Mario Kart for the Wii. Trying to make the game easier for beginners and to counter strike snaking, the drifting mechanism has been changed dramatically. Jiggling the analog stick no longer produces a mini-turbo boost. Instead, it is determined by the amount of time spent in a drift.

The Good and the Bad

The online capability and the large number of tracks, characters and gokarts are a great addition to the lineup. It is easy to get started for any skill level. The expansion into motorcycles provides a great alternative to the gokart. No matter how nostalgic you may be, some of the classic courses are very boring. The new track styles can be very unbalanced. The battle modes are now timed and exclusively team based.

car racing sports

Thirty years ago, you could actually find individuals who could not explain what a video game system was. Today, virtually everyone has heard of an X-Box or a PS3. With the popularity of these gaming systems came the advent of many popular video games. One of the most popular genres is the car racing games. These games depict very realistic characters and vehicles. Age does not seem to come into play, as everyone loves them. However, there are certain types of sports auto racing games that are more popular with certain age groups than others.

One of the auto racing games that has stood the test of time is the Need for Speed series. The series first appeared on the car auto racing game scene in 1998. It has been a gaming favorite ever since. All of the games in this series are similar in one aspect; they offer no frills thrills to the gamer. The gamer is offered a variety of races and then attempts to win. By winning through the different races the players are able to unlock different vehicles, different tracks and even special features that will allow them to extend their game play and give them even more exciting gaming play. This very popular series of car racing videos has won the hearts of many gamers and continues to grow in popularity.

Mario Kart has been in the heart of individuals, young and old alike, for many, many years. From the time that Mario Bros first came on the scene, people were hooked. There have been many, many different variations of this fantasy auto racing category over the years and is actually on its eighth variation. The newer versions combine some of the original game play with the fun of car racing games. You will find yourself racing against other Mario favorites and attempting to pick up coins and game boxes, just as it was like with the original version.

Age really doesn’t play a factor in the love of video games. There are several different types of games available that appeal to the car racing games fan. If you have a love for video games but haven’t really played any of the car racing sports games available, then take a look, as you are sure to find at least one racing game that appeals to you.