by: Mitch Johnson
Getting Started
Learn how to ride Go Carts quickly and easily. Modern American children have long favored the thrill of recreationally riding go carts as a pastime. The reason for the long running popularity can largely be attributed to adults acceptance of go carting for kids because they witnessed the safety of it, as long as proper precautions are taken. Children as young as six-years-old are able to drive certain go carts safely when the recommendations provided by go cart manufacturers are followed. Helmets and goggles are a must for kids or anyone, even professional racers.
If you are looking to quench your child’s desire for a set of go cart wheels, you should first know what type and engine size is suitable for young kids. Go carts designed for children have special features to better accommodate them, providing more safety in addition to a smaller engine size. These models of go carts are typically recommended for use of children ages six through eleven.
Kids under eleven should not ride a go cart unless it is those that are specifically marked for their age range. These junior series of go carts are the perfect beginner wheels for anyone, however they are sized small for kids, and those of you much older than the recommended age will have a problem with that.
These carts are useful for beginners because they offer extra safety measures, such as padded brush bars, and smaller engine horsepower. A small engine helps a new go cart driver keep control, whereas larger horsepower could get out of control in the hands of a child or amateur. The go carts designed for kid use usually do, and should if they don’t, have horsepower at or below four.
For any go cart driver, young or old, their position in the seat is an important factor for good and safe driving. You should always be comfortable in the driving seat with enough, but no too much, moving room between your feet and the pedals.
Child go carts are designed to position them in the safest, most comfortable position where they can reach the pedals, steering wheel and any other necessary functions. Adjustable seats are a revolution that has helped solve much of this problem. Nearly any go cart style or design will have adjustable seating, so all you have to do is find the right position.
Although kids are a large part of the beginner audience of go cart drivers, they are not alone. Many people become interested in cruising around in go carts later in life. Most go carts for grown children and adults will not have engines smaller than four horsepower, but adult beginners do not usually need that safety precaution for too long. A small engine is only helpful to adults for short term because it becomes too easy.
Adults beginning go cart driving can be safe with a typical engine, five to six horsepower, as long as they proceed with caution. Some kid go cart models have a lap seat belt, but adults of all experience levels should wear shoulder sling safety belts. Some go carts even have the race car driver double shoulder seat belts which are even better.