Go-karts, well, what are they?

Go-karting is a fun activity for people to blow off steam, regardless of whether they are a car enthusiast or a first-timer, or even someone who has never driven a car. Go-karts are simple, small, nimble, open-wheeled cars with a low centre of gravity that you can abuse around a track without breaking your wallet.

Surprisingly, many professional drivers from F1 and NASCAR started their careers with go-kart racing. It is entry-level motorsports racing with low barriers and is easy to get into. F1 legend's like Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and many more started their dominant careers from go-karts.

Even though go-karts are very simple compared to sophisticated racing cars, people are usually intimidated by barebones go-kart racing. Fear not, for this week, we ran down the absolute basics that you should expect. While go-karts contain complex parts like engines and braking systems that may be hard to understand at first, it does get easier once you are familiarised with the essential parts and features. Seats

Go-karts usually have bucket seats that are designed to wrap around your back for extra support. The shape of the seat prevents the drivers from being flung out of the kart when turning into a corner at high speed or holding you in when you are bumped onto. Recreational karts often have padded seats for comfort but on the competition side, they are made to be as light as possible, so the seats are usually made of plastic or fibreglass to reduce overall weight.Steering

A straightforward steering wheel is used, which is usually made out of aluminium. They are usually around 10-12 inches in diameter and come connected to the steering shaft with three mounting holes. The steering shaft is attached to two tie rods which are joined to the spindles held by a kingpin bolt. The spindles turn when you turn your steering wheel, ensuring basic handling of turning left and right.Tires

Go-karts tires are around 10-12 inches tall and 5-8 inches wide. Normally, there are wider tires on the back of the kart as the weight is mostly distributed towards the rear end. These tires have to be small in height and wide to keep the centre of gravity low. Just like racing cars, they have three different tires for three different occasions. There is a slick tire for dry conditions which are usually soft providing maximum grip, then wet tires for rainy days which are grooved to use in rainy conditions and lastly, special tires for off-roading or recreational activities which only provides a smooth ride and lasts a long time.Engine

Go-karts have two different gasoline engines -  two-stroke and four-stroke. Two-stroke engines have an RPM of up to 18,000 and are commonly used for racing in professional go-kart races. Four-stroke engines have an RPM range of up to 11,000 which is quieter and runs smoother. Then there are electric motor variants which have been getting popular in recent years due to the ridiculous acceleration, better weight distribution, lower centre of gravity, ability to reverse and are also considered environmentally friendly. But electric karts run out of battery fast.Frame

You'll notice that there is a metal frame around the whole kart. This outer metal cage is referred to as the guard frame. The frame will be protecting the bodywork from damaging collisions, accidents and bumps. You'll also notice that the frame also covers the outer part of the wheels to ensure any wheel collision is avoided. Wheel collisions have serious consequences of flipping the whole kart dangerously and can result in serious injuries. Other features

Unlike actual cars, go-karts don't have regular gears since they don't have a differential. The acceleration and brake pedals are divided by the steering wheel, so you have to accelerate with your right foot and brake with your left foot. They are still very easy to manoeuvre regardless of driving experience. They have a maximum speed of 60-80 km/h - a speed that is safe and as controlled as possible.

The karts weirdly don't have a suspension since they are designed in a way that it doesn't need one, while the frame provides the necessary flexibility it needs. They have all the bare necessities of a car to go around the track. Go-karts are exceptionally safe due to their low centre of gravity and strong frames.

However, it is important to follow basic safety regulations like wearing a helmet. Go-karts, relatively, are surprisingly affordable considering motorsports is considered to be the playground for the wealthy.

Intrigued? You can experience go-karting in Bangladesh at two places - Xtreme Racing at the Fantasy Kingdom Complex in Ashulia and Go Kart Courtside at Madani Avenue in Dhaka.