| Go karts are thrilling, but are they dangerous? By | | | | They used to be so terribly slow that no helmets |
| taking a few safety precautions you can eliminate | | | | were even required. But with the speeds attained |
| just about all of the dangers. | | | | today helmets are required at tracks |
| Go karts are fast, exciting and easy to handle, | | | | everywhere, even the kiddies tracks. But dont let |
| and there are tracks all over the country catering | | | | that scare you, they are still extremely safe and |
| to every age range from kids to teens to adults. | | | | there is never any need to go faster than your |
| Gokarts are generally easy to drive, easy to | | | | own comfort dictates. |
| control and are how you can experience the | | | | You can control, for the most part, the amount |
| excitement of Formula One racing without as | | | | of danger you experience in a go kart. Your |
| much of the danger. | | | | decisions, from the go kart you buy, to the |
| Go-karts are just beginning to come into their | | | | safety equipment you use, to your level of |
| own and are geared toward beginners in either | | | | caution expressed on the track, determine how |
| off road or paved track go kart racing. They are | | | | safe you will be. The faster you go the more |
| built to withstand years of use and abuse and are | | | | chance of sustaining a substantial injury. So taking |
| terrific when it comes to performance, styling and | | | | every safety precaution is always a smart idea. |
| low maintenance. | | | | Carting is generally very safe if you follow a few |
| There are many types of vehicles that are built | | | | simple rules. The number one rule is always wear |
| for fun. These include ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters, | | | | a helmet. In the event of a crash it can spare |
| mopeds, mini bikes and go karts. If you are | | | | you from a serious head injury. Also, never |
| looking to find some excitement with 4 wheels | | | | forget to fasten your safety harness. This will |
| then you have to discard the dirt bike, scooter, | | | | prevent you from being tossed out during a roll. |
| moped and mini bike. And the all terrain vehicles | | | | Never race at speeds that you dont feel |
| are typically made for traveling off road. That | | | | comfortable with. If speed is not your thing you |
| leaves the go kart. If you want to go racing like | | | | should remain in the lesser levels of racing groups. |
| the big boys, with a mighty gasoline powered | | | | If you decide to race, even in a kids competition, |
| engine and relative safety, go karts are what you | | | | you should be wearing a fire safety suit, racing |
| will want to be racing. | | | | shoes and protective gloves. The shoes and |
| Whether you just want some cheap racing fun or | | | | gloves should also be fire retardant. There is not |
| would like to someday become a professional | | | | much gas in a gocart, but if it should happen to |
| race car driver, the go-kart is a great way to | | | | catch on fire the fire-safe equipment you use |
| begin. Many NASCAR drivers today got their start | | | | could save you a lot of pain and discomfort. |
| by racing go karts when they were as young as | | | | Gocarts today all have roll bars that rise above |
| five years old. | | | | the drivers head. In the event that you lose |
| Carts have been around for a lot of years, but | | | | control, causing your go kart to flip over, the roll |
| have increased in popularity only recently. Back in | | | | bars and safety harness can keep you from |
| the olden days, carts were only available at the | | | | harms way. You may think that it could not |
| neighborhood Family Fun Center or Amusement | | | | happen to you because you are such a great |
| Park. And these gokarts only had two speeds, | | | | driver, but the other racers on the track may not |
| slow and slower. But were they safe? Lets just | | | | be so great. This is the reason why a gokart has |
| say it wasnt easy to get hurt traveling at just 5 | | | | side bars that will protect you in the event that |
| mph. | | | | another racer loses control and rams your kart. |
| But even at the slower speeds they were still | | | | With all of these precautions how can anyone get |
| loads of fun. Imagine the thrill you can experience | | | | injured? Its possible, but the chances of |
| now with the faster speeds and the bigger and | | | | experiencing a serious injury are severely limited |
| better track selections. Great go-cart tracks have | | | | by simply following a few safety rules. Go karts |
| been sprouting up all over. But have the increased | | | | are just about as safe as you want to make |
| karting speeds made the go carts unsafe? | | | | them. |