Go Kart Race Tracks: Race Karts, Shifter Karts And Shifter Carts

When Art Ingels first developed go karts in 1956, he couldn't have imagined that it would become a successful professional sport. Yet today, there are professional go kart race tracks in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Major car companies are even getting into the action, making shifter karts for professional races. There are several different types of go kart race tracks that are quickly becoming major business around the world.

Maybe the most popular type of go karts are the sprint karts. Here the racers speed up to 60 miles per hour on professional paved go kart racing tracks. These race karts, supported by manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha, race the more famous oval go kart race tracks. Maybe the most famous sprint race go kart track is the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the home of the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix, a premier racing spot for racing kart professionals worldwide.

Another popular racing format for shifter carts drivers is Enduro racing. Enduro racing can go up to several hours and more than 200 miles along road race-style go kart race tracks. One of the top go kart race tracks for enduro races is the New Castle Motorsports Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. As one might imagine, these can be some of the most grueling races for even the most experience shifter carts racers. Still, dozens of racers test their endurance skills on the 1/4 mile oval go kart race track at New Castle every year.

Shifter karts drivers looking for a different experience altogether might try their hand at off road dirt go kart race tracks. One of the big dirt shifter go kart race tracks is the AKA Speedway in Arizona. It features several miles of uneven dirt terrain over many twists and turns that prove difficult for even the best of shifter karts racers. If racing karts over paved sprints isn't action enough, dirt go kart race tracks provide a special kind of thrill for professional go karts drivers.

For most professional go karts racers, however, the ultimate goal is to join the European Formula One circuit. Almost all the top Formula One drivers had their first racing experience on the go kart race tracks. Many of Europe's tracks reflect this. But one area where Formula One style go kart race tracks are booming is in China. The Formula Racing Development Racing school in Zhuhai, China is becoming a well respected professional shifter cart school, with a top mini-Formula One go kart racing track.

Whatever the driver's style, there are go kart race tracks for everyone. Professional and casual race carts enthusiasts love the quick thrills of the sprint.  More classic racers find pleasure in the grueling test of the enduro go kart race tracks. The more modern style of shifter cart races is found in the dirt go kart race tracks of the Southern U.S. For a more international fare, the F1 races of Europe and Asia can't be beat. Whatever the preference of the racer or the fan, there are go kart races and go kart race tracks to satisfy their needs.


Sources:
Kart Racing. Wikipedia. 3 Mar. 2007. 5 Mar. 2007 .
Walker, Michael. Go Karts - Becoming a Racing Enthusiast. EzineEzine Articles. 11 April 2005. 5 March 2007 .
Villan, Matt. Race to Vegas' Go-Kart Mecca. San Francisco Chronicle. 18 Feb. 2007. Hearst Communications, Inc. 5 Mar. 2007. .
New Castle Motorsports Park. New Castle Raceway. 5 Oct. 2006. 5 Mar. 2007 .
Holiday Classic. Arizona Karting Association. 23 Dec. 2006. 5 Mar. 2007 .
Yilei, Yu and Lei, Lei. Rearing a Champion. Shanghai Star. 30 Sept. 2004. 5 Mar. 2007 .