Go-Cart Tracks

Looking for Go-cart tracks?

Go-cart tracks are found all over the world. Go-cart racing enthusiasts race on a variety of different tracks including tar and off-road. Both informal and professional tracks are used. Go-carts are typically raced on scaled-down versions of professional racing tracks. In rural areas gravel tracks are still used informally.

To improve the safety of the sport it is not permitted to ride your go-cart in areas that are not designated for go-cart racing. You can ride your cart within the boundaries of your own property, however. Go-carts can be raced on go-cart tracks specially designed to make racing safe. Tracks range from the family-friendly style to professional tracks designed and maintained for racing go-carts only.

The way in which a track is designed depends on the type of racing it will be used for. There are two main types of go-cart racing - sprint and endurance races. Sprint races are several short races with limited laps where the winners go through to a final sprint race. These races are usually not longer than fifteen minutes and speed and passing are important as far as scoring is concerned. Go-cart tracks used for sprints are typically 3/8 to 3/4 of a mile long.

Endurance races continue from thirty minutes to twenty-four hours. One or more drives may take part. Points are awarded for cnsistency, reliability, and pit strategy, rather than speed alone. Go-cart tracks used for endurance can measure up to five miles long and only homologated tracks can hold official races.

The "Nascar" style of go-cart racing is usually carried out on oval asphalt go-cart tracks. The track length ranges from 1/10 to 1/4 of a mile.

Different go-cart tracks do influence the kinds of modifications and components that are favored by the go-cart racer. He or she may have to make modifications to the chassis, gearbox and engine or use different tires depending on the terrain, weather conditions and kind of races he competes in. Dirt racing and asphalt racing require different cart specifications.

So be sure to check out our pages about How To Build a Go-Cart, Racing Go-Carts, Racing Dirt Go-Carts, Go-Cart Kits, and Go-Cart Parts elsewhere on this site.