Go kart racing has always been a popular activity and is known to be an easy sport. A go-kart is pretty much a miniature car, except there is no roof and speeds usually range between 10-40 miles per hour.
The go cart was created in Los Angeles by Art Ingles in 1956. The first official organized race took place with several dozen home-built machines in 1957 in the parking lot of the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Racers race on a track built by the company and laps are available for purchase. The ultimate goal is to win first place and to finish in the fastest time possible. The rules are very general around all go kart racing companies: No bumping karts, no swerving, no hard braking, and keep the helmet on the entire ride.
“My first experience was at Cracker Jax. I think it was a legendary experience. I got kicked out for running into the back of someone’s car so it was pretty unfortunate,” said A.J. Strenger, a senior.
When it was first open to the public, go kart racing became extremely popular. In the 1960s, the concept caught on quickly, with tracks springing up in many US towns and cities. The quality of the facilities varied from place to place, as it was mainly a recreational sport at this time.
“I was very nervous but once I got there, I didn’t want to leave the course,” said Nicole Abbott, a teacher.
Since then, go karting has opened up around the world and has brought joy to a lot of people that enjoy racing and driving.

There are many go kart companies here in the valley such as Octane Raceway, Phoenix Kart Racing Association, and AKA Speedway.
“I’ve been there before and it was amazing. The karts were really fast and there were a lot of people there,” said Elias Thude, a senior, about Octane Raceway.
Go kart racing is a popular sport and doesn’t take much skill to be good at it. There are many spots that provide opportunities to race and most importantly, to have fun.