The History of Go-Kart Racing

Go-kart racing is typically a beginning step when someone decides to pursue a career in auto racing. Racing go-karts is not only a stepping stone for aspiring race car drivers, but it also is a hobby with widespread popularity. People race go-karts on local dirt or paved tracks throughout the world.

  1. The First Go-Kart

    • Art Ingels developed the first go-kart in 1956 in Los Angeles, California. Ingels was a race car builder for Kurtis Kraft, a race car designer and developer. In 1958, Go Kart Manufacturing Co. Inc. became the first company to manufacture and distribute go-karts. In 1959, McCullough was the first company to manufacture go-kart engines.

    How Go-Kart Racing Began

    • In the late 1940s and 1950s, the cost of automobile racing began to increase in the United States, and competitors were cutting back--even quitting auto racing altogether. The prices to attend a race increased as well, as many race car drivers and race car owners demanded a higher incentive to cover the cost and risk of their race cars. Fans were no longer purchasing tickets to attend these events. However, the recently introduced go-kart machine did not entail a high expense to compete. Many drivers satisfied their need to race by racing go-karts.

    Go-Kart Evolution

    • In 1957, the International Kart Federation, or IFK, began establishing rules for go-kart competitions. By 1960, go-kart racing began to appear at local tracks across the United States. Throughout the decade, new go-kart tracks surfaced in many different cities and states. Go-karts continued to evolve thanks to the innovation of builders and designers. Go-karts originally were simple and straightforward machines. Over the course of the last five decades, they emerged as machines involving sophisticated and advanced assembling. Despite the advancement in styles, go-kart racing remains the least expensive form of professional auto racing.

      Different forms of go kart racing materialized through the IKF, such as Sprint Racing, Shifter Karts, Road Racing Karts and Speedway Karts.

    Beyond the United States

    • While go-karts originated in the United States, interest in go kart racing began to pique in other countries and continents throughout the world, most notably Europe and Australia. For example, in 1966, the Australian Karting Association, or AKA, was formed to promote go-kart racing in Australia. The Motor Sports Association, or MSA, became the governing body for go-kart racing in the United Kingdom in the 2000s.

    World Karting Association

    • In 1971, the World Karting Association, or WKA, was formed as a nonprofit company supporting the developing sport of go-kart racing. The organization rapidly progressed to become largest go-kart racing sanctioning body in the United States, with more than 10,000 participants.