Any of my kids had any sense… LOL
My grandson is in the process, at age 7, of building a racing go kart.
Granted, he’s being ‘directed’ by his daddy and uncle (both of who are excellent mechanics), and his uncle races karts and Legend cars. But his mother sent me a text yesterday grumbling about him coming home talking about steering boxes, axles, and working on brakes by himself.
I can see it now, in two years, my granddaughter is gonna want to build one, too… sigh…
I didn’t start working on cars until I was ten, with my grandfather. But that was on actual cars. We didn’t have racing go karts back then, probably much to my mother’s relief… LOL
That’s a sweet ride! Fits him like a glove, and I recognize that grin – some things pass through generations!
There are far far worse things that could interest him….
Just look up “shifter carts”
if you don’t want to sleep again. :- 》
A friends’ kids raced road course carts after they got out of Quarter Midgets. Without shifters, tge road course carts were fast.
Ocean Shores, WA back in the day had a go cart rental track. My youngest wasn’t tall enough. After a discrete $20 bill changed hands, he became tall enough. Within three laps he was lapping everyone. I realized then I might have issues when he got old enough to drive.
Your grandson will learn in a safe and controlled environment instead of outrunning the King County deputies up Maple Valley.
Cedar-LOL
Dan- True!!!
John- I saw them run at Daytona Speed Weeks back in the 80s. Over 120mph in a cart!!!
WSF- LOL, point!
It could be worse, and it will be later on, full size cars and race cars… At least he isn’t installed in the couch with a video game or sail phone and no other interests.
LOL! Karting can get expensive over time, but better that than couch potato.
Oooooh, a sprint car. That looks fast and fun. If he’s doing dirt tracks, he’s gonna learn to drift at a young age. Just remind him that drifting is hard on the tires on asphalt.
Oh just wait. The picture of him post-race looking like a raccoon with goggles hanging down is coming. 🙂
And learning some life skills that will serve him well later in life. BZ to the dad and uncle willing to spend the time helping and teaching him.
Hell if he gets good enough he can be like Brexton Busch, 8 years old now with sponsorship from Interstate Batteries and several others. will be running carts until he is about 12-13 the late models then 16 sharing a NASCAR truck ride until 18 then the ride is his….Did I mention his daddy is Kyle Busch and he races and will race for Kyle Busch Motorsports and as of now that Late model and truck ride will be Toyota Factory rides
How long till he learns about easing out the window after dark and shifting into neutral and pushing the car, er, cart downhill until he’s out of ear-shot of the house?
Not that I know anyone who might have done this, or who might be laughing like mad every time his former sneaking-buddy swears that HIS kids will never do anything like that.
All- Thanks, and life will take him where it wishes, in spite of his or our desires. TXRed- LOL, it wouldn’t be hard, considering the hill they live on… Hell, that was a rite of passage when we were in high school!
I can see his grandfather in that smile!!! All he needs is a big ole mustache!
A former co-worker raced karts at Daytona and claimed his machine would go 120mph. (Don’t know if that’s true but I had no reason to doubt him.)
This is just the start of an expensive, but likely exciting time for your “Grands” parents. (And you too, I hope.)
A proud Mama he makes me, while scaring me half to death at the same time. He is terrifyingly good at any sport or anything thing with wheels since he has been about 1! He loves nature, camping, climbing anything and all things “survival”. He has been able to start all our campfires from flint and steel since he was 5. He collects pocket knives and has more than his dad now! Gets that from his Papa! He has learned more this summer than most kids learn as by the time they are adults. From building the race car from the ground up with the help of dad and his Uncles one of who owns a custom car auto body specialist who restores classic cars and also races. He has also started welding with Dad, can help dad back the trailer hook it up and unhook both the boat and camper, loads and drives the Quads and 50 motorcycle. Yet he is still the sweetest boy around. I am very very lucky!
I built a kart 40 years ago, that my grandkids rode until recently.
Tradition!