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Older Adults are Embracing Go-Karting

The subject of Go-Karting may seem a bit strange for a site devoted to the aging process, but, if the truth be known, many older adults are finding that Go-Karts offer a terrific recreational outlet. Jay Leno, who’s 58 as of this writing, is an enthusiast.

What kid doesn’t yearn to drive? If you’re a boomer with adolescents or a grandparent with grand kids that age, you might just want to consider participating in this ideal sport for the entire family. If you want to spend some quality time with your grandchildren, you might want to give this some thought.

Many people think that go karts are just for kids. That’s probably because these cars started out as children’s toys. Add their small size and the unusual spelling, and it’s no surprise that many people aren’t aware that older adults can have a lot of fun on go karts - and, as mentioned, even Jay Leno is a huge fan. While there are junior leagues in go karting, it’s a lot more popular with adults, with karts capable of going as fast as sixty miles an hour.

That kind of speed doesn’t feel very fast if you’re driving a car on the interstate, but just try it in a go kart, and you’ll see how fast sixty miles per hour can really be. There’s no suspension in a kart, no windshield, and no enclosed cabin to keep you from feeling the wind. Plus, the bottom of a kart is only a few inches from the ground, so you’ll feel every change in the pavement. Even professional racers say going top speed in a go kart feels much faster than the same speed in a Formula 1 racer.

Go karts are becoming popular with adults in all kinds of settings, even including corporate outings. Some go kart tracks do mostly corporate business, with sessions focused on leadership development, staff motivation and team building. These corporate events are dedicated to the metaphor of racing, and even business professionals get to cut loose and hit the track in a go kart. In fact, karting is probably the fastest growing motor sport.

Serious go karting can be expensive, with kart ownership costing as much as a small car. High end go karts can cost over ten thousand dollars and hit highway speeds, making it clear that they’re not just for kids. This kind of racing kart is used only on large outdoor tracks. Indoor karts are used on smaller tracks and generally go only about forty miles per hour.

However, the turns and twists on a commercial go kart track can make even that seem a lot faster - it’s like a roller coaster that you can control. Indoor karts also have more safety features, including steel buffers to keep cars from knocking wheels on a tight track - something that could be dangerous at high speeds.

Adults who are interested in driving go karts can just walk into a track, and pay for a session - usually about thirty to forty dollars. However, they’ll have to wear protective clothing and go through a safety talk, since these karts are a lot more powerful than the ones driven by kids. There are even adult racing leagues at most tracks, allowing kart enthusiasts to compete against one another. A typical race is fifteen laps, with each lap taking about twenty seconds.

If you’ve been thinking that go karting is just for kids, think again. This is a great sport that can be enjoyed by anyone. Many grownups are getting back into go karting, and having a lot of fun.

Tags: aging, Aging Process, Baby Boomers, boomer, family, go kart, go-karting, grandchildren, Grandparents, jay leno, kart tracks, older adults