Autoblog

Anybody who's ever strapped themselves into a shifter-kart can attest to the fact that they are one of the most exhilarating rides available, and their capabilities are much higher than first expected. That being the case, when swapping the 125cc engine from the go kart with a 1300cc engine from a Suzuki Hayabusa, the resulting machine is nothing if not overpowered. A small blip of the throttle induces massive tire spin and power-slides are available at a moment's notice, possibly less. To handle the power-infusion, the frame was suitably strengthened and elongated with plenty of square-section tubing. We're not so sure that we'd have built this machine in the first place, but now that it's done, we really wish we could get a chance in the drivers seat. Follow along after the break for a video of the machine in action.

[Source: Kart Hayabusa via Jalopnik]

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Wanna make a wheeled vehicle more interesting? Affix a jet engine to it. And that's just what the owner of the go-kart you see above did. Powering the kart is a mil-spec JFS-100 engine -- the type used as a starter (JFS = jet fuel starter) for the larger main engines on aircraft such as the A7 Corsair attack plane. In addition to the jet engine, the kart's got a push-button afterburner setup that ups the ante by creating "extra thrust, noise, and spectacular fire and smoke effects." Cool!

Instruments include an EGT gauge and an RPM Meter, all neatly organized in front of the driver. There are no hard performance numbers for this little missile, but we'll assume it's plenty fast, and the owner says that it's stable at speed and handles exceptionally well. If you're able to arrange for local pickup in Inverness, UK, it can be yours, too. The bidding opens at £5,000.

UPDATE: Videos added after the jump

[Source: eBay UK via Engadget]

Lindsey Adams is 19, has a thing for manicures, designer clothing, and she's the captain of her school's cheerleading squad. She's also a burgeoning threat on the racetrack, having just won a regional Formula Mazda race at Texas World Speedway late last month, on top of achieving some success kart racing nationally. In fact, her racing career is looking so bright that Adams is putting her higher education plans on-hold to pursue driving. Little wonder then, that donning helmets and mixing it up on the track is in Adams' blood. Both Adams' father and grandfather raced, the latter going on to build race cars for some three decades in Dallas after having children.

Admittedly, virtually every female enjoying any sort of success in the racing world is being labeled as 'The Next Danica'... but what's to say Adams doesn't have a shot?

[Source: The Dallas Morning News via WFAA.com]