Autoblog

Australian go-kart driver plays in traffic

George Kennedy — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Australia

From the files of "wouldn't it be cool if..." comes this case of mistaken vehicular identity. See, the driver of this go-kart must think that he's piloting an actual street-legal motor vehicle. That has to be the explanation as why someone would be crazy enough to take a go-kart on busy city streets. The poster of this video was on his way to Sydney, Australia's Kingsford-Smith Airport, when he spotted this very brave - or very stupid - individual. We're leaning towards the latter.

At one point, the kart driver appears to either nearly lose control of his diminutive vehicle or intentionally try to spin it, in either case, he almost careens into oncoming traffic. This video should serve as a reminder as to why we have sensible traffic laws and regulations for motor vehicles. Apparently the Sydney police agree, and are reportedly keeping an eye out for the driver. We hope this guy made it to work safely, but really, this is a little ridiculous. Fair warning: There is quite a lot of accent-tinged foul language in this one, so it might be Not Safe For Work.

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Australian go-kart driver plays in traffic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Racing Dreams documentary premiering on PBS in February [w/video]

Dan Roth — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos

Racing Dreams is an award-winning documentary that follows the racing exploits of three go-kart racing youths chasing an entry into the world of NASCAR. As we reported before, when Racing Dreams took the podium at the Tribeca Film Festival, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson got behind this project as executive producer, and now this documentary is making its broadcast premiere on Thursday, February 23 at 9 PM on Public Television. The PBS documentary series POV (Point Of View) will also stream the movie on its website for a month following the debut.

The idea of a karting documentary may not sound immediately captivating to anyone but the most hardcore of racing fans, but the story of Annabeth Barnes, Josh Hobson and Brandon Warren (11, 12, and 13 years old, respectively), has a track record of surprising viewers. It's more than just the story of how entry into professional auto racing of any sort increasingly starts even before adolescence, it talks about how the experience of fierce on-track competition colors the already-bewildering arrival of adolescence. Indeed, racing isn't the kind of subject matter you'd expect to find on PBS, but director and producer Marshall Curry has woven a story that's been rewarded with honors at many film festivals around the United States. Racing Dreams is a story about life that happens to have racing figure into the plot. Check your local listings to catch the documentary on your PBS station, and after checking out our gallery, you can watch the trailer and read the official press release, both posted after the jump.

Continue reading Racing Dreams documentary premiering on PBS in February [w/video]

Racing Dreams documentary premiering on PBS in February [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Electric

Translogic tours the neighborhood on the all-electric Z-Kart - Click above to watch video

What's the best way to get your motoring kicks for less while consuming zero fuel and emitting only adrenaline? Riding a Zero motorcycle sounds like a lot of fun, until you get to that part about it only having two wheels. A golf cart is only amusing when it's gas-powered and you've stuck a tee in the governor. The answer lies somewhere in between, and George Fortin from San Clemente, California, has put together his own version of the solution.

Our friends at Translogic paid Fortin a visit because he's the proud owner and creator of the Z-Kart. It's an all-electric go-kart that rides on a quartet of motorcycle tires and is powered by a DC motor and four lead-acid batteries. The frame is built from recycled polyethylene, and Fortin built it himself from scratch. Total charge time for the Z-Kart is just three hours from a 110v outlet.

According to Fortin, the Z-Kart is capable of exceeding 50 miles per hour. However, he changed the gearing to bring it back down to a more-reasonable 40 mph. The differential in the Z-Kart was taken from a small off-road buggy, and the engine feeds juice to the wheels via a chain drive and jack shaft.

Translogic's Bradley Hasemeyer chats with George about his creation before taking the Z-Kart out for a spin. Check out the electric action in the video after the jump.

Gallery: George Fortin's all-electric Z-Kart Build Process

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Rémi's real-life Mario Kart is back!

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Toys/Games, Humor

Itsa him... Rémi Gaillard, bringing Mario Kart into the real world - Click above to watch video after the jump

Rémi Gaillard is at it again. You might remember the last time the Frenchman took to his local streets in a go-kart, because he did it while dressed as the Nintendo character Mario. Gaillard has stocked up on more bananas and turtle shells in a new video where he gives the real world a taste of Mario Kart.

Since the banana is such an important tool on both the offensive and defensive side of Mario Kart driving tactics, Gaillard needs to keep a few of them handy. When he runs out he simply heads to the nearest grocery store... and proceeds to drive to the produce section.

His original video, posted after the jump, has been watched over 35 million times, and the sequel is already climbing into multiple millions of views as well. Click past the jump and keep an eye out for green shells and banana peels while watching both clips of Rémi Gaillard bringing Mario Kart to life.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Rémi's real-life Mario Kart is back!

Video: Rémi's real-life Mario Kart is back! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Streets of Monaco super yacht features go-kart track... and everything else

Noah Joseph — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Design/Style

The Streets of Monaco super-yacht - Click above for image gallery

Those who follow the super-yacht scene know that these giant floating mansions have grown to incorporate all manner of amenities: helipads, bowling alleys, swimming pools, garages... anything and everything you might expect in a land-locked residence, only set out to sea. But this... this is something else altogether.

Called The Streets of Monaco, this design is modeled after a section of Monte Carlo - in more ways that one. The headline feature is an on-board karting track modeled after the famous grand prix circuit. But that's hardly the extent of it. As you can see, the design bridges the gap from naval architecture to actual architecture and on to city planning.

Instead of decks, it has buildings. Instead of a swim platform, a freakin' beach. It's also got submarines, helicopters, waterfalls, movie theater, spa and more, plus sleeping accommodations for 16 guests and the 70 crew it would require to keep this puppy going. All packed into 155 meters, length overall. (That's not a typo. We don't mean 155 feet. We mean 155 meters, equivalent to 508 feet.) That's about half the size of a modern super-tanker, cruise ship or Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. For better or worse - seaworthy or not - the design stays on paper for the time being.

Gallery: The Streets of Monaco super-yacht

[Source: Superyacht Design]

The Streets of Monaco super yacht features go-kart track... and everything else originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Worst go-kart pileup ever?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Safety, Videos

When go-karts attack - Click above to watch the video

Ever see those Tour de France crashes that start with one guy in Spandex shorts face-planting into the cement and ends up with 30 or 40 cyclists cascading like dominoes? It's a horrific site to be sure; one that gets replayed dozens of times on sportscasts the world over. These chain-reaction crashes happen in motorsports, but the pileups aren't usually as robust. Or are they?

Beyond the jump is video of one go-karter who sideswipes a barrier, which sets off a wet track karting collision extraordinaire. The video is only 17 seconds long, but we guarantee that this Monaco affair contains all the ~~carnage~~ action you'll need to see to feel better about your day. And while the go-karts look like they're moving pretty darn fast, it doesn't appear as though anyone was hurt. Hit the jump to watch 52-kart pickup.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Worst go-kart pileup ever?

Video: Worst go-kart pileup ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: MINI Clubman vs. Go Kart

Chris Shunk — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Mini

The MINI Clubman is everything the MINI Cooper is and more -- nine inches more. It has a passenger-side suicide door and that wide-mouth split rear gate, but everything else from its retro looks to the 172-hp turbocharged four-cylinder underhood is the same. But is it the same? Does nine inches of wheel base ruin the go kart-like handling we love so much in the MINI Cooper S? The folks over at Web Rides TV were itching to answer exactly that question, so they pitted the Mini Clubman S against a real, 9-horsepower go-kart. To give the kart a chance, the race was performed on an actual go-kart track, squeaky floors and all. The winner? You'll have to hit the jump to find out, but the race is more exciting than the finish.

[Source: Web Rides TV]

Continue reading VIDEO: MINI Clubman vs. Go Kart

VIDEO: MINI Clubman vs. Go Kart originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Suzuki, Motorcycle

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]

Continue reading Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered

Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teenager in go-kart evades German police

Merritt Johnson — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

A wannabe race driver lead police on a 3-mile pursuit through the streets of a German town last Friday while behind the wheel of a go-kart. The 18-year-old driver had all of seven squad cars on the chase, but they couldn't keep up with the kart's high speeds through the corners. The teenager even got the slip for a brief period by tucking into an open garage. When police finally caught up, the young speed demon was charged with driving without a license and driving a go-kart on a public street, which is illegal in Germany. If driving a go-kart on a public street is legal anywhere, then we want to know, as some of us might just move there. In his defense, the rebel driver told police that he knew his actions were illegal, but he had just bought the go-kart and didn't have any other way of getting it home.

[Source: Reuters, photo by Axel Schmidt/AFP/Getty]

Teenager in go-kart evades German police originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proper priorities: Four-year old gets signed to pro-motorsports contract

Chris Shunk — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

Top-level athletes are being identified at younger ages all the time, with most tennis or gymnastics prodigies being noticed by age 10. Over in the UK, motorsports are huge, and four year-old Ben Kasperczack has just been signed to a four-year contract with Motorsport World. That's right, 'lil Ben isn't even old enough for kindergarten and he's been granted unlimited track time, his own mechanic, and all the equipment he'll ever need.

It's easy to dismiss such a contract as little more than a publicity stunt, yet Ben has shown an amazing knack for recognizing understeer and oversteer (most adults aren't as fortunate), and he knows just when his tires need changing. Since at age four he's completely fearless, Ben also maintains the most aggressive driving line possible, which makes him faster around the track than most adults.

We don't know if Michael Schumacher should worry about any of his records just yet, but the karting world will have to wait four more years before Ben Kasperczack competes in his first race with other drivers. Let the hype machine begin.

[Source: Winding Road]

Proper priorities: Four-year old gets signed to pro-motorsports contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track!

Alex Nunez — Sun, 27 May 2007 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Europe, Hatchback

How many times have you heard someone use the phrase, "That thing handles like a go-kart." Well, in the case of the Lancia Delta S4 of Group B fame, it's true. The video embedded after the jump was taken at an indoor track. Killer stuff, and it had to have sounded incredible in there while this was going on. Wherever this is, there's some pretty sweet hardware parked inside the tire barriers, too. Based on some Googling we've done, we're guessing the pilot is Bruno Ianello, who appears to have been driving this particular Delta S4 in recent years at historic rallies. We found some nice shots of the car here and here, if you'd like to have a better look at it.

Follow the jump for the video of the indoor action.

[Source: Dieselstation]

Continue reading VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track!

VIDEO: Playing indoors - Lancia Delta S4 on a kart track! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 May 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula 1: Scott Speed to race at U.S. karting Supernationals

Stuart Waterman — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Scott Speed will return to his racing roots in November, sliding into a shifter kart to race in the 10th running of U.S. karting's SuperNationals in Las Vegas.

Speed got his start in karting, and he's the only shifter kart pilot to win the SuperNats twice, in 2000 and 2001. (The picture shows Scott at the 2001 SuperNats. That's 2006 Champ Car title contender A.J. Allmendinger two karts back.) He'll be racing alongside brother Alex (U.S. national champion in 2003, 2004 and 2005) in karts prepped by his father, Mike.

The SuperNats have long been the one U.S. race that every karter wants to win, and the one-off appearance by America's one and only F1 driver is bound to attract competitors from across the country. (The $10,000 purse for the headline class won't hurt, either.)

If you want to see a Formula 1 driver practicing his racecraft up close and personal, be in Las Vegas November 10-12! Event details are here.

[Source: SPEED Channel]

Formula 1: Scott Speed to race at U.S. karting Supernationals originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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