Open wheel go karts is just about as electrifying as it gets. Watching expert Indy Car racers speed around a 2 1/2 mile oval at maximum speeds greater than 230 mile per hour is a heart-pounding thrill. Open wheel racing has been around for decades and kart racing is a modification of this open-wheel motor sport. The difference is that karts are smaller and compete on shortened race tracks, but the thrill of operating a go kart can be just as high. Furthermore, a large number of racers use go carts as a prerequisite to more high-priced, competitive, and even faster racing. Some of the top professional drivers got their initial start here.

4-stroke as well as 2-stroke engines are ordinarily used in racing. Different versions of the 4-stroke engine have been very popular in the amusement parks and fun centers, but electric engines are increasing in status. Electric motors have a lot of bonuses that make them perfect for small family fun center race tracks. They are very low-priced to operate and maintain and only require a recharge after their power gets low. There is no need to fill them with high-priced gasoline since they obtain their energy from long-term batteries. And lacking a gas powered motor to break down they are economical to maintain. Plus, they can be ridden inside because they don't produce any harmful emissions. The only negative side to electric go carts is that they require recharging after approximately 20 minutes of operation, but as battery technology increases the batteries are holding longer charges.

Well-known makers of 4-stroke go kart engines are Tecumseh, Honda, and Briggs and Stratton among others. These companies manufacture low-powered engines that will furnish from 5 to 20 hp. These low-powered engines are classically used by rookie drivers or in fun centers. But don't let the small hp trick you; a lot of these low-powered engines can propel a go cart at maximum speeds up to 50 mile per hour. This might not seem fast to you, but when you begin driving through turns in a small kart at these speeds you'll quickly understand just how swift this really is.

Some 4-stroke engines have additional power and will be able to produce up to 50 hp. These engines can run at up to 11,000 rpm (revolutions per minute) and are commonly used in various National Championship class races, but if you need higher speeds you'll have to get a 2-stroke motor. Many 2-stroke engines will produce as few as 10 horse power or less, but some can also generate 90 hp or more at 16,000 rpm. Speeds around 160 mile per hour can be attained with these brawny 2-stroke engines.

In bygone days engines were air-cooled, but with the faster speeds of today the bulk of go kart engines are cooled by water. Some of the less high-powered 4-stroke engines are still cooled with air, but the premier hp engines are most commonly cooled by water. With the various differences in power, there is an engine available with your name on it, no matter what type of racing you would like to do.