How to Build a Go Kart Track

Building a go kart track is an ambitious project that should not be undertaken by the faint hearted! This project can be costly, and you will need to have a lot of land to build a track which is suitable for racing go karts. Go kart tracks are sometimes bought by developers, and these tracks can hold around 18 cars, but the expense is usually prohibitive. If you want to build your own go kart track, and are an experienced do-it-yourselfer with plenty of time and money, just follow these steps.

Step 1 - Assess Your Needs

Assess the needs of the track user. How large the track will be depends very much upon the amount of space available. It is usual for a track to be around 1,000 feet long, which relates to about an acre, or 45,000 square feet, of land. This amount of land use, and all the parts that come with putting a go kart track together, could cost around $70,000-$80,000, depending on property values in your area.

Step 2 - Prepare the Ground

Mark out the area where you want the track to go, using the marking string and some plywood posts. Dig within the lines set out by this string to a depth of about six inches. Cover one inch of the ground with sand, and then pour concrete on top of this. Leave to harden.

Step 3 - Line the Route

You will now need to line the route with protective material. It is common to lay steel rails around the side of the track, and then put old truck tires over these rails. Tires are generally agreed to be the best protectors against spills and accidents in the track. You should follow this by placing extra tires at every turn, as this is where most spills are likely to happen. At the bottom of the rails, lay cut-down plywood sheets. This will help to prevent the karts from becoming stuck in the gaps between the track and the tires.

Step 4 - Mark the Route

Now add a layer of tar to your concrete. Leave this to dry for a day, and then paint in road markings. This will help the drivers to steer around the corners, and will also let two drivers go side-by-side without accidents. You can also paint markings on the tires, or on the plywood pieces.

Step 5 - Create Viewing Points

When people are not driving the karts, they will still be eager to watch them. Let your riders encourage each other by placing viewing posts around the side of the go kart track. You might want to invest in some small seating-arrangements, or you can just allow your riders to watch by the rails as the karts go by. When everything in your track is dry, you can open it up to whoever wants to use it.