Go-Karting

What is it? 

Go-karts are reasonably small four-wheeled vehicles - they have varying degrees of power, with some being ridden down a hill propelled by gravity while others have large industrial power systems. The sport of racing go-karts is mainly recreational, but at the top level you can find professionals competing in the Indoor Karting World Championship.

What does it involve?

Getting started with go-karting first involves learning how to operate the specific type of vehicle you have been provided with, and then theres a number of things you can do! Driving around the tracks can be a race to cross the finish line first, or drivers can set individual lap times to see who is the quickest.

Why do it and what are the benefits?

Taking students to try go-karting will give them a great confidence boost as they learn how to operate the vehicles, and can be a great team building exercise as they go through the experience together! It's also a lot of fun and will be seen as a treat amongst younger students especially.

What equipment do we need?

You shouldn't need to provide any equipment for taking students go-karting as everything should be supplied for you at the destination, but make sure everybody wears sensible clothes and always double check with the venue if you are unsure!

Who is it suitable for?

Students of all ages can enjoy go-karting, but providers will often have restrictions on height or age for certain vehicles, so be conscious of the limitations of certain venues. 

Costs?

Go-karting won't be the cheapest of trips to take your students on, but it entirely depends on the venue you choose to visit. Places that cater exclusively for go-karting will be more expensive and could go up to about £60, but different size groups, ages and the time of day will all alter the price - make sure to shop around! Venues that have a go-kart track as part of a wider range of entertainment will probably cost less to access, but the experience may not be quite as good.

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

There may be a minimum age or height to take into account, but this varies between venues and the types of go-kart; you should make sure that everybody in the group is allowed to take part!

How do we include?

Many go-karting providers now cater for those with disabilities, including impaired movement, learning difficulties and sight/hearing issues - you must make sure to check with the venue if they are set up to include disabled people though! If some students aren't able to race, they can still be involved by doing things such as keeping track of and announcing lap times or declaring someone the winner - there's lots of things to do from the sidelines!

Doing it abroad?

Go-karting is reasonably well known all over the world, so make sure to research your destination to find out if there's a track you can visit! The venues abroad are often bigger and more extravagant than the the ones in the UK, so if you find a place to go it will be well worth a visit!

Main website: 

http://www.uk-go-karting.com has some good general go-karting info and a good list of age and height restrictions!