go-karts

When stuck in traffic, I often feel tempted to launch a red turtle shell at a slow car in front of me so it blows up and gets out of my way. Felonious temptations aside, perhaps I'd be better off living vicariously through the gentlemen of Waterloo Labs and their ingenious real-life re-creation of Mario Kart.

The project, led by Texas-based engineers Hunter Smith and Ben James, features four technology-infused go-karts that dynamically respond to the action on the track -- meaning that if someone picks up a power-up, they actually gain an advantage (or sometimes a disadvantage) over the other racers. For added effect, each kart contains a 120 psi cannon capable of launching green turtle shells at other participants in the race, causing the target to wipe out.… Read more

Sackboy and friends put the pedal to the metal in a new racing adventure set to debut in 2012.

Media Molecule announced yesterday LittleBigPlanet Karting for PS3, a kart racing game made in collaboration with ModNation Racers co-creator United Front Games. The title retains the familiar "Play, Create, Share" motto used in previous LittleBigPlanet releases but offers large areas for driving instead of just side-scrolling adventures. … Read more

Ever since Mario traded his running shoes for a four-wheeler, go-kart games have been a console staple.

Witness Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D for the iPhone, which debuted in 2008 (shortly after the App Store launched) and has been a top seller ever since.

Now comes Gameloft's Shrek Kart, which casts everybody's favorite ogre in the Mario/Crash role for some fairy-tale-themed fun.

Actually, you can race as Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Puss in Boots, or any of 10 movie characters--each with his or her own vehicle and special ability. (Shrek, for example, can "break wind" to … Read more

As I alluded to in my previous blog, Infineon Raceway plays host to a variety of auto racing events. Today's video blog will take a gander at the sport of go-kart racing, and its place at the famous race track in Sonoma, California.

Kart racing of all competition, skill and age levels have taken place at Infineon over the years, and the track occasionally hosts multiple go-kart events per week during its peak season. Kart racing has a deceptively loyal following and fanbase that makes it possible for so many organizations and events to exist, and their dedication to … Read more

Garage 419 host Matt Farah was recently handed the keys to a Brabus Smart fortwo CDI, but because this particular fortwo was a prototype from Bosch Clean Diesel, he wasn't allowed to take it to a race track. So he did the next best thing and took it to a go-kart track where he pitted the 40 horsepower, 74 pound-feet of torque of the Brabus Smart against a 6.5 horsepower racekart. Should be an easy win, right?

Hilarity ensues.

[Source: Garage419.com]

In the tradition of cars that run on water and air , now there's a go-kart that zips along on compressed O2. Considering that air is (still) free, this project by mechanical engineering students from Canada's Dalhousie University is on the right track.

The air-powered vehicle apparently compares favorably with electric-powered carts. In test laps, the students managed three rounds or just under 2 minutes going full out at 43kmh on two tanks.

But the air-powered go-kart still has some ways to go--literally. It runs out of air quickly, according to its makers. Nothing that time and refinements won'… Read more