How Expensive is Go Karting in Australia?
|
Category |
Estimated Cost |
Notes |
|
Ticket Experience |
$30 to $80 |
10 to 20 minutes session per driver; varies based on the company |
|
Rental |
$1,300 to $2,100 |
Go track hiring in Australia for 1 to 2 hours |
|
Buying a Go-kart |
$4,000 to $8,000 |
Velocity Car Shop and ProKarting are some shops where you can get yourself competitive or recreational go-karts in this price range. |
|
Safety Gear |
$100 to $800 |
Gloves, helmet, shirt, neck brace, etc. |
|
Power Cost |
/ |
Depends on whether the go-kart runs on electricity or non-renewable energy sources |
(1) Ticket Experience
If you want to engage in a fun go karting session with your friends or family, you can expect to pay between $30 to $80 per person for a 10 to 20-minute session. However, this can vary greatly depending on the venue, session length, and booking type (group or individual).
(2) Rental
Renting out a complete track for your go karting event is another way you can enjoy this activity. The charges for this range from $1,300 to $2,100 and vary based on the track, session length, and the number of karts you need.
(3) Buying a Go-kart
Well, rather than getting a ticket or doing track hiring, it's a good idea to buy your own go-kart. The investment may seem like a lot initially; nonetheless, you get the freedom to go-kart whenever you want. Generally, purchasing a go-kart costs you around $4,000 to $8,000, excluding licensing and other costs.
You also have to invest in the necessary gear to ensure your overall experience is safe and fun. This will cost an additional $100 to $800, while licensing is anywhere around $270.
Power Cost Breakthroughs: Solar Generator
Whether it's competitive or recreational go karting, various electrical devices such as timers, starting handles, in-car cameras, track lighting, maintenance tools, and even the electric go-karts themselves require a stable power supply to function effectively. In a go karting track environment, connecting to the power grid may be inconvenient or even impossible, and electricity costs can be quite high.
Australia's electricity prices range from 25 to 45 cents per kWh[2]. In such a situation, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 becomes your saviour. Since it uses completely free solar energy, there's no ongoing expense, and it's portable and movable.
Just connect the devices to the solar generator and let it harness free solar power. This way, you can provide ample electricity for all electrical devices and even the go-karts, significantly reducing energy costs.
A Basic Understanding of Go-karts
Here's an overview of the history, structure, and overall evolution of go-karts for a better understanding of this thrilling activity:
(1) History of Go-karts
Go karting may seem like a new activity, but it has been around for years. The Australian Karting Association was founded in 1963, which was actually the start of go karting in the country.
The hype of this new sport reached different areas, and there were exciting competitions in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Both men and women participated in go karting and were even crowned National Champions in their class up until 1986[1].
Some notable pioneers in go karting include John Pizarro, a 15-time champion and Drew Price. Drew Price also founded Drew Price Engineering, which is known as DPE Kart Technology, building durable go-karts in Australia. All in all, over the years, go karting has become a weekend pastime for people from competitive motorsport.
(2) Structure of Go-karts
Go-karts typically have a chassis, engine, steering system, brakes, and wheels. Here's a detailed overview:
● Chassis: The chassis is the main support system, as all other components are attached to it. It's made up of pipes and other materials of varying cross sections and is sturdy overall. The chassis of the go-kart must have stability, torsional rigidity, and a high degree of flexibility since there's no suspension in this vehicle.
● Engine: The engine of go-karts provides the power that propels the vehicle forward. It can either have a four-stroke or a two-stroke engine. Four-stroke engines often feature better fuel efficiency and release lower emissions. On the other hand, two-stroke engines have a high power-to-weight ratio and quite a simple design.
● Steering System: As in traditional vehicles, the steering system in go karting helps you control the direction of the kart. It consists of a steering wheel, steering shaft, and some other linkages.
● Wheels and Brakes: Go-kart wheels are small and have a low profile, which makes their design look unique. The braking system in go-karts is a disc brake system, which is used on all four wheels in higher-end karts.
Some other parts of go-karts include seats that are important for drivers’ comfort and safety, bumpers to prevent damage from collisions, and a roll cage that surrounds the driver for better protection.
(3) Recreational Vs Competitive Go Karting
Now that you are aware of the history and structure of go-karts, let's look at the go-kart racing types:
● Recreational Go Karting: Recreational go karting is just fun and casual driving with friends and family to create lasting memories. It can be either indoor or outdoor go karting that happens on shorter, simpler and rental tracks. The complete focus is on enjoying the experience and having fun moments.
● Competitive Go Karting: In competitive go karting, professional go-kart drivers come together to challenge each other. It usually happens on larger, challenging go-kart tracks, and the goal is to win the competition. This type of go karting also requires exceptional skill and all safety gear for safety.
Eclectic go-karts are a type of go karts that use batteries and electric motors. Since they don't rely on renewable fuel sources like petrol or diesel, these karts are clean and reduce overall carbon footprint. They are gaining quite popularity in Australia, helping the country reach its sustainability goals, and are more suitable for go karting novices.
Insights from Professional Go Karting Events - Can Refer To
In Australia, there are many go karting events that are organised every year. For instance, if you are a go karting lover, you can go to the Australian Karting Championship, state championships, and other club races. There, you'll see professionals having everything ready and up-to-date, which significantly improves their game.
Here are the tips or insights from go karting experts that you should follow:
(1) Equipment Checklist
Firstly, you should have all the equipment ready before the competition or leisurely drive. This involves carrying a full-face helmet, karting suit, gloves, closed-toe shoes, neck brace, and rib protector. You should also maintain your go-kart and check if all its components are working smoothly to avoid any mishap mid-journey.
(2) Venue Requirements
You must choose the right venue to maximise your go karting experience. It should be professionally designed, having adequate width, good visibility, and safe overtaking areas. You can easily find such tracks in different go karting spaces across Australia.
(3) Other Relevant Equipment
As previously mentioned, you must invest in a reliable power source to make sure that all electrical devices used in go-karting activities remain powered at all times. For this, you can get a Jackery solar generator that uses the sun's energy to produce electricity and ensures you stay powered up even on the go. It's also quite portable, which makes carrying it around a breeze!
How Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 Powers Go Karting Activities?
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is an incredible power source that can make your go karting experience more enjoyable. It has a massive 1070 wh capacity and 1500 W power output that can easily power most of your karting equipment.
Whether it's the kart itself or other essentials like phones and cameras, this generator can charge everything. This solar generator features a Lifepo4 battery that serves you for years. Not only this, but it's 20% smaller and 10% lighter than other solar products in this category.
The best part about this solar generator is that it has ChargeShield 2.0 technology and AI-variable speed recharging that enhances overall safety. Charging it is an easy task as you have three options: solar, AC, and vehicle charging. If you want to get it, you should do it right away to grab the early bird deals (4/10 00:00 - 4/30 23:59 AEST): $300 off, free gifts, and even more exciting perks.
Here are some scenarios where the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is helpful:
● Leisure Activities: For friends and families who go kart in groups, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 can power the kart itself in outdoor spaces. Other than that, it can run other small equipment like fans and lights to make the whole experience comfortable.
● Community Settings: Sometimes, community go karting events are organised in open spaces where there's no access to electricity. The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 proves to be a lifesaver in such conditions, charging the go-kart, supporting food stalls, and running all basic heating and cooling equipment.
● Professional Venue Events: In professional karting events, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 can be used to charge various go-karts. It can also support announcer booths, timing stations, and other diagnostic tools to ensure spectators and participants have a stress-free experience.
How to Improve Your Go Karting Skills?
Wondering how you can improve your go karting skills? Here are some tips and tricks:
● Know that each go-kart track has its own unique turns and barriers. To improve your skills, you should familiarise yourself with the track to ensure there are no surprises during driving.
● Establish a racing line that is the fastest possible path around the corner and helps you reach the end quickly and safely.
● Always approach the turn from the outside of the track. Simply get close to the edge of the track and keep accelerating as much as you can to reach top speed before you get near the corner.
● Avoid distractions at all costs during go karting. Don't think about the finishing line yet or what the other driver might be doing. Have your mind focused on the task at hand to increase your chances of success.
Common Causes of Go Karting Accidents and Prevention
The following are some common causes of go karting accidents and how you can prevent them:
Causes
● Most go-kart drivers are inexperienced, under 15, and cannot properly control the go-kart, which causes injury.
● There may be oil spills and other hazards on the track that make the driver lose control.
● Rain and snow can also render the track unsafe for karting.
● Improperly maintained go-karts can have mechanical failures that can cause serious accidents on the track.
Prevention
Go karting can be risky, causing various injuries, including whiplash, sprains, bone fractures, and head or abdominal trauma. You should follow these given tips to enhance overall safety:
● Wear protective gear as comprehensively as possible.
● Schedule regular maintenance for the go-kart to analyse oil levels, tired pressure, and battery life in case of an electric go-kart. Replace and repair all aging components right away.
● Regularly repair potholes and other cracks on the track to prevent accidents.
● Don't drive in unsafe conditions like snow and rain, and wait for the weather to be clear.
Conclusion
Go karting is indeed a fantastic activity that you can do with your loved ones. If you are a go-kart professional, you can participate in different karting competitions to improve your skills. Struggling to find the right solar generator for your electric go-kart and relevant equipment? Jackery is the one-stop shop! Get in touch with us today to explore our range of solar products and make karting sustainable!
