Go-Karting Accessories - What You Need to Know in Order to Get Started

The popular sport of go-karting offers wheel-to-wheel thrills to drivers of almost any age, experience and budget. Yet whilst it's arguably the most accessible of all forms of motor racing, competing within the sport at a consistently strong level will depend on some serious investment in karting gear, equipment and accessories.

At a basic level, you will, at the very least, need to source a karting helmet from somewhere before you can even take part in a weeknight practice session - let alone a competitive event or championship. The design of karting helmets may have changed little over the past few decades, but styles do vary according to personal preference and, perhaps more obviously, budget. The less expensive models of karting helmet tend to be made from fibreglass, with carbon fibre versions also available for the more serious competitor. For the beginner, a quality karting helmet - made from fibreglass - should be comfortably good enough.

Karting suits, made from fire-proof materials such as nomex, are also required for most forms of karting. These protect the wearer against the physical injuries which sometimes occur in racing incidents, and whilst prices need not be astronomical, it is worth bearing in mind that a good quality, long lasting karting suit will easily justify any slight increase in cost over a poor or average quality suit. It is, of course, vitally important that the suit fits properly - so try to avoid the temptation to buy larger-sized suits for your children, even if they will inevitably grow into them.

You will also need to acquire a set of karting gloves in the majority of cases. These serve two purposes; first, they protect the hands from damage in the event of a racing incident, or in the case of endurance kart racing where blisters and abrasions are commonplace. The gloves also absorb the sweat produced during kart racing, in an effort to increase both comfort and the strength of the driver's grip on the steering wheel. Karting gloves need not be expensive and will provide the wearer with significant gainst in both comfort and safety.

A final area to consider will be the need to acquire a set of karting boots. These are, arguably, one of the key areas in which one should not compromise on budget. Accidents in karting are generally attributable to the use of incorrect or inadequate footwear, so a good set of high-quality karting boots or shoes will always be a good investment.

By Richard Harwood