Professional High-Speed Indoor and Outdoor Go Kart Racing Tracks in NJ For Families and Kids

Hop in a world-class electric go-kart and zoom around the track winding around curves and corners. You don't need any experience, just a need for speed! Different speed settings and tracks are available that can be more or less challenging depending on skill and age levels. Bring friends for some friendly competition racing and maneuvering around the track. These are the best places to experience the thrill of go karting in NJ. Use our guide below to find a track near you.

Take a Shot at Some Serious Go Kart Racing on an Outdoor Multi-Level Go-Kart Track Overlooking The Atlantic Ocean!

Central Pier Arcade and Speedway in Atlantic City is open year-round. The amazingly cool and unique multi-level layout on their track outdoor track can be raced either in a single-seat go-kart or a double seater. If you want to ride more than once, they do have ride packages.

New Jersey is Home to Many Fun Indoor and Outdoor Go-kart Racing Tracks

Seaside Go-Kart Speedway
936 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226

This indoor racetrack is located inside Playland's Castaway Cove. The track is really cool and unique in that it goes underneath the boardwalk. Go-karts have both single and double seats available. Anyone over 56 inches in height can ride alone. The Speedway is perfect for families to enjoy racing against each other. Nearby are minigolf, boardwalk rides, games, and other attractions that are suited for younger children.

The history of Go Karting

Karting is a type of road racing with 4 wheeled vehicles. Karting is also known as called go-karting, has been a part of the Motorsports landscape since the 1950s.

Karts (also known as go-karts or shifter carts) generally have lightweight frames made from tube steel with little or no bodywork. They usually also have a very basic seat and relatively tiny tires compared to most of their counterpart racecar types. 

Traditional karting is where a lot of professional racecar drivers get their start!

 
Over the years, the engines have progressed from lawnmower engines to purpose-built two or four-stroke gasoline engines mounted either behind or next to the driver. In addition, some electrically powered karts exist. 

Karting races are done on paved road courses, dirt ovals, and even parking lots.

In New Jersey, elaborate tracks have been developed in both indoor and outdoor landscapes.

Types of karts:

There are many different types of karts, including shifter karts, super karts, oval karts, and various dirt track karts. Most karts have no roll cage. But some dirt karts are caged for added driver's safety. Types of races include sprint races on small road courses, timed endurance races, or larger speedway events held on larger ovals.

The first kart:

The history of karting dates back to somewhere around the Year 1956. Art Engels and Lou Borelli were supposedly the first men to create a go-kart. Art Engles was considered the father of karting, and he was an avid hot-rodder, racecar, and builder that worked as a mechanic for Curtis Craft in Southern California when he built his first car.

Teaming with his neighbor Lou Borelli they powered their car with a two and a half horsepower McCulloch West Bend lawnmower engine. This first kart had no name, but it was known as kart no 1, or the west bend.

Karting has been the first stop for many professional race car drivers. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon started with karting as did Michael Andretti, Ayrton Senna, and Lewis Hamilton. All begin their illustrious careers in karting!

Birth of The Go-kart:

Art Engels and Lou Borelli drove their karts around Pomona, California. Soon enough a real race would be organized. Among the spectators that witnessed that early car grace was a man named Duffy Livingston. Livingston and his friend Roy Des Brow partnered with other early karting enthusiasts to begin organizing races at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

They also began selling Kart kits in 1957. Thus, forming a new kart manufacturing company called Go-Kart based in Monrovia, California. The go-kart manufacturing company would be the first of many kart manufacturers to come.

The term go-kart was coined by Lynn Weinland, who was a former editor of hot rod magazine.

Going International:

In the coming years, karting will establish itself as the starting place for many road racers looking to take the first step towards a career in a top racing series such as Formula One. In addition, media coverage has been expanded to begin televising races in Europe on the Eurosport Network.

In 2012 the FIA, the current governing body of international karting now run by Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa al-khalifa celebrated its 50th anniversary. Karting continues to be massively popular in the United States and around the world today. Indoor karting, family karting, and even Seca (SCCA) autocross karting have made karting more accessible than ever.

Experience a Completely Different Type Of Ride!

Put someone else in control of the vehicle and hop aboard a train. The best three train rides in NJ are a great experience for younger kids. They'll love watching the scenery pass by as they embark on the journey.