Death Defying Gearhead Fun: The Mechanix Illustrated Highway Kart

[@oldsranch]

I was given, as a Christmas gift at the ripe age of 12, an old asphalt race kart that had room for two McCulloch engines, and had two axle sprockets, one for speed, one for acceleration. it was an oval track kart, set up for making left turns. In a straight line on a rural road, it was terrifyingly fast, even with one engine. The next summer, we have it out again, and i let a friend take a quick run in it down the road. He was at ludicrous speed (with a nod to Spaceballs - the movie) when he swerves to the right to miss a squirrel. A kart set up for left turns makes ugly abrupt ones to the right. He flies out of the kart and easily tumbles thru thick vegetation to a stop. The kart and its momentum, however violently harvested cornstalks with blinding efficiency. Everything and everyone lived to see another day. And I still have it hanging in the barn. Long live the 60s karts!

[@brianlohnes3079]

THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!

[@davidholliday6904]

Best story I've heard in a while!

[@chop_n_lowerspeedshop1079]

Any chance it might be for sale?

[@oldsranch]

@@chop_n_lowerspeedshop1079 no, saving it for a grandchild, I must perpetuate the bad decsions!

[@chop_n_lowerspeedshop1079]

@@oldsranch fair enough ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@TrapShooter68]

I dropped my Popular Mechanics subscription after 50+ years when it became a fashion and tractor magazine. They took a great magazine and turned into crap.

[@kcender3771]

Yep, I'm old enough to remember when it was good. Too bad, they had some great projects to build or at least give you the idea to come up with your own concept with whatever you had laying around.

[@bitterclinger5876]

Same with Popular Science. At least there are a few sources like Google Books where I can go back and re-read the classic issues. There is also a website where the guy has compiled all of the Gus Wilson/Model Garage stories from PS. And who could forget Mimi over at Mechanix Illustrated? Her glamour shots each month got me through puberty!

[@Scot-p1v]

@@bitterclinger5876 love the Model Garage stories! -they helped immensely in getting me through 2020. There were a fair few that reminded me of Car Talk’s Puzzler. Good times

[@snapperboat25]

It’s kind of an equivalent to television’s The Learning Channel becoming TLC and going from interesting educational TV to bogus reality programming.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Much earlier, before the Go Kart name was around, a local store here in NW Ohio made basically go carts... we called them Cooper's Cars... an out growth of the wooden jeeps WWII vets made for their kids after returning back home... I have a 1940 Popular Mechanix magazine with plans to build what would later be called a minibike, used electrical conduit, wheelbarrow wheels/tires, 2 1/2 HP Briggs before recoil starters, belt tightener, etc... about 1968 I scratch built a suspension minibike with Jawa 350cc motorcycle engine...

[@2ToneWalt]

People like that are the ones that make the world a great place to be in. 🤘

[@Charles-qq7vf]

So, about 15 years ago, I was sitting at a rainy, cold, vintage motorcycle swap, oogling the old Manco kart in the back of the truck next to me. Neither of us sold a damned thing that day, and as we were packing up, I asked "what do you want for the kart?" It was followed by "what do you want for the chrome Triumph oil tank?" One hand shook another, the other hand passed a chrome fifties Triumph oil tank, and four hands loaded a Manco Kart into the cavernous trunk of my 1948 Plymouth hot rod. A Briggs and Stratton 5 hp from a hot rod client's throw away tiller, was mounted on the back, and for my 45th Birthday, I bought a clutch and chain. Within days, our kart became our "home entertainment system" with everybody showing up to make a pass or two down out newly paved alley. My hot rod buddies dug it, my wife's co-workers (all adorable Channel Make Up girls from Nordstrom's) flocked to the house to take a spin. Then, watching Top Gear one night, I got the idea to ape their segment "Put A Star In a Reasonably Priced Car", and let friends and family compete. Soon everybody we knew had a timed lap of the alley on the board! The fun abruptly ended when my wife took off into the sunset one night, on the fastest run I've ever seen her make. The little megaphone stinger sang it's tune off into the darkness, followed by a solid, but dull, WHUMP! My beloved had managed to hit a 21 story building, that had been there for 50 years... Her return down the alley, was on three wheels, with the right front bent up over the frame, swearing profusely in both English and Cantonese at the same time. The general gist was, "Alleys much longer in Hong Kong!!!" I still have it, repaired it, just got busy. To answer your direct question, a simple YES will do. I'm known for being both adventurous, AND not real bright sometimes, so it would be a nice fit. To answer the same question even more directly, I did a couple times, ride it up to the grocery store 6 blocks away, just north of downtown Phoenix, giggling like a mental patient each time...

[@brianlohnes3079]

This is beyond phenomenal. Hahahahahaha

[@hondaxl250k0]

Sounds like mid ohio vintage days swap meet!! If I don’t sell a lot I do manage to buy a lot lol

[@OO-qr1ks]

Glad ur girl is ok man and u got to fix the cart 🎉

[@BD-xz6te]

Thank you for this. I laughed so hard I think I sprained something.

[@Charles-qq7vf]

@@BD-xz6te I should tell you guys about the first time I put my Chinese wife on a mini bike!

[@unclebuzz6913]

And this is why we need popular mechanics, science, and mechanics illustrated magazine back. I remember when we DID NOT LIVE IN A NANNY STATE AS WE DO TODAY..I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE 1 OR 4 OF THESE...

[@geneeasley23]

This is my favorite comment. I grew up in the 60s. I'm 64.

[@kylejohnson423]

Yo, if this article didn't exist and everyone's first exposure to highway karts was some type of facebook post, they would be saying the exact opposite and mention how dumb people are because of social media. Engineering projects such as this didn't just die one day. They moved online. I recommend Grind Hard Plumbing Co. or ODS for further examples.

[@DrewLSsix]

Those times are why we live in a nanny state now, the same people that lament the nanny state also come crying to the rest of us to help out when they hurt themselves. I for one support a program to opt out of public support for the truly dedicated "independent thinkers" out there, don't think building codes should apply to you? Just let us know and the local fire department will let you and your family immolate when your dodgy wiring goes awry. They'll just hose down your neighbors houses to confine the consequences of your antisocial stupidity.

[@chrislj2890]

I subscribed to all three for decades. I wish I still had all of my copies to peruse now in my retirement.

[@MichaelEarnedIt-19]

Yes. I might not do the thing myself but if I had the funding and influence I’d be the guy that’d push for that stuff.

[@bigdarbysoundshack1421]

Drag week 2025 angle iron unlimited class

[@jelly7310]

Trailer burn outs and all. I'd watch that

[@mccanlessdesign]

&^$%&* Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Deuce1550]

But would it be faster than the Franklin?

[@_JamesBrown]

@Deuce1550 it's a reliability race at that point

[@Deuce1550]

@@_JamesBrown so true.

[@caseyj.1332]

Boy, if these had only caught on. Just imagine...the highways filled with go-carts instead of big gas guzzling Chevys and Fords. Four seaters even, and long bus type models.

[@mccanlessdesign]

Man, go-karts were such a great part of my '70s childhood - thanks for posting this!

[@RogerLynn-l3t]

Since we made our karts from 2x4s and plywood scraps, this sounds like a major upgrade! Another unbelivable project in one of the magazines was a backyard roller coaster. My friend got it just about finished when his mom discovered it. Gone in 60 seconds!

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Yeah, much earlier, before the Go Kart name was around, a local store here in NW Ohio made basically go carts... we called them Cooper's Cars... an out growth of wooden kids jeeps after WWII... I have a 1940 Popular Mechanix magazine with plans to build what would later be called a minibike, used electrical conduit, wheelbarrow wheels/tires, 2 1/2 HP Briggs before recoil starters, belt tightener, etc... about 1968 I scratch built a suspension minibike with Jawa 350cc motorcycle engine...

[@Mopar46]

Not a go-kart, but in 1970 I had a street legal car which was just a chassis with 2 bucket seats; no body at all [think 4 wheeled motorcycle] not so many regulations back then, and this was in New Zealand. Got stopped by the cops every time I drove it, but like I said, it conformed to all the requirements of the time. Fun times!!!

[@Uruz2012]

In the US, many states have very low requirements. If you've got brakes that work, heahlights, brake lights and turn signals; you're good to go!

[@RobertBohnen]

My dad built a surfboard type of rack for his 1960 Volkswagen Beetle, so we could take my go-cart out to El Mirage dry lake. Those were some good times!

[@johnwick-ii6il]

I built one that carried two people. It would come apart and fit in a car trunk. Assembly was 6 minutes. But this cart ran on railroad tracks. We traveled across the west riding on old abandoned OOS rail lines of Col, Mont. Ore. Wash. Idaho. Some mountain logging lines that let us go camping and fishing where few others would go.

[@mystic24100]

I don’t remember the exact year or the magazine. But I built a go cart and used a old lawn mower engine, B&S I am sure. I used the blueprints only for overall dimensions. The frame was steel pipes welded together, I also built one for a friend. We lived on a farm, so you could drive anywhere. What memories “those were the days”. I am now almost 80 and still playing with the welder and trying to make things.

[@baldeagle5297]

Don't stop tinkering, it's what keeps us young. I'm about ten years behind you and learning to work on my new/old 85 horse outboard and it's a blast. If all goes well, I'll have my pontoon boat back on the water next week. Cross your fingers.

[@donthompson2188]

My dad and our neighbor built a go cart back in the 60’s. It had a venerable 3.5hp Briggs & Stratton engine with centrifugal clutch, chain drive and, if you can believe it, hydraulic disc brakes. The chassis was made from welded 3” steel tube. It had rack and pinion steering with proper geometry. When I got to drive, it had chunks of 2x4 hose clamped to the pedals and the seat moved forward. Yes, it had an adjustable seat so all of us , including the adults, could drive it. Somewhere there is 8mm home movie footage of that cart ripping up the Oregon beaches. Fond memories for sure. And absolutely, we drove that sucker on the roads around Milwaukie.

[@brucemacduffee6969]

Where on the Oregon coast?

[@donsmanufactory]

@@brucemacduffee6969- I don’t remember exactly, I was pretty young. Now days motor vehicles are prohibited on most beaches.

[@Jreb1865]

3" steel tube chassis? Did it weigh as much as a real car?

[@stevethompson8171]

I still have my late 60's Bug Sprinter with a twin carbed Mc 91b engine in the garage. I also have an twin engine enduro that I built when I was 19 or 20, ran it at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the engine would max out about halfway down the dragstrip portion of the track at about 125MPH, whilst laying flat on your back 3/4 inches of the ground. The sprinter has been driven on local roads for testing and has been chased by an old lady with a broom for driving it past her house, too noisy. What a time!!

[@nancyschisler2940]

I have a set of these very plans. I had a similar factory built kart back in the mid sixties. Dad payed 15.00 for the kart. It was junk but it was my junk. It was the best learning tool one could ever have. The ratio of riding versus working was about two to one. Two Parts working and one part riding. I rode it on the street and just hoped the police didn’t catch me. Great fun!!!

[@whalley6044]

My father built one for my 7th birthday(1958). Didn't have lights, never licensed & not driven on public highway but was driven on private dirt lanes & all over our farm by myself & a couple neighbor kids. Good times!

[@deathwraithdeathwraith6106]

I would do that in a heartbeat.If as adults You are in any way shape or form still connected to Your Inner Child that answer should be as automatic as a reflex.If not one would automatically have to ask oneself,when did the labotomy happen...man up everyone.We're not getting out of here alive anyway..

[@DR_Neal_Rigger]

We were once a proper country..

[@hectorzambrano4092]

And now dominated by snowflake culture, and not just in the US either lmao.

[@Krunch2020]

Why did you F it up?

[@KickAss5671]

Oh boy, here come the cringe nostalgiafags

[@robertwildt7936]

About 1968, my high school buddy with his brother built a street-legal mini-bike. It was quite small, even for a mini-bike. It had a 50cc Benelli engine & 4-speed transmission. It would hit about 50 mph, which was scary on that thing. It had all the required lights and equipment and was tagged as a motorcycle. The brother rode it (once) from his house about 20 miles into downtown Cincinnati OH. He said he was pretty much terrified the whole way, especially on the 4-lane Columbia Parkway. it was just too small to be seen by most drivers.

[@Sleeperdude]

My son heard your voice on tv the other day while watching top fuel racing. He ran to me and said that’s that KZbin guy. 😂

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahahaha amazing!!

[@hansosl]

Oh hey ho the sleeperdudes

[@davidthomspson9771]

Building a go cart was the reason I got into welding and fabrication at 12 years old,now I'm 53 and been welding as a profession for 35 years

[@3cressidas]

I still drive karts on public roads to this day, if for no other reason than to do a shakedown run before heading to a race that can be hundreds of miles away. Mostly just up & down the block a few times, but once back in the early '90s, I had just finished some upgrades on a friend's 250 shifter kart, and it had to be tested. A block ot two in my neighborhood wouldn't do, since it was capable of 140 mph. So went to the upper edge of town (here in San Antonio), north of loop 1604 on Judson road, that only went up to a cement factory. Nothing else on that end of Judson, and on the weekend, it was absolutely deserted. About a mile of strait blacktop, which was good enough to get the kart into 6th gear. Everything checked out, and the following week my customer, the late John White, took it to Kansas, to run the SWRR Nationals, and won the championship !! We miss you John !

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Would I do it, no. But I'm glad there were guys that did. I wouldn't get on top of a rocket and land on the moon. However I'm glad there were a few guys with the right stuff to do it. Instead I'll work on the kart or maintain the rocket so those guys can keep doing daring/amazing things. I'm an aircraft mechanic/inspector by trade so hence my perspective. Good stuff Brian keep it up. Like button energized.

[@brianlohnes3079]

I’m with you 100% on this one!

[@OddJobFix]

The right stuff. Good one.

[@Nordic_Mechanic]

The kind of respect and common sense you show is exactly what built such a great country

[@patrickbass3542]

I'm 76 and I remember this!!!!! 2 guys toured Europe on go-karts!!!!!

[@buzzwaldron6195]

76 here as well... much earlier, before the Go Kart name was around, a local store here in NW Ohio made basically go carts... we called them Cooper's Cars... I have a 1940 Popular Mechanix magazine with plans to build what would later be called a minibike, used electrical conduit, wheelbarrow wheels/tires, 2 1/2 HP Briggs before recoil starters, belt tightener, etc... about 1968 I scratch built a suspension minibike with Jawa 350cc motorcycle engine...

[@quantumleap8888]

Its great to watch this very underrated channel growing! You put out some of the most entertaining and fascinating short Gear Head Documentaries Brian!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for watching and the support!

[@joshuagibson2520]

The bumper requirement is hilarious. Your head would be the bumper since thats the same height as an automobile bumper. I think it's awesome. In it's day, I would absolutely drive something like this on the roads. Here in extremely rural Morgan Co, Tn I would even do it today.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahahaah

[@speedfreak8200]

Not the bumpers, the headlights I believe

[@Mr39knuck]

In the 70s, I would get pulled over by the cops for riding my go kart on the street. I received several lectures that I did not have headlights bumpers or insurance.😢. In my head I’m thinking hey, of course I don’t have that stuff. I’m just a kid. 😂

[@joshuagibson2520]

@@Mr39knuck indeed. I was 6 years old in 1985 on my Honda 70 fourwheeler riding on the berm when a deputy got me. He lectured and insisted I had to stay behind the telephone poles about 10 feet off the road.

[@briankeenan4901]

My brother bought that cart from a neighborhood kid. His father built it. It was built for recreational use and not for highway. We used it in the neighborhood and had loads of fun. I'll never forget the seat on it. It was from a Chicago Transit authority bus, where the builder worked as he put it together. And NO, it never crossed our minds to take it on any streets.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Hmmmm. I have a really nice complete oldschool kart frame tucked up under my back porch. I just might have to do something with it now. This video is my sign.

[@brianlohnes3079]

I am not responsible for anything that happens from this point forward.

[@3cressidas]

Sell it to me! I'm down to only 2 karts, but have a couple dozen engines still...

[@joshuagibson2520]

@@3cressidas then you should sell me an engine for it! Lol. If you're anywhere near E. TN I'd probably come off the frame. Do some trading and such.

[@3cressidas]

@@joshuagibson2520 Since many of the early Mac engines came directly from chainsaws, and later ones were based on the same castings, and other brands of engines also evolved from 2-cycle engines off of lawnmowers, saws, portable water pumps, etc., and in the late '60s the European kart engines started hitting our shores, it would be difficult to suggest an engine even halfway period correct. Something too new would probably lead to frame failure, and anything too old would be a waste of rare old engines, many of which are getting really hard to find parts for. I would suggest going on line at one of the many kart forums, like Bob's 4-cycle Karting (don't worry, there are a lot of 2-cycle, and vintage kart people there), or any Vintage kart forum, and posting some pictures of what chassis you have, to I.D. it, then go from there. You also can search on eBay for vintage kart magazines, books, engines, and parts. McCulloch stopped selling kart engines when they were bought out about '68, and Yamaha started selling their engines about '78, if I remember correctly. Don't forget to search foe 'Vintage karts' here on KZbin.

[@kevinangus4848]

Absolutely zero chance of dust or bending! How many decades "young" is it? Now, you can justify the hip replacement. And lose your wedding ring, with the fingers.

[@WeazelJaguar]

I grew up on 1950's and 1960's Popular Mechanics! Best learning experience ever! I still buy d issues when they have build your own boat plans, on the cover and inside. I have never built one, but the dreaming is priceless!

[@johnstorace1967]

I have a copy of that issue !

[@speedfreak8200]

In the 70's I inherited my gramps collection from the 30's through mid 70's I don't remember seeing that one .... I'm gonna do some digging

[@austinknowlton1783]

Any way that you could send me the plans? I would like to build one.

[@CarsandCats]

Can you tell me about the "36 second workout"? I'm really pressed for time.

[@emanuelebulfon1595]

I should still have a scanned copy of that too ❤

[@JonesNate]

​@@emanuelebulfon1595If you can send me a copy, that'd be great!

[@brucemacduffee6969]

In 1962 I built a minibike The frame was 1/2 inch waterpipe brazed together using a homemade forge. I used the front fork assembly from a bicycle for the steering. It was powered by a Clinton A490 two-stroke engine. This was in Santa Cruz, California and it was street-legal. Back then all that was needed was brake lights.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

That 2 1/2 HP Clinton ran like the Clinton 6 1/2 HP kart engine once you removed the governor...

[@DukeCannon]

Absolute Mad-Man!!! Hats off to you good sir

[@thesquirrelchroniclesakare7808]

When I was 10 I got a Fox built go kart and man that thing was bad ass. All the kids played at my house ! Circa 1974

[@snapperboat25]

I had a kid go flying by my house the other day sitting on a folding lawn chair lashed to a hover board. That is the modern equivalent of this I believe. That kid totally would have built something like this back in the day. It was the best thing I have seen in ages.

[@HandDriven]

Hey Brian, I’m in A wheelchair and love karts. I’m going to build a street legal kart and drive across the country in this man’s honor. Thank you for the inspiration I’ve been trying to figure out what’s next in life.

[@mikepaul3959]

3 of us in high school ('65) added bicycle lights (with a generator that rubbed on a tire) & bigger engines to "Lil Indian" minibikes (about 18" tall & 30" long) to make them 60 mph+ street legal. My buddy rode his every day 20 miles each way to work and back. All 3 were used as daily drivers!

[@georgedennison3338]

If you didn't lived thru the era of magazines publishing how-tos on utilizing a angle iron go kart to become a "grease spot", it's hard to understand the '40's, '50's & '60'. I only caught the last 2 decades, but was heartily influenced by adults of the 1st two. In retrospect, the national trend of throwing caution to the wind & doing something purely for the hell of it, & the fun, is probably due to the number of young men lost in Europe, Africa & the South Pacific. The returning young men had a lot of living to do; they'd been through hell, in a time when men were stoic, solid & not prone to sharing feelings. They were living hard to forget what it's like to face death, day in, & day out & still be somewhat sane. If the war didn't kill them, how could a go kart, a 11 second in 1/4 mile dragster made of water pipe, or dirt track stock car or trying for 200 mph on The Salt? You owe your career & current profession to that nationwide craziness; I owe them for being in a generation along for the ride & learning a hell of a lot, in the process. It was just different; people rode in the back of pick ups, rode bicycles & motorcycles w/ no helmets. There were no decent respirators, eye protection or ear plugs. There was no collective consciousness about, or industrial catalog section of 'PPE'. I saw a similar mindset from the survivors of Vietnam, but the near death experience became drugs, in addition to, or instead of cars, bikes & go karts. As the end of the 20th century came, there was a collective growing up, a sensibility frowning on risk taking, 'for the hell of it' attitudes & to a large part, having fun, for the sake of fun. I suppose everyone grows up & becomes more sensible, eventually, the scars of war fade, as much as they can. Grandchildren become dear, future summers become fewer & dearer than summers past. But, I'm glad we had the the 3 decades of national craziness; I have a lot of fun to tell stories of, skills learned which fed my children & I still use, to this day. Without magazines w/ plans for highway legal go karts, we would likely not have the NHRA, Nascar, IMSA, & many of the acronym inflicted racing series. Hell, no, you wouldn't get me in the Interstate in that death trap; now... Hiway 99, or Route 66? Let's talk. GeoD

[@brianlohnes3079]

Exceptionally well said.

[@georgedennison3338]

@@brianlohnes3079 Thanks; from you, that's an exceptional compliment. It ranks right up there w/ an honor I received last week when it was said a story I shared was as well told as the story which inspired it, from THE storyteller, himself, Don Garlits. His was about a 1957 Stewart Warner balancing machine he still uses; mine was about a 1957 Electrolux vacuum, which we still use. (Begins like the archetype Corvette garage find story). A little old lady brought it into the Electrolux in 1990, where I was Service Mgr. She told me how much she'd loved it & it showed. Didn't even need to clean it up, just took it home & have used it every since w/ never a problem. Two great American companies making great American products. You old enough to remember the Electrolux's w/ round chrome slides, instead of wheels? I saw 5 of them in my time as Serv Mgr; everyone had a small dent on the top rear of the body. They were 'tushy marks' from little kids 'riding' on Mom's vacuum while she worked. They were just the right height for a 2-4 year old to push themselves w/ their little legs. (A couple of ladies teared up when I pointed them out on the vacuums they brought in.) Likely my earliest memory is 'riding' on our 'lux. Great story about the go kart. I heard one about jet dragsters not long ago, (next door neighbor used to tour a jet FC). Seems they found a chemical that'd make their exhaust colored, one 'blend' was a red/pink smoke, the other, blue. The crowds really liked it, so it became part of the show. That is, until they ran somewhere that the wind blew the smoke almost directly across the crowd. Every bleached blonde in the grandstand left the track w/ pink hair. They assured the women it would wash right out, hit the road & never used it, again. GeoD

[@johnbeck3270]

You said a lot, and I agree with you. The most famous, and feared motor cycle gangs was originally formed by a group of GI vets from WWII who get together to “ ride like hell and let off steam. That’s right the Hell’s Angels. Also we have become such a nanny state, we can’t have the kind of fun we used to. There was a lot we didn’t have to worry about, we took responsibility for our foolishness, if we got hurt, mom and dad stood the bill. They didn’t t try to sue AMF or Schwinn because we got hurt on one of their products, “being stupid”.

[@georgedennison3338]

@@johnbeck3270 I attribute the change to fear more than 'nanny state', I see a few laws here & there restricting the inane right to kill or maim oneself. I think it's more people have been inundated w/ fears about everything ftom the boogie man imigrants to soul sucking demons. (I saw a YT vid the other day where a woman was telling a story about a school pic photographer asking either poorly delivered, joking questions of the woman's son or was seriously a bubble off & should not be around chidren. The photog asked if she could eat the kid's soul, then another equally stupid question I can't recall, ending w/ What am I supposed to eat? It wasn't the photog's questions that got me, it was the sheer number of people in the comments reacting as if soul sucking demons are real! One comment nailed it, admonishing there are enough real things to be concerned about which can harm children, getting wound up over comic book characters is foolish.

[@WilliamSnelling-k9i]

Love this story. ❤😊 Fifty five years ago we didn't get a chance to build a go-cart. But we did make a motor bike from an old bicycle frame, a lawn mower engine and a pair of pump up scooter tyres and wheels. We had the best time of our lives.😄

[@DrEd-th2lu]

I built and completed mine. It was way too slow to hit any highway, but it was fun driving around the neighborhood in something I built with an old bed frame and roller skate wheel as a clutch. Thanks for the memories.

[@Cougracer67]

I built a similar kart in 1961 or 2 from a different magazine's plans. It was based on a two piece driveshaft from a '59 or so Chevy. The longer part of the shaft was the main frame tube and the shorter shaft was the front axle, with 5/8" bolts welded to the u-joints for spindles. The rest of the kart used various parts from old farm machinery. I never tried to register it, just buzzed around on local farm roads.

[@Turbo4Joe363]

My brother and I took our solid axle, solid tired, single brake, 5 HP B&S engined Go Cart and modded it with a Honda CB360 twin cylinder motorcycle engine along with its 6 speed transmission. Mounted a pistol grip shifter with a clutch handle to the right side of the frame. 1 forward/5 back. Good Gawd was that thing SCARY Fast!! 30 HP (IIRC) and a clutched 6 speed transmission. Hoooweee! We raced a neighbor's 5.0 foxbody Mustang and walked it! (up to well over 90 MPH.) He couldnt believe it, and he was pissed! LOL Two problems we had; 1: The engine would get too hot if driven for too long because our bodies blocked the airflow to the cylinder heads. 2: It would eat the woodruff key in the chain driven gear-to-rear axle. We replaced the key constantly. Luckily, we sold it before either of us got killed driving that wicked fast, VERY dangerous Go Cart!

[@Lakeman3211]

As a kid we built one out of steel fence post we found up in the woods…my buddy’s dad had a welder and he zapped it together it even had a cab… We did production testing as we went… Took it up on quite a hill, since we lived in a valley area, the hills were abundant….he lost control and hit a tree crippling the whole build…it was repaired, it turned into a forever build, scrounging for parts, it never did get the engine we wanted…but it did work!

[@jerrys9226]

Mind you this back when gas was about 20 cents a gallon. Glad these guys lived to talk about it, but would I do it? Hell no! Absolutely crazy! My brother and I loved Mechanix illustrated and Popular Science back in the late 50s and 1960s. There was a Go-cart craze back then, but on tracks only.

[@Xsiondu]

I'm old but not old enough to have read that article but! My uncle built one when he was a kid and using his notebook from highschool. we built an angle iron gocarts in the early 90s. Might not have been the same but he did tell me that he copied the place out of popular mechanics and it could be street legal if we really wanted to.

[@brianlohnes3079]

That sounds like this one!

[@greasemonkey060]

As a grown ass man, my middle school self loves this idea, and love being able to share this story with my own kiddos. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@doglegjake6788]

I used to love those magazines When I was growing up, we didn't have the internet that's all we had , And we learned a lot from it.

[@paradiselost9946]

would love to find more volumes of the book set? all i have is the first one, A-B... in fact, all i have ever SEEN is that same volume... from shooting an elephant with a bow and arrow (it WAS the 60s, after all...) to a little cox 020 powered hovercraft... AC for the car, or a burglar alarm on a piggy bank... lol... they were the days. some of the ideas are still pefectly valid in a home or workshop. the foot powered bellows for clearing the work on the drill press is far easier than turning teh compressor on and hunting down the blower, blah blah... iunno, our gokart, mid 90s... not sure WHAT it was? an old yard tractor with a diff up back, we threw a b&s 5HP on, no throttle, just a kill switch... we jumped fires, each other, got ran over countless times, nearly castrated when the seat got ripped off and i landed on the belt... that we never bothered putting a guard on, of course... so we all still have a few scars up the inside of our right calf... wearing trousers seemed as important as a guard at the time? well, i had the bright idea of tying half a barrel to the seat mount, that was a riot in itself... pulling each other around the paddock... until one day the bolts came out... oh my! of course, we had a school fun run/cross country the next day, for some reason i had actually gone to the effort of finding "sponsors"... sure was a "fun run", this rope burn all the way up my thigh, stopping an inch from the valuables... lol, came last. though i ALWAYS came last on the cross country, cant say i ever saw the need to actually RUN it! like to think that we were the last generation of "feral kids", that knew how to get dirty and fix things... or break them... then the N64 and xbox and playstation put an end to all that...

[@hank1556]

One time I took my 2001 Kawasaki KE100 on the interstate because the rout we were taking had a bridge out. Had that sucker wide open (55mph) for like 3 miles with 18 wheelers blasting by me. It was sketchy haha

[@martykath4427]

Locals and foreigners alike regularly take a big lap of Australia on "postie" Hondas . Most of them are 110cc and slow when loaded up.

[@Dukerdr]

I understand, I've worked on KE100s at the shop. And, I was an MP in Germany in the '70s. When we went out on the Autobahn in our Jeeps, we were taking our lives in our hands. They would only run 65mph, and had no seatbelts.

[@ericfredrickson5517]

Hey, I remembered that article!! I read this as a kid, at my grandmother's house; she had a collection of Popular Mechanics/Mechanix Illustrated magazines from the late 50's-early 60's. They had the most fascinating articles to read.

[@Pwl47]

Given all the giant pickup trucks on the road where I live even taking my MGB on the road is a cause for trepidation. A Go-Cart would be certain death. Maybe not so much in 1962 though, Traffic was lighter and highway speeds slower then now. I did build a go cart out of the plans from one of those magazines(can't remember which)that specified using electrical conduit for the frame. I brazed it together with a carbon arc torch at my high school metal shop.

[@61rampy65]

Cool! I built one out of conduit also! I had a Jacobson 2 stroke engine on it. Brakes were a paddle against one tire. Sold it to a kid, and his mother made me buy it back. Can't remember what happened to it after that.

[@paulhare662]

I had a car like that. A 1990 Ford Festiva. Loved that car.

[@petem6291]

The world was a different place in 1962. The only thing crazier would be an article on how to build a go kart with that crazy rocket engine style axle ..

[@brianlohnes3079]

Hahah great point!!

[@UberLummox]

There are rocket karts out there, just so ya know!

[@marcchaffee7751]

Yes I would , and have driven go karts on main roads . Although it does require some wiskey for courage .

[@pjnadeau4153]

Drag week 2016. Buddy’s Land Cruiser needs some parts. A phone call to Steve morris locates us some mopar parts for the Land Cruiser. Ok. Next step we get into my falcon and head from 131 into some suburb in Detroit. On the way to this parts warehouse we get some parts. They then sent us to an old school parts store, this place had wooden floors and nos model t kerosene headlights still on the shelf. As we pulled into the parking lot a guy, improperly wearing his tshirt, pulls out in front of us. But the kicker was he was driving a go cart. He pulls out. Stops then just pulls into traffic like it was nothing. The entire parts run was a trip. But a guy on a go cart just driving around some place near Detroit. Wild.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

Not crazier than my buddy who built a kart using the 130+ bhp. engine from a ZX-11. Now that's CRAZY!

[@paradiselost9946]

wheel spin... more wheel spin.. and a bit more wheelspin... then by the time it gets moving, the tyres have popped... yee hah!

[@txkflier]

My dad built a side-by-side go-kart while stationed in England during WWII. Jeeps were scarce and he wanted a vehicle that two aircraft mechanics could use on the flight line. It could also carry their toolbox. He would drive it to town or around the countryside. The kart went with him to airbases in France and Italy as the Allies closed in on Germany. The wheels were Spitfire tail wheels and the sprockets and chain came from a local motorcycle shop.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

And much earlier, before the Go Kart name was around, a local store here in NW Ohio made basically go carts... we called them Cooper's Cars... basically an out growth of wooden jeeps WWII vets made for their kids when got back home... ours used a 1930's MayTag gasoline washing machine engine... I have a 1940 Popular Mechanix magazine with plans to build what would later be called a minibike, used electrical conduit, wheelbarrow wheels/tires, 2 1/2 HP Briggs before recoil starters, belt tightener, etc... about 1968 I scratch built a suspension minibike with Jawa 350cc motorcycle engine...

[@battalion151R]

When I was around 10, my dad bought a used 1961 Isetta, that was actually a manufactured automobile that is barely above the sophistication of this cart. It did allow you to stay dry though. The Isetta would do an impressive 45 mph on flat ground. It had one door in the front and and was as aerodynamically designed as pushing a sheet of plywood vertically down the road. It was handy to park though. You pulled straight in to the curb and stepped out on the sidewalk. The whole front end was the door. The steering column had a knuckle in it to swing out of the way when the door was opened. It was powered by a 250 cc BMW motorcycle engine. If memory serves me, I think it was 13 hp. It was a 4 wheeled vehicle, but had no differential due to the rear tires being about 10" apart. Dad called our "Pregnant rollerskate."

[@albertwashingtonjr2089]

I have this edition! My uncle subscribed to PM and MI and saved all his mags. I have them now and wish they were still around. These were all great magazines.

[@mikebaker9574]

Great video Brian! To answer your question,I wouldn't feel safe driving it on a side street !

[@mdoyle1981]

I go to estate sales on occasion and once in a while you'll see an old project from the pages of a magazine. Usually it's a workbench or tool station but sometimes it's something more interesting. Definitely a different era and time.

[@stingray427man]

Gotta love the whitewalls on the tires. Touch of Class 👌

[@karlwolfenstein4496]

WOW!! I NEVER expected to see this "vehicle" again. My Uncle John built this very cart and used to drive it up and down Geddes street in Syracuse NY when I was a kid. We have several pictures of both him and my dad giggling like fools as they'd zoom up and down the street in this thing. I remember it was INSANELY Loud as I think the muffler was a straight pipe. Sadly, my Aunt was less than amused and made him get rid of it after a year or so as my Cousin was almost 15 and wanted to drive it to school, so it went away. Still, a fun memory.

[@halcollins4293]

As a kid I raced go karts in parking lots in the mid fifties. A friend’s Dad must have seen this article and licensed my friend’s kart. Later he added a ‘body’ much like a quarter midget only made of 1/2” hardware cloth to help protect him from rocks and such. We saw him around town several times- the first time was when he pulled into our driveway to show it off. All this happened after his employer made him stop driving dirt track cars because his position in the company was too critical. He later crashed a gyrocopter and broke his back!

[@caseyedds2032]

I think it is so dope that you actually have the literature that was originally mailed to your fam back in the day and that it still exist. ❤

[@tedecker3792]

Stan Mott’s trip was written about in Karting World magazine. Didn’t hear about this guy. He drove with Hile Silassie (sp) in Egypt I believe.

[@kevinangus4848]

I'd had subscriptions to both Mechanix Illustrated AND Popular Sci in the 60's and 70's. Carpets came on bamboo poles, and one had a hang glider called the Bamboo Butterfly. From "recycled"(new word alert!) bamboo carpet poles and plastic tarps. You literally hung from the armpits, like men's parallel bars, and pulled up your legs. It was mentioned as an excellent project for Scouts. (You get that First Aid badge today, too!) If any got built, no teenage boy would EVER be stupid enough to.... How many? 😂

[@dukesworld3020]

IIn a heartbeat, I built my first go-cart from parts found in a dump. At the age of 10, I enlisted a couple of friends to help. By the time I was 15, we had constructed three go-carts, numerous gas-powered bikes, and one souped-up car-a 1961 Ford Falcon. It had a 302 Boss engine, a four-speed transmission with a Hurst shifter, and a '70 Mustang rear end. I sold it two weeks later and took off on my Honda 750 Four motorcycle. Now at 67, I still long for those good old days.

[@burnatire4916]

I'm hesitant taking my '35 ford pickup out in traffic because nobody recognizes hand turn signals anymore. Great story as usual Brian!

[@johnhart125]

My grandpa had years of these books, we read them cover to cover every month. Great memory

[@stevecunningham2759]

The vehicle of my 12 year-old dreams! This was also era when a couple of area boys were killed on Cushman scooters. The Karts looked much safer to me for the highway. Now in my old age I would not take one into road traffic. Thanks for the memory!

[@mmgtl]

I remember those days of Freedom. building crazy stuff and have loads of fun taking risk for the thrill of it.

[@eric7413]

Yes I would try it once. I’m 54 now but back in 1985 I lived in a small rural community a lot of farm land I had a friend down sturgeon river rd. In upper Michigan just outside of Baraga where I went to high school, his father was a former military man that was a head member Pettybone (they made crane machines similar to lull but they had a couple giants and this was headquarters anyway his father taught us to weld and use a torch at a young age, as you were mentioning angle iron it the video it brought the memory back, we welded a bed frame we found in the dump together in a triangle added an axle to the back with 8 in mini bike tires, and the front end and tire was torched of a bicycle and welded to, we initially used the clutch and sprocket in the traditional setup. We were excited but thought there could more potential, so we decided to weld the larger back sprocket to the crankshaft of the engine and the smaller from the clutch to the rear lol. This cased one of us to ware ourselves out push starting the beast as where when it started who ever was driving had to pull up on the frame and lean while giving full throttle, this turned into a burn out for about 30 ft before accelerating, now I had a Harley 90 which doesn’t exist anymore because it was Italian made and Harley wanted to be all American well it had a speedometer, one day where we had another friend there he helped push start the machine while I was ready on the Harley 90 i took off ahead I was at top speed heading downhill clipping 65 when my friend past me like I was standing still had to be close to 90. We repeated this several times till his dad found out and we were made to scrap the cart, fun times many other crazy adventures lol. Absolutely love your casts Keep up the good work Brian sincerely Eric.

[@3cressidas]

By the way Brian, that guy that did the world tour on his kart did pass through Jordan, and King Hussein was so impressed with karts, that he built his own track, when many of the roads there weren't paved yet. He was a big fan of karting. I think that I've got a picture somewhere in an old book showing the King trying out that kart.

[@garymartin9806]

You never cease to amaze me great stories thanks so much

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks for watching, Gary!

[@PatDemitras]

Bicycle Heavan in Pgh has a go cart with a Maytag engine made from plans from Modern Mechanix mag 7:00 from 1937. It’s cool. Great content again, thanks!!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

That’s wild! Those Maytag engines are neat little units

[@FAA-DPE]

I've got two Maytag engines I built from a mix of old OEM and restored parts. Thanks for the idea of what to do with them!

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Having driven a go kart on back roads here in Tennessee I can say that I would NOT drive it in traffic. The original story of driving one across country and then in Europe is certainly inspiring.

[@nelson1220]

My dad had popular science and Mechanix illustrated for years. I remember this issue. I wanted to build this sooo bad, but being 12, out of my reach. Great memories.

[@elantric]

In Cupertino, California in 1965 the local Gemco store ( like a Costco) sold Bird Engineering Go Carts next to lawn mowers in the garden department with a 3.5HP Clinton engine - my friend owned one, where at age 10-14 we would drive it on paved open non fenced basketball /track playground at JFK Junior High across the street. 1965-1969.

[@davidhatton583]

You Are less than 50 aren’t u …. Probably 35. I’m sure a bunch of these were built… maybe not for the road. It was a different time. This was before seatbelts and head rests and safety bumpers. Childhood toys could burn or hurt you. Since I’m sure somewhere on the web you can still get go kart or scooter plans the fact that a mechanical build publication would print this surprises me not at all.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Seat Belts were offered as optional equipment by some mfrs in the mid 1950s. 'Go karts' were _very_ popular among kids of the 1960s. Few were from kits or premade, most of us built our own. My '56 Ford Ranch Wagon had the 'Lifeguard System' of belts and padded dash.

[@donaldsmith6826]

I'm 66 years old. I absolutely remember this issue. I was just a kid and always thought it was so cool. Try doing that now, yeah right!!

[@hrdlydangerous9675]

Would I drive that angle iron death trap on the highway? No. Would I drive a modern shifter kart on the highway? Yes. For one exit just to say I did.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Legitimately great take here.

[@WalterPidgeonsForge]

I have done that… in 1985 on a new section of highway .. 250cc Shifter Kart..

[@AntonHoward-mx9sb]

I'm 3 seconds in to this video, and I just know I'm going to love it. The research and presentation is always superb Brian 😉 P.S. I'm between jobs at the moment and now you've given me some blueprints to play with tomorrow...........

[@shafferjoe1962]

In some places yes, most place no. But what a cool idea and thrilling ride that guy had😊

[@vehdynam]

No, I am not insane. This is one wild story that maybe , just maybe , you could have gotten away with , back in the day. Many thanks for another interesting story.

[@LelandPratt-nw9ix]

Those were the days my friend! Mechanix Illustrated was for dreamers.

[@brianlohnes3079]

Good stuff!!!

[@jimjoe9945]

Now we have street legal ATV's. Only slightly less dangerous.

[@allahsnackbar9915]

very very much less dangerous

[@paradiselost9946]

@@allahsnackbar9915 no way. quad bikes, high CofG, sharp steering... their natural position is upside down on top of the operator. you ever actually put a kart through a hard 90 degree turn at full tilt? with your butt half an inch off the ground, they are almost impossible to flip...

[@PRH123]

Hmm, I don’t think they’re street legal, despite the fact they get ridden on the street

[@Sherman62]

@@PRH123 They are legal in my state and getting more common. Gotta have lights, mirrors, DOT tires and probably more. As I reached the main 2 lane road going to work one morning, a side by side passed, getting in front of my Camaro. Great, I thought, he'll be in my way for miles. He was not in the way AT ALL if you get my meaning.

[@PRH123]

@@Sherman62 interesting, do they have license plates and registration ?

[@TheOzthewiz]

I don't know if anybody from the '50s remembers the "King Midget" car that was often advertised in POP Mechanics and other magazines. It was really a "micro" car (street legal). One of these cars was given away on the "Price is Right" in the '50s by Bill Cullen who hosted the show back then.

[@pinkyellowblue007]

You should build this with Freiburger

[@brianlohnes3079]

He’s nominated as the driver!

[@tomstiel7576]

@@brianlohnes3079 but it has to do burnouts

[@stephenlea5765]

@@brianlohnes3079 Driving in sandals no doubt!

[@greggv8]

@@brianlohnes3079 build it per the magazine plans, then upgrade it. Give it suspension, a rear differential...

[@jimwetzel1635]

Great video! And, to answer your closing question: that's a big negatory, good buddy!

[@mikecurtis2585]

A definite no on driving in today's traffic. People are to distracted these days. Even in those days he was a brave man. I always loved reading those magazines. Always interesting! Thanks great story. Have a wonderful day!!!

[@brianlohnes3079]

Thanks Mike!

[@Bajahaha70]

I would run it on the back roads not the interstate. I don’t know where you find this stuff but I’m sure glad you do!😊 just please keep em coming haven’t seen a bad one yet!

[@kenmericle409]

Back in the day a buddy of mine had a shifter racing cart. Nothing like a Saturday night after a couple Adult beverages firing that thing up and tearing through the neighborhood at 80-90 MPH... The good ol' days

[@sailordude2094]

Tom T Hall approves.

[@speedfreak8200]

What engine did it have, and what gearing? Did it have a speedo ?

[@stephenlea5765]

A buddy of mine got nasty scars on his shins when he lost control of his too fast go-cart and drove it up under the backend of a Chevy truck!

[@djb1634]

5:23 “internal expanding type” I love learning the different names for things through time. It’s honestly a better name than drum brakes.

[@pudnbug]

Stan Mott was responsible for the Cyclops, a mythical 'race car' that resembled a mailbox perched on top of go-kart wheels. I helped build one back in about 1964, and I did drive it on the street (but not a highway). Powered by two McCullough engines, it did about 64 mph in the quarter mile.

[@johanslabbert2869]

I still have a scar on my left hand from crashing a dodgy home made go cart at full speed into a fence when I was about 15. Naturally at the time I was not in the least phased by this. I fixed the cart and was driving it again the very same day 😂 However by far the most dangerous thing I’ve done on 4 wheels was when my friend and I figured out that towing a wooden box cart behind a pickup truck was so much more fun than simply letting it roll downhill. We were around 13 or 14 at the time so of course felt invincible, but in reality it’s probably a miracle that we didn’t die because there were plenty of spectacular accidents 😝 But yeah taking a cart into traffic is stupid, obviously.

[@kellyriffle4750]

Dude,my father collected dozens of old Mechanics Illustrated magazines from the late 40s up. I have this exact copy!

[@bobroberts2371]

Another idea for a story: Look up the Breezy Aircraft. Charles Roloff, Carl Unger, and Bob Liposky Prior to building the Breezy, one of these guys bought an airplane when he was 12, had it land in a near by field, took the wings off and taxied it on the country roads.

[@jhonsiders6077]

My father built one !!! And a couple of Pitts specials along with a auto gyro He was a aircraft engineer with the old Eastern airlines . he built my Gokart out of moly tubing

[@kevinkelly7348]

You Mr. Lohnes are the reason nobody watches network t.v. anymore, that was fascinating, thanks!

[@mikepaul3959]

I build a go-kart using a Cushman scooter motor and transmission. With the right gearing it would outrun my friends '54 6 cyl. Chevy!