The World's Fastest Go Kart Racing

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If we were to list the scariest forms of motorsport, this would be very near the top of my list.
I’ve driven a fair few very scary cars. Formula 1 cars, Classic Sports Cars with very simple suspension and some very fun hill climb cars.
But this Drag Racing series takes the cake, they are called Drag Karts and can beat pretty much anything that would come off a production line. They’ve got 450 horsepower and only weigh 250 kg - yep that’s a power to weight ratio of 1800 horsepower per tonne.
But perhaps the scarier thing is that it’s all attached to a custom-made home-built chassis.
So let me take you through the insane engineering behind Drag Karts, and explain just how fast these things are.
---
Now, I feel we need some context here. For me, a scary car is something that is hard to predict - or where things can go wrong faster than you can save them.
And for me, the scariest car I’ve driven is the 1992 Benetton Formula 1 car - this thing had 680 horsepower and only weighed 505 kg. This comes out at 1340 horsepower per tonne, which is pretty much identical to today’s F1 cars.
But what made it scary was how (relatively) simple the suspension was. It had fairly conventional pushrod suspension, which compared to today’s systems, was very unrefined.
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This is Scott Cooper, and his CBR 1000 Drag Kart - and we spoke to him to see what on earth he was thinking when he built this from scratch - then races it at speed of up to 185 miles per hour.
It started life as a standard kart chassis, most likely intended for speeds of about 40 or 50 miles per hour. It’s been chopped in two, meaning only the front section remains - behind that, the kart is fully bespoke.
And it’s custom-made in order to fit a CBR 1000 engine to it - and this comes from the top-of-the-line sports bike from Honda.
It’s an inline four-cylinder that revs to well over 12’000 rpm, which is more than enough to make that bike a handful. But Scott has added a massive twin-screw supercharger.
But that’s not all, he also runs it on pure methanol. Which as a fuel, actually contains less energy per gallon - however, you can burn much more of it per stroke as it needs less air and ultimately produces as much as 60% more power than if it were run on petrol.
And all of that means the engine produces around 450 horsepower.
[Have you ever taken it to full throttle? No - you barely get past half]
These high-powered bike engines are perfect for these karts, they produce a lot of power for something so small and light. As well as coming with a pneumatic-sequential gearbox that can shift in 20 milliseconds - pretty similar to any high-end rally car.
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#DragRacing #Engineering #DragKarts

[@marcodicaprio1543]

Scott: "The F1 car must carry a lot of weight due to impact protection" Drag Kart: "We don't do that here"

[@callmeshaggy5166]

Well yeah if you crash at 180mph in F1 you probably have some bruises, not get your once-intact body distributed over 1000 square feet

[@artnull13]

Well they could save 50 kilos if they used a kid

[@geoffreyanderson2285]

This is definitely in the category of: "What the heck were they thinking?" Truly amazing.

[@Tater1911]

With the absolute insane power to weight, acceleration, speed, and almost no driver protection...I think his helmet is wearing him for safety

[@chrisbraid2907]

I’m guessing that he just wears the helmet because it holds his visor in the right place and muffles the exhaust noises …

[@brandonhoffman4712]

I'm starting to think both of you are talking about my Valentine's Day underwear!

[@daveninja3317]

@@brandonhoffman4712 😆

[@andreashabeck1155]

'cause top fuel was too safe

[@froz3ntree40]

The underrated comment I was looking for

[@zygbeee8563]

having more than 15% sutvival chance would be too much

[@JLCraig58]

😂😂😂😂

[@jamesbizs]

Top fuel actually is VERY safe . One of the safest motorsports. In the past almost 4 decades of nhra racing, you can literally count the deaths on your fingers.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

@@jamesbizs This sounds eerily similar to NASA before that schoolteacher blew up. The one where everyone jokes about her eyes being blue, because one blew this way, and one blew that way...

[@MakeSomething]

I race go karts on dirt ovals with a top speed in the 40s MPH. That's fast enough me. Yikes to this!

[@racerstar7]

same but at like 60

[@FairladyS130]

Love to do that but no facilities anywhere near me.

[@anhuman7022]

@@FairladyS130 same, and there is covid

[@bdc96]

Lol I do 125 shifters and it’s insane

[@michaelpaulos420]

@@bdc96 I did that too. Tony Kart- Pavassi 125 open shifter

[@thirdwheel1985au]

I love how he's got his electronics in an air tight food container. DIY done right.

[@XBullitt16X]

right ? xD

[@LtNduati]

This makes Group B in the 1980s look safer than a road car

[@simonz5905]

technically, group B are road cars Just the most unsafe legally possible at the time

[@brandonhoffman4712]

​@@simonz5905 depends on your term legally in conjunction with road car, because they wouldn't exactly be legal to drive on any road... unless said government was paid off by said governing body of said race and assurances were made with insurance and what not anyway.

[@xuser48]

@@brandonhoffman4712 - Actually Group B cars were road legal.

[@yvan2218]

Please add metric conversions in at the very least subtitle form for any and all numbers if theyre in imperial. It really helps the people who dont use imperial numbers on a daily basis. Thanks :)

[@vilmerhasselblad4866]

Which is the rest of the world...

[@Hempujonsito]

>he can't do conversions on the fly lmao

[@pranavps851]

@@DrDeuteron Ok

[@crashmaster0]

@@Hempujonsito he (or the editor) can add them while editing tho...

[@hobinrood710]

You should still learn though. 1.609 k is 1 mile. Do the math. I have to with metric all the time. And I'm in California. If my dumbass can do it. You can do nepzd.

[@floribethenterprise.2686]

Investing is buying yourself a better future you don't have to work hard again.

[@deandonald2761]

You can say that again.

[@deandonald2761]

I have achieved many things in my life since I started investing.

[@jamesonbilton2363]

Speaking of investment what kind of would you two motivational speakers suggest to your audience?😊

[@deandonald2761]

@@jamesonbilton2363 Anyways, I'm into real estate investing. 😊

[@leonardwonderman3854]

Real estate investment lets people grow their net worth by amassing more and more properties. It is a good long term investment due to appreciation.

[@randomdude8877]

185 mph - 297 kmh

[@MrElpajita]

Show people how you do that. Multiply the miles by 1.6 Or divide the KM by 1.6

[@drewp.weiner2473]

Get your communist kilometers outa here

[@SFH_Jenkins]

@@drewp.weiner2473 No, we are all communists here. Now be quiet

[@aimanfaris9100]

Thanks a lot

[@randomdude8877]

@@drewp.weiner2473 The meter as we know it was invented by france after the revolution btw. "The French originated the meter in the 1790s as one/ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the north pole along a meridian through Paris. It is realistically represented by the distance between two marks on an iron bar kept in Paris." You should educate yourself, silly human.

[@Dispariabooks]

The insane stats on this thing mean that if you have a big poo before you're run you might save .10 seconds. Fun fact: If you haven't had your morning out, a run in this thing will guarantee you do (probably during the run itself).

[@brandonhoffman4712]

Not to mention if you try to have your morning in, this thing will probable start itself in the garage and make you shit yourself from 200 feet away through 4 walls.

[@kerrykelaher2607]

"Senna always " had a shit beforehand !" Laugh 😃 😀 😄 😁 🤣

[@tightbudz]

"Things can go bad at any time..." "Sometimes before he even gets in the driver seat!😂😂😂"

[@808bigisland]

Really nice! Built my Cobra this way. 2` clearance, moved engine as low and as far back as possible. Screens and no windshield. Manual brakes, 900kg/500hp iron SBC on Tremec, straight axle, panhard, 2 swaybars, fully adjustable coilovers and biggest tires possible on rear axle. This superfast haleakala carver did 9 sec 1/4 m. Was probably the fastest Maui cruiser on our wet streets till somebody showed up with a 1300hp 911.

[@hypnotourist]

This is seriously mad. I'm glad your channels are growing ! Your team is doing a great job.

[@GaryBickford]

This reminds me of the snowmobile drags they do in the snowy mountains. Last time I saw was in 2000 near crescent lake Oregon. These machines race in just 1/8 mile and hit over 100 mph. One that was there when I saw was basically just the track, with 1.5 inch steel vanes for traction on the belt, and a platform on top that the driver lay down on. Oh, and simple skis for steering. These machines throw a rooster tail of snow like a drag boat.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

Now convert that belt into a belt driven drag slick, make the thing rear steering, and toss it on the street! MAMA I NEED HEEEEELP!

[@XBullitt16X]

I love modern bike engines, they're so awesome for their size, they're basically mini race engines. They're fantastic for power to weight purposes, in light chassis.

[@bobw222]

"...your legs are the crumple zone." Yup... sign me up. I've only got a few more years left to live anyway.

[@timothywachowicz8308]

Nice work Scott! Interesting & crazy lol! How about doing a spot on SUPERCART? Those guys are nuts flying around a track at 240+ Kph with no crash protection. Thank You for sharing Your passion!

[@Nikoxion]

I was honestly expecting a video about Super karts, but this one takes the cake.

[@brandonhoffman4712]

Makes me think of that term, there is always a bigger fish. (As I look over my shoulder on dry land...) you never know after this video!

[@gavalanche5327]

I'm not really a huge petrol head, very casual F1 fan at best, but this is honestly the best channel on KZbin. Absolutely fascinating content 👏

[@sandorflorea4679]

This makes group B rally look like child's play. These dudes got some serious balls.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Kind of like Jr Dragsters, but with no rules. My friend growing up was almost killed in a go cart with 5 hp. So I prefer the single cylinder ones, still plenty of fun.

[@heikos4264]

Kart with a K. A Cart is something different 😉

[@joshuarosen6242]

The scariest thing about this is the welding on that chassis. It looks like my dog did it.

[@karelpgbr]

I want to see one of these on This vs That!

[@Peasmouldia]

I was at Brands the day you took the Indy circuit record in the Benny/Judd. We were standing by Paddock Hill bend. I thought my stopwatch was playing up at first.... Ta.

[@schwarzerune3125]

Really love the shaking ground in the top Fuel slowmo. So that's some real top Fuel thunder. The worst thing you can do is to drink a whole beer before standing next to two accelerating top fuel cars.... You can burp like a deer.

[@mx_nana_banana]

Most of the weight comes from the massive spheres these guys are carrying around

[@vech400]

The tyres aren’t bolted to the rim, they are clamped to the rim. The bolts on the beadlock don’t go through the tyre to physically bolt it on. The beadlock ring clamps the bead of the tyre.

[@mypinis]

Typical top tier video from driver 61.

[@rubenssz]

Please, metric system! Love the channel

[@pranavps851]

@@DrDeuteron why don't you teach

[@SFH_Jenkins]

Ah come on, it's just multiplying by 1.6!

[@leviking9625]

Would be cool to see you do some videos on rally cars and stadium trucks

[@obogz]

I'm curios on your take on handling gokarts and karting in general. Maybe you and the team go head to head on a gokart track :D

[@thegator589]

I never got the whole “too much power to handle” thing... like if you can’t ever give it more than half throttle why don’t you take the supercharger off to make it lighter and give it full throttle and go even FASTER?

[@jonlawrence6338]

And if it does hook up it bends the axle. Big power is only good if you can get it to the ground and not break things…

[@Skippy-id9yt]

I agree Its bloody pointless , other than bragging rights ,its a novelty toy

[@SosopChabot]

Exactly! Or put wider tires??? Do something…

[@M4TTFPV]

07:07 the Tupperware 🤣🤣🤣

[@HXXIIA]

Wow, I love speed and the idea of climbing into real race cars...not this one. Very cool but what a death trap

[@toddsmith8608]

Yeah, I'll pass on the drag kart, thank you.

[@DocWolph]

"Witness ME! On my way to Valhalla! ALL SHINY AND CHROME!"

[@pitchblack9995]

I race nationally in Canada for the RFKC hitting 110kmh and even this looks terrifying to me....still would try it though.

[@callmeshaggy5166]

These are basically Indycars without bodies and a smaller engine & chassis.

[@xstonecoldkillerx]

New driver 61 video = "when I drove an F1 car...."

[@TestingPyros]

Wow.... That's POWER!!!!

[@jeremiahschaefer9771]

I get anxious just watching this video. BB in the house

[@paullevine1813]

I raced for 15 years with Woodbridge Kart Club & WKA ( World Karting Assoc.) in what's termed Enduro or Laydown Karts which are run on all road course events. With up to 45 Karts on track & speeds from 100 to 140 MPH depending on the class these are fast . To me this is more just small drag racers & fast in a straight line is way different from having to turn right ,left uphill downhill & drafting all about an inch off the ground plus all your competitors. . Good clip here but I'll take what i did over this any day . Never seen Enduro Karts before take a peek here , these are the B Stock class which run twin 100cc engines which used to be 135 cc engines . The fastest class next to the Super Karts which have 250 cc water-cooled bike engines & six speed gearboxes, in Europe they have been clocked at 175 MPH . Here in the States they can hit 140 on some tracks & a bit more at say Daytona where they run the oval & road course during the race. No suspension ,no seatbelt. Our races were 45 minutes in length & i raced several great tracks like VIR , Daytona, Charlotte , Road Atlanta , Road America & our home track in WVA, Summit Point Raceway. This may be fast as hell but it sure doesn't look like as much fun as running with 45 -50 of your friends . We always had all safety regs in place, corner workers & ambulance service & yes some have lost their lives but as we all know the risk we do or did it for the comradery & pure fun . This clip is a part of a race at Daytona with the B Stock Twin engine Enduro Karts. Now this is racing that anyone that wants to try can do without breaking the bank. All Kart clubs such as WKA & WKC make you start at the entry level & you need a road racing license provided by the Kart club to race the top level Karts. Very smart thinking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZXHhWaalsyCpKc Best bang for the buck !!!! A bit more if anyone is interested. kzbin.info/www/bejne/an-yeoNmhLJ7obc

[@tetraktys6540]

"Home built" "insane" No joke... Some of those welds are scary bad! Even for something not load bearing!

[@edwardfrisby4868]

ive been to santa pod and seen that kart in person its even more impressive than it seems on video

[@sls12III]

The definition of a Formula 1 junior driver.

[@jiveturkey9993]

Those things are cool

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

You haven't lived until you've modified a four man bobsled with an LS Chevrolet engine and wheels and bombed down the ice track. Let us know how that works out. 😃

[@BananJumper]

Would love to see video from you explaining the performace dip on inter tires like it happened yesterday.

[@bas7905]

All that for a superlight powerfull dragkart but then they put a fat guy in it. Never ceases to amaze me.

[@DrCrunkMusic]

This is bonkers... To be fair top group super gp 250 karts are pretty insane, 130mph plus and they go round corners 😉

[@jeremiahschaefer9771]

This is on my bucket list to do.... Right after sky diving without a parachute

[@thatmonsterkartdragracingc5666]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep3Fq6B7nJiIpK8

[@sqwatchman53]

Check out nostalgia fuel altered racing… 3000 hp in a car with crazy short wheel base… the limiting factor is keeping the car straight.

[@86billionneurons]

Should make a shopping kart version so we can shop quicker. 😆

[@bjoe385]

That’s a crazy power to weight ratio, it’s like a Lamborghini Aventador with over 2800 horsepower.

[@Airwreckgaming]

Hello to Carwow, today we have...

[@sarethums]

Yay I went to santapod last month. It was amazing.

[@forza218]

It takes a special breed of person with very big plums to race a kart like this. Growing up in Florida, there was a gentleman who had built a cart that could run 163 mph around Daytona. These drivers, I believe, are missing a few screws to do this. Great video, Scott. You should do a video with Callum driving that Kart😜

[@AmaroqStarwind]

Should probably slap a freewheel on that thing. And probably switch from an Inline 4 to an Inline 6. Using Magnesium AE81 alloy would also help save a lot of weight compared to a normal steel frame.

[@egroegcimorg]

The tupperware 2 step says everything about this kart

[@MrFlyingPanda]

the welds!! 😱

[@pylt93]

No one can let Richard Hammond near those things

[@kristoferperrin2694]

Anyone else get 6 wheel f1 car vibes from the front ?

[@vmann-jd5yw]

OK you got my subscription with this one

[@Johndeer325]

I’m building a shifter Kart at the moment with a Yamaha R6 engine 😭

[@-crazycat]

any updates on it?

[@diotough]

I'm not sure "bravery" is the right word. "Lunacy" or "madness" rather come to my mind ...

[@DeltaDS]

Superkarts are mental too imagine these, but about 80% and able to go around corners

[@tomnewham1269]

Hi Scott. I think you need to do a video on speedway cars as those things have a power to weight ratio better than a F1 car.

[@alancollard8939]

it isnt the worlds fastest , it probably is the worlds fastest engine driven kart capt jack mclure regularly runs over 225 mph and has been since the sixties he is now 91 and still driving this last of the line of rocket karts he has made

[@JifeLacket]

I was waiting for you to drive it!

[@RbNetEngr]

That’s totally insane!

[@kryptokoning3536]

“Bravery” nice synonym for “b*lls” 😂

[@jollesracing517]

He should add some wings and take it flying

[@torfossberg1137]

Add another set of wheels at the back, and boom, traction sorted

[@terryturner5360]

Most of my life I've riden big bikes with worked engines. Things that will do easy 10 second quarter mile,as long as I get traction off the line. I drove karts as a kid and would totally have a go at one of these in a heartbeat. There ain't no cages on a street bike 👍👍😁😁

[@TigerDude333]

Bike racers: "lol, it still has 4 wheels and doesn't fall over by itself."

[@oncameramastery]

Great vid, that thing is a monster!

[@cinegraphics]

Shopping malls: Watch and learn. This is how a shopping cart should look like.

[@xavier3653]

“Runs on pure METHenol”

[@Ben-go1iq]

So that thing has the same 1/4 mile time as the 2017 Ferrari F1 , simply lovely

[@xeroxasaurus9883]

This is such a cool video

[@brandonhoffman4712]

IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE! So panic inducing, you can only laugh at the insanity! Then appreciate it, because we are all stuck to the same rock moving 500,000 mph.

[@focusgreg4136]

Sensational build 😎

[@uoweme5grand]

Oh man can you imagine crashing in that thing lol. It would be like being flung into a wall with just a helmet.

[@beyourown2733]

that's power amazing

[@nameinvalid69]

funny the frame is strong enough to carry the weight of the driver's ball 😂

[@jackmclane1826]

An absolute Madman! ^^

[@Jajeweet]

Would love to see a video about superkarts too!

[@Ocgt]

At this point, we need to be able to define what an actual “go kart” is and obviously needs different classes

[@Termuellinator]

I think you forgot to link the drag sled video. But these carts definitely are among the most crazy forms of motorsport, for sure ^^

[@rmp5s]

0:51 - "...homebuilt chassis." Those welds...yikes. 😆

[@freakinccdevilleiv380]

PVC pipe is a really versatile material..

[@jamesengland7461]

This cart could probably fit in a Tesla Model S Plaid with the seats folded down.

[@ralphlazio505]

My legs as a ‘safety cage’??? Yeah; nah…

[@oikkuoek]

If he'd use BMW boxer or the K series engine, he'd have the benefit of a diff, and therefore building a working rear suspension would shave off seconds from the ET. To get the most out of the super charger, 1500cc Goldwing platform is the strongest starting point.

[@Hellsslave666]

If he wanted more Power, Hayabusa or ZX14R would be the way to go. The fastest Drag bikes use those engines with over 700HP in some cases and run 6.5s on the quarter mile. Both the BMW and Goldwing engine are not made for sportsbikes and therefore not optimised for high power.

[@oikkuoek]

@@Hellsslave666 ZX14R does make a hefty number on peak power, but BMW K series and 6-cylinder Goldwing create a ton of torgue. Also these engines have the trans axle and diff, so the rear end is possible to have a suspension, unlike in chain driven setup. This creates more grip, heaps better 60-foot times, and overall better ET. BMW and GW aren't sport bike engines, but to get ZX14R to 6.5 ET isn't stock either. Same mods apply to other engines also.

[@duderama6750]

The world's fastest go kart is whichever one I'm driving. Brilliant is like my middle name.

[@CosmicSeeker69]

2:19 - don't forget your lunch box

[@OMarcelo12]

I race Karts that get to 65mph top speed and is already quite scary, it is enough for now 😂

[@wiesnervlogs]

I love it!

[@GunBChevyNUT83]

Looks fun, but 9sec is kinda slow for that kind of power. If you could get the 60ft times down it should be in the 7s to low 8s with that kind of power

[@Adrian_Nel]

Bravery or crazyry? R E S P E C T.