One of the upcoming projects I’ll be profiling here on Barn Finds is a vintage go-kart I’ve picked up in the last few months. This is a new fascination for me, along with that of 80s-era motorcycles, as I’ve run out of space to stash more vehicles that don’t run. This no name kart is fresh from an estate sale, but I’m willing to bet one of you can prove its identity. Whatever it is, it’s oozing period cool and looks like a fun restoration project for you and the kids (or just you). Find it here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $1,400 or the option to make a best offer.
I mention the kiddos because that was the only way I could sell my spouse on why I, an adult male, needed a full-size go-kart to rip around the neighborhood in. I have no good answer for that, other than my infant daughter could “someday” use it. This example has all the hallmarks of being someone’s track toy, from the racing bucket to the cut-off switch on the steering wheel. There’s no engine at present, but that’s OK – there’s a world of hop-up parts available for a cart like this.
As far as its identity is concerned, I’m not sure if this sticker is a clue. There’s a company on the interwebs called Rose Hill Enterprises that deals in go-kart clothing and equipment, so it seems like there’s a possible connection. Or, someone simply slapped a bumper sticker from a familiar vendor of the era and it has no bearing on determining the original builder of the kart body. Do any of our readers have any clue which company made it, or how it was likely originally powered?
Whatever the background is, this kart certainly has some history. The period racing wheels are a tell, too, in regards to a committed owner that likely made regular appearances at competitive carting events. The “Engine by Randy Hare” doesn’t yield much on Google, but perhaps one of you recognizes the name. The asking price seems fairly high to me, especially with the engine gone and the seller admitting to cracking the cowl while moving it; a best offer of under $800 should easily take this home, in my opinion.
Kart chassis technology took a leap a couple of decades ago, and has seen a fairly slow evolution since. Something like this is ok if you want to compete in vintage kart shows or competitions. But if someone wants to rip around a track, whether for exercise/fun or race more often, then a chassis as recent as the budget would allow is recommended.
As far as running around a neighborhood, if you can get away with that where you live, keep the horsepower down to about 5. Track karts engines can put out as much as 50, and even the 15-18 HP variants will push past 60 mph in a city block. DANGER, Will Robinson!
Had a place in indy area called comet cart sales, this setup to me maybe a mac 90 engine, this things would move ,i had one in 1974, it would prob exceed 80 plus mph, whole lotta fun,!!!
It looks like it might actually date back to the last half of the 1970s to me. The engine would probably have been a 2-stroke reed-valve engine with a centrifugal clutch. Engine capacity was usually somewhere between 90cc-125cc. On the flat with the larger engine, these could top out at around 90mph, which is pretty scary when you’re that close to the ground.
I was testing one (first time in a cart) when I was 12-years-old. I was flat-out halfway down the straight at the track when the chain flipped, wrapped around the axle, and locked it solid. Doing a handbrake turn at that speed when you’re that age certainly gets your attention. They put on a new chain and I was straight back out there. Word of warning if you buy it, they’re very addictive.
Go-karts are great fun, if you have a place to ride them, that is. Chain saw motors used to be the standard motor, but today, I’m sure there are much better choices. I believe the name is Hake, not Hare, and those brothers probably went on to F1. Hey, don’t laugh, many drivers today got their start on machines just like this. One of the coolest BF’s yet, and sadly, probably the most affordable for most of us.
LS swap?
If this sells for the BIN the seller is going to put $1375 profit in there pocket. You would have to have some seat time in this for that kind of coin. Not sure I would fit behind the wheel, but I know I would need help getting out, LOL.
I’ve often thought about buying/building a vintage go-kart, but being old and arthritic I now find that getting in and out of one a bit difficult… ;-)
Hey Beatnik.
Assuming that’s you in the kart, your folks had a ’59 Lincoln or did you just pull up and have your Brownie shot in front of that house?
As for getting in n out of the kart, I guess you haven’t heard Joe Namath or Johnny Bench pushing ‘Blue Emu’. Apparently you rub the bird all over you and the viscosity in your joints is magically renewed! :)
I think Rupp made a go-cart….somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind a Rupp go cart sits next to a mini bike.
We had a Yazoo go-kart many years ago. It was powered by a Clinton 3.5 hp engine and had all the get-up and go my brother and I needed for the time. But there were some out there who felt they needed more power. My friend, Marty was such an individual and he found what he was looking for in a military surplus store. http://gearheadsncoffeestains.blogspot.com/2012/08/rocket-man.html
Great story, fun to read!
Thanks.
In the 50s my dad used to be the go-to guy for modifying go-kart engines. There was one track about 30 miles from us: dirt with about a 30 degree banking, no fences. He was modifying and installing twin McCullouch or Homelite engines on these karts driven by adult juveniles. One of the karts belonged to the father of a fellow I eventually worked with. One Sunday afternoon the dad was leading the race by a serious margin when he shot up and over the side of the track in the middle of a turn. If he made it past the trees there was a swamp waiting. The crowd was hushed. About 5 minutes later a bedraggled driver staggered up the hill and onto the track carrying his steering wheel ,looking for his son, who was cowering near the hot dog wagon. Dad saw son, went for him and before anybody could stop him started flailing his son with his empty hand, hollering “Did I tell you NOT to use a nail to hold the XXXX steering wheel on??? DID I????.” His son and I can still laugh about it, fortunately.
Older racing karts – here at least – used Villiers engines. Direct drive from the crank to the axle for wee engines (100cc these days); gearbox for the 125s and 250s. As previously mentioned, very addictive! I’ve also had a go of one fitted with an air-cooled CR500 engine. What a hoot…!
Back in the 70’s, living in an apartment at the time I found a go-kart frame which I bought. I then located a McCullough Racing engine and all the bits and pieces to put the kart back together. Naïve that I was I didn’t realize all the things needed to run it, like a 2d engine on a frame to spin the racing engine fast enough to start it. Ultimately I made friends with some guys that ran them who helped my figure mine out. They ran their carts on the Chrysler assembly plant parking lot on Sundays (didn’t get run off for some reason) and it was incredible to watch some of them tear up the ‘track’. Couple of the twin engine rigs could hit over 100 mph on the straightaways based on one guy having access to a radar gun like the police used. Mine never got that fast but it was quite a thrill running as fast as it did with you butt sitting 2″-3″ off the pavement. I even saw one that the guy had rigged around a 250 cc motorcycle engine and tranny to it. Strange looking bird but it sure moved.
Ended up selling it when I finally bought my house, which wasn’t a big deal cause I’d moved and didn’t have anywhere I could run it at the time.
Note on the one above, looks like it has different sized front tires for some reason. Personally I wouldn’t pay any where near the asking price, it’s going to cost enough to get it running again and unless you’re really into Karts plus fit in the frame, think it will soon be sitting.
Had a kart just like this one. 125cc shifter kart. It was fun but was hell on your back if the track was rough. $250.00 tops should be the asking price for this, it wouldn’t get his price running.
It’s a Margay kart. Go here:
https://www.margay.com/vintage.html
http://vintagekartclubofamerica.com/
I bought my son a margay panther x from the 70s complete with live axel,brake
,3 piece wheels and full steering for $160 cad
Threw on a power fist 200cc motor 7hp and a centrifugal clutch. All in under 300 bucks!
He already needs new rear tires!
This guys in dreamland
This is a 150 dollar kart frame with missing pieces. This guy is nuts.
My friend got a hold of one those short six wheeled atv things hunters seem to like. Original power was via a 8hp Kohler industrial engine. Using our teenage ingenuity and common sense, the Kohler was soon replaced with a Rupp 440 nitro snowmobile engine. It wheelie’d, pitch poled, and flipped within 100 feet of it’s maiden voyage. We loaded him in the car and off we were to the hospital. He suffered a broken collar bone and provided us with a lifetime belly laughs. 46 years ago and just as funny today.
Bro got a about 1964 Cates cart and ran a new MC-49 he bought with his paper route money…he had to move up to a MC-91A to keep up….but we were behind with those drum brakes….i did get that MC-49 to run on my cart….always could dive the corners better then him….often we’d rub them tires to dad’s dismay !
In the late 60’s as my older brother and brother in law were racing stock cars on the dirt tracks of middle america, my buddies and I were racing these Margay racing carts. At the time they were the height of technology. We started with 5hp Briggs and Stratton motors. As we are a fairly competitive bunch, this quickly morphed into alcohol fueled highly modified 4 cycle motors which led to 2 cycle McCulloch 99s and 101s, then to the unlimited class which saw motors of 35hp and beyond. Routinely driven at speeds in excess of 70 to 80 mph on dirt tracks all over the midwest. One night about 2am we wanted to see how fast we could get one of thes carts up to. One of my friends had a hopped up super bee and we set out on a flat stretch of 36 hwy in NC kansas.
Remember this is at 2am! I’m screaming down the highway on my cart with a car right behind me with the head lights on so I can see the road. My buddy told me afterwords that he had the speedometer past the last numbers on the dial (150 on a 69 bee). I’m still suprised that any teenage boy survives to adulthood.
Old Margay carts and wheels are very collectable and still raced in vintage cart races. Just sold my last cart and wheel set last year after my wife convinced me that my days of going fast are pretty much over since I cracked some ribs in a “friendly” cart race with some of my old buddies a couple of years ago.
They make rib protectors which really work, you know. ;-)
Sorry, I’ll have to call BS on the top speed of your kart. Unless you were running a big twin two-stroke, and a laydown slippery body, wind resistance will top fast karts between 110 and 115. Aerodynamics are terrible on sit-up styles.
“Superkart” machines with very hot 250’s having over 60HP can run 140 at tracks with decent straights. The fastest laydowns run close to 160 at Daytona.
The photo is Rick Fulks, a friend of mine. Multi-year Grand Champion. Clocked at 158.
When I was the resident photographer at the local race track, we occasionally got a new wrinkle in the racing world. Try out some Modified types. I don’t know if they reached IMCA standards but the kids sure had a lot of fun in them…
You are correct that sit up carts not really capable above 70 or so. The particular machine I was driving was a laydown with 2 engines, geared to run at high speed for that run. I usually had at least 4 different karts for different classes so you could get as much track time as we could on each weekend. Karts are very twitchey at high speeds and stupid dangerous that fast.
Rib protectors only help if you have one with you when you decide to jump back in and prove you still have it after 30 years away from the sport.