Celebrate 70 Years of Go-Karts – Enter the World’s Largest K1 Go-Kart Race!
K1 Speed is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the go-kart with a special week that includes discounted races AND a historic race event! Read on to learn how you can get in on the celebrations!
It Was 70 Years Ago This Month…
In August 1956, Art Ingels, with help from his friend Lou Borelli, created the very first go-kart in a garage in Echo Park – part of central Los Angeles.
Ingels, a fabricator for the race shop Kurtis Kraft, created the steel-tube chassis, while Borelli found a way to mount a surplus 2-stroke 2.5-horsepower West Bend lawnmower engine to the kart. An initial debut at Pomona Raceway turned heads, and soon a bunch of gearheads were racing their own go-kart creations at the Rose Bowl parking lot and a new sport was born.
Seventy years later, go-karts not only serve as the best introduction to racing (like here at K1 Speed), but have also become the starting path for nearly everyone on the grid from Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, sports car racing, and more.
Want to learn more about our sport’s history? Read about the invention of the go-kart!
Be a Part of History: The World’s Largest K1 Go-Kart Race
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the go-kart, you’re all invited to participate in the World’s Largest K1 Go-Kart Race on Saturday, August 29th.
This race is not singular, but represents the collection of all races run that day at every K1 Speed location worldwide. So all you have to do to participate is show up at your local K1 Speed center and enter a race. It’s as easy as that!
Free Races for the Three Fastest Racers of the Day
Since the entire day is treated like a single race, we figured it’s only right to offer prizes to our podium finishers. Because K1 Speed offers a unique track layout for every location, every K1 Speed will award the top three fastest drivers of the day with FREE RACES:
- 1st: 5 Free Races
- 2nd: 3 Free Races
- 3rd: 2 Free Races
Enjoy Four Days of Discounted Races!
The World’s Largest K1 Speed Go-Kart Race isn’t the only way we’re celebrating our sport’s 70th. From Monday, August 24 through Thursday, August 27, you can score a single indoor go-kart race for only $19.56. That’s a savings of up to $12 over our regular prices! And no, there isn’t a limit on how many races you can purchase – you can buy all you want at only $19.56 per race.
*Promotional price only available at Continental United States locations from 8/24 to 8/27/26. Price does not include tax or any additional fees. Does not include annual license, which is required to race and sold separately.