The images of magazine covers are accessed by the links to the left. Simply click on each magazine title to see the covers.

GO-KART HISTORY PRIOR TO 1960:
Karting magazines had a rapid rise and fall that tracks with the faddish dynamic of the hobby. The first go-kart was built by Art Ingels of Los Angeles in 1956. His buddies also built go-karts, and this resulted in a famous 1957 "play day" for builders at the Rose Bowl parking lot in Pasadena. The go-kart craze got more traction in 1958 with Petersen Publishing's Trend Book #185 on karting, the debut of Ingel's kart at a race event at Pomona, and the construction of a purpose-built kart track in Azusa, California. It was at this track where the first official karting competition occurred.

Karting was featured in many of the popular hot rod magazines including Rod & Custom, Hot Rod and Car Craft. For example, Rod & Custom had a significant number of articles in 1959 and 1960 before the emergence of speciality karting magazines as described below.

Go-karts proved very popular due to the low costs involved to purchase and race one. Before go-karts, there was strong interest in midget racers including quarter midgets. These racing events started in the 1930s and continued into the 1950s. But it became costly to get into the sport, and go-karts provided a low cost alternative in the form of good fun and recreation.

KARTING MAGAZINES 1960 TO 1962:
Five karting magazines were launched in the early 1960s and most within a few months of each other. Yet most had ceased publication by 1961 or 1962. Only Karting World, an early entrant, thrived. Like all magazines, survival depended on advertising. A large number of go-kart manufacturers started in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and they were fighting for market share. Designs were rapidly changing, and engines and speed parts evolved almost weekly. Advertising and feature articles in these publications highlighted the latest and greatest way to have fun and win!

Simultaneously, go-kart tracks sprung up in towns all over the United States. These were run as hobby businesses, and karting was considered a recreational sport.

THE FAD DIES DOWN IN THE 1960s:
Karting is NOT dead!! But as the fad peaked, only Karting World continued publication. But other automotive magazines covered the hobby including Rod & Custom. It continued to provided considerable karting content through 1968 when such content was mostly eliminated.

KARTING AS A PROFESSIONAL SPORT
In 1970, go-karts were re-invented by Yamaha and Briggs & Stratton. Instead of placing the engine at the back of the kart, the manufacturers began fitting the engine on the side. This change enhanced the go-kart driving experience by providing drivers more leg room and comfort. the new design revolutionized the go-kart industry for years. In the following decade (1980), the World Karting Association started standardizing the industry. During this decade, go-karting started to become a competitive sport. Famous drivers from various leagues like NASCAR and Formula-1 learned many of their driving skills during their pre-teen years of racing as championship kart drivers. These racers include Jeff Gordon, Al Unser Jr., and Michael Andretti.

New magazines emerged for the professional, including World Karting, Pre-Grid, Kart-Tech, KartSport, and Go Racing. Industry publications included Karter News and Kart Marketing International (KMI).

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