Even in these days of TV and computer games, every kid loves a go-kart. In the last school holidays our neighbours Gryff, 13, and Carwyn, 14, came over to help my son Jamie, 9, and I make one.
The boys had me up at the crack of dawn every day to work on it. But it was a blast to see them toying with design ideas on paper and, once it was built, tearing down the nearest hill. You could surprise your kids with this model, or get them to help you make their own.
1. The floor: Lay the ply on the ground. Measure and mark 1600mm for the length and 450mm for the width at the back. Cut along the waste side of the ply. Then measure down 300mm from the end. This will be the back of the kart. From the front end measure and mark 360mm wide. This gives you a tapper for both sides from the back to the front.
2. The sides: Measure and cut out x2 sides @ 1350mm x 390mm high. Now put the two pieces together and draw the shape of your bonnet. My measurements were for the bonnet 285mm high x 385mm long, then I came down at a slight angle to 200mm. Still at 200mm from the bottom, I measured 550mm for the door area. Then from the top back mark 130mm. From there this will give you the angle down to the door and the angle for your seat. Using 45mm screws fix from the floor up, keeping flush at the front and sides. You should be left with about 250mm at the back for a passenger to stand.
3. The seat: Measure 600mm for the back and take the inside measurement of the sides. Cut along the waste side. Now measure down 25mm, then 30mm down again, and 85mm in from either side. This will give you a handle. Slide into place keeping flush with the back sides and fix to the sides using 45mm screws. Now cut a length at 590mm high and fit this flush to the same angle as your side piece. Cut and fit a top piece for the seat.
