Man created a homemade F1 go-kart and took it for a tense drive on the road
- This content creator built an F1 go-kart from scratch
- He built it over six years from his home workshop
- Finally, the time came to take it out on the road
Published on Nov 25, 2024 at 2:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 21, 2024 at 5:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Imagine building your own Formula 1-inspired car from scratch – that’s exactly what this YouTube car enthusiast did before taking his homemade F1 go-kart on the road.
From the comfort of his home workshop, he poured six years of passion and ingenuity into the project.
Countless hours of designing, welding, and problem-solving went into the big moment.
Its first test drive was nail-biting, to say the least.
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The homemade F1 go-kart
Kyle from Boosted Lifestyle’s journey to this moment wasn’t smooth sailing.
It is a narrative of mishaps involving mismatched pipe dimensions and awkward steering rack placements.
Kyle realized early doors that the go-kart’s front suspension geometry wasn’t optimal.
This led to issues like bump steer and misaligned wheels.
However, not one to call it quits without a fight rather than start over, Kyle adopted a ‘fix-as-you-go’ approach.
The priority? To get the car running, even if it’s not perfect.
Creative solutions played a massive role in overcoming the obstacles he faced.
For example, the air shifter system taken from a truck horn kit was modified to fit the car’s compact design.
Similarly, 3D-printed components like the steering wheel and dash brought custom – yet functional – touches.
Even the seat was built from a sacrificial mold and fiberglassed into shape.
He tackled unfamiliar tasks like wiring and CAD modeling by learning on the job – slightly lower stakes than this homemade full-size helicopter.
We are likely going to see an increasing amount of go-karts, as this flying car coming to the US is a cross between a helicopter and a go-kart.
The road test drive
Finally, the big moment arrived and the car was ready to hit the road – or back alley – for its first test drive.
He could have used this Mercedes dealership’s 5,000-ft runway that’s used specifically for high-speed test drives.
With the rear end jacked up, Kyle tested the car’s systems, from the air shifter to the steering, before firing up the engine.
Despite the clutch slipping slightly, and the throttle not being entirely tuned – there was still space for a thrill.
On its maiden voyage, the F1 go-kart exceeded expectations.
Even with the rear straight axle, the chassis felt stable, and the front wheels gripped better than anticipated.
After a solid six years of dedication, learning, and creativity, the content creator’s next steps will involve building a more polished version.
We can’t wait to see it – you can check out the full video here.
With a dual English and French degree and NCTJ diploma, Amelia began her career doing award-winning writing and editing for titles and brands spanning Women's Health, the Telegraph, Boots, and Vitality. Amelia joined the SB Media family in September of 2023, bringing her expertise in SEO and reader takeaway. As Lead Editor, her superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a shareable story.
