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I had friends that enjoyed racing at El Mirage Dry Lake, there was a standing start, mile and 3/16 track there. I took my desert kart there, but it was not right for that kind of racing. A new kart was in the works. I wanted it to be light and sleek. I got a Honda 175 electric start motor. Made a new kart with light tubing, again using go kart components. I added a partial body to make the kart more aerodynamic, and geared it for El Mirage.The motor was just stock, but I raced it at El Mirage going 79 miles per hour. There was to much wind resistance to really go very fast, but going 79 with a 44 inch wheelbase was very exciting. I had made the steering much slower than the other kart, to make it more stable at high speed.
I could get two of the karts in the back of my El Camino, so I often took a friend and went to the desert. I wanted more power, so I built one more kart using a Honda 450. It was a little faster, but the best one for the desert was the Honda 350. It was so cool to go on the dry lakes and make big broad slides in the powder on the lake. We all loved to get going fast and make a big slide beside someone and throw dirt and dust all over them.
I built one more desert kart, all the previous karts were only one seat. The new one had two seats, side by side. It was for a Honda 450, but I never finished it and sold the rolling frame to a friend. Sometimes, the terrain did not allow the desert karts to pass, they were about 42 inches wide at the rear end. I wanted something to ride on mountain trails that were narrow, so I took a Honda trail 50 minibike, made a rigid frame on the rear to handle one of the 11" by 16" paddle tires. It was great and would go about anywhere.
I enjoyed those days riding in the desert or mountains, sometimes by myself, but mostly with others. I had bought a video recorder and would record the days activities. We would sit around the campfire and watch them in the evening. I also added a tool box mounted to the kart to carry tools and supplies for me and the others, that proved very helpful. Glad I was young them, the karts had no suspension and were rough riding, but I wore a kidney belt. I had great times with the desert karts and friends.
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