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Carts are small, internal combustion engine powered racing vehicles that are raced on specially built cart race tracks. Thanks to their modest size and light weight they are very agile, reaching speeds of over 200km/h (120mph). As a result of their low centre of gravity, which is just a few centimetres above the road surface, the carts are able to negotiate bends at high speed, placing considerable physical strain on the driver.

The engine is positioned in front of the rear axle and behind the driver, usually slightly offset to one side. Originally, carts used mostly one-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle engines, which is also the requirement for most race series. In amateur racing, four-stroke and Wankel engines as well as electric motors are becoming increasingly common to the sport.

The engine’s power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a power transmission chain, and the transmission ratio can be adapted to racing conditions and track by exchanging the chain sprockets on both wheel axle and engine. High-performance carts have three- to six-speed sequential gearboxes.

Forces to contend with
The high forces that occur in cart racing call for special drive chains. In the course of a cart race, with speeds of up to 200km/h and tight curves taken at high speed, the drive chains are subjected to extreme stresses, presenting a constant risk of chain failure.

HAT has responded to this with its high-performance cart chain, the Panther Kart Chain Classic, which uses specially coated and heat treated chain pins from iwis. With their high surface hardness, low roughness and tight tolerances these offer low-wear and excellent friction characteristics – the latter aided by the chain’s special geometric design.

The bushings, for example, protrude beyond the outer faces of the inner elements to prevent friction contact between the inner and outer plates. Ludwig Heller, an engineer and founder of HAT, summarises:

“The Panther Kart Chain Classic performance chain is unique in its class and sets new standards in wear resistance and fatigue strength even under extreme loads. In motorsport circles it is regarded best-in-class and valued for its reliability and long service life.”