The German company that conceived the Rollercoaster Restaurant has developed what it claims is the world’s first go-kart track with a vertical loop.
Kartinger offers drivers the chance to drive and accelerate through loop-the-loop elements, corkscrews and high banked turns as they experience forces of up to 6G. And according to HeineMack GmbH, such features can be built into almost all existing go-kart tracks.
“Previously, this was only possible in rollercoasters, in which the passenger is strapped in and controlled by a rail system,” notes HeineMack’s Michael Mack. However, he warns, Kartinger, is not for everybody: “Only the bravest and most adventurous will master this challenge, because he who does not have the courage to give enough gas or leave the steering wheel, will fail. In this case, the kart safely rolls backwards out of the loop.”
The karts are guided on both sides of the track, while the driver accelerates and steers. At the beginning of the acceleration section is an electronically controlled barrier, which ensures that there is only one kart in the section.
Mack has applied for a patent for the Kartinger system. Several potential circuits have been proposed by the manufacturer. Interested parties are invited to try out the Kartinga test track at in Nuremberg.
According to Michael Mack, there is no reason the concept should be restricted to amusement facilities. “Kartinger’s idea can also be applied to cars, quads or other vehicles,” he says. “Why should there not be Formula 1 race tracks with loops in the future?
