Go Karts for 8y olds

[WhySoManySocks]

Would you allow an 8yo to go karting? Or if you did, how did the 8yo find it?

The venue I am looking at allows kids from the age of 8, has smaller (ie weaker motor so slower) karts for kids 8-11, the website talks a lot about safety equipment, and they make them effectively take 25 mins of “driving lessons” before letting them loose. It seems about as safe as it can be but…

But it’s still a petrol car. I’m worried about 8yo not being coordinated enough to drive sensibly, and I’m worried about crashes (into walls / barriers, and other kids).

DS wants to do it. AIBU to allow it at his age? I would value others’ experiences. Thank you.

I won't vote as I think it's an entirely sensible thought process. My oldest works at a go kart track abd they are fairly strict with the little ones being sensible and making sure they know how to brake etc. We took my youngest wheb he was 7 and although he could physically do it all he mentally wasn't ready and crawled around half the track at a snails pace before being kindly asked to come off and he was a danger to himself and others being lapped (and the others were my very sensible older kids who wouldn't have crashed into him intentionally).

We've done this at a similar age. It was really good. The only thing is to check whether they have a height requirement as well as an age requirement?

They do, and DS and his friends are all above it.

My DS went to a go karting birthday party when he was 8yo and loved it. All the kids were around the age you’ve described (between 8-11) and nobody was really going significantly faster or slower than the others. Everybody seemed able to control the karts and if anybody did get into any difficulties the staff were there to help them straight away. My DS is almost 11 now, but my DD is 8 and I would happily let her do go karting if she wanted to, based on the experience of seeing my DS do it.