Their story, in their words…
WARNING: DANGER. Building a go-kart nearly destroyed our patience, our AS, our time and maybe us. Don’t try this unless you’re prepared for despair, disaster, and maybe divine luck.
When Mark Evison Foundation (MEF) gave their assembly in September, someone approached me (Afnan) – “Let’s build a go-kart” – something I also was considering. Within the week, three more assembled Go Kart team. Me & Ognian, fellow petrolheads since Yr10 – engineering backbone; the other physicists pledging from modelling to finance & logistics. We dreamt!
By November’s judging day, I done most of the research and designed the two different prototype models, and dived deeper into Amazon, eBay, Gumtree and whatnot than the average person. We were given provisional approval; on the condition the external assessor greenlit the design. While, Team morale was already sharply falling, inversely proportional to the polynomial workload growth in Yr12, Ognian encouraged progress. I myself was about to quit and switch teams, facing significant resistance in effectively distributing my workload alongside homework, revision & Nov mocks. But three insightful humans strongly advised me to not give up, for if I did see it through, the success and credit would be mine. So I persevered. One’s life is too short to give up.
February 2025. Months of debating the external assessor on the Health & Safety of the 4th design iteration yet. Time was running out. A passionate plea, with “SAFEST YET” engraved all over it, finally saw a £360 grant being approved.
Three members had left by this point, barely having contributed.
Of course, we had product mismatch; the prices rose well above what I’d asked for; we forgot about some crucial parts, and some new parts were required to solve problems I hadn’t thought of.
Biggest hurdles? Transmission. The engine was faulty and wouldn’t fit the torque converter. Then came the axle sprocket — a bizarre, non-standard size chain that defied everything I searched. But our DT teacher he suggested getting a larger centrifugal clutch, then using shaft adapters. 21 to 25.4mm adapters don’t exist. Luckily, the engine came with a hollow aluminium wrench thin enough to fit the on the engine and another adapter to the clutch. A local bike shop donated handlebars, cables & housings. chain. Not to mention brake and steering issues.
First time we tested in the parking lot, a tiny, critically important keystock went flying off the revving engine for the second time and miraculously landed next to the go-kart! That’s when I knew we weren’t the only ones pushing this kart. Of course, the clutch and shaft now are held with bicycle tubes and T bolt clamps,
June 27th. Culture Day at school. Ognian isn’t in. I slip out at lunch, push the go-kart into the football pitch, fire the engine and carefully sit on it. 9 months of sacrifice and hope.
I pulled the throttle. A beast roared and ran.
We couldn’t have done this without Mark Evison. We couldn’t have done this without the space and supplies and pointers given by the school and DT department; without the advisors along the way; without having unshakeable faith and family and friends. I plan to improve it – and this will be a fantastic thing for later life.
What started with a dream and scraps of wood nine months later was a machine that still roars to life. This isn’t just a go-kart. It is proof for everyone out there. You can take on the impossible — and perchance win.
