This video was shot back in 2011. I no longer have the go-kart; I eventually threw it away. It had rusted too much, and the frame had too many cracks, which I had already repaired multiple times. The floor pan in the video isn't the original one; it had rusted out, and the one shown is a random piece of sheet metal that was welded in.
The original motor was a silver-colored 5 hp Briggs & Stratton. The engine in the video isn't the original either; I replaced it with a 6 hp Subaru. The go-kart had a live axle, meaning both wheels spun. I remember the logo on the original floor pan being like a shooting star or something similar. I'm trying to recall the brand and wondering if they're still in business. Does anyone have any ideas? It was sold at shops like Cycle City Corporation [
https://www.cyclecitycorp.com/] back in the 1980s and 1990s
I think you may actually have had a
Carter Brothers kart, most likely one of their
Super Wheels models.
The details you remember seem to line up pretty well. Carter Brothers made a lot of these simple American-built utility/recreational go-karts, and the frame construction, steering wheel/column setup, seat supports, throttle arrangement, and enclosed live axle are all very characteristic of their older karts.
The logo you remember as looking like a shooting star is probably the biggest clue. The old Carter Brothers Super Wheels decals have a star/“shooting” type design that looks pretty close to what you're describing. There were also several variations of the Super Wheels over the years, so I wouldn't expect every picture you find online to match your kart exactly. Small changes in the frame, bumper, engine mounting, etc. seem to have occurred between different years and models.
In fact, there is a
Carter Brothers Super Wheels Model 1215 that looks particularly relevant. The 1215 was offered with a live axle configuration, which would fit your memory of both rear wheels driving. There were also versions with different axle arrangements, so that detail could help narrow down the exact model/year.
Your engine history makes sense too. A silver 5 HP Briggs & Stratton would have been a very typical engine for one of these older karts, and replacing it with a 6 HP Subaru wouldn't be unusual at all. Since the floor pan had already been replaced with random sheet metal by the time the video was made, unfortunately the original decal is probably the best clue you have left.
As far as the company goes, unfortunately
Carter Brothers isn't really operating as the same go-kart manufacturer it once was. The company essentially disappeared from the old-school kart market. There is still some web presence associated with the name, but it isn't the same American kart manufacturing operation from the 1980s/90s. A major fire in 2010 destroyed much of the company's manufacturing capacity, and what remains associated with the name today isn't really the same thing as the old Carter Brothers karts.
Interestingly, Cycle City Corporation itself is still around today as a Yamaha dealer in Newport News, Virginia, although obviously it's a very different business from what you remember buying from in the 80s/90s.
So if I were trying to identify your exact kart, I'd start searching for
“Carter Brothers Super Wheels”, especially
Model 1215, and compare the frame around the steering column, front bumper, seat supports, rear axle housing, and engine mount.
From your description, I'd say Carter Brothers is a much stronger possibility than a generic “old go-kart” identification. The fact that you remember the shooting-star-looking logo makes the Super Wheels connection particularly convincing.
It's a shame you had to scrap it, but those old Carter karts seem to have been seriously tough little machines. And judging by what you said about jumping it, climbing hills, mudding, and generally abusing it, I'm honestly not surprised the frame eventually gave up
. Those things were built for dirt roads and rough use, but repeated jumping probably wasn't doing the welded frame any favors.
If you still have the video, I'd be curious to see a few clear screenshots of the
front bumper, steering column, rear axle, and engine mounting area. Those details could probably narrow it down to the exact Carter model/year.
Don't worry, I'm a jackass too.
