We have something new up our sleeves. You know how the GoKart has a speed roller? Of course you do, you twiddle with it all the way round the golf course, don’t you? Well so did we, until recently. For a while now we’ve been developing a system that does away with any sort of manual speed control. You just hold the handle, walk, and the trolley senses what speed you’re walking at and matches it, seamlessly. You stop, it stops. You start, it starts. You can still take your hands off and let it travel on its own, there’s no need to hold on all the time.
It’ll l be offered as an option when you buy a GoKart, and existing GoKart owners will be able to take advantage of a back-to-base upgrade to the new version too. We’re calling it ‘The Automatic’, which kind of says how it works. We thought about calling it ‘The Bloody brilliant’ but that might cause complications. But it is.
More news in a few weeks.
UPDATE 26/07/2011:
Thanks for all your comments and questions about the forthcoming GoKart Automatic. We can answer some of your queries;
Our umbrella/bottle holders will fit the new handle. Existing umbrella holders will require a couple of updated parts, which we’ll be supplying free of charge to current owners. Fitting the umbrella holder won’t effect the speed control of the trolley.
Converting an existing GoKart to Automatic will require quite major surgery, with a large number of parts needing replacement, so it will need to come back to the factory. We don’t have any pricing information available at the moment, but we’ll keep you all posted as soon as we can.
The Automatic is not a wireless or proximity sensing system. It just needs the operator to hold the handle when they want to speed up, slow down or stop. If they want to maintain their speed then it’s OK to let go of the handle, and let the trolley continue running by itself.
The GoKart will still freewheel with the automatic handle, so when walking downhill, and gravity takes over, the motor will automatically be switched off.
The score card holder, which is part of the new handle, is larger than the one on the existing handle. It’s big enough for all size score cards. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to fit the new style scorecard cover to the original handle.
Clever idea. However, it will take all the fun out of watching a “helpful” golfing partner, who hasn’t got the knack of using the speed controller, being pulled off his feet and dragged along face down when they move my Golf Kart for me!! It’s especially amusing when they’ve got their own pull-along trolley in their other hand!!! It is a bind though when I then have to put all my clubs back in my bag after they have fallen out and hit my mate on the head while he’s smoothing out the grass on the fairway with his face. Oh well, l look forward to finding out costs, time-scales, availability of a temporary replacement Golf Kart, ability to fit the umbrella holder and the offer of a free SkyCaddie SGX to customers. Rgds, Les.
Very impressed with the news of an automatic speed conversion. Will be glad to know more when this will be available.
Brilliant. Will be very interested. I can never get the speed spot on all the time. This will be great. Also another great gadget to show off.
Best of luck. Hope it is soon.
Very exciting do you have any plans for an automatic player to play my golf for me.I could walk behind and be able to be impressed by the improvement in my game.
Please let me know when the Kart mod is ready.
Chris
WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS WHEN PLAYING GOLF I AM INTHE HABIT OF TURNING MY GOKART OFF TO SAVE THE BATTERY HAVE YOU EVER COSIDERED THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO INCOPORATE A ON BOARD UNIT WHICH PUTS CHARGE INTO THE BATTERY (IE LIKE A SMALL ALTERNATOR BEING DRIVEN BY THE ROTATION OF THE WHEELS).
Having just got my go kart back from a service and conversion to blue finish to match my bag ( i know thats sad really ! ) i would love an upgrade as i have never liked the speed roller control, i think its a bit insensitive and i have now had two fitted as they seem a little unreliable as well.
So as soon as you have this upgrade ready to fit put me down for one.
Sounds great. Like many of the others, I would be interested to hear about cost and also if we need to purchase new drinks/brolley holders (I only bought mine a month ago!). Keep up the good work!
Brilliance in full flow, well done “Go Kart guy,s” I look forward availablity.
looks pretty slick, would be interested in this once we have a few more details…
Very Interesting!!!
Look foreword to more news, I’m sure my Go kart( now about 4.5 yrs old)
would benifit from the upgrade.
One minor point, will the existing “brolly” holder still fit?
Cheers
Tom
seems agreat idea any clues to what it will cost
Sounds a bloody marvel. Playing with gloves on in the winter it can be a bit awkward sometimes. This sounds like a cracking idea, my only concern is I have all the extra fittings for the brolly & I have adapted my existing gokart to plug in my iPhone for gps etc! but please let me know, Lovely!
i love my kart.
i would love the up grade. let me know when kart mod is ready
colin
Sounds good!
Like all previous comments this looks a great step forward but hope the conversion cost is not prohibitive. Its certainly a talking point among other GoKart owners at my club.
Regards
Tom
Looks like a great idea. What about a button or two to make the trolley
go forward and stop 10/15 yrds……..Cheers
Martyn
I bought a Go Kart for my father-in-law, he says its the bees knees and can’t stop telling me how good it is.
He told me about the ‘ Automatic’ and how good he thought it might be,(hint, hint).
When its available I might get one for his Kart and one that can be adapted to fit him so we can control him just like the trolley.
(The mother-in-law would love that)
Love you really Don
Sounds ideal,let me know please when available
Great company.
Can you tell me how big a score card you can get in it as ours has been enlarged and won’t fit in my present one. thanks
Will the new hand grip design accept the old style brolly holder?
Will the brolly attached to the holder influence the speed of the GoKart in a breeze or allow the GoKart to take off if there is a gust (strong enough to move the handle around)?
When is the new handle available?
How much will it cost (including postage)?
Can we be supplied with the parts for DIY retro-fitting?
BTW… I’ve retained the front winter wheel as it doesn’t clatter on pebbles / paths like the normal version.
Also… I cannot use the seat as the support cannot be left in place when the trolley is on the move as it interferes with the turning of the rear wheels. Assembling each time contributes to slow play!
Yes, I am interested let me know when ready and cost of upgrading.
J.C.
Awesome! How much and when is it available for upgrades?
Liking the sound of the upgrade. As everyone is saying “how much” ? Currently I have been known to be a bit ambitious with my choice of speed setting and after about 14 holes have been known to be dragged along by my machine before I can put it in a slower setting! Not a good look!
Hi, I like the sound of the new auto handle do you know yet what the
upgrade will cost.
Sounds great BUT please make sure you put reliability and simplicity before technical wizardry. My previous P*wak**dy had bells and whistles and was a total pain. Always going wrong. Inconvenient and expensive to fix. I bought a GoKart because it just carried my clubs and didn’t go wrong. What more should a golfer need? I’ve not been disappointed!
I know the market demands constant technical advances and the business must progress. BUT whatever 21st century technology you go for please keep the basic ‘cooking’ Kart in your product list – for those of us who don’t want or need the luxury sport models.
Ditto, I am interested let me know when it is available and the cost of upgrading
Hi,
i like the sound of that,i Have always thought the speed wheel to be the weak link.in a otherwise good product.
I would be interested in the up grade.
Regards
David T
Just what I could do with as my finger always seem to catch the speed controller when I least expect it and the Gokart then proceeds to try and drag me along the fairway !!.
I am definetly interested in upgrading provided it not too expensive. It cannot come soon enough for me.
Kind regards
Tony Wallace
Will you automatically send out requests for GoKart returns or do you need to register. Will be interested and could possibly drop off the unit if it could be fitted ‘while you wait’
Sounds great idea, once proven to work i will certainly be interested. Hopefully the new scorecard holder will be more reliable than the present one.
Excellent news. I had a scary moment at the weekend when the trolly decided to automatically go into fast forward as the current speed controller can be somewhat too variable! The new handle sounds like just the job. Keep me informed as to when available and how much.
I have a Go Kart trolley and think its terrific…I would like the new ‘automatic’ one. Can you tell me when available and how much. My wife can have my current Go Kart….to replace her Powacaddy
Look forward to your reply
Dave Morley
Sounds too good to be true. Just what I could use if not too expensive.
David, we’ll make sure we let you know when the Auto is available.
Hi Len,
the scorecard cover is different on the new handle – but just to reassure you, we’re working on the existing one too!
will there be an option to trade in your existing trolley for a complete new auto model rather than just have the handle upgrade to the auto model?
what price etc
Go-Kart… please dont keep us all in suspense, we are desperate to give you our money for this!!
Hi, any updates on the pricing for the conversion and when it will become available?
Wow – you listened – a larger score card holder. That’s what I call a customer focused company!
When the upgrade handle is ready will it be possible to come to the factory on appointment and have it fitted
Cannot wait for this innovation.
Eric
Hi Eric, yes you’d be very welcome to come along. It is a bit of a job though so maybe time it so that you can explore the delights of Canterbury (good shopping, good cathedrally tourist scene…) whilst we get busy with the screwdrivers, like the scene of a pit stop at F1. I would ask you to phone us in advance and let us know when you’re planning on coming. There’s going to be a lot of demand for the Auto and things will be busy at GKHQ.
Do your electric trolleys come with the option of having a lightweight lithium battery?
This would be helpful for we woman as lithium batteries only weigh around 2.5 Kg.
When is the automatic version available to buy?
Is it possible to register in advance for this new upgrade and if possible can you register me. Thankyou Go Kart.
Hi Kate,
Yes we does supply a lithium option, it’s expensive compared to the standard battery but you’re right, the benefits are great. It’s very convenient to take around the place.
Soon, very soon! Watch this space!
Yes. And yes. We’ll drop you a line!
what a great idea chaps and chapesses. Can you e-mail me to let me know the costs and when you will start the “upgrade program”.
Wow, sounds like a robocop quote.
Cheers
Si
I have not seen a customer evaluation or even comments on the longevity of the trolley. I have seen others that have died after a short time. Any comments, anyone
How much testing will have been carried out before release of the automatic option? Sounds good but how long lasting will the controls be?