I have a friend named Charles Guan '11. He was my lab partner in 2.004 and I've worked with him on a variety of other projects. He's always building something scary that does something awesome and it's fun to see his final projects. Lately, I've been seeing some interesting status updates in his Facebook profile that led me to believe something big was going on. Updates like

it works it works it works it works it works it works it works it works it works it works it works

First kart road test, N52 to Pika. Epic win.

Total miles today: 5.65.

These amused me, but I never really looked into what they meant. . .

There are a variety of websites that I check every day. They are, in no particular order,

xkcd
fmylife
engadget
gizmodo
woot
shirt woot
thinkgeek
facebook
gmail

Today, while exploring Gizmodo, I came upon an article entitled MIT Students Build a Speedy Go-Kart Out of a Shopping Cart. Surely, no, it couldn't be. I had seen Charles pushing around a Circuit City cart before I headed home for the summer, and his status updates had hinted . . .

Yep. It was Charles. Good old Charles.

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That just made my night. Thank you Charles.

Posted by: Chris on June 29, 2009

OMG. i'm honored to go to school with these people. o____o

Posted by: Oasis '11 on June 29, 2009

omg..amazing! just watching this video makes me excited to go to MIT all over again!!!!

Posted by: Sheila ('13) on June 29, 2009

lolriokart will be available for Rush for your enjoyment, albeit /severely neutered/. no 40mph frosh.

Posted by: charles on June 29, 2009

Coincidence: I just met Charles and the lolriokart at MITERS about 50 minutes ago. Way to blog.

Also, the cart is sort of drool-worthy in real life.

Posted by: Yan on June 30, 2009

He could use a suspension setup; otherwise, it looks fun.

Posted by: uhbygv on June 30, 2009

hey this is sme as the ATV -all terrain vehicle that a group of students from iit made

Posted by: arpit on June 30, 2009

So not true, the ATV was a petrol engine and it barely needs a turning mechanism... basically like a go cart with a bike kind of turning mech. which looked like an ATV....

But this thing... nicely done Charles!!!

Posted by: Shiv on June 30, 2009

Really cool, Charles. Would love to have a drive when I come up in August.


Kimberly '13

Posted by: Kimberly '13 on June 30, 2009

Check out Charles' blog, where he shows the fabrication of the differential:

http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?p=224

The mechanical precision and robustness are really astounding, and they make for an interesting contrast with the electrical hackery going on.

Also, Gizmodo got its facts mixed up. Charles apparently switched the brushless motor out for a brushed DC motor (4/6/09).

Posted by: Sam Range '13 on June 30, 2009

Please wear a helmet!

Posted by: 0 on June 30, 2009

The LOLrioKart was also featured on TheAwesomer.com.

Look at all the thumbs-ups it got!

Posted by: 0 on June 30, 2009

Alot of the interblags have wrong details mostly due to the fact that I never kept the project page up to date.

If you can't tell from the pictures on the site, I'm Course 2 4lyfedawg. My course 6 experience is limited to covering my eyes and plugging it in.

Posted by: cHaRlEs on June 30, 2009

HOLY CRAP! I saw that go kart the other day!

Posted by: 0 on June 30, 2009

wheres his safety belt?

Posted by: that a NO NO on July 1, 2009

MAN that looks FUN

Posted by: 0 on July 1, 2009

man, this is amazing. that's why i want to go to MIT. i will create a rocket car.

Posted by: Dimitris on July 1, 2009

Thank you for not just shining your spotlight on yourself, but sharing it with others so generously.

Posted by: Mom out west on July 1, 2009

...That is the coolest thing ever

Posted by: Helena on July 1, 2009

This just makes me want to do my grad studies at MIT even more than I already do. Awesome cart! =D

Posted by: Dillon on July 1, 2009

What's this about a drag race? Nah, we wouldn't do that.

Posted by: Cam on July 1, 2009

under no circumstances would i ever operate an electrically faulty brakeless homebuilt unregistered and uninsured vehicle on public streets in the commonwealth of massachusetts.

Posted by: charles on July 1, 2009

Snively, thank you for posting this. Charles, this is incredible. Do you think it might be possible to duplicate this feat and have a pair of carts (and a pair of helmets) come Rush? One cart or two, I am totally looking forward to being a frosh.

Posted by: JB '13 on July 2, 2009

Rock on, Charles G.

Posted by: E. Rosser '12 on July 2, 2009

This is the kind of thing that totally stokes me. I find it awesome that there are people out there who not only think of this sort of stuff, but goes ahead and builds it. Without these people the world would be a boring place. Kudos!

Posted by: jdk on July 2, 2009

Awesome job, and congrats on all the publicity! It is certainly an honor to know you

...and I really envy your resources, lol.
Hope to be joining you in future years!
-Jamo

Posted by: Jamo (GT '13) on July 5, 2009

That's really awesome! Watching it makes me glad that I chose MIT =)

Posted by: Anna '13 on July 6, 2009

Love the name

Posted by: Ehsan on July 6, 2009

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8!

charls roks
Laugh Out Loud Ride It On "kart"

Nice one

Posted by: Ziaullah on July 8, 2009

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