The Go-Kart

Once upon a time, about 25 years ago, there was a go-kart.  This wasn't just any old kart, but a beloved go-kart acquired by the S family.  The father of the family (Mr. S) and his 8 year old son Ryan, enjoyed working on the go-kart together, making it run as fast as possible, racing it around the church parking lot for hours at a time. Ryan and his best buddy, Nate, even put their names on the back of it.

It was cherished.
And really fast.

Several years later, after Ryan had grown older and moved on to other things as boys do, Mr. S decided it was time to sell the go-kart.  Although devastated to see it leave the family, they knew the go-kart would get more use and spread more joy being used by other children than if it continued to collect cobwebs in storage. The S's sold it to their friends, the P family, who had two young kids.  (Rumor has it that Ryan even shed a tear that day.)  The P family was grateful and spent several glorious years racing the go-kart and enjoying it just as the S family had.

As time went on, though, the go-kart became tattered and torn - years of riding and racing had taken it's toll on it's wheels, axles and paint job.   The stickers of "Ryan" and "Nate" even wore off.  As the go-kart grew older, so did the P kids.   And eventually. . . Mr. P decided he didn't need it any longer either.

Thankfully, even though all the children who had loved the go-kart were now adults, the P's and the S's had stayed family friends throughout the years.  As Mr. P toiled about what to do with the go-kart, he remembered the happiness it had brought to his son's life.  Wanting to pass that joy on, he thoughtfully remembered that Mr. S's son Ryan, now had a young son of his own.

Mr. S was thrilled with the prospect of getting the go-kart back.  In fact, he surprised Ryan and his dimpled grandson for the boy's five year old birthday. Ryan was close to shedding tears again, but this time, tears of joy.

Although the boy was too young to ride it at that point, Mr. S knew that the three of them, together, just might be able to love that go-kart back to life.

Four years later, that's just what they did.

Phase 1 of the restoration:

Disassembly:

 Look close and you can see the "R" to far left and Nate on the right.

Shiny new parts came in the mail.  (not spontaneously - they were ordered, of course)

 Mr. S and Ryan sanding it down

Stay tuned for phase II of the restoration. .