Do you have an old electric skateboard lying around that you wish was just a little bit comfier? If you’re handy with a protractor and don’t mind cutting up some wood, you can turn it into a pretty sweet Go-Kart for any Mario Kart shenanigans you might be compelled to replicate.
In a video posted by small-time YouTuber with big dreams Keyin Lin, he challenges himself to turn a problematic electric skateboard into a bonafide Mario Kart Go-Kart. Making special mention to never buy the skateboard he used whether you attempt his challenge or not, he gets to work carefully measuring the deathtrap known for disconnecting from the controller when you’re trying to hit the brakes.
Once the measurements are converted over to paper, Lin brings out the math to design a chassis that will allow him to steer the board in a seated position. Although he doubts himself in the design process, he manages to iron out the kinks and even shows them off to the camera just in case you’re able to read complicated engineering schematics.
Next up comes the CAD process; the part where the 2D design is converted into a workable 3D model. From here, Lin can upload the file as a command to a laser cutter once it comes to creating the individual pieces that make up the chassis.
The finished product might look sharp and incredibly uncomfortable, but for something essentially conceptualized, designed and crafted in little more than a day, it certainly looks to do the trick. With a seat, backrest and miniaturized cockpit all in full working order, Lin takes the skateboard Go-Kart into the streets.
Memes start rolling, and after a worrying backward roll and not getting hit by a bus at an intersection, Lin takes the contraption onto the road as the Shooting Star sound of 2017 accompanies him for the ride.
It might not be the most stylish Mario Kart-inspired project we’ve ever seen, but the production value of Keyin Lin’s work despite having only 200 YouTube subscribers is an impressive feat in itself. And thanks to the clearly visible schematics and working demonstration, there’s little reason why anyone with a laser cutter lying around the house shouldn’t at least give this a shot.
