re: In 1969 Sears had these cool karts and mini bikes

When we were kids, my brothers and I would beg my mom for a minibike, three wheeler or go-cart. We begged and pleaded for what felt like an eternity and my mom held her resolve, they were too dangerous.

But finally, after countless calculated efforts to wear her resolve down, we made a crack in the dam. She agreed, tentatively, to allow us to get a go-cart - if we saved the money and paid for it ourselves. Unbeknownst to her, we’d already pooled our lawn cutting, birthday, Christmas and allowance resources and had enough for a two-seater we’d seen at Western Auto.

I swear to god as we walked out the door to get in the car and make the trip to the store to buy the damn go-cart, a kid named Matt who lived 2 houses down flipped his damn go-cart in his front yard and got pinned underneath. Neighbors all ran over with the quickness to pull it off him. He was scraped up and had a broken arm.

Mom said, “ no go-cart today”.

A week later, my dad’s boss’ son flipped his 3-wheeler and injured his arm so bad it has to be amputated at the elbow.

No go-cart...ever.

So close.

Here’s to all you lucky sumbitches who got to enjoy a go-cart or atv.