Meet the man driving a Barbie go-kart around Atlanta
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Atlanta is known for its colorful and eccentric personalities who fuel the long-running social media joke that the city is not a real place.
Why it matters: Mali Hightower can add himself to the list after his decision to turn a Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper into an eye-catching go-kart has gone viral.
- He's among several content creators who use social media to not only promote their brands, but tell the story of Atlanta through their eyes.
Driving the news: Hightower's go-kart stands out not only for its signature pink color, but because it can go as fast as 55 mph.
- He runs the Sota.Benz Instagram account that chronicles his trips around the city.
What they're saying: "It pretty much just gets all the attention because people…don't expect it to be a gas vehicle that goes that fast and has all the workings of a car," he told Axios.
Catch up quick: Hightower and his Barbie go-kart went viral earlier this year when TV stations and news outlets wrote stories about him as gas prices were surging across the country.
- "I can just take this thing and just drive it everywhere that I need to on $3," said Hightower, the owner of Sota Improvements, which provides commercial and residential handyman services.
State of play: The two-door go-kart has a trunk, dashboard, side mirrors, headlights and even rear lights.
- Since driving on the interstate is out of the question, Hightower sticks to side streets.
- He and his fiancee (who also drives a convertible go-kart that resembles a red Dodge Viper) live in Ellenwood, so they take the back roads to get into the city.
- Motorized vehicles aren't allowed on the Atlanta Beltline, so Hightower avoids those paths or others that take him through city parks.
Fortunately, he's never been hit by a vehicle.
- "You have to drive for the people around you," he said. "It's bigger than your average Power Wheel, so people can definitely can see me in it."
Between the lines: The Barbie go-kart does have insurance, but Hightower said there is no category for it to be registered with the state.
- He doesn't take the go-kart out if it's forecast to rain and doesn't drive at night. If he's caught in the rain, he pulls over and waits out the storm.
- He's been pulled over once in Atlanta; an officer just told him one of his headlights was out.
The intrigue: Hightower recently built a go-kart that resembles a Georgia State Patrol vehicle that was purchased by a state trooper based in the Macon area.
- He also took a child's sandbox and turned it into a small motorized boat that he takes out on the water.
What's next: He has a vintage Ferrari that he wants to retrofit into an electric vehicle.
- "But as far as any other mini cars, I think the Barbie car is my favorite that I've done so far," he said. "I really don't know how I'm going to top that."