San Diego's go-kart scene shifts into high gear
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San Diego is never short on recreation, and the current go-kart boom is no exception.
The big picture: The region has three K1 Speed locations in Carlsbad, downtown and Chula Vista, plus a scattering of other places where you can sit in a tiny car and go very fast around a track.
Zoom by: I got to try out the track downtown. Always something new with this job.
- You get outfitted with a helmet, instructions on how to operate the cart and off you go.
- I was in a race with 11 other riders and definitely came in dead last.
But that's OK! Some riders were extremely competitive, but I tried to stay to the right so they could pass me.
- I got bumped once, which meant every car on the track had to pause for a brief timeout.
- We were warned that if people kept driving like bumper cars, our time would be cut short.
Winners: For some, go-kart racing is becoming a competitive hobby, Tom Abbott, spokesperson for K1 Speed, told Axios.
- "Each person receives stats on their lap times after every race, so there's always something to shoot for next time out on the track," he said.
- They also have monthly league races.
Kids are also welcome, but parents should know that adults and youth race separately.
- The staff at K1 were extremely nice to my son and let him do some loops on his own without a pack of older kids driving at the same time.
If you go: K1 is open until 10pm during the week and midnight on weekends.
- It's $31 for one race, or $74 for a three-pack.
- They also have a small arcade and bar.
