A Fun Nighttime Alternative
While no one would argue that the weather in California is ideal, summer heat can make doing anything besides sitting in air conditioning a little daunting. While movies are one good way to get out of the heat there are only so many; and the bar scene can get old and expensive. That’s why I like to mix it up a little – occasionally hit golf balls or head to the indoor go karts in Thousand Oaks or Sylmar.
As a top place to go kart Los Angeles wouldn’t generally be on peoples’ short lists because of the bright sun and heat of the asphalt and cars from inside a helmet: more like the being in an inferno than racing. But being inside not only alleviates the heat of the sun, it also ensures visibility and optimal track conditions, since the tracks aren’t subjected to the elements. The indoor tracks are also more nuanced than the conventional outdoor donuts tracks, making racing more exciting – and that there are two locations to choose from add even more variety to the equation.
Some of my friends were quick to dismiss going to the indoor go karts as a silly idea: a novelty. But when I convinced them to come – I would pay, I told them, since it’s so affordable – their minds were quickly changed. The sophistication of the track and karts themselves are impressive: faster than what we grew up with, for sure. What’s more, because the track had real turns, my friends were surprised that they had to “really drive” as opposed to just putting the petal to the metal as is the usual winning technique for less interesting outdoor tracks. When the competitive spirit was awakened and the petal did finally hit the metal, it was overwhelming fulfillment. Since then, it has been hard to convince anyone that going to a movie is really worthwhile when the go kart Los Angeles track is so close by.
Because it is so affordable and because it’s way more fun than you either remember or imagine, I highly recommend that those that haven’t been racing for a while give it a try. New Comers will also be surprised by how intuitive, comfortable, and non-threatening only one go around of the track – I know that’s all it took for me to realize that this was a great alternative to a lazy night at the movies or a crazy night out drinking.
