If you’ve ever wanted to channel your inner Hamilton or Schumacher but didn’t know how, well you probably haven’t tried driving a go-kart. This high-speed, thrill-seeking sport has been available in Goa for many years now thanks to the folks at Goa Karting and is easily accessible thanks to their two tracks situated conveniently in the north and south.
For the uninitiated, go-karts are best described as a small and lightweight race car, designed for one person. Given the small wheel size, the driver is very close to the ground and basically takes up the entire car. The engine is situated behind the driver, with no gear shift to worry about, driving a go-kart is as simple as accelerate, steer, and brake – though it’s often not as easy as it sounds.
The types of go-karts available
Goa Karting provides two distinct variants of go-karts, depending on your skill level. For those average drivers looking for a bit of fun on the weekends, the lower powered go-karts are equipped with a 6HP 4 stroke Honda engine. More experienced drivers, however, can opt for the pro go-karts which come equipped with 13HP 4 stroke Honda engines. Needless to say, even at a beginner level, the lower powered karts are fast enough to get your adrenaline pumping!
Track I and Track II
If you’re located in the south, you can get your karting fix at Track I which is situated in Nuvem on the Margao-Panjim Highway, behind the Tata Motors Showroom. This track is a popular hang out for youngsters because of its beautiful scenic location on a hill. The track which is over 400 meters in length is fast with a couple of technical corners, especially on line and braking. Apart from karting, this particular track has played host to events such as the Kingfisher Voice of Goa, Vans New Wave Music Festival, and the finals of Force India’s “One From a Billion”.
The second track, Track II, is situated in Arpora, right next to the extremely popular Saturday Night Market. It is around 340 meters in length and has a lot of U shaped turns and narrow stretches to provide thrill seekers the required adrenaline rush.
Driving safe
It is important to note that Goa Karting ensures the safety of its drivers above all else. Before stepping into a go-kart, participants are asked to sign an indemnity form and are issued the required safety gear, which includes a crash helmet. There are a number of pre-requisites that need to be adhered to with regards to hair and clothing, failing which, admission to the track can be denied. It’s best to check out their full terms and conditions on their website here. Pricing for the day is very reasonable, roughly Rs. 400 for 10 laps.
So if you’re looking to skip the sand and water in favor of something that could get your heart pumping, then this is definitely it!
Contact Information
Track I
Margao Panjim Highway, Behind Tata Motors Showroom, Nuvem, South Goa
Tel: +91 – 832 – 2757899
Contact person – Jack
Open from: Tuesday to Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Monsoon hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Track II
S.No.55, Arpora – Calangute Road, Arpora, Bardez, North Goa
Tel: +91 – 73789 34506
Contact person – Mario / Anthony
Open from: Tuesday to Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Monsoon hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
