By Mario Boucher
For ten minutes, you feel the rush—driving a state-of-the-art, high-speed electric kart pushing over 30 miles per hour through winding turns and sharp curves of the 1,000-foot racetrack.
RushHour Karting features a two-story indoor karting track, guaranteed to give you a heart-pumping experience. It is easy to underestimate the power of the electric karts. Once you get used to handling the wheel, there’s exhilaration as you navigate the three track sections, going down and around a tight corner.
“The racing can definitely be intimidating at the beginning, as this is real racing,” says Adam Saad, owner and operator of RushHour Karting. “But once you push the throttle and start going around the track, you feel a sense of excitement, and an adrenaline rush that is intense and exciting to the max!”
Numerous safety precautions are in place to ensure everyone is safe. “Our crew members detail the safety guidelines for our guests,” says Ryan Wagner, director of sales and marketing, “so the racer can just concentrate on having fun. The first time can be a little overwhelming until you get the hang of it and a sense of the track itself.”
VR Immersive Environment
Next on the docket was a virtual reality (VR) experience that captivates the imagination, transporting you to another dimension. State-of-the-art goggles and handsets place you in a truly immersive environment. In this 20’x30′ free-roam VR experience, you can play one of six games with up to four players, either as opponents or as teammates. “I can see the players on the screen and remind them when a round is almost over,” says Ian Aquino, track manager. “If they play as a team, I might warn them about opponents like zombies.”
We played Versus by Phenomena—a laser tag unlike any before. Your opponent can hide behind walls as you walk around trying to hit your target. It is a fast‑paced 10-minute game where every move counts!
Much to Choose From
When you enter RushHour Karting, you face a multitude of options. Hungry? There’s a chef-driven restaurant with plenty of tables, multiple big-screen TVs and a 50-foot Jumbotron. The two-level racetrack occupies a large portion of the building. You can also choose the VR room, arcade games, axe throwing with virtual targets, race simulators and a full-service bar. For golf aficionados, a golf simulator allows you to practice on multiple course options, such as the course at Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford.
“We’ve created an environment where families, friends, first dates, and even companies and teams can dive into something unique,” says Saad. “Guests can compete in the most high-tech axe-throwing system, complete with self-scoring and interactive games. Racing fans love our professional-grade racing simulators, which are used by real drivers and offer an incredible range of cars and tracks. Golf lovers can play on cutting-edge simulators that factor in elevation changes, making the experience feel like the real course.”
Reopening in Garner
RushHour’s Garner location at 5335 Raynor Road has been closed for major renovations, but is reopening for its 20th anniversary celebration beginning in July. The completed redesigned and longer track—now 1,600 feet—will be one of the largest tracks in the U.S. for gas-kart enthusiasts.
“With all turns being 20 feet wide, it allows more room for passing and a safer ride experience,” says Saad. “And a compelling elevation change, as this track is multi-level, for a whole new type of racing experience!”
The Mission Box is a new immersive gaming room where you interact with fully lit-up LED lights on the floor and walls. You can choose between nine games for two to six players, featuring up to 18 matrix screens and 260 floor tiles.
They’ve also added more than 60 of the latest video games, axe throwing, a high-end restaurant/sports bar, a 50-foot Jumbotron TV and more.
Being part of the Garner community has always been important to Saad. The original intent was a place “that companies could take their employees to, and experience true team bonding—and not from a ‘room only’ type of attraction, but one that was designed for adults and to help organizations develop a deep and real connection,” says Saad.
For the latest on the reopening of the Garner location, please visit rushhourkarting.com/garner-renovation.
