The PE Express visited Algoa Grand Prix Indoor Go-Karting at the Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre last Thursday to experience first-hand what the hype was about. Tanya van Zyl and Zeldré Strauss Swanepoel put their notebooks away and got behind the steering wheel of a 200cc go-kart.
ON your marks . . . get set . . .GO!
The light goes green and we’re off. At the first left turn I get stuck – I took the corner too quick. “Oh no! HELP!” I yelled, checking to see how far ahead my colleague Zeldré is.
Now, I know it’s not a race – I did try to convince myself of this, but we are on a race track after all and I just can’t help it. After a push and a shove, I’m back on the track and I’m loving every second of it.
I eventually caught up with Zeldré and lapped her . . . twice! But she cruised at her own speed at which she was comfortable in and I drove like a maniac, or at least that is what it felt like. Turns out I’m not a Lewis Hamilton and that my fastest lap time of 00:29:885 isn’t even close to that of the league leaders.
But the adrenaline rush I felt while drifting around the corners and putting pedal to the metal made me feel like I was in an actual race – adrenaline heaven even.
Algoa Grand Prix Indoor Go-Karting was opened by Tom Hugo and Peter Schultz one year ago. “It was a lot of hard work opening up this place. The whole idea was to let it look and feel like a race course. We really try to recreate a real racing experience for the people,” Hugo said. They even have a very accurate electronic lap count system, he added.
They have 16 go-karts, of which four are junior cars (90cc). Children older than six years can ride their own kart or if they are not comfortable driving on their own, they can ride with an adult in a double car. Children younger than six, who are not allowed to drive yet, can also ride in the double car with an adult.
According to Hugo, paraplegic customers can also be accommodated with prior arrangement. “We have a mechanic who converts the regular kart to suit the paraplegic customer’s needs, but we need to be informed in advance,” he explained.
They also cater for corporate functions and parties of all kinds, from birthday parties to bachelor parties. Hugo said they also have a bar where people can relax after a race or where non-drivers can sit and watch all the action on the course.
They are open from 10:00 to 22:00 from Tuesdays to Saturday and from 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays.
On Mondays they host league racing.
In partnership with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
We’re giving four people the chance to experiece the go-karts for themselves.
- How to enter:
To win, simply like us on Facebook (PE Express) and find the video of the go-karts. Then answer the question and you could be a winner!
Winners will be contacted on Facebook.
