We are well along in the “new normal” in terms of the industry having bounced back to pre-covid levels and in many cases, well beyond. Unfortunately some operations did not survive for many different reasons.
This article is directed to the survivors, thrivers and those new to the industry.
it’s time to take another look at concession go-kart tracks and their appeal to a very wide demographic. Go-karts are becoming even more popular and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
Today’s “new normal” presents a different landscape with respect to operations that are no longer with us, survivors that rebounded and a growing number of new players. The industry is seeing a rapid expansion in indoor “electric” tracks, largely due to major national chains expanding into medium and large metropolitan markets.
This year has great potential for the go-kart industry, but can be tempered by competition, market demand and the ongoing economy. Not all will continue to see growth, with some even becoming roadkill. Obsolescence, primitive track configurations, untrained staff, poor selection of location, new competition and a failure to recognize that today’s guests are more sophisticated and have greater expectations can all contribute to reduced success or failure.
Time Waits for No One:
A prime factor to consider is time. It waits for no one. For those with well-designed and operated facilities it may not be a critical issue in preparing to go “full bore.” The time factor can however become critical for those that have not renovated, upgraded or expanded their operations.
For some the clock is ticking and the longer they wait to give serious consideration as to how they will perform in today’s marketplace, the longer it will take to get positive movement in attendance and revenues. It should be noted that most facilities take more time in planning and design, obtaining zoning and design approvals and construction permitting approval phases than they do in the actual construction.
Wise management should give serious consideration to determining as soon as possible the best course of action to take. Time lost is time gone, but incorrect timing can also result in regrets. For many, the time spent now in sound preparation as much as possible is invaluable. Not all steps in haste results in success. Why is it that for some “there is never enough time to do it right the first time but always time to do it over.”
Unfortunately poor planning results in operating time lost. There are no time do-overs. Many factors enter into establishing the correct timing for a given project and they can vary greatly from one concept to another. For some, scheduling a delay may actually benefit the future success.
Go-Karts Draw Guests from Greater Distances:
Historically family entertainment center go-kart tracks have proven to be the attraction that draws guests from the greatest distances, both for outdoor and indoor operations. In today’s “normal” the timing and frequency of return visits by previous facility guests may be influenced by their becoming more selective in when they begin visiting FECs and which ones they will select.
While a major magnet attraction at most facilities, not all the existing tracks will prove to be as successful. Many facilities have operated for many years with tracks that have proven to be less exciting (boring?) due to older less challenging designs or outdated equipment that can’t compete with experiences offered by competition with newer and more entertaining designs and equipment.
Tracks Must be More Exciting and Challenging:
The potential for success will not be uniform. Not all existing go-kart tracks will experience equal levels of success. There is a strong probability that many older, more primitive designs will experience rapid declines in ridership as completion heats up and the variety of track configurations available today continues to expand. Guests have higher expectations in terms of what they consider as being entertaining and exciting. No longer can owner/operators be assured that almost any design will be successful. Driving around an oval or a track with long straights and wide radius curves will not satisfy any but the young and inexperienced kart drivers. Competition mandates more thought in the selection of designs that can win within local markets.
While a facility’s local target market may not contain go-kart tracks to compete with, the overall package of attractions at Brand X FEC may present a far greater entertainment value. When this occurs, local guests finding the overall Brand X package to be more worthwhile and a better choice, may well forego a mediocre go-kart ride and visit your competitor..
Many Issues can Impact Attendance:
There are many elements at given facilities that may have lower appeal in the new normal. Go-karts may not be the main culprits. The entertainment value of a go-kart track’s design may not be the overriding reason for reduced guest interest at many facilities. Many issues can result in lower repeat attendance. Some of the more obvious ones are a poor or messy appearance, lack of maintenance, poor staff appearance, attitude or training, equipment outdated or in poor repair and overall lack of atmosphere. Guests that don’t feel important are far less likely to return.
A facility doesn’t have to be the newest, with all of the latest attractions and the broadest mix in order to be successful. It does however have to generate a comfortable and happy experience, which includes both the overall feeling of being a guest rather than a customer and an overall mix of experiences that generate a feeling of having had an entertaining experience, worth the time and cost.
It is important that the go-kart track is clean, well maintained, equipped with well-maintained karts and staffed by people committed to providing guests a happy, safe and entertaining experience. This can go a long way in staying competitive even when all your attractions are the “latest and greatest.”
Moving from Contemplation to Action:
The specific degree of success that can be achieved is tempered by the level of entertainment and excitement generated by each element in your facility. This article will concentrate on possible steps that can be taken to improve the design, appearance and excitement that can be made to existing go-kart track(s). Most of which can also be applied to other attractions as well. Many of the comments will seem automatic and therefore redundant. Unfortunately there are many operators than have overlooked some or all of them in the past.
Improving Visual Impact:
The guest’s overall impression begins with the visual appearance they see as they approach a go-kart track. A well maintained physical appearance begins a positive experience. This includes the pit structure (canopy), queue lines, exterior perimeter fence, track safety barrier system, condition of track surface, track lighting and the go-karts. This includes actual condition, cleanliness and maintenance.
Track Barriers Can have Impact:
The track safety barrier system is a very visible element in the guest’s initial perception. A positive observation beats a negative one. There are many different track safety barrier systems in use and each has its own set of features to be considered.
To make a positive impression it is important to check out the safety barrier’s overall condition, replacing all broken or damaged elements. For the steel rail/automobile tire systems, check the rail for kinks and surface condition, check the tires for general condition, make certain all white sidewalls face down, inspect individual tires for being compressed or stretched and properly connected to the rail and to the post, angle plate or backing curb. For tires wrapped around backing posts straight out the rail elements until the tires are back in a round condition. Double check rail skid plates and track drainage elements.
For other types of barrier systems look for failed or failing anchors and connections, replace torn or failed units (spring assemblies, plastic wall units, plastic or composite rail elements and the overall pavement condition. Repair all pavement cracks, spalling and joints.
Check for proper signage, repair damaged units and update as needed. Double check all fire extinguishers and emergency boxes for appropriate emergency items. This includes safe distancing and other instructions and warnings that may still be required by state or local rules.
Importance of Track Staff Appearance and Dealing with Guests:
A major element in the visual impact is the appearance and personality of the track staff. Smiles, and friendly behavior, as well as throughout the entire facility, clean uniforms (even if the uniform only consists of a “T” shirt with the company logo, go a long way in maintaining a positive impression. Smiles are major assets in the overall positive impression guests receive. .
Review all Elements:
Review the track lighting system for uniformity and lighting levels. Inspect and update any failing track lighting elements. Inspect kart transponders and adjust or replace faulty units. Check out Kartrol pavement loops.
Maintaining Safe and Comfortable Atmosphere:
It is also very important that guests be reminded that foul language, physical harassment and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. More than a few facilities have gone out of business due to management permitting any of the above issues exist. Four or five unruly individuals can cost a facility hundreds family units and individuals deciding not to return because of uncomfortable conditions.
Permitting guests to bump into other karts, creating a demolition derby environment, is a sure way to reduce repeat visits by the other guests, as well as introducing the potential for injuries and damage to karts and track facilities. This should never be tolerated.
Facility lighting and background music can also have an impact on guest comfort. Dark, noisy surroundings tend to drive away far more guests than they attract. Go-kart track and other outdoor attractions are far more appealing when they are well illuminated. Track safety also improves with effective lighting.
Improving Existing Track Elements:
Guests continually develop greater expectations and will not visit existing tracks with long, boring straight elements which magnify the speed differential between karts, make the ride seem slower and provide the temptation for some drivers to start playing bumper tag or demolition derby. Where possible it would be wise to consider redesigning a portion of these sections to introduce geometric modifications that add curvature and banking that require greater driver attention.
The addition of curves and varied track banking can add a feeling of speed without actually increasing the speed. It also reduces the need for bumping to have a fun ride. We would recommend that an experienced track designer be consulted.
Some Go-Kart Tracks have Long Passed their Prime:
Some tracks are so poorly designed or have fallen into such severe disrepair that the only solution is to replace them. When you arrive at that conclusion, take the time to evaluate your options. For some markets the cost of replacing the track might not offer sufficient revenues to justify replacing the track. This could be for a number of reasons. The available space is not conducive for creating a competitive track configuration (too small, too narrow, hard to find on site or other site specific problems). Your existing target market has too many competitors, the site location is difficult to reach because of a bad regional roadway network or the surrounding neighborhood has become unappealing because of community blight and/or high crime rates.
A number of tracks in operation have poor revenues due specifically to management failing to recognize that some or all of their karts are unappealing, uncomfortable and in some cases unsafe. Replacing the existing fleet with karts that look current and are well maintained can often be the most important move that can turn an operation into a profitable one. This does not diminish consideration of the other listed comments.
Designing a New, Entertaining, Exciting and Challenging Track:
Unfortunately many tracks have outlived their productive lives, are in serious disrepair or too boring to have a strong appeal. Most track designers will tell you they use the best concepts, construction methods and specifications. Some may actually deliver. Most new tracks being constructed today actually look surprisingly similar to tracks designed twenty years ago. That’s because they replicate concepts that were successful in the past. The potential for future success may not be as strong when competitive facilities are developed within the same market.
Elevated Go-Kart Tracks:
We will make a few comments on elevated track structures and then move back to the more conventional type tracks that have a better chance for success in the vast majority of markets.
Elevated tracks are far more expensive and have less return visit potential of surface tracks. A notable exception is in the large tourism centers with their heavy concentrations of guests with disposable cash and limited time schedules. The unique visibility of the elevated structures provides a competitive wow effect.
The concept is more than 30 years old and has been moving from primitive “homemade” wooden structures consisting of telephone pole columns, simple wood framing and wooden plank track surfaces to more modern and more costly steel and concrete structures. Many of the earlier versions are still in use today. Most proved to have high maintenance costs, provided rather simple driving experiences and had low repeat visit performance. As they were constructed in high tourism markets with a constantly changing flow of guests, their novelty carried the day. The novelty generated the urge for taking the first ride, but the anticipation often exceeded the experience. Rough rides and rather boring driving patterns both contributed to greatly lower repeat rides
More modern design concepts have evolved with a number of steel and concrete designs being constructed. The change in construction methods and materials offers many operational advantages over the earlier wooden structures. While maintenance costs are lower and the rides smoother, the initial construction costs increase significantly with the steel and concrete structures. These significant costs relegate the use of these tracks to a limited number of potential markets. While these structures have a place in tourism or large metropolitan areas, it would take a very long time for most of the country’s existing facilities to see a reasonable return on investment.
Designing New More Appealing Tracks:
For a sizable segment of the current go-kart track world, the most effective option is to create a new design that introduces more changes in direction, varied banking of curves and where practical the introduction of grade changes that impact on driving performance. To maximize the driving experience, our firm always combines as many of these elements in each track design as can realistically be included.
We enhance the entertainment potential of the track by designing the pit entrances and exits to permit the reversing of the direction traveled on the track by merely turning the karts around and parking in the pit facing in the opposite direction. We have also created this option for electric go karts by working with the kart manufacturer(s) to make minor modifications to their pit lane charging plates to make charging in the reverse direction automatic.
Giving careful attention to the total degrees of turn, keeping straight segments short, modifying banking and selecting proper grade change locations on the track, result in drivers paying attention to the track ahead. These changes result in the illusion of karts moving faster and reduce or eliminate individuals trying to play “demolition derby” because of boredom.
Effective Design Elements improve Safety:
The proper design of pit entrance/exit locations and overall effective flow includes consideration of the efficient and safe movement of karts entering the or leaving the pit and individual pit lanes. Lack of efficient movements can result in sizable time delays, reducing the number of runs per hour and ultimately impaction on potential revenues.
Track Curves and Banking:
Boring tracks drive guests away. The provision of long straight elements becomes boring for the typical go-kart fan. Most go-kart will reach their governed top peed within 25 feet of exiting a curve. This results in the illusion of the kart actually slowing down and becomes the breeding ground for thoughts of demolition derby or bumper tag activities by some drivers, leading to damage to karts and barrier systems, injuries to unsuspecting drivers and developing a bad reputation for the facility.
Addressing ADA Requirements for Pit Configurations
Many jurisdictions require strict adherence to ADA guidelines for maximum sidewalk grades and cross slopes up to and including within the pit loading area. Our pit designs address the proper configuration of the approaches, safe and efficient entry and exit locations, and provision of ADA compliant grades and cross slopes, entry/exit configuration and storage for guests using wheelchairs. While the number of times guests requiring these accommodations may be few and far between, the laws are in place and most reviewing agencies will enforce them.
We recommend that any improvements beyond current ADA mandated design not be undertaken by individual facilities due to potential assumption of liability not covered by the facility’s liability insurance policy.
Track Safety Barriers:
There are many track safety barrier systems on the market. This writer strongly recommends and specifies the barrier curb and gutter backed automobile tires with a vertical steel barrier plat on the trackside as the most effective energy absorbing barrier system when considering both tangent and curved track elements.
There are numerous other concepts on the market that range from very effective to others providing minimal actual safety at best. Some systems have impressive appearance and portions function well, while other segments are inadequate. A typical example would be curved sections having springs or other energy absorbing elements, while straight section elements may only have stiff vertical anchors with little or no energy absorbing capability.
A safe barrier system should first of all contain karts on the track. The barrier should also secondly provide energy absorption to reduce the effect of kart/barrier impacts. On impact with the barrier they should reduce the impact effect on the driver, passenger and the kart itself. In most instances they should also actually redirect karts in the direction they were moving at the time of impact.
Making the Track Better Physically:
Physically improving the overall riding experience on existing tracks begins with walking (or riding) the track taking note of barrier systems, pavement surfaces, drainage and other visible attributes. Cracked pavement can often be corrected by crack sealing if minor, or slab replacement if severe. Rough pavement surfaces can often be improved by grinding to restore a smooth surface to reduce tire wear.
Old tires should be replaced in steel plate/auto tire/anchor barrier systems. Deformed or kinked rails should be straightened. All welds, bolts or other connecting elements shall be checked for integrity and repaired if deficient. Old sun rotted, collapsed, torn or otherwise distressed shall be replaced.
Some tracks may have developed dips in their profile due poorly compacted embankment (or construction over unsuitable soils). In serious problem areas this can result in cracked or broken pavement. Should this occur, it is important that you have a geotechnical firm investigate the cause and make recommendations for correcting the problem.
Conclusions:
Go-kart tracks have proven to be major magnet attractions for a wide range of family entertainment centers and stand-alone go-kart operations. As effective participatory attractions they will continue to be effective and popular attractions far into the future. Not all current tracks will continue to be relevant because of overly simplistic design, obsolescence, poor maintenance or other circumstances. Most major changes or additions have to move through the concept, design, permitting process prior to actual construction operations.
Time never stands still. Each owner/operator has to make their own assessment of the impact their course of action at this time will have on their ultimate success or failure. They must consider the realities associated with the real time related factors that determine when any physical changes, up-grades or additions can actually occur.
If we can be of assistance or provide answers to your questions, feel free to contact us by phone at 847-561-7013 or by e-mail at
Peter is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Illinois and Michigan and is President of Entertainment Concepts, Inc. (formerly Peter F. Olesen and Associates, Inc.). He founded the firm in 1984 and expanded its range of consulting services over the years to now provide a wide range of consulting services. Services range from preliminary site evaluations, feasibility studies, business plan assistance, concept development, master planning, design and construction engineering services that apply to new facilities as well as renovation or expansion of existing facilities. Projects include the design of both outdoor and indoor, family entertainment centers, amusement parks, theme parks, stand-alone go-kart tracks and miniature golf courses, bumper boat ponds and related attractions. The firm has been and continues to be at the forefront of go-kart, miniature golf course and bumper boat pond design, introducing many innovations in safety, geometrics, design and construction methods now widely emulated throughout the industry.
To date the firm has completed more than 670 projects spanning 46 states, Angola, Brunei, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan), Cuba (Guantanamo Bay), Kazakhstan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Since 1987 Mr. Olesen has exhibited at more than 100 industry trade shows. He is a member of the faculty of Foundations Entertainment University (49 seminar presentations over 17 years), presented more than 100 seminar presentations at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, FunExpo, Kart Expo and Leisure Expo, as well presenting go-kart safety seminars for the State of Ohio. He has, and continues to author articles for industry magazines and internet newsletters. For additional information on projects and services offered please refer to our web page www.fecdesigners.com or contact us at 847-561-7013 or www.peteolesen @yahoo.com.
Copyright: Entertainment Concepts, Inc. 2024
