My first Go-Karting experience
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
On April 30th, I finally fulfilled my long-awaited (for a week) wish, To Go-Kart. It is a sport where you race with 12 other contestants on an indoor track with electric-powered kart-like racecars. This is done to mimic F1 racing, making it viable for more common people. So here is the story, of my first Go-Karting experience.
I like to follow F1 racing updates these recent days and found that there was a similar type of easier racing called go-karting. So, one day, I silently went up to my dad and slyly did some small talk before introducing this Go-Karting. I then got the courage to ask,
“Dad, are there any Go-Karting tracks in Kuwait?”
“Yes, in Wafra I think. Why?”.
“I just want to try it out I guess?” (Tried to make it as nonchalant as possible)
“We will see.”
2 or 3 days passed, and I reminded him again for going to the Go-Karting circuit. He just nodded, then came back sometime later with the good news that there was a fully international standard Grand Prix circuit, the Sodi circuit, in Kuwait. They join the Juniors and Adults tracks to form that circuit. All this, in Al-Kout Mall.
I and my family left for the ‘Q8 racing’ Go-Kart track. It looked like a normal car-themed clothing shop from the outside but featured fancy receptions and lifts to the actual mini-mall-like area with the circuit going under, around, and above it. My sister went for the junior circuit, which was an ovaloid literal circuit with 60kph karts, and was happy with it, though she was too afraid to press the accelerator. But I was nervous. Let’s say that I am shorter than the average 14-year-old and look like a 12-year-old child. ‘What if they don’t let me go on the 13+ adult track?’. The enormous speed of the adult karts and the karts handsomely skidding through the corners and giving sounds like an actual F1 car did not help. I even had the urge to stand tiptoed to appear taller to the receptionist while booking the ticket. But Thank God, they allowed me.
They give me cool fabric headcovers and helmets, which fitted me (Again, Thank God). Then, I stepped into the waiting room and waited, seeing the instructions video for grand Prix racers, thinking I must follow those instructions. 5 minutes of useless memorizing of what the flags mean, and then I stepped into the pit lane, where all 12 karts were parked. Only one embarrassing moment when the help lady put an extra plastic seat for me to sit on so that I can reach the pedal, and they opened the pit lane to the track!
I guess I lied while saying only one embarrassing moment. I went very slow and gingerly, afraid that the kart will crash, and went too slowly. And came 12th. At first, I thought this was like f1 and I had to brake before the corners. But I was wrong. It cost me time. And then I did something to overtake 6 people to come 6th. Once I realized how to use the kart, the formation lap was just over. And what took me by surprise, was that my kart suddenly jerked forward at full speed when I crossed the start line. Many people were easy to overtake (mainly because they kept crashing around), and guess what? I came 3rd. Only two people in front of me. Unfortunately, the top 6 were pros. One distraction where I waved to my parents at one time and crashed into a wall. Somehow made it to 6th afterward.
So that was my first race go-karting. It is a great experience, makes you think like you are in an actual race, and makes you feel great. You should check out the Q8 racing go-karting circuit, it’s a must-go place, especially when you are bored on the weekends or during the holidays.
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