Go-karts allow people to experience the thrill of driving without having to hear radio ads for pungent soaps or look at four empty seats that remind them of the time someone stole their family of mannequins. Keep thrills pure with today's Groupon: for $60, you get three 10-lap go-karting sessions including kart rental and equipment at Action Karting in Morrison (a $120 value).
Between the towering peaks of Dinosaur Ridge and Hogback, Action Karting’s trackmasters send 8-and-older racers whizzing around a 17-turn track, decked in race-ready driving suits, helmets, gloves, and neck collars. Each 10-lap session begins with an overview of signal flags, a review of safety protocols, and the dos and don’ts of sponsorship-logo placement. Races on the outdoor track send speed demons squealing in Italian-made Parolin karts, whose 6.5-horsepower Honda engines can send drivers speed rocketing up to 55 mph. After riders finish burning rubber, they receive a printout of their lap times and top speeds. While green flags drop until dusk six days a week during the winter months, drivers planning an evening sprint should arrive one hour before sunset to avoid missing cutoffs or running into the packs of nocturnal marathon runners that inhabit the track at night.
Action Karting
Sandwiched between Dinosaur Ridge and the Hogback, Action Karting buzzes year-round with the sound of drivers zigzagging across its 17-turn outdoor track. The company's professional, Italian-made go-karts sport 6.5-horsepower Honda engines that power the pint-sized rides to speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. Before speedometers spring from zero, Action Karting's staff always delivers a safety speech that includes a review of hand signals, such as those for "left turn," "right turn," and "stop, collaborate, and listen." The track can also be rented out to host private events, including birthdays and corporate team-building events.