Fun, fast and, yes, safe

THE LATEST attraction at the Impact complex in Muang Thong Thani is giving folks a chance to chase their Formula One dreams, driving at top speeds around the zigzagging track at Impact Speed Park.
You don’t have to be a skilled driver to tackle the course, but skill certainly helps when you’re trying to notch up fast times to win a place on the rankings board.
Thailand’s first all-electronic go-kart circuit is a gift to speed demons from Impact Exhibition Management, a subsidiary of Bangkok Land. Just opened last month, the Bt600-million track sits at the edge of the famous Lakeside, where 30 advanced Sodi RTX karts imported from France are at your disposal.

Impact Exhibition Management invested Bt600 million to set up Impact Speed Park, Thailand’s first electronic go-kart circuit.
Spread over 20,000 square metres, the site has an ultramodern headquarters building overlooking the 800-metre race track, plus the Breeze, a fusion-food restaurant that’s brimming with people happily exhausted from their laps or eager to get out there. 
Jintana Phongpakdee, director of corporate communications for Impact Exhibition Management, explains that the managing director, Paul Kanjanapas, is an experienced race car driver and was keen to share the thrills. 
“He wanted to build a world-class racing circuit for go-karting to give more people the same kind of driving experience. The latest addition to the Impact complex will add appeal, meeting more diverse interests, and it’s part of our mega-project that will include an Ibis budget hotel, a five-star Pullman hotel and a community mall, all right here.”

Safety on and alongside the track is top priority, Jintana says. “We have high-quality imported Tecpro Barriers to protect the drivers – not the usual stacks of tyres. The go-karts have eco-friendly electric batteries rather than diesel and gas engines, so there’s no noise or harmful emissions.” 
Tecpro Barriers, founded in 1998 by karting enthusiast Rafael Galiana, is said to be the world leader in racetrack safety, its polyethylene barriers in use on more than 300 courses around the world. The lightweight structures feature internal webbing to better absorb impacts. 

The innovative Sodi RTX electric karts pack an Engec Brushless engine that enables linear ramp-ups and stunning bursts of speed – from 10 to 60 kilometres per hour in minutes. Each one costs Bt300,000. A metal frame houses a fibreglass body and the total weight is just 280 kilograms. 
How safe are the karts? Jintana says it’s been calculated that, even when hitting the brakes while entering a curve, there’s a mere 0.001 per cent chance of anything dangerous happening, such as a summersault. 

“And our staff is watching at all times, ready to adjust the speed of any kart anywhere on the track by remote control if there’s potential for an accident. We also check the karts rigorously every day.” 

The go-kart has “smart” 2D Auto pedals and an “easy-fit” seat, which along with the steering wheel can be adjusted for driver ease and comfort. From the roll bar extends a four-point harness strapping the driver firmly in place.
Ready for an eight-minute lap, we register via an online system linked to our Facebook accounts and then head to the Briefing Room for a few preliminary lessons from the experts.
The go-karts are lined up in the Pit Lane, their four batteries fully charged in the course of just 10 minutes. Only 12 of the 30 karts are allowed on the track at any one time. 
Once equipped with a helmet (they’re available in three sizes), you look for your assigned kart’s number on a digital display, mount the beast, start the engine and you’re ready to roll. The aim is to hit the highest possible cumulative speed while doing as many laps as you can in the allotted time. If karting sounds simple, there are a few challenges to change your mind, especially when you’re trying to beat yourself. 

Jintana says the track is to be changed around regularly. “We’ll be revamping the design every month so that the drivers never get bored. And in the future we might move indoors so it can stay open even in the rainy season.”
Adding to the sense of Formula One authenticity, the pit-area restrooms have showers, lockers and places to get suited up. 
The course has already found a big fan in Noppawan Wongwanthanakit, a 31-year-old executive at Haier Electrical Appliance Thailand. 
“Go-karting is great if you’ve got a passion for speed,” she says from ample experience. “This park is safe and very professional in terms of the track standards, the electric go-karts and the rest of the technology. 
“The 60-kilometre speed limit sounds slow, but once the drivers get familiar with the track they can speed up to clock more laps, which is a good challenge – trying to beat yourself.
“I used to drive at another kart track downtown, where you could go quicker, but the course was unsafe. There were just piles of old tyres around the perimeter, and if you hit them at a fast speed you could get bounced out of the kart. I didn’t like the smell from the diesel engines either.”
Valisara Kalaithong, 33, who works in human resources, says the Impact track is highly enjoyable even when your skills are minimal. 
“This is my first time go-karting,” she says. “It’s certainly safer than driving fast on the highway! I was able to turn into the curves safely even at high speed. The high-standard track and modern speed-controlled go-karts keep everything safe.
“Now all I need to do is overcome my fear and I’ll make better time!” 
Drivers need to recharge their batteries too, so the Breeze has a wide mixed selection of Western and Eastern popular dishes, desserts and beverages. The spicy stir-fried Wagyu Beef with Basil is nice, served with rice, as are the rich Chicken Parmesan, juicy BBQ Pork Ribs and Honey Ham & Cheddar Melt Croissant Sandwich.

PICK UP THE PACE
>>Impact Speed Park is at the Lakeside in Muang Thong Thani. 
>> It’s open from 4 to midnight on weekdays and noon to midnight on weekends. 
>> Admission will be Bt650 (Bt520 for kids), but that’s discounted 30 per cent throughout this month. 
>> Find out more at (02) 055 8900 and www.ImpactSpeedPark.com.