ILX LONDON (and environs) GO-KARTING!!

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(for some reason there isn't an "organised fun" category)

So, go-karting. It's wicked fun. There are any number of places around London to do it. It's expensive, but if you do an afternoon you get lots of organised-fun for your buck. There's no singing involved.

Anyone fancy it? When I mentioned it last time there seemed to be a decent response. Post away, ILX pioneers!

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha sorry to derail your thread already Mark, but if any Glasgow types are reading this and thinking "that's a good idea", me and the mister are planning go-karting a weekend very soon (like maybe the end of the month), and you may come join our numbers.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

10.30 at night is a bloody stupid time to start a UK-centric thread.

(have fun Ailsa!)

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG I Would fly to London to do this I think.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 10 May 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan otm, you aren't allowed to do this without us foreigners.

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

bring on it you twee fuckers

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

BRING ON IT! BRING ON IT!

― Newcleus ft Mos Def (Barima), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

On a related note, I received 100 pounds worth of paintballing vouchers from the crepe man at Exmouth market - I've never been paintballing, but it's been an object of fascination since I saw the episode of LA Law when Michael became rambo.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

There were loads of students around London in the summer offering discount deals on paintballing. One of them asked me, "Excuse me, do you like fun?" My response wass the only time I've ever acted out an ILX meme in public*.

*(no, not that one. Or that one. Or that one either, you disgusting pervertalists!).

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The go-karting idea fucking rocks. So does the paintballing one but I have been afeared ever since I saw PJ get improbably shot in both eyes and blinded in Byker Grove all those years ago. Also I think I would be rub at it. But I'd have a go anyway, if only to see Mad Dog Lasagne in action, possibly pistol-whipping his opponent in a fit of pique.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Heh heh, a fine idea. You all should go and rock.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt you'll be glad to know PJ recovered and went on to enjoy a mildly successful pop career before easing himself into the welcoming buttocks of Saturday night mainstream television.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I did paintball once and didn't enjoy it. I got shot on the cheek, and no not the face. I also bust my knee trying to copy Arnie in Predator when he glides down the embankment seemingly by magic. I guess I'm just not bank manager material.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It's murder on the knees, is paintballing.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Please make this after the 24th!! I want to do this! Although the one time I went go-karting I got paranoid that the guy in the control booth was secretly controlling the outcome of the race.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Did he make your go-kart beep?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Can we please do this again in September so that I can help with the fun-having?

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

My go-kart was suspiciously underpowered, as I tried to tell everyone at the time. Eventually they agreed with me.

I may be too competitive to handle this actually.

roxy that would be awesome if you came over!@@!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I am a go-karting champion with a Pigeon Forge pedigree.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 10 May 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

after the dodgems on saturday i'm all up for go-karting and i'll ram each and every one of you off the track before winning triumphantly.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 10 May 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

as opposed to winning in a defeated manner.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 10 May 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Brilliant idea.

As far as I can tell, London only has three go-kart tracks, and here they are:

1. http://www.revolutionkarting.com (Mile End)

2. http://www.playscape.co.uk/karting/index.html (Streatham)

3. http://www.theraceway.net/showpage.asp?ID=2 (King's Cross)

I think the Mile End one looks the coolest, but then again I would...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 10 May 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

A little research for a trip to Canada last year revealed that the biggest karting facility in North America is in Montreal. Open 24 hrs. a day.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I will go-kart the shit out of all you motherfuckers

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 00:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i'd quite like to do this - i used to love go-karting - but i fear it could be rather expensive.

paintballing is fantastic. i've only done it once, but i really really want to go again.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 05:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Thing you should know about paintballing if you've never been: it REALLY HURTS when you get hit.

I've never done this go-karting. I fear I may have untapped stores of road-rage ready to manifest the second I'm behind a steering wheel.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Pain is good. There's no point in playing without the fear of actual physical pain, otherwise everyone would just be running around shooting all over the place.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:24 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG I am so up for this. I have done some serious go-karting in Canada, so I'm sure I can handle your puny British tracks.

Roxy, Ken, TOMBOT... I will mop the asphalt with you chumps. BRING IT ON.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:25 (twenty-one years ago)

On Saturday afternoon I spent about three or four minutes attempting in vain to move my car out of a jam between a wall and another car. ON THE DODGEMS.

I am going to be the worst go-karter ever, clearly.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha I went on a couple of motorsports adventure holiday things when I was a kid - I still want my own quad bike. But go-karting is a reasonable substitute, oh yes.

Horrible bruises from the dodgy dodgems on Saturday though.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Pain is good. There's no point in playing without the fear of actual physical pain, otherwise everyone would just be running around shooting all over the place.

matt otm. there were some 10 yr olds playing with us when we went, and one of them said something like that before going in, and i thought he was a dick. then i got hit and realised how right he was.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:43 (twenty-one years ago)

at the end of the game last time I played they did a free for all for everyone to get rid of their leftover ammo. I had sort of an action movie moment. I was firing at someone and I got hit in the back, like right in the centre of my back, it was agony. I didn't know who'd done it though, and was wondering when I got hit like 3 more times in the exact same place. At this point I think whatever primal rage kicks in in extreme pain was well underway, so I wheeled around to try and find who did it.

I saw the guy, in a sort of alcove a bit away from me, I got hit in the shoulder but at this stage it didn't matter, I was on a mission. So I began running towards the sort of wooden mini-room he was in, in a rage, he fired at me and hit my hand, I returned fire and then as I got closer I heard a clicking noise. He tried to fire again "CLICK" "CLICK"......

My revenge was swift.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:56 (twenty-one years ago)

In other words, it's like the best adrenalin rush ever. And it really is a good thing to do to get you in the mood for a night of drinking.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 07:57 (twenty-one years ago)

You shot him in the face, didn't you Ronan?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:08 (twenty-one years ago)

yes actually.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I bought him a guide dog after though

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i want to do this! although i was nearly as crap as matt dc at steering the dodgems, and half my right leg is green and purple, so i'll so not win.

a little scared of paintball. first, it's something my friends in michigan that also loved real guns used to do when they couldn't go shoot bambi or whatever, so it has weird associations for me. also, i bruise SO EASILY and will end up with hickey-looking bruises all over my body, i'm sure. and in my humble opinion, there's way more fun ways to accomplish that.

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Go karting is fun, though the only time I went I ended up with a cracked rib. Owie owie. Also drivers have a natural advantage, obv.

Paintball is really ugly. It doesn't bring out the best in anyone. And it hurts like fuck, and the next day and the one after.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:41 (twenty-one years ago)

i heart karting too - which surprises people. if this happens, count me in

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Also drivers have a natural advantage, obv.

no as it means i take them out first, bwahaha

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I think you're thinking of some "go-karts with paintball turrets in the back" hybrid there, Steve.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Holy guacamole, that would be great.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Mad Max with go-karts - ace!

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:17 (twenty-one years ago)

some of us like to improvise

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

We have to dress up like these guys:

http://www.fast-rewind.com/madmax22.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I really wasn't expecting such a positive response. I guess I'll actually have to follow through with this now.

For my mate's stag, 15 of us went go-karting in Saaaahfend. We had a full afternoon's org-fun for £39, which wasn't too bad, really. My thinking is that a track in the home counties might work out better in a fun-per-buck stylee, but if Charlie's London tracks look good, I'll put together a proposal and people can sign up if they fancy it.

I think the number of people we have might determine what we can do. In Southend, there were 4 groups who took it in turns doing qualifying heats - there were between 8 and 18 in each group. But there wasn't too much standing around.

The other thing is that people who commit to this will have to give a deposit, so think seriously about it before saying yes. I'll do some proper research and get back to you.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:30 (twenty-one years ago)

As for paint-balling, I was apprehensive/terrified, but it was wicked fun. Yes, it does hurt, but as Matt says, it needs to. The tension is very real and your adrenaline goes like stink. The bruises (if you're a bloke at least) get shown off for days afterwards as trophies of how fuckin' hard you are.

Fans of Barry may like to know I was caught in exactly the same situation as Ronan. I'll leave you to imagine how I took my revenge.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I'm quite serious. Deposit and all. But the key thing we haven't talked about is WHEN

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:33 (twenty-one years ago)

The bruises (if you're a bloke at least) get shown off for days afterwards as trophies of how fuckin' hard you are.

and if you're a girl you get to show them off as evidence that your boyfriend is beating you (joking).

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I've only go-karted a couple of times, all in Hamburg at least 10 years ago. Only a tiny track but a mess of fun anyways.

Do drivers really have that much of an advantage? I got the impression from the websites I listed above that the karts are comically rudimentary, ie. they go forwards and backwards, no other gears etc.

I think you're thinking of some "go-karts with paintball turrets in the back" hybrid there, Steve.

Oh BRING it the fuck ON!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Can we throw some lasers in there for good measure?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, how "serious" are these go-kart tracks here? The ones I've been on were short, and the karts themselves were all speed-limited (you couldn't spin out if you tried). There is talk above of 'heats' which leads me to believe this is a bit more 4real. Are the karts really fast? I bloody well hope so. I ALWAYS want the karts to go faster...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:56 (twenty-one years ago)

This is what I mean by "serious"
http://www.albergoaurora.it/images/imgalbergo/gokart.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 09:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Rob, I can only speak of my recent experience, but the karts are 200cc and reach 40 mph. You get G-forces and shit. And you very much can spin out.

(yeah, they look like them, only indoors and less decaled)

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:04 (twenty-one years ago)

200cc? Bah. My 1974 Vespa is 200cc...

I want one that looks like THIS
http://www.aardvark.co.nz/pjet/images/crazy1.jpg

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Your vespa is probably a similar weight too. Anyway, you're not coming, that's fine.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Does it come with free Wallace & Gromit?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:07 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.homestead.com/herbie53/files/herbie2.jpg
Me, celebrating my last go-kart win, yesterday

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:08 (twenty-one years ago)

they didn't notice you were actually driving a proper car?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyway, you're not coming, that's fine.

OK Barry, we'll just settle this on the track, shall we?

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:24 (twenty-one years ago)

That's the beauty of competing in the David Blunkett sponsored go-karting championships, Steve.

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I AM SO JEALOUS NOW

Hey BostoniteS: Fancy an F1 race in Braintree?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I think you're thinking of some "go-karts with paintball turrets in the back" hybrid there, Steve.

dude it's already been done.
http://www.gamecubeland.com/images/screenshots/mkdde34.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG If I found a Mario Kart-themed go-kart track, I WOULD NEVER LEAVE.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

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