Worst go karts in the world, even worse customer service
This has been my worst Kart experience so far, not just in Australia, but in the world (I've been driving karts in at least 15 different places worldwide as really love it).
We got there at 6.40pm (a group of 8 people) and paid $165 each for a grand prix experience on 13hp karts (which are supposed to be their best)...
After we paid, we are left to ourselves, no one to tell us where to go and what to do. We ask, and the receptionist tell us to go next to a small gate to meet the 'supervisor' (?).
He, angry as sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket, explains the rules, we are given a kart number and jump onboard. The Karts are awful, they are extremely old and it's clear that maintenance is absent.
We start the warm up (3 laps) that end up being warm up and heat laps all together (about 13 minutes).
My kart doesn't keep the speed (like a car with a faulty hiccup engine), after about 2 laps it simply stops... 5 minutes before someone realizes I'm there, and finally they send someone, they give me another kart and I try to enjoy the rest of the laps.
The tires have literally no grip, at every corner you go spinning unless you almost stop the kart to take it, which is what they want you to do. We finish the 13 minutes and without even leaving the kart for a break we are put on the nonexistent grid (no sign on the track) and get started at the green light for another 10 min heat.
All our karts get slowed down for at least 30% of the race, some of us get called to the pit because we go into the sand (as if we liked that), the karts were just the most unstable ones. And 3 of the karts stopped, like mine at the beginning.
We finish the 2nd heat (total on track 23 minutes with no break) and are finally allowed to rest.
There are no screens with time, no water or snacks given (after paying a total of $1320 for 8 people), no one to ask anything to, a kind of The Walking dead scenario. We meet the receptionist on her way to the toilet and ask for the time, 'yeah I'll print that' she said.
Just a piece of paper with the times on it. Fair enough.
We jump on the kart for this 20min final, no grid start, like one after the other with no order based on previous times, and since the beginning my kart (already the 2nd one) is slowed down. Like... a baby kart.
I go back to the pit and ask what's this? the supervisor said 'Ahh yeah you know why?' expecting me to beg him to reveal the mistery... 'please Mr supervisor enlighten me'... 'There is a block here on the side' he said.
I was furious.. 'how am I supposed to know that someone blocked it with the kart level??'
'yeah I know it's not your fault, do you wanna continue?' he asks
I tried to contain my rage and went back on track, 3 laps were ok and then again... I went back to the pit, jumped out of the kart and just yelled at the supervisor and the receptionist that this is all a joke.
He said he will call the manager at the end of the final. The final ends and all my friends are boiling because of the kart performances, either slowed down, or simply broken and not able to keep the speed.
When they complain, the manager told them 'You should have come back to the pit earlier then'...
In the meanwhile she said she will refund my money.
The underage boy working there calls us for the 'prize ceremony'. Alone in the dark, next to a smelly toilet, using his phone torch he tried to read the first 3 names on the list and called them to get their medals. No one of the group felt like celebrating anything, really, other than the fact that it was finally over.
At the time of the refund, the biggest suprise, they plan to refund $85 out of the 165 paid (but just for me). ... ... Livid on our faces we ask WHAT???
'I'm refunding the final' she said... 'and to the other I can give a credit to use the next time'.. AH! Next time yeah
I don't think further comments are needed here, other than telling you that we left the field after the nice 'supervisor' literally told us to F*** off!
We gently reciprocated his invitation and left, angry, hungry, thirsty and extremely disappointed.
The only reason why places like this work is because there is no much competition, that's a common issue in Australia, hence people come because they have no choice.
Go to places like Luddenham or Ultimate Kart Sydney if you want to have fun and value for your money, but most then ever, respect.
Enjoy your ride!
Ang
May 20, 2019
Unprompted review
