Niagara Speedway open for business
Drivers … start your engines.
The new Niagara Speedway attraction, North America’s largest elevated go-kart track and the first of its kind in Canada, opened for business Thursday on Clifton Hill.
The Mario Kart-style multilevel go-kart track was originally set to open June 1.
“We completed all our inspections and we had the sign-off from the (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) which is the Ontario regulator so we were ready to go and decided to go ahead and open,” said Harry Oakes, president of HOCO Ltd.
Word quickly spread through social media that the highlyanticipated attraction was open and crowds quickly formed as people clamoured to be among the first to enjoy the ride.
“We had a lot of positive comments,” Oakes said. “A lot of smiling faces coming off the ride.”
Oakes said the Niagara Speedway is a combination of traditional go-karts with a roller coasterstyle track.
“It’s like go-karts on steroids,” he said.
“You drive on a road course for a portion of the race then spiral up to about 40 feet and then come down a long hill…kind of like the way a wooden coaster would be.”
The course is spread over four acres and includes a four-storey spiral.
“There are very few tracks that have all those elements so you’ll have a very unique driving experience,” Oakes said.
The karts, which have 9-horse power Honda engines, have a maximum track speed of 32 kilometres per hour.
The Niagara Speedway will be open spring, summer and fall, weather permitting. Daily operating hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $12 for riders and $4 for guests.
The track development was led by a Canadian and American consortium which included HOCO Ltd., Oregon’s J&J Amusements and architects Brent Butler and Roberto Narduzzo. VanBoxmeer, Stranges & Antonio of London, Ont. came up with the structural design. A number of local companies were also involved in the project including E.S. Fox, Cotton Inc. and Niagara Concrete Canada.
HOCO Ltd. owns and operates attractions, restaurants and shops on the south side of Clifton Hill. The Niagara Speedway is the final part of a larger, 10-acre project that included renovations to existing restaurants and new attractions.