Andretti family thrilled about Orlando expansion
How does one refer to a group of Andrettis? Is it an army of Andrettis? A pack? A swarm? An oval? A trackful?
Whatever the nomenclature, we had one in Orlando last week. Legendary race-car driver Mario Andretti and his famed racing family gathered for a grand-opening/VIP event for the Andretti Indoor Karting and Games establishment near International Drive.
On hand were Mario, his sons Michael and Jeff, grandson Marco, nephews John and Adam, and great-nephew Jarrett. The attraction — which includes three go-kart tracks, two-level laser tag, racing simulators, bowling lanes, an arcade, bars and a restaurant — overlooks the east side of the Orange County Convention Center.
It’s the third such center for the family (the first two are in metropolitan Atlanta), and it’s a growing part of the family business. Here’s some of what Mario Andretti, now 77, had to say about joining the crowded entertainment field in Orlando.
On Central Florida as nobrainer for expansion: “This is the center of entertainment. Are you kidding? This is phenomenal. … We want to be a good neighbor and an asset to the community.”
On being near the convention center: “I’m pinching myself. … It’s amazing. It’s been under construction for a while, but the amount of buzz that I get while traveling … maybe an airline captain will say ‘Is that your place down there?’ It’s amazing, the visibility. Would we want to be anywhere else rather than here? No.”
On family pride: “This is very special because it’s the only enterprise where all of the racing Andrettis are involved. We all go in different directions, and we all have different opportunities. This is the only enterprise with all of us.”
On the attraction’s tracks: “You can let your hair down right off. The karts are really, really good. There’s good grip on them. You can find your way pretty quickly into the proper line and so forth. … The elevations are really, really something different. And the elevated corners — you can pull some G’s through there.”
On family pride, part two:
“We had Marissa, my granddaughter, out there [on the track]. I tell you what, she was as fast as any of us.”
The next Andretti Indoor Karting to open will be in San Antonio next spring, with others to follow in Dallas, Houston and South Florida.