Go karts at Niagara Falls
 

Just wanted to share as the go karts here are built by my company. The track is my design. This is the biggest multi-level go kart track in existence today and it cost a fortune. Hope they recoup their money, probably gonna take a while.

https://www.cliftonhill.com/attractions/niagara-speedway

Whoa that track looks super fun!

Couple of guys from work went out there a few weeks ago to setup the karts. They said the top of the spiral was a little intimidating the first time as you can't see the track below you.

that looks awesome!!

just exactly do you do for a living? (and why didnt i choose that career path?)

Thanks, LOL. We manufacture go-karts, bumper boats and batting cage equipment for entertainment centers around the world.

I'm the designer/ graphics guy/photographer/tech manual creator/parts call operator, etc, etc.
I draw up "conceptual" plans for tracks that are designed to meet our requirements. I then work with the local engineers to have the engineering done.

That looks like fun.
My experience is limited but this place http://tampabaygp.com/ has sufficiently fast enough 50mph karts to make a person feel slightly uneasy.

Yeah, I get a little woozy on those as well. Our go karts are slow compared to those, but, they are designed for family fun, not racing.

It is my observation that anything much over 4MPH and you really find out how bad of a driver people in general are.

LOL, isn't that the truth?!

So are those karts (yours) slow as in Disneyland Autotopia slow or ??

Nah, not that bad. They are generally tuned for 15 to 20 mph, dependent upon track. Sitting 3 " off the ground they seem kinda fast and fun. Track design is really what helps the fun factor.

I sure hope those walls will withstand a good hit from a kart or someone is going to be flying off the top of that track.

There is a steel rail and tire barrier around the track inside and out.

It looks like you get down from the top via the long sloping part of the track. How do you control the downhill speeds?

The clutch engages and kinda helps keep them slowed down. Our guys clocked a max at 20mph on the slope. Using full or no throttle seemed to make no difference. There is also multiple electronic loops in the track that can put karts in slow, medium and go speeds plus pit mode for pit entry. All controlled by multiple attendants around the track.

Sounds very high tech.

When my brother and I used to race our karts at the track in Oxnard, we thought it was safe as could be. Dad warned us not to flip the karts.
Flip a kart?
No way that was going to happen.

My brother then went out and hit a sunken tire barrier and flipped over shattering his shoulder in the process. I remember making that phone call home from the hospital. Mom all of a sudden came on the phone and asked what I'd just said to my dad. She said he turned white as a sheet and almost passed out when I said we were in the hospital.
Ah, exuberant youth.

That’s awesome!

Also, how were you not on the first plane out to test that track? That’d be my only stipulation after designing it.

Wow, looks like fun, just did directions and it looks like 14hour drive or ten days walking! to get there.

Where’s the nearest airport?

I hear ya. Wanted to go but company didn't want to pay for it. #$%&ers.

lol!

Looks like a hoot! Nice work, Eric.

Do those Karts have the beans to break the rear tires loose so you can do a complete tail-out drift up the triple corkscrew? Because that would make it so worth 12 New York dollars for five minutes!!

Looks pretty groovy, like my old AFX track, only with carts

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Have to take your word for it, not a facebook person

Phew, that was fun even watching it.

How about this one.
https://youtu.be/nvWIuLBnYUY

We go there in the winter for a wagjag deal right beside that, 2 nights family and 4 two day passes to the big water slide park.
OK times, but it's for sure a tourist trap area.

Yes, it's like a mini Orlando.

Yes I should have said big for a indoor park. Orlando is massive in comparison.

Saw advertising for this place last year. People were talking about it being a "have to" visit place to see. :)

I think this layout is cool- but me stupid and confused.

There seems to be two videos/pics version of the track. In layout one, the downhill has two dips and goes into a right hand spiral helix which goes through one and a half rotations down one full level and lets out back to the start.(Eric's version and pics of the track from the website)

In the second version- the track dips three dips to ground level and then takes about a 180 degree right turn to go back to the start. There is no helix on the lower end. (tobra's video version)

post #23 vs. #27.

I feel like I'm on drugs. Please help!!!!!

I can't tell if the lower helix was an original virtual plan and budgeted out, or if the lower helix was added in later.
Edit- I guess I could go look at the video dates, and figure it out, but I feel since Eric has inside info- he owes us an insider explanation! :)

No reason to be confused. The version without the second spiral was built first. The owner didn't like it and wanted to add the downhill spiral. Cost a fricken lot of money to tear that section out and rebuild.

That would be fun going in the reverse direction, drifting down that spiral, instead, you are turning slowly, at Niagara Falls
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