Start Your Engines!
Indoor kart racing thrills at F1 Boston
Racers can choose between two professionally designed indoor tracks: the City Course and the Country Road Course. Photo courtesy of F1 Boston
Adrenaline junkies needing a fix should look no further than F1 Boston, an exhilarating indoor kart racing experience located just south of the city in Braintree, Mass. In addition to hosting junior and adult racing leagues, F1 Boston welcomes daredevils of all skill levels to suit up as part of its Arrive & Drive program.
Racers can come in any day of the week and select one of two professionally designed indoor tracks, each offering its own unique obstacles. The City Course, designed with tight urban characteristics in mind, features challenging turns, a corkscrew, and a tunnel. Alternatively, the sprawling Country Road Course’s straightaways, hills, and curves allow riders to reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. The tracks can accommodate up to 12 karts, meaning you’ll be competing for bragging rights. Races are scored to the split-second by a professional computerized system, guaranteeing there won’t be any disputes about who the real winner is.
But the fun doesn’t stop with the end of the race. Visitors can grab a trackside seat at the Ascari Café, a full-service restaurant and bar, and wind down as they watch other racers compete for gold and glory. The restaurant, named after Alberto Ascari, the first double world Formula One champion, offers upscale options like grilled steak tips and citrus salmon in addition to standard fare like burgers and pizza. The recently updated menu offers plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, guaranteeing that everyone will be able to fuel up. Visitors can also wind down at the large, British-style billiards parlor, which features seven tables, leather seats, and a crackling fireplace.
All drivers must 18 or older and hold a valid driver’s license in order to obtain an F1 Boston Race License. The day license costs $10 (annual license $25) and a 15- or 18-lap race is $28. A three-race pack costs $75, and a four-race pack costs $85. F1Boston is open seven days a week: Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
F1 Boson is located at 290 Wood Road, Braintree. To get there via public transportation, take any inbound Green Line trolley to Park Street Station, transfer to a Red Line outbound trolley, and take that to Braintree Station. Transfer there to a #236 bus to South Shore Plaza via East Braintree.
Paula Sokolska can be reached at ps5642@bu.edu.
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