"This will change your mind", says Neil Heron, the circuit manager and owner of Go Kart Hua Hin. "Believe me, traveling at 90 kilometers an hour with your arse two inches off the ground gives you a buzz; a real adrenaline rush. When people step out of the karts and remove their helmets after a blast around this track they are like excited kids."

Neil, a young Englishman and passionate motor sports enthusiast, is fueling the growing interest in go-karting right here in Hua Hin.

"It’s an increasingly popular pastime," says Neil. "We get a lot of locals calling in at the track after work. It’s a great release following a stressful day in the office. Weekends also draw regular enthusiasts from Bangkok."

Go Kart Hua Hin will both entertain and delight the novice driver and also test the skills of an experienced Karter! For those experiencing the fear of taking control of a go-kart onto the circuit, this is transferred, within minutes, to pure joy as all misapprehensions are lost and the fun of go-karting is experienced.

The 700 meter outdoor circuit, just opposite the Hua Hin airport, is one of eight in the country. "And one of the best," adds Neil. "Safety here is our top priority. We have five marshals stationed around the track whenever anybody is in a kart. Tyre walls, sand banks and catch nets offer further protection. This circuit is the perfect place for a family to come and enjoy an exciting hour or so racing".

The course features three technical turns, each requiring skill and patience to master. Before you race the staff will brief you on all track safety issues, driving technique and track etiquette, thus preparing yourself and your fellow drivers, for a safe and exciting racing experience.

The circuit has a floodlight system that allows racing into the evening with perfect safety. Once a month, on the evening of the full moon, if the sky is clear, the light of the night sky is bright enough to race under the stars. The Full Moon Party offers the opportunity to race against the clock to qualify for a F1 grid line-up. After the race, relax with a bite to eat and a refreshing drink from the Podium Café.

The circuit is fitted with a F1, ROC Lap Timing System. All completed laps will be recorded via the timing system and displayed 'live' on TV monitors. You will also receive a computer printout of all your lap times, highlighting your fastest lap, average track sped and total laps completed.

"We accentuate the safe, professional and exciting attitude. We offer many opportunities to race within the format of a F1 race, with qualification and grid line-ups. Every Saturday or Sunday, throughout the year, the management invite teams if three or more drivers to compete against each other. Race format consists of one-hour track time with team strategy for driver changes and fuel stops!! This is the ideal opportunity for regular Kart drivers to test their metal against fellow enthusiasts."

Go Kart Hua Hin has a an extensive fleet of high quality karts for it’s customers to use, including ten 390cc, 13 brake horsepower senior karts and three 6.5 brake horse power junior karts.

"We also have a few dual seater karts which are perfect for youngsters to build up confidence. With two steering wheels, they can get used to driving safely before going out solo," says Neil.

The company also houses and maintains privately owned go-karts and offer new and secondhand sales.

With the wide wheel base, the low slung tubular framed karts are designed not to turn over. They simply spin if you make a driving error. Adjustable seats and pedals mean anyone over five years old or 100 centimeters can take out a junior kart. The potential to be a race champion is there too as the race crew at the track provide expert tuition. Currently one young lad who trains here is ranked number four in the country, so Neil and his team are clearly doing something right. It’s worth noting that Michael Schumacher started out in go-karts!

Unbeaten lap record.

Neil has been based in Thailand since 1994, originally here to establish the network of Volkswagen Audi dealerships for Yontrakit. Following a well-deserved break in 2005 he decided to step in and help run the racetrack when Joe Smith, part of the husband and wife team who own the track, was tragically killed in a road accident.

"Joe was a real race enthusiast and a superb driver," says Neil. According to Neil anyone who gets close to a lap time of 40 seconds is doing really well.

A local Hua Hin business 'Ham and Bacon', has put up a prize of 5,000 baht for anyone who can break the current track record which is 35.939 seconds and held by Bung one of the staff at the track. "I am pretty confident that it will remain unbeaten for a long time to come but people are welcome to come along and try," he adds.

Over the past four years the track has changed hands twice. What makes Neil think that this time it will be a success?

"We are doing things in a different way", says Neil. "We have approached the corporate market and are having great success running team building events. Just recently we had 50 members of staff from a large hotel sign up for a days racing."

With five teams of ten drivers having to organise their race strategy, pit stops and ensure that their fastest driver is back in the kart for the last circuit of the 20 lap race, the challenge is considerable.

"The atmosphere is simply electric", says Neil.

Go Kart Hua Hin was the first to offer evening races on the night of the full moon and there are plans for a national go-kart league.

"Well Hua Hin has a golf league and a pool league so why not go-karts?" insists Neil. Why not indeed? Adrenalin junkies take note!

E-mail: info@gokarthuahin.com