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MB2 Raceway:
Electric Go-Karting in the Valley
By Sara Allison
Former electrical contractors Will Miller and Chris Brooks established the first MB2 Raceway in 2006. Since then, they have added another facility in Thousand Oaks. Housed inside a 60,000 square foot industrial building, in the middle of the Cascades Business Park, just off Interstate 5 in Sylmar, the original MB2 Raceway has a ¼ mile, professionally designed track. The company has an exclusive LA partnership with an Italian company that provides high performance electric karts, so no gas smell here.
Since the karts can reach speeds well above 40 mph on this track, each racer is required to wear a helmet during their 14-lap race. MB2 provides head socks with helmets for safety. Racers also are required to listen to the rules and regulations of the track before getting behind the wheel. First time visitors to MB2 Raceway enter their information into a computer, and racers can watch their lap times on a screen above the track. All race times are saved to the MB2 website, where racers can vie their Racers Performance Measurement and assess how their lap times compare to the fastest racers of the day.
Once I got behind the wheel, I was able to test out the effects of breaking or speeding up on each of the tracks curves. I was immediately able to smoothly glide through the slight s-shaped turn at the back of the track with my foot on the gas, but some of the sharper curves were a bit more challenging to master. The kart handled the curves nicely and the only time it slid was after I took a turn too sharply (and probably a bit too fast). After my second race, I had improved my average lap time by about 4 seconds, to 32 seconds, which felt satisfying to me.
MB2 Raceway is not just about racing. They also host corporate events and private parties. Events can take over the full facility or can just be held in the VIP and Corporate rooms. All events include races where winners receive trophies. The Raceway is also a great place for family outings and offers affordable prices ($23 for an adult race and $20 for a junior race). For those who return to the track regularly, purchasing an annual Track Pass offers other special discounts, such as 2 for 1 races on Tuesdays.
Once you exit the MB2 building, ready to drive back into real life, remember that your car is not a go-kart. I know I had to remind myself to go a bit lighter on the gas pedal as I drove down the hill as a regular driver in a regular car. But now I know MB2 is the place to go when I crave some speed!
MB2 Raceway has two locations: 13943 Balboa Blvd in the SFV and 1475 Lawrence Drive in Thousand Oaks ~ 1.866.986.RACE
For more information about MB2 Raceway visit:
www.mb2raceway.com