Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting — Attraction in Hatfield

As others have said, it's about time Western, MA got something.

The facilities: at this indoor track are sparse, but what do you expect at an "indoor race track"? Nice fridge with one dollar waters (hey they could jack it up because of supply and demand). Few flat screens on the wall with current race heat and fastest lap times, one screen had SportsCenter on. Nice bright area behind large windows to isolate sound and folks can watch. The helmet area could use some love but you are right next to the track.

Staff: Great! The young lady who check my daughter (13) and I in was helpful and explained to us each package available. After our purchase they quickly set us off to watch a basic safety video. In the track area, the staff was attentive to safety issues (helmets, required neck brace, seat-belt) were quickly assessed and off we went. We arrived right when a younger kid's party was about to happen, so they adjusted the races so we could drive with they're faster drivers from a previous race v. just being out alone in two karts. In the end more work for them but both second heats were happy. If you or your loved one cannot ride a bike or has never driven a go-cart, this is not the place to learn how to by driving a kart.The staff try to make sure everyone is safe, that just might mean if you are driving too slow they will black flag you into the pits for a quick talk before they let you back out. Its all about following the flag rules and knowing what to do when you see one.

Track: ITS A FREAKING INDOOR RACE TRACK!!!! These karts are reactive to everything you tell it to do. Physics does not adjust for the driver skill: hit the gas and you go like a bat out of hell, tap the brakes and you stop (but if traction does not exceed friction you will skid, no wimpy ABS here people) even if your wheels are pointed in one direction yet force is a different direction. The surface is as smooth at any track I have ever seen. Polished concrete can be a beautiful thing too.The track is lined with a plastic barrier with tire cushions (more about that coming up).

Equipment: These are fast karts people. As i just said the track in lined. They will stop a kart from doing "what it should not". These karts are doing 35+mph people, doesn't sound like much, but why do you think they require a full face helmet with neck brace and you had to sign a waiver plus pay a fee to an account with your photo in it? The seat can be adjusted for height, the pedals can be adjusted for leg length, the seat width has no adjustment. its designed to hold you in your seat with a massive g-forces and safety in mind. The seat-belt is there in case everything goes really bad. If you slam one of these barriers or get "T-boned" by another driver its going to hurt. Race with your head and not your right foot is a simple rule.

Recommendations: MUST GO!

If you ride a motorcycle or into racing and just happen to have full-face helmet already, bring yours. It must be DOT, SNELL. TUV cert. this is not negotiable. If you use the track helmet, use a helmet-sock please. We plan to use our races during the winter months, this place gets cold when racing. Bring gloves, ski gloves are too much, those plastic palm work ones are great. Dress in layers. while waiting for your heat it can get chilly in winter and when racing it can get hot in the summer. Closed toe shoes, no exceptions. I would recommend sneakers v boots, because you want to feel the pedals.

This is not a cheap side of the highway go-cart place. This is Karting, there is a difference and you have to pay for it (evil part). $50 (does not include any races) for an annual drivers license should tell you right off what to expect. My daughter and I raced two heats (25+ laps each), that was enough for the first day. Three heats would be great to be with a good size group of racers. And I'm looking forward to an upcoming Iron-Man Race (200 laps) if you think I'm...

My children and I went and the service was HORRIBLE. When we first arrive we were so excited but we walked into a empty lobby and weren’t even greeted by staff. Eventually some came out and instructed us to complete the paperwork on the computer. Once we were done about 5-10 minutes someone else came out and told us where we could pay. About 20 minutes passed after we paid and nothing was said to us. They walked past us as if we weren’t there. While we were standing there another family came in. They were greeted and helped at the computers, paid, and was instructed to watch a video. No one has yet said anything to my children and I. Eventually someone came out and said we can get into the go karts. We haven’t watched a video and my children don’t drive, now if I didn’t say anything they would’ve allowed my children to get into the karts unprepared. I ended asking for a refund. All the staff came out to watch the refund being done. No one said anything to me, as if I was wrong.On top of that instead of the girl handing me the money she placed it on the counter as if she disgusted by me. No apology NOTHING. I asked about a manager and was directed to go on the website. I’m disgusted my children even had to experience something so tasteless. THEY ALL COULD USE DIVERSITY TRAINING. Don’t waste your money the track is ran down and isn’t worth the money. And from my experience not comfortable with certain...

Very disorganized staff and nonchalant customer service, mostly young high school students on site. One of the staff stepped on my kart seat to walk over to another person… During the first rounds, I was stuck a couple of times near the turning point and waited quite a while for a staff to push me out. After my third laps, they got tired helping and told me to get out of the kart during the middle of the race. They told me for liability reasons I couldn’t finish the rest of my two races. But I was only stuck a couple of times at the same U-turn and had never bumped into others. I paid $45 for 3 races but was only on the field for less than 6 mins (2-3 mins I was sitting in my kart waiting for a staff to come and help). I would be fine had I been refunded for the rest of the rounds, but no they refused to refund me. During the entire time my friends were there, they waited a long time for their turns. At some point, there were only two racers on the field… We spent more than 3.5 hours there and we all purchased for the $45 package which was only 3 races (18mins total). Honestly, we could’ve waited longer if my friends didn’t communicate to the staff members about this. Won’t be coming back and wouldn’t recommend friends back...