Like many parents faced with the headache of trying to find something to entertain or simply keep your child/children amused at the weekend or during their many holidays, with our wonderful English weather, it’s even harder to find indoor venues.
You have probably done the ten pin bowling, been to laserquest, took the kids to the indoor soft play areas, well how about getting them to follow the likes of Jensen Button, who knows one day your child may become the next world champion.
Finding an indoor venue that caters for young children like my seven year old is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I logged onto the activities section on www.whatsonbristol.co.uk and found JDR Karting in Gloucester. JDR is around 45 minutes drive from Bristol and around the same time from Bath up the M5 and into Gloucester, you will find directions clearly sign-posted for JDR Karting.
So armed with this information and as it was a wet and miserable day I took my seven year old son along to JDR, one of the largest indoor karting centres in the U.K. The Gloucester based karting centre "JDR" caters for children from 4-9 years with their electric karts and children from 8-12 with the junior petrol karts on the indoor circuits, and then the full blown petrol engined karts from 12 upwards… well that’s up to you, some say your never too old!
We were greeted by a team of friendly experienced staff, then shown to the briefing room where we watched a ten minute safety video followed by questions and answers from the very knowledgeable instructors. After the presentation it was off to get changed into the safety clothing, collect helmet and gloves and onto the track and into the karts.
For the children under 9’s there is a smaller circuit with the battery powered karts. This is where your children learn to keep the power on and drive the circuit as smoothly as possible without the use of the breaks. Like the senior karting the smoother you are, the more chance you have of winning.
Each race for the juniors last about 20 minutes and costs just £10 - cracking value! And for the seniors - I mean older children and adults, the prices start at £15 and go up to £40.
The senior track is also indoor, surfaced with tarmac for extra grip and has a number of banked sides which aid drivers in keeping the speed up on two of the corners. Finally there is a banked 180 degree corner that can catch you out, don’t be fooled into thinking just anyone can take this at full throttle because you can’t. On one lap I nearly went into the side wall and on another I almost did a complete spin, the adrenalin rush was great though! Others that were on the track at the same time made this corner look like a walk in the park at speed!
If you, your mates, work colleagues or the family want to enjoy an action adventure day or night then why not give JDR a ring and do something different? Who knows you or someone you know may get hooked and be the next world champion!
JDR Karting centre also offers laser games in the Laser Tag section of the venue, ideal for groups, parties and birthday celebrations plus for refreshments they have a friendly café`.
To reserve your driving session give Richard a ring on 01452 311211
You can find JDR on www.whatsonbristol.co.uk/Activities/Karting
The Centre opens Monday- Friday 12noon- 9pm
Saturdays 10am- 10pm and Sundays 10am -7pm