By Cindy Capitani
Meadowlands Media Editor
Rev up your next date night, company picnic or bachelorette party and get ready to tap into your need for speed at RPM Raceway’s newly renovated and upgraded state-of-the-art multi-level go-karting track.
The indoor electric kart racing experience in Jersey City reopened in January after spending six months and millions of dollars renovating the 78,000-square-foot facility at 9 Caven Point Road in Jersey City.
The result? The world’s longest indoor racing track for electric go-karts.
The Jersey City Factor
“It’s scary but exhilarating all at the same time,” said Gladys Rivera, removing the provided cloth sock cap followed by the Snell/DOT certified helmet after finishing the inaugural race on the new mega-track on opening day.
Rivera is aide to Jersey City Councilwoman Denise Ridley, both of whom were on-hand with other officials, dignitaries, and local chambers to congratulate RPM Raceway CEO and co-owner Eyal Farage, family, friends and staff on the renovations and soft opening.
Although Rivera said she wasn’t planning to necessarily take a spin on the new track — her first time ever in an electric go-kart — she couldn’t resist when offered the chance.
“They did something right because this place makes you want to,” she said, adding that she would “absolutely do it again.”
Farage said at the event that Jersey City has been a tremendous partner throughout the renovation process, just as city officials were supportive a dozen years ago when he first brought his indoor racing concept to the area.
Jersey City welcomed Farage and his family business with open arms in 2010 when he first set out to launch on Caven Point Road as Pole Position Raceway. The company rebranded to RPM Raceway in 2017, Meadowlands Magazine reported at the time. By then, Farage had grown operations to five locations in the Northeast.
Aside from Jersey City, RPM Raceway now has locations on Long Island in Farmingdale, New York; Poughkeepsie, New York; Syracuse, New York; and Stamford, Connecticut.
The Italian Factor
Along with the ultra-cool pioneering mega-track in Jersey City, RPM also invested in an all-new fleet of OTL Italian racing electric karts for both juniors and adults. OTL is known as the technology leader in the electric kart space, racing on more than 150 tracks in 25 countries, according to the company’s website.
Manufactured in Italy since 1996, OTL’s emission-free go-karts feature digital dashboards, paddle shifters and speed boost capabilities and are designed and engineered with the latest technologies for the rental and racing business.
Upgrades in Jersey City feature two new tracks lined with LED racing halos that combine to stretch over 2,200 feet with a 72-second lap time at top speed. There are three levels of elevation, straightaways, 90-degree hairpin turns and spiraling ramps.
The low-end torque of the go-karts provide immediate and rapid acceleration, with a top speed of 45 m.p.h. The real-feel speed, however, can seem a lot faster, some racers have reported.
Complementing the racing experience is a virtual reality arena, esports, billiards, a racing simulator, and a prize-filled arcade with more than 150 games. A snack area features soft drinks, burgers, wings, light meals, chips, and other treats. A trackside bar and grill offering a 360-degree view of races is in the works and scheduled to open later in 2023.
Two levels of instructor-led summer racing camps are open to juniors ages 8-12 and youth taller than 48-inches, ages 13-17. The camps are aimed at instructing students about safe driving techniques, track awareness, brake and throttle points, acceleration, passing, and are also designed to help young drivers develop racing skills.
RPM Raceway partners with Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, Formula-E and Watkins Glen International and has hosted hundreds of corporate events for Fortune 500 companies. For more information, call 201-333-7223 (RACE) or see www.rpmraceway.com/jersey-city-nj.
