The great Nigel Mansell, former British Formula One champ, once said, "I've tried everything other than jumping out of a plane, but nothing gives you an adrenaline rush like racing a car." There's little thing more thrilling than the exciting sport of motor racing: The chilling wind blowing by your body, the buzzing ring in your ear inside the helmet, the rumbling from the open wheels, the vibration from the seat under, and the adrenaline rush you get from chasing down an opponent, or trying to block one from overtaking you. Okay. This may not be F1, and we are not racing down the last stretch at 200+ mph, but karting has been one outlet to fulfill the fantasy of open wheel racing for fans and enthusiasts out there. Rush Hour runs a tight and efficient facility. Much like an amusement ride, there is a pre-boarding safety school that will give you the in-and-out of karting and track, before they release you to pound the pavement. Now do be careful when you are out there on the track. This place has many regulars, and some of them, much like in real life, thinks they own the track or deserve more than you; you will be bumper-checked, let me repeat that, you will be bumper-checked, or even bumped so hard the kart turned around. At this point, you remembered in the safety school you were told "don't bump the cars or we will pull you from the track." Take that moment, and erase from your mind. If you get checked by these A-holes, feel free check them right back. This is not real life. Road rage is okay. P.S. For folks that have been here previously, Rush Hour just recently acquired brand new sets of 200 c.c. and 150 c.c. karts, meaning they are fun to run and a bit more kick under the throttle. Be sure to check it out again! read more

RUDE: We went for our first visit on a Saturday evening. Unfortunately, I misread their website that they were closed for a private party. I accept responsibility for not correctly reading their calendar. When I stepped in to chat with the folks at the counter, they were just sitting around doing nothing, and were surprisingly rude and dismissive. I think first impressions are very important for any business, and they lost their opportunity to make a good one with me. We ended up driving 35 minutes to Frankies and had a great time. They might benefit from modifying their website to have a default view for their online calendar to show a "What's happening today" type view or something... also so it clearly states "OPEN TO PUBLIC/CLOSED to PUBLIC" hours. read more

Went back with a friend and found out they have renamed and reinvented the small cafe next door to the inside track. it's call" Hector's" now and i must admit i didn't try there new menu yet..... due to it just being a beer run that night,but everything looked great. with a selection of American, Mediterranean fare and of course all the fav's ( chicken wing, burgers, etc). Hector has also been doing some homework about wine as well i mean i just saw cases upon cases of the stuff behind the bar and hey im not complaining...bring it on baby I'm ready! All in all Hector's seems to fighting for it's position in the wide world of cafe hang outs for hipsters in the area. but as the old saying goes"it's all about location,location,location!" but don't worry Hector I'll be a patron until i fall out the chair. read more

The staff is messed up here. First they put my 13 yo who had an adult size body with size 11 shoes in adult go-cart and then they refused to put my 13 yo in adult go cart saying it was a mistake and has to be put in a child cart. If they do the mistake it is ok, but if you ask for it then the refuse. And then they put him in a child go-cart that's for below 15 and my 13 yo hated it!!! Beware of you have a child below 15 yo who has a body of an adult. Do not go to this place, you got better options in town. read more

Had a blast! Karts are gas powered and very quick. A very well laid out track good for beginners and experienced drivers. Great food and lots of other entertainment for non drivers. The owner Adam is very inviting and suggest anyone come check this place out. read more

Rush Hour Karting - Karting day. - Go Karts Near Me - Garner, North Carolina

FUN! My playmate-for-life had a company outing for a Grand Prix circuit. I am completely exhausted but I loved it! I was a little hungry when we arrived so I had a chicken quesadilla. It was nothing special, but it certainly wasn't awful, and it was the only thing on the menu that wasn't deep fried. They seem to have a nice selection of beer, but you're not allowed to drive a cart if you've been drinking, so we just shared a soft drink. They offer free refills which is a real nice touch because driving the carts will dry you entirely out. We had an assigned starting slot so we didn't have a lot of time to kill. There are quite a few arcade activities and even a couple of massaging chairs available though, if you need to wait for your race to start. The racing itself is no joke. You're taken to a briefing room to get a quick run down on the flags, the signs, and the Grand Prix procedures. Then you get your sexy headsock, helmet, and neck guard. Next, you're told what number your cart is and you hop into a vehicle with a 200cc engine (juniors drive 160s). An attendant comes by, makes sure your seat belt is on properly, and starts your cart. Then the light turns green and you're half hanging on for dear life, half trying to sling a suddenly much smaller than it seemed vehicle around hairpin turns at speeds approaching 40mph, and half examining the life choices that brought you to this point. It's hot, the industrial fans can't quite cut the exhaust, and there's tiny chunks of rubber flying everywhere. And while all this is going on, you're watching the guys who manage the track with one eye to make sure no flags or signs are waving at you. Like I said, FUN! When your race is over, you get print outs of all your laps so you can collect on all the bets you made when you were trash talking with your friends before the race. The desk staff and the bar staff were very friendly and efficient, but the "pit crew" who manage the track itself are the real rockstars. They keep it moving safely and make sure everyone is having a good time. Honestly, I doubt I'll be doing this again anytime soon because I feel like I've been repeatedly walloped by a pillow case full of tennis balls, but don't let my wimpiness stop you from enjoying a go cart outing. read more

These are definitely not kiddie go karts! They go relatively fast (up to 35 mph I believe). I'm quite possibly the world's worst go-kart driver and I actually hit a wall and my helmet flew off (please don't ask how, I can hardly believe that I posted this, but I just want the world to know that there's a slight possibility you can get hurt if you're anything like me ). It was fun regardless of that and the fact that I was teased the whole night. Makes for a cool group outing. They have a bar which I believe only has beer and wine. They had wing specials when I went and those were pretty yummy. read more

Go-karting at Rush Hour is a combination of excitement, exhilaration, a dash of anxiety, and exhaustion all rolled into one. Okay, so maybe the teenagers don't exactly feel those last two, but for us (much) older folks, that's about right. This place is not at all like the fun-filled, light-hearted go-karting you might find at other theme parks... Rush Hour is serious. Laps are timed. Those times are posted on-screen as the drivers fly by. Leaders are posted, best times are highlighted. You 'll actually get a printout of your times for each lap, the average of all of your laps, and your best timed lap. Juniors are separated from the adults and there is a reason. While the theme park karts go about 12 mph, Rush Hour carts can get up to 40 mph and the adults are seriously intense. Those carts whoosh by without looking back. It's crazy! Like a true race track! So, yeah, the kids need to be separated or else they'll just get run over! (ok, I'm sure they'd never let that happen.) Unlike theme park karts, if someone wants to pass, you need to let them pass. The staff will stand by the track holding signs like "Move Over" and "No Bumping." On my first run, I did indeed get flashed the "Move Over" sign... but proudly held my own during my second heat! No signs for me! And, holding your kart steady in some of those break-neck turns while going pedal to the metal for up to 12 laps is tough! My husband and I were both super winded after our run. But it is really fun... we can't wait to go back! My daughter is addicted! They have a restaurant and bar... but no drinking until you're finished driving and that is fully enforced. They have some great beers on tap and we had a basket of really tasty fries. You are able to enjoy your food and drink in an observation area beside the track. On weekends, you may have to wait a few hours before you can drive - it gets super busy. However, there are plenty of video games to pass the time. They also have air hockey and a pool table. Since this is an indoor track, the scent of burning rubber and exhaust can get strong. But it's nominal trade-off considering the fun of the activity! Rush Hour Karting is a truly unique experience... beware of go-karting addiction! read more

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We had so much fun! And we're adults. LoL!! Racing was a blast, beers and pizza afterward was a mega bonus. Thank you!! Will definitely go back if ever in the Raleigh area again. read more

I came with my brother today. We had a great time. 8 minute races were really cool! Good go kart experience with helmets, suits and neck braces. Friendly staff and eating area! read more

My husband and I went to Rush Hour for the first time this weekend. When we walked in the door, the owner just sat there and stared at us... it was weird and not very professional. However, the girl at the cash register said hello and helped us. The race was fun, but it is pricey... $20 for a 8-minute race. It's not something I would do every weekend, but it would be fun with a group of friends. We were also planning on eating at the restaurant there, but at 6pm on Saturday night the restaurant place was deserted. We went somewhere else. Had the owner at least said hello or even smiled, I would have rated Rush Hour higher. read more

Great place to take the kids and have some fun. Prices are good and the facility is well taken care of with lots of games.

This review doesn't have much do do with the experience itself. Its a pretty fun track and the karts were nice and responsive, but the prices here are out of control. $22 for 8 minutes is just unacceptable. This isn't like skydiving where a short amount of time is worth a lot of money because its a thrill of a lifetime. They're fun go-karts, but that is all they are. A lot of the price has to do with insurance stuff Im sure. I went on a friday night and it was totally dead but there were still like 6 employees there to make sure we watch that dumb video and then wave flags at us if we start having a little too much fun I guess Im glad I went here once, but I probably wont go back oh and they turned my friend away because she was a little drunk. I get it I guess, but its kinda bizarre for a place that serves beer and wine. Plus, it's pretty difficult to hurt yourself on these things read more

Front desk girl was very courteous and helpful. The instructional video was very good. No Bumping! First race they had 3 workers on course directing drivers to move over, etc. My 13 and 15 year old went next with 4 other boys who were very experienced racers, but with a very aggressive approach. They were passing by bumping continuously and making novice drivers spin out. The next driver would then T- bone my son who spun out and give him the finger! My boys got bumped, spun out, and given the finger by these 4 boys multiple times. I am all about having "Fast Fun" as the website says. However, the track crew needs to control the drivers with the rules that were on the video. It was so bad my boys didn't want to ride their 3rd time. I did try to speak to the on sight manager, but one of the other boys fathers kept wanting to get involved with my conversation. He was certainly sticking his nose in a conversation that was above his education level. Management and the track attendants need to control the dangerous driving with the youth drivers. read more

The best go karting I have experienced in the United States. An absolutely amazing time and quite a rush. Excellent for adult and teen parties. The bar is good and food definitely works. Call ahead for the best service. read more

Rush Hour Karting - Indoor racing - Go Karts Near Me - Garner, North Carolina

This is my first time going it's really fun the go karts go really fast and the people the teach you are nice. There is not a time that u will go and there wont be a people there read more

Rush Hour Karting - Go Karts Near Me - Garner, North Carolina

Great experience for the 14 year olds. They had a blast with these fast cars. The track is in a warehouse and they could improve ventilation, however, too much exhaust smell in the racing area. They need to open more doors and keep all the fans on regardless of the outside temps. they were complaining of feeling car sick after the races. read more

This is as good as it gets in the ENC! i have traveled 2 hours from the base at cherry point just to race here for an hour or two. I ALWAYS call ahead to see whats going on before finding a sold out or party event there. Staff has always been friendly and been very accommodating. They have so many deals i dont remember the last time i paid full price. Food is standard fare pub/ bowling alley goodness, cool that you dont have to leave to eat or grab a bottle when you are done and catching your breath and trash talking with your buds. Karts are VERY close in performance, if you are seconds off the fastest time of the day/week, dont blame the karts! Kids races are separated from adults. I only wish they were closer and id be there all the time. -Gunny T. www.facebook.com/NTG.VE read more

The races need to be way longer. $20 per person for 8 minutes around a small track is a bit much. & the food is poorly cooked. Go karts are fast and fun to drive though. read more

I went last week and I like that me and my boy friend were greeted by a girl who couldn't want more then nothing to do with me, and all to do with my boyfriend. This trashy, unprofessional girl will make sure we never return. It was a fun time, but I was under the impression this wasn't hooters, it was go kart racing. read more

Went here for a date, great place to have fun at. I always check groupon and living social because a lot of times they have deals up there for discounted tickets. read more

I take my kids to this place and turn into a kid racing around this track. Complete blast. They've done well matching the track technically with the cars they put on it. Complete rush and fun to race against the daily, weekly, monthly best times. We keep coming back for more! read more

Lots of fun and a great time for everyone. I've done indoor karting at close to a dozen tracks across the country. Rush Hour has a great track layout and friendly staff. Karts are well maintained. read more

Unpleasant staff makes me wish there was something similar closer to home. Karting is fun, and entertaining, but it would be a better experience if the staff were friendlier. Drove all the way from Durham to kart, arrived at 8:30 (half an hour before close) and was made feel completely uncomfortable because they were already closing up. They even turned others away before 9pm. If they close at 9, and their last races start at 8:30, they should make that information readily available. For the amount they charge they should be more accommodating. read more

I was at Rush Hour Karting on the same night as Jerry J. (see rating from 7/27/2011) which was 7/27/2011. Thing is, the guy running the place is the same guy whose photo is Jerry J, so it's fair to say that his post is a little suspect at best. Even though Jerry J. told me he was the owner, Tamer "Hammer" Saad is the business card offered as the owner. I bought tickets through Groupon and decided to use them on my Birthday with my three children. The coupons stated that we could not make a reservation to use them. I arrived about 6:30 on a Wednesday evening. I was told that they had a "Corporate Function" that had not started yet, and that I would have to wait for an hour while they raced. I asked if they could please let us take our 8 minute ride and was told by the person who claimed to be the owner that he couldn't make the "Corporate" group wait because they were his "bread and butter". If we waited for 1 hour we would be allowed to race once, but would have to come back on another day to use the other ticket that we had. When I said that I felt that my coupon was not being honored, the owner got very agitated and walked away. He then asked how old my children were (two were under 16) he said that there was no way that we could race that evening because they had to race separately (which was stated on their website), So we went from being able to race for 1 race to not being able to race at all. When I expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment I was receiving, he offered to refund the face value of all the coupons. I replied that I wanted to use the coupons that I purchased. The owner then told me that he would not honor my personal tickets, and then turned to my 3 children and told them that they could race in an hour but that I could not because he didn't like my attitude!!!!! This made absolutely no sense because one of them was over 16, and two were not. So the two separate races that couldn't be raced earlier now could be raced!!!!! He then said that he wasn't the owner; I asked for the owner's business card (Tamer "Hammer" M. Saad). Being denied service, we walked outside to leave and he followed us out the door and wrote down my license plate number. I felt that he was trying to intimidate me. THIS PLACE IS THE ABSOLUTE PITS !!!! (no pun intended) I don't know if I'll ever be able to use my coupons, I feel TOTALLY RIPPED OFF !!!!! Mr. Saad was certainly happy to sell hundreds of these tickets. By the way, Mr. Saad's business card states "ARRIVE and DRIVE". I WAS ONLY DRIVEN AWAY !!!!! This sounds live a "Five on Your Side" story with Monica if I ever heard one !!!!! read more

Went here for the first time this weekend. Had a blast! It was raining so the indoor track was perfect. Karts go up to 40mph so this is no kid's play. Check in at the counter and buy a race (8 minutes for $20, plus $2 for head covering). Typically you'll have to wait a little while to have your name called. Once that happens you go to the briefing room and watch a short video explaining rules and flags. Then the fun begins! Get your helmet and neck brace and kart and buckle up! The staff is extremely helpful and pretty much does everything for you. They issue you the gear, help buckle you in and adjust your seat and pedals. If you haven't been here before I suggest taking the first lap slower to learn the turns, then open it up! Don't think the 8 minutes is too short. It's a pretty decent amount of time and once you get off you'll be stoked. You even get to pick up your stats at the front counter to see how your times were and how you ranked in your group (usually 6). After you come down from your Dale Earnhardt high, stop by the restaurant and get a beer and a slice. It's a pretty cool place. There are table games everywhere so you can play Jenga or Connect Four while you eat and continue the fun. This would be a great place to hang out with your friends any time! *Beware - this can be pretty competitive. I would not suggest bringing young kids unless you reserve a time or bring enough for all 6 slots. **Also, some of the areas smell like a high school locker room. read more

Four of us ate dinner at Hector's cafe located inside Rush Hour Karting. The Mediterranean food was excellent! We had tuna, rare, barely grilled. It was fresh, delicious and melted in your mouth. The Shishkabobs served with Pita bread, Hommus and Tzaziki were perfect. The Steak and Cheese sandwich I tried previously was loaded with sauteed onions, mushrooms and a delicious sauce. It was the most flavorful steak and cheese I have ever had. You always know you are going to have fun racing the Karts at Rush Hour but the tasty food is a great addition to the experience. Good selection of beer and wine too. read more

I am writing this review as someone who went to RHK, but did not actually race. My wife got me tickets for my birthday to go here. She based her decision in part to the reviews as well as my fondness for going fast! She bought a groupon deal, so it was definitely cheaper ($15 for 2 8-minute races, she got 4). Rush Hour Karting is located in a far, far away land in Garner (southeast of Raleigh). It's actually almost right off 40, so it's not hard to find really. Thanks to GPS we zeroed in on it easily enough. The exterior of the building looks unassuming, except for the muscle car and the well decorated bus out front, lol. Not bad really. Walking into the place you are greeted with the usual racing themed things. We went to the counter and checked in, got our head socks and she got her shoes (sorry folks, no open toed shoes... says it on the website and everything!). We had a few minutes before our race, so we decided to duck away to the little dive bar/"cafe" off to the side. Now when one goes to such places, you have certain expectations about the food. It may not be fair, but you generally would expect greasy, previously frozen food deep fried and served on a grease soaked parchment paper. She ordered the nachos, I ordered the fries. Again, just a quick snack sort of things, with low expectations. And when the food came out... BAMMO! WOW. The nachos tasted fresh, the toppings, heck even the cheese sauce was friggin delicious! If it were previously canned and frozen, we could not tell! And the fries, those were potatoes, REAL potatoes, fried and seasoned nicely. Not any of that shoestring, ridged and frozen stuff, no way! The food and the drink was awesome! So time for the race. We were given the rules, helped with our helmets and neck protectors and lead to the racers. She got in fine, although the pedals were almost out of her reach and they did/could do little to help. And her helmet kept moving and impeding her sight, which at one point during the race she had to hold the helmet with one hand while driving with another. As for me.... well, I am a big guy. They do not mention anywhere whatsoever that the size of the seats are for smaller people. And they have no contingencies for such scenarios as mine. And as a result, I could not safely race. So if you are rather big, go for the food or the games, but forget about racing! And they do little if anything to compensate you. I spoke to the manager, all he could offer were vouchers and $2 in quarters to play some games. He was unable to give us credit to the cafe, or games (the games aren't theirs, sssooooo) or anything else. None of this is mentioned on the website, so folks be aware. We wound up given the vouchers away to a group of people who surely would have used it more than we. If I was in the area again (we live in Durham) I may stop by for a quick bite, but otherwise I do not think this place is worth the hassle. Thanks for your efforts, what efforts were done, and for taking our money. Next time I will go to Frankies who do have bigger cars (albeit nowhere near as fast!) and atleast leave the place feeling a little better and less ripped off read more

Great fun, though I think they are expensive. They seem to always have a Groupon which is half price or better. Otherwise it is great fun, with really fast go karts, and a friendly staff. I recommend taping your cell phone to your helmet and recording your fun time. read more

Went for my birthday and it was awesome! We had a group of 5 and had a reservation. We got on the track on time and the races were great. After the races had some food and a drink, baked jalapeños with bacon were great. Whole group had a great time, we will be back again soon! read more

Extremely fun for all ages! The karts are way better than any other business like Adventure Landing or Frankie's. You don't know go karts until you ride a Sodi. After every race you just keep wanting more (and to beat your lap time). The staff is very helpful and informative of racing rules. Try to get a membership if you plan to return - It will save you lots of money on races! read more

I went there on a rainy sunday had nothing else to do and wanted to try it. I loved it the cars are pretty fast. It was very pricy though $20 for just 8 mins on the track. It was also filled with high school kids. read more

We had a great time here. We threw axes, some of us were good and some weren't! Staff was friendly and very helpful for our 1st time here. We will definitely be back. After we threw axes was nice we were able to get some drinks and relax. Fun time! read more

I checked their schedule online just before to go. So, places were available. When my son (12 years old) and I arrived, the cashier told me that there were no places before 1h30.... She explained to me that the online schedule was a little late. No apologie, no commercial offer, no drink proposed, nothing, she was just waiting what we will decide. We let the place. We'll try another place and we'll call before. read more

Been there a few times, lots of fun, most driver are considerate of others and follow the rules with minimum bumping and don't shove you into the side wall bumpers just to get past you. You are suppose to get flagged and loose a lap if you are caught doing this....unless you are a kid called NOS that seems to know the the track operators. He gets away with what ever he wants to do to get past you. If you want to go to have a fun and enjoy the race experience avoid a race that he is involved in. Look for discount tickets on Groupon. read more

I was in town from Seattle for work and thought I would have a little fun go karting after all the serious work was taken care of. I have raced go karts around the country both indoor and outdoor, and this is easily one of the better locations I have been to. The staff was competent, friendly, and professional. The track was fun, challenging it if you're competitive, but easy enough to cruise around if you're not. In between the races the owner came out, shook my hand, and just talked racing for a few minutes. Overall, a very good operation. The prices are comparable to tracks all over the country. It's inconceivably expensive to insure a go kart track, and once people get drunk and start acting stupid it's easier to get hurt, which all causes insurance rates to skyrocket. read more

Went racing with a friend and the driving experience was fun but the ventilation inside the gokarts was terrible. The heat inside the cockpit from the exhaust felt like it was 100 degrees. My friend felt like he was going to pass out from the heat after one race. The facility needs more cooling inside the facility. I would have rated the experience a 5 overall if it wasn't for the extreme heat. I would recommend going during the colder months. read more

i was Very Disappointed With Rush Hour Karting.I Bought 2,1 year memberships for me & my Sisters Birthday.Due To My Schedule & Her Schedule I Could Not Use The Special I Paid For Immediately.When I Did Try To Use It,They Were Booked Up.I Thought I Had A Year To Use It. When We Finally Got To Go,They Said We Missed The Offer By One Day.(Bought It On Oct.21 2010 & Tried To Use It On Feb.22.2011) read more

A great way to spend some time. Pricing is ok, if you are military you get the membership for free. And going in earlier makes races only $11 each. We got 2 memberships and 2 races each for $64. And spend a little under an hour there. Getting information put in. Racing and little breaks between races. It's a lot easier to go fast is there are less people. Bit it is fun to try and pass people. read more

Worst experience ever. I went there with a friend who had purchased a coupon for the place on group-on and while waiting for our round to start, we ate at the pizzeria in the same complex. While eating our food they started the round without us and when we asked the front desk if there was a solution to this situation, the girl just shrugged, she didn't even use the English language to tell us no or their policy or anything useful. read more