6 tracks in Birmingham and the West Midlands run birthday parties events. The single thing that decides whether this works is age and height, and it catches people out constantly.
Coseley, Birmingham and the West Midlands
Cannon Raceway is an indoor petrol kart track on Cannon Business Park in Coseley, between Wolverhampton and Dudley and close to the M5 and M6. The 500-metre circuit has a flyover bridge, a banked corner and a hairpin that runs underneath the bridge.
Price not published
Stourbridge, Birmingham and the West Midlands
Full Throttle Raceway is an indoor karting venue on The Stourbridge Estate off Mill Race Lane in Stourbridge, a short drive from Dudley, Halesowen and Birmingham. Two separate tracks share the building, giving over 400 metres of circuit under one roof.
Oldbury, Birmingham and the West Midlands
TeamSport's Birmingham track is at Park Lane Industrial Estate in Oldbury, in Sandwell on the western edge of the city. At around 1,000 metres with 13 corners it is a long indoor circuit, laid out over more than one level with a lengthy elevated section; the operator describes it as the longest indoor karting track in the Midlands.
Price not published
Coventry, Birmingham and the West Midlands
An indoor TeamSport circuit on Curriers Close in the Charter Avenue industrial estate, Coventry. The track is about 500 metres long but has 18 corners, with changes of level along the way.
Price not published
Halesowen, Birmingham and the West Midlands
Teamworks Birmingham West is an indoor kart track on Dudley Road in Halesowen, between Birmingham city centre and the Black Country. It is part of the Teamworks Karting chain.
Price not published
Birmingham
Teamworks Birmingham City is an indoor electric karting venue on Fazeley Street in Digbeth, about ten minutes' walk from New Street station; the operator describes it as the only karting circuit in Birmingham city centre. The track has recently been resurfaced and the kart fleet replaced.
Price not published
The thing that catches groups out. Below the minimum you either pay for absent drivers or book an open session instead.
Tamworth, Staffordshire
Daytona Tamworth is on Robey's Lane just off junction 10 of the M42, with easy access from the M6, M1 and A5. It is one of three Daytona circuits, alongside Milton Keynes and Sandown Park, and the group's Midlands venue.
Price not published
Hereford
Herefordshire Raceway is an outdoor kart circuit at Lower Hurst, north-west of Hereford. The 600-metre track has three hairpins and is raced in twin-engine karts, with a published lap record of 32.4 seconds.
Broughton Hackett, Worcestershire
March Hare Leisure is an outdoor, floodlit kart circuit at Broughton Hackett, a few miles east of Worcester off the A422, sharing a site with shooting ranges, archery and other outdoor activities.
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Midland Karting is an outdoor karting centre on Wood End Lane near Lichfield, laid out on part of a former airfield. It runs three separate circuits: a Premier Circuit for adults and older juniors, a Kids Circuit, and a Family Circuit used for the youngest drivers.
Always check both. The gap between a 1.20m and a 1.40m minimum is the difference between an eight-year-old driving and watching.
Purpose-built junior karts fit smaller drivers properly. Some tracks also fit remote speed limiters so staff can build a nervous child up gradually.
Children mixed in with adults have a worse time. Ask whether junior sessions run separately.
Food, a private room, a podium and a trophy make it a party. Without them it is a driving session with cake in the car.