One track in Worcestershire runs birthday parties events. The single thing that decides whether this works is age and height, and it catches people out constantly.
The thing that catches groups out. Below the minimum you either pay for absent drivers or book an open session instead.
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
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
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.
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.
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.