It’s Friday night. May 19th. If you are planning on putting on your pajamas and having an early night in, we have a better solution in store for you. Friday, May 19th is the world premiere of Fast X, the tenth and latest installment of the Fast & Furious Saga series and the film where the end of the road begins. Be prepared to meet your old-time favorite actors including Vin Diesel and appearances by several Oscar winners.
And if afterward, your feet start itching to push the gas pedal, go full throttle, and enjoy some adventurous maneuvers in Chicago, then go-karting could be the answer. But first, let’s find out a bit more about the new upcoming film and then we’ll guide you through the top locations in and around Chicago where you can fully immerse yourself in go-karting.
What you can expect from the soon-to-be-released Fast X
As one of world cinema’s most storied and popular global franchises that have been going on for three decades, we can expect to see the same core cast and characters as when the film series first began in Fast X.
Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family and team have been on many missions, outsmarting, out-nerving, and outdriving every enemy that has crossed their path. But things get more intense as a major threat emerges from their past, looking to destroy everything and everyone that Dom loves. Fueled by blood revenge and aiming to shatter Dom, Dante (Aquaman’s Jason Momoa) emerges from the shadows has been masterminding a plan that could see Dom paying the ultimate price.
The plot spreads out from Los Angeles to Rome, Brazil to London, and Portugal to Antarctica where Dom discovers that his eight-year-old son is the target of the ultimate vendetta.
Some returning cast members include Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, John Cena, and Scott Eastwood, with Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Charlize Theron.
Meanwhile, new cast members include Oscar winner Brie Larson as Tess, Alan Richtson as Aimes, Daniela Melchior, and Oscar Winner Rita Morena.
Fast X is directed by Louis Leterrier (Clash of the Titans, The Incredible Hulk) and is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Samantha Vincent.
How to satisfy your need for speed in Chicago
If adrenalin has already started rushing through your body at the mere thought of watching Fast X, we have the ultimate antidote. It’s all about satisfying your need for speed in Chicago. And trust us, the city offers everything you need and more! Here is a short but powerful list of all the places you can choose to go go-karting in Chicago and have a phenomenally fun time doing so.
1. K1 Speed – Addisson and K1 Speed – Buffalo Grove
K1 Speed – Addisson is located at 2381 Army Trail Rd, Addison, IL 60101. Meanwhile, K1 Speed – Buffalo Grove is situated at 301 Hastings Dr, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089. Both venues are perfect for junior racers with a minimum height of 48” and adult racers with a minimum height of 58”. To make the most of your fun day out, make sure you wear closed-toe shoes and that you don’t wear loose-fitting clothes like dresses. And now that we have the preliminaries out of the way, it’s worth knowing that these tracks will make your head spin and your heart race. Why? Because the karts are definitely not slow.
In addition, you have the opportunity to join multiple leagues, take one-on-one classes, book corporate events or large group parties, and a whole lot more as there are two tracks and fun activities for those who do not prefer to race. Also offered on-site is a full menu with alcohol served to those aged 21 and above.
2. Accelerate Indoor Speedway
If you want a little bit of extra fun added to your indoor go-karting, such as axe throwing, you’ve come to the right place. Accelerate Indoor Speedway is located at 8580 Springlake Drive 2nd Floor, Mokena, IL 60448. Junior kart drivers must be at least eight-years-old and be at least 48” tall while pro kart drivers must be at least 13-years-old and 56” tall. You are required to wear closed-toed shoes.
And once you’re all decked out in your gear, you can enjoy the fastest go-karts in Chicago. The 20 HP electric motors can bring the speed on these karts up to an impressive 50 mph! But there’s something for everyone – both young and old. For example, you can have a delicious meal at the restaurant at the venue, while younger members of your family can enjoy entertainment at the arcade. Adults can enjoy a full bar, an axe throwing activity, and two virtual reality arenas called Reclaim and Chaos Jump.
3. Jack’s Big City Ranch
As the ideal summer go-karting track in Chicago, you don’t want to miss this pop-up go-kart track with electric go-karts, mini-golf, mechanical bull rides, and axe throwing. Situated at 1465 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, you can also enjoy some delicious custom drinks and activities at this location change all-year-round for a fun time for every member of your family at any time of the year.
4. Haunted Trails Burbank
Haunted Trails Burbank is an all-year-round Halloween-themed amusement park with go-karting being just one of the fun activities you can do there. For those who want to get behind the driver’s seat at the Trails Raceway though, passengers are required to be between 40” and 53” tall while the driver needs to be 16-years-old and at least 54”.
For the Jr. Speedway Go Karts, drivers should be aged between four and eight and should be between 42” and 53” tall. The go-karts are open from April through October and make for an exciting and fun family day out. It is located at 7759 S Harlem Ave, Burbank, IL 60459.
5. Play and Spin
And the final go-kart location to visit in Chicago is Play and Spin, situated at 7631 N Caldwell Ave, Niles, IL 60714. Those wanting to drive must be at least 54” and passengers should be at least three-years-old or at least 36” tall. The location, which is just 15 miles from Downtown Chicago, is perfect for the whole family, too. The track itself is 6,000 square feet in size and you can compete with seven other racers at the same time.
Other enjoyable activities you can do while there apart from go-kart racing include going to the Inflatable Park, Birthday Party Place, booking the venue for private events, playing laser tag, enjoying the indoor arcade, virtual reality games, a sports bar for the adults, and a fun rock climbing wall.
Wrapping up
If you are planning to take the whole family out for a day of fun as you satisfy your need for speed, then we at Bus Connection have you covered. We all know how well a cold beer or a glass of wine goes down after an exhilarating ride around the track. This is why we have thought of everything to ensure that you have the most memorable and fun time there as we take the hassle out of getting there and back.
In fact, if you choose to go go-karting with a large group, you can book one of our buses, which is suitable for practically any group size. We offer convenience from the moment we pick you up to the moment we drop you off. And when you don’t have to worry about finding parking or getting lost while trying to get there, your fun will be completely undisturbed.