The Need for Speed

Two tracks, 54 go karts, seven-minute-long races.

Those are the main components fueling the second Speed Raceway franchise, an indoor racing facility, which is expected to open in Horsham's Village Mall next month. 

Co-owner Travis Thompson gave Patch an inside look at the evolution of the 106,000-square-foot former Walmart building, which when complete, will serve as the nexus for green-and-black battery-powered race cars able to travel up to 50 miles per hour. 

"There's very few in the country that have two tracks," Thompson said of the 30 other similar centers nationwide. 

From there, it's just simple numbers: 44 adult go karts, 10 for kids; 10 races per track for 20 total at a time. Each race takes six to seven minutes to complete, Thompson said and he is aiming to have six or seven races per hour.

The karts' batteries stay charged for 20 to 25 minutes at a time, Thompson said. 

"You park the car, plug it in," Thompson said, gesturing to outlets for charging. 

Races cost $20. But, drivers can add more frills - such as simulation to "race anything" - for an added cost, Thompson said. 

Aside from finish work, most of the major interior work is complete, he said. Calling Speed Raceway a "green company," he noted that the original ceiling lights are intact and the franchise will use one-third of the total light output. 

Thompson said the exterior of the building will be painted and spruced up prior to opening. The hope is for the franchise's bright green and black to at least be accented outside, Thompson said. 

In the coming weeks, Thompson said he will be looking to hire 20 to 25 employees and expects applications to be available at the site by July 1.

By Labor Day, Thompson said he hopes to begin booking corporate events and birthday parties in the 1,700-square-foot conference rooms and 500-square-foot party rooms.

Once the Horsham location is open, Thompson said he'll focus on his next Speed Raceway, in Cinnaminson, N.J. That franchise is expected to open in late September or early October, he said. In the future, Thompson said he and his business partner hope to open seven to 10 more locations on the East Coast. 

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