It was a long first day for Lakbay Norte 7. From an early call time of 4AM, we rushed to Malolos in the morning for the heritage walk. In the afternoon we rolled to San Rafael for some river adventure. Evening finds us in Tarlac for a brief museum walk at the Aquino Center. Shortly we found ourselves at Kart City Tarlac. Even with my head heavy and eyelids starting to shut by itself while having dinner, who wouldn’t pass up the chance to go karting? I know I still have enough fuel to last a few more hours and channel a bit more adrenaline for the night.
KCT: Kart City Tarlac
Fondly called these days as KCT, Kart City Tarlac has been around since 2005. Right beside SM City Tarlac, the race track continues to improve throughout the years. The the 700-meter race track has world-class standard and uses European made go-karts. Recently when we were there, they were installing a lapse-timer system to figure out the best times for each kart. This way friends can actually race and figure out who has the best time.
At the Track Side
Kart City Tarlac has become more than just a racing spot but has evolved to a dining and event hub. We had quite a hearty dinner at Chap’s Diner and ate at the one of the entertainment/videoke rooms at the VIP Sky Lounge. The other eatery is the Trackside Bar and Grill and the Game Room Sports Bar. After a dinner’s fill, we were ready to race.
5-Minute Rush
Our group was divided in 7 pax each. From the looks of it, it’s the exact number of go-karts available at the track. We were briefed before going to the waiting section before riding. They made sure we secure our belongings first and not bring any small item that may fall off. Lockers are provided. Race suits are also optional wear. A hairnet was provided before we could wear the helmets. And finally, we were led to our karts.
The controls are pretty simple – gas, brakes and steering wheel. Hit on the brakes for a full throttle. I had fun driving fast, challenging myself to drift easy on the curves and also trying to outrun my companions. Each ride cost P250 and is good for a 5-minutes ride. Seems so short but time moves fast when you’re having fun. And I did have a great time. Enough to wake me up until we reached our hotel for the night. Ending day of Lakbay Norte 7.
Kart City Tarlac
McArthur Highway
Tarlac, Tarlac
Contact: (045) 491.4053
Facebook: /kctarlac/
*All photos on this post by Martin San Diego/NPVB
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
