About Blastacars Drift Karts
Blastacars is a Kiwi invention that turned karting on its head. Originally developed in Hamilton in 1987, the "spiritual home" of drift karting is located on Duke Street in Frankton. Unlike traditional tracks where you hunt for grip, the surface here is polished and treated to be incredibly slippery ("Black Ice"). The karts are custom-built with a unique chassis and powerful Honda engines designed specifically to break traction. The goal isn't just speed; it's the art of the drift. You’ll be fighting the steering wheel, managing the throttle, and sliding sideways through every corner.
Activities
Rental karting
Facilities
Parking
Detailed guide
The Track Layout
- The Surface: The track is indoors and features a specialized low-grip surface. It feels like driving on ice or loose dirt.
- Technique: You cannot drive this like a normal go-kart. If you turn sharply without throttle control, you will spin 180 degrees. You need to learn to "counter-steer" (steer into the slide) and use the accelerator to turn the rear of the kart.
- Atmosphere: It has a raw, industrial vibe. It is loud, smells of petrol, and focuses purely on car control.
The Karts
Blastacars manufactures their own karts in NZ to handle the unique physics of drifting.
- Standard Karts (270cc): These are the karts most people will drive. They have plenty of torque to get sideways and are suitable for beginners.
- Pro Karts (390cc): These are monsters. To drive them, you usually need to earn a "Black Card" licence by proving you can control the Standard kart first. They require serious strength to wrestle around the track.
- Kids Options: Children aged 8+ (and 1.2m tall) can race. The drift karts are surprisingly safe for kids because they slide rather than flip, and impact speeds are generally lower than grip racing.
Facilities
- Viewing Deck: An elevated platform allows spectators to watch the action.
- Arcade: A selection of arcade games and simulators to play between races.
- Functions: Very popular for stag dos because the learning curve acts as a great equalizer—the fastest driver on a normal track might be the slowest drifter!
