New Business is Zooming at the Palisades Mall

The Autobahn Indoor Speedway electric go-kart track at the Palisades Mall is holding its grand opening Monday -- an day that is also a fundraising event for charity.

The festivities will start with the obligatory ribbon cutting at 11 am. Expected attendees include Al Samuels, President/CEO Rockland Business Association; Ed Day, Rockland County Executive; George Hoehmann, Supervisor Town of Clarkstown; the Rockland Boulders BoulderBird Official Mascot and other local officials, business leaders and celebrities.

"The Autobahn Indoor Speedway at the Palisades Center Mall is a great addition to the many recreational and tourism attractions in Rockland County," noted Samuels in a prepared statement. "In the short time they have been here, activity at this site has made it the most successful in the chain. We look forward to a long and even more prosperous future for this attraction in our county."

The speedway opened in March, and immediately drew a crowd, according to its Facebook page.

No wonder, according to Autobahn's Managing Partner, David Larson, "Indoor kart racing has been popular in Europe for many years and has recently found a strong following on the West Coast of the United States. Autobahn Indoor Speedway is extremely excited to be bringing the first European-style indoor electric kart racing facility to the West Nyack area.

Italian-made adult racing karts approach speeds of 50 mph. The speedway utilizes zero-emission electric karts that accelerate faster than their noisier, gas-powered counterparts.

“These are not the slow, rattling ' go carts' you may be used to as a kid”, said Larson. "Our karts are the highest performance available, state of the art and built for safety. One of the first things people notice is the torque of our electric motors–that acceleration is amazing! The handling is also top of the line with hydraulic disc brakes, a rear differential and competition-style racing tires."

The event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 will benefit Gigi’s Playhouse, with 50 percent of the day’s proceeds going to the organization that serves children and adults of all ages with Down syndrome.

"We encourage economic development in the Town of Clarkstown and are a business-friendly town. We are pleased to welcome the Autobahn Indoor Speedway to the Palisades Mall and Clarkstown, adding to the many recreational activities and entertainment offered to our residents and its visitors," said Hoehmann.

The company will have a total of nine tracks on the East Coast by April.

"I am not only excited that one more business chose to invest in our county, but also because the Autobahn Indoor Speedway is a truly unique venue that will be a tremendous draw for families here in Rockland. I see this establishment as being a ‘destination within a destination,’ one that will bring loads of fun for years to come," added Day.

Since the speedway is indoors, the weather is not a factor.

Among the amenities that company officials extoll:

• The indoor facility is heated/cooled and kept at a comfortable temperature year round.
• Sodas and snacks are available for refreshment between races.
• Autobahn Indoor Speedway offers the popular "Arrive & Drive" race format, assigning racers to one of the upcoming races and requiring no reservations. Up to 10 drivers will compete in each race to set the fastest lap times.
• Various group race packages are designed to meet the needs of most events, such as for company outings, social groups and birthday parties, plus a custom package can be arranged (including private full facility rentals). Groups have reserved race times, exclusive use of the track during their races and can compete individually or in teams.
• The track provides racing techniques instruction to newbies and offers competitive leagues to more seasoned drivers.
• There are even Junior Karts (with a little slower speeds) suitable for the younger crowd if they are at least 48" tall.

For more information visit www.AutobahnSpeed.com.