Drivers quiet down and race in Burbank

Photo Story: Electric go-karting at Racer's Edge Karting in Burbank

1/16

The birthday party group of Mark Messina get ready, with helmets some of them are testing out on each other, for their next race at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

2/16

Dion Harvey, of West Hollywood, has his car adjusted by crew member Tomas Lopez, of Burbank, for his tall height as he prepares for his first ever race at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

3/16

Kianu Morales, of Glendale, gives tips about how to better take the last corner before the timer to Noelia Rodriguez, of Culver City, who is about to take her second shot at the course at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

4/16

Jesse Chavez, 15, of Van Nuys, and Mark Messina, 15, of Sherman Oaks, share a moment before getting onto the track to race each other at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

5/16

Noelia Rodriguez, of Culver City, gives a nervous thumbs up as she approaches her car for her first ever race on the track at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

6/16

Tomas Lopez, of Burbank, gives racers some last minute instructions and makes sure the car is set for their body size, and that safety belts are attached before the karts roll onto the course at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

7/16

Racers make a tight right turn on the 9-turn, 825-foot track on one of 16 laps at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

8/16

A racer passes in a blur in a kart, that if set for an experienced adult, that can travel at 41 MPH at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

9/16

Roger Hernandez, of Sunland, waves the checkered flag to end a 16-lap race at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

10/16

The eyes of a young driver looks at the checkered flag waving to signify the end of the race at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

11/16

Racers gather as they complete their last lap at low speed at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

12/16

A racer takes a picture with his phone of the race results he just competed in at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

13/16

Jamison Traw, of La Crescenta, and Spencer Dryden, Glendale go over their last race results and check to see how they compare to others at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

14/16

A row of 8 karts are hooked to chargers that refresh the onboard batteries for another race at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

15/16

The birthday party group of Mark Messina, 15, of Sherman Oaks, in the first place position, pose for a group photo at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

16/16

Tony Torres, 10, of Highland Park, rests for a bit on the first place stand at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The competitive track can race as many as 8 electric-powered karts at a time, and the finishers get their time recorded and compared against the best times of the day, week, and month. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Tim Berger

Aug. 1, 2015 6:45 PM PT

Share via
- Facebook
- X
- Email

Super low to the ground. Hugging the corners. Small spinouts. No problem.

Back up to top speed in a flash. The hunt is on. One driver continues to elude you, but the gap is closing. You take a high pass into a corner and see an angle. In a moment, faster than anybody on the course can believe, you pass with ease.

That’s the feeling some people get at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting, a two-year-old electric go-kart raceway in Burbank.

PHOTOS: Electric go-karting at Racer’s Edge Indoor Karting in Burbank

The all-electric karts are super quiet. No heat, fumes or fuel, and the roar of as many as eight karts is replaced with music and the regular screech of tires as the karts take corners at high speeds.

Four rechargeable batteries, mounted near the ground just to each side of the driver, keep the center of gravity low, and the added weight keeps the cars stable when rounding tight corners.

The karts have a plastic-covered metal frame that creates an encompassing bumper.

The experienced-adult setting has a maximum speed of 41 mph, and the kart can reach that speed almost instantly.