Need 2 Speed

We brought our son here for his birthday party.
I will start with the positive, this place has some awesome cars to race the track with and you get the speed to go with it. We all enjoyed the racing.
The not so great aspects of this facility: it took so long to register, the iPad’s they provide you to register, kept freezing up and the line of people was growing behind us. Then you had to sign the waivers. They were not very organized during this process. After we finished they said your party room is ready if you want to head over. We’ve had parties at other facilities with awesome service and what you pay for you get. At Need 2 Speed what we walked into was a room with a pizza delivery bag sitting on the table with a medium pizza and a liter of soda in their little fridge, plates, napkins and forks. Clearly it was not nearly enough pizza or drinks for our party. They did tell us Little Caesars was close by if we wanted to go get more pizza. I would have thought a pitcher of water at the very least would have been welcomed. We had to go ask if they had utensils to cut our cake as that was not even provided. I would not recommend this place for parties unless you bring all of your own supplies but then you are paying for the room… not worth it!!!
They never tell you when to expect to race so we were called during the party. We went and did the race. There was one man who apparently is a VIP member who enjoys running rough shot over the other drivers. The rules don’t allow anyone to ram into you. This jerk not only rammed into me so hard I saw stars but he did it to several other people on the track. It was fun until we encountered him. When the race was over I let the employees know what he was doing. They said he’s VIP, like it is okay for him to be doing that to people. Why does this place allow this man to be out their ruining other people’s fun?
I don’t know that we would ever go back there again and I will certainly tell people I know about the experience we had.

This is one of those places that I knew existed, put off going to, and now am really glad that I’ve been there.
Even if I’m one of those people who get super nervous careening around the track, Need 2 Speed is a really fun place to hang out (though it would get very expensive if you hung out there very long). They have go-​karting for both adults and kids, as well as mini golf for all ages.
The go-​karting is super fun. Fast, bouncy, and you get to feel just a little bit like you might be racing in the Indianapolis 500. They do a nice job of keeping everyone moving, so even if there is a line in front of you it’s not going to be too long before it’s your turn to race. The staff have all been really friendly, and it looks like they keep their helmets, cars, and head socks spic-​and-​span. I don’t have kids, but if I did I’m pretty sure this would be a rockin’ place for a birthday party. I think my only beef is that it’s pretty pricey. $ 23 for a 14-​lap race, which takes about five or six minutes.
They also have mini-​golf, a 9-​hole glow in the dark course that’s situated in the back of the building. Personally, I’d skip it. For the length and difficulty of the course, it’s pricey and not all that exciting.
Come one, come all! Fulfill your childhood destiny to be a race car driver!

There’s a nice seating area for a group while waiting to race. They also honored my coupon.

Went there for the first time last night and I had a blast! The karts go quite a bit faster than I thought they would go… the staff was super friendly and their mini black light golf was really fun too! Great place all around

This is a fun place to come if you are looking for something to do. It’s nice to have somewhere to go indoors when it’s cold outside.
The staff is very nice and they make you feel welcome.
I didn’t know this before but they also have black light mini golf. It’s not very big but we had a good time trying it out.
I think this is a good place for children and adults. We had a lot of fun.

Brought a friend from out of town here. We LOVED it! Clean, easy instructions, laid back staff, fun all around! I would come back for a date night with my husband!

Pretty cool place for all ages. My daughter loved it says it was her best birthday yet. It was her first time and she did pretty well. I say its worth vist. Oh and they have a cosmic golf. 6 bucks a head.

First thing to realize: These aren’t the go-​karts from the mini-​golf place you’re used to! If you’re expecting a race around the course where the acceleration would be likened to a warm breeze, you’re in for a rude, heart-​pounding awakening!
I attended the Sunday night shoot-​out, an event that promised at least two qualifying races, and a final third race to the fastest drivers. Prizes were to be awarded in several categories. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. This event uncovered some smoothest, most hard-​core drivers in the area. When I walked into the building, the staggering number of customized helmets I saw was somewhat unnerving. It was like the kart version of Fast and Furious. These people meant business. As I consider myself pretty competent driver, it was good to be on the track with other drivers equal or better skill.
I also appreciated being able to talk to the owner about the course and got some really good pointers that helped my times improve so much that I had the best lap ever! It didn’t help my standing in the competition but that was okay because its all about personal improvement for me. Overall, I had an absolute ball! Iove this place!

I’ve now been here on three different occasions and I appreciate the opportunity to go out and have some fun with friends.
The last time we went was on Saturday November 7^th. Unfortunately there were two kids party in front of us and we had to wait about an hour to get on the course. We were confused on why they didn’t have two registers open (one to take the party parents money and one for all walk ins.)
Be sure you wear closed toe shoes or you will not be able to race. The cost to race is $ 23 for non-​members and $ 18 for members. The registration process is pretty simple and you have the choice to tie your account with them to Facebook. Before racing you’ll get instructions about the karts, helmets, headsock, and flags. The karts are electric, fast, and fun. You definitely need to get the hang of lightly tapping the brake on some of the hairpin turns. It is truly about getting the best time and not passing the other drivers (even though that is fun as well.)
At the end of your race they provide a printout with your times and your position. All in all, it is fun to hang with your buddies and see how well they can adapt to the course.

I’ve taken my grandkids several times & we always have a great time. Staff is very professional & it is very clean. My 2 grandsons love to get their lap times & compare them to everyone else.

This place is definitely a lot of fun! You get a great experience hugging corners and going fast, and your adrenaline will be pumping if you’re trying to win. They offer multiple packages for those that want to keep racing consistently, or you can drop in and grab a race at any time. I haven’t tried their glow in the dark mini-​golf yet, but it looks like fun as well.
The races are much more fun in smaller groups (5 or less), so if you can come during non-​peak hours, that’s the best. It’s even better if you have the whole track to just yourself and a friend or two.
My only gripe with this place is the price. It’s really hard to want to spend $ 23 for just a 5 minute race, especially if there’s going to be a bunch of slow pokes on the track. I think if they offered more competitive pricing, I would come back a lot more often.

Here for the Unilocal event support Northern Nevada Food Bank.
Thanks for a great fun evening and support a great cause.
Michael Tragash … Thank you for organizing this great event and to Need for Speed and Nom Eats for their support.
Great place to come down and act like a pro racer for a while

I came here as part of a group celebrating a bachelor party, really fun time! I like how professional and friendly the staff was, willing to explain and answer any questions you may have. If you’d like to do something competitive as a group I would recommend this place, it is definitely the best electric go-​carting in town. They give you a print out of your times and email the results so you never lose them and can keep track of your stats!
Clean gear and facility as well! They have fresh head socks for the helmets and a large selection to find one that fits comfortably. Also comfy couches to relax on while you wait to begin. $ 23 dollars was a bit pricey though for a 10min race and 30min wait to start. Shoe rental was another $ 4 for me since all I had were flip flops. Still a great time though, I plan on going back!

So much fun! Can’t wait to go back. The blacklist mini golf was cool too. Nice to be in air conditioning!

Need 2 speed is a great place to get your adrenaline fix. It is THE best go kart place in town.
The karts
Fully electric with about a 45 mph top speed. Very responsive on the gas (electric?) pedal. The older karts seem to be better on acceleration but the tires do not grip as well, more of a slick or drift style racing. The newer karts have much better tire compounds, which stick very well. Seats are adjustable. Pay attention to the kart number you drove, they all drive a little different (especially the new ones versus the old ones).
The helmets
They work and have many different sizes and supply clean head socks. So they stay clean. They will help you put them on if you are a greenie. I prefer to bring my own motorcycle helmet. Just make sure it is DOT approved and good ventilation is nice.
The race
About a 14 lap race and I would say the average is about 26 to 27 seconds per lap. It is possible to get into the 24’s, but it is difficult. I usually average 25 – 26. Be careful about bumping and pass safely. It is all about best lap time not being in first place. So there is no reason to be aggressive. Take a hit on a lap to get in the clear and push hard for a good lap time. After the race they have print outs at the front desk so you or one of your friends can have bragging rights until next week.
Price /​membership
Non members cost $ 23 per race. Or it is, I believe, $ 60 for three. If you buy the package deal you can save them for next time. But, It is worth it to be a member!
The membership is an annual fee of $ 49 and it includes one free race (day you buy) and a free race on your birthday week. IMO it pays for itself, if you like to race. You also get a free shirt and then all races are $ 18 each, or three for $ 50. During weekdays before 5pm you can get two for $ 30 for members, since it is slow. This place can get busy on the weekends! Only members can call in and reserve a time to race. Busy days you can wait up to one hour (or at least it felt that way because I was ready to race!).
They also have lifetime memberships for a one time fee (it is pricey).

I don’t really have a need to speed. I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket. My least favorite part of bicycle riding is going downhills fast. I’m pretty chill about enjoying the journey without concern for how long it takes. Nevertheless, these go-​karts are super speedy and it is super fun to race them!
My boyfriend and three of his dude engineer friends and I visited here after work on a weekday. Three of us had never been here, and two of us had been here 12 and 14 times. All of us had a great time doing two races, or the equivalent of 14 laps, twice, with a break in between each race. Apparently a Need 2 Speed rep had made its way to a bunch of engineering firms in the area for promotion, so my boyfriend had two coupons for half off one race. For non-​members each race is $ 23, which is kind of expensive, but also a distinctively fun experience. I recommend doing two races.
I’ve never even worn a motorcycle helmet before, let alone raced go-​karts. And I’m a bit of a scairdy cat sometimes. But the instructions on how to use the go-​karts were clear, and slower folks (my average lap was 30 seconds) can coexist well on the course with, uh, four super speedy dudes (25 – 26 seconds per lap). I think my first race I got lapped four times by the speediest of the engineers! Nevertheless I had SO MUCH FUN zipping around the corners and accelerating like mad on the straightaways. It is to Need 2 Speed’s credit that dudes who race cars and motorcycles for hobbies can have as much fun as total newbs like me on the same course in the same go-​karts.
Perhaps it was fortuitous that the night before we had played lots of racing arcade games at the Unilocal Elite event at Game Lab at the Peppermill. I got a little practice in before tearing it up on the course! Word of warning: uh, driving a car feels WEIRD after two races. I had to remind myself that I was in a car on a road with other cars and not in a go-​kart on a course with other go-​karts where there is no repercussion for hitting the bumper walls a lil’ bit. Take advantage of the comfy couches and the basic snacks and pore over your page of results for each race before heading home! Even my boyfriend, who knows what he is doing when it comes to all things vehicles and going fast, was taking the turns a lil’ too fast on the way home!
Need 2 Speed is conveniently located in the furthest left space in the row of businesses in which Target is the furthest right.

I came here for a company sponsored event, so to be fair this wasn’t on my dime. But it was definitely a lot of fun!
As mentioned, the karts are pretty quick especially if you’re not used to ever doing this. They move a lot more than what you get at a Wild Island type of go-​kart racing. They can also handle turns pretty well and I never felt out of control that I worried about huge crashes or flipping the kart.
I love that you get a customized print out with very accurate lap times! The staff was helpful and gave tips on helping with speed. The only thing that was a bit weird was the shared communal head-​socks that they require. I’m not sure how sanitary that is.
I don’t see coming here regularly or for the «unlimited annual racing membership» for $ 5k (yes, FIVE THOUSAND), but every once in a while with a group of friends it would be a fun splurge.
The other problem was getting in my car to leave. I wanted to tear out of the parking lot and skid into turns on the real streets! Yikes!!!

Need 2 Speed is probably one of the best go-​karting experiences I’ve had so far.
The location is much better than I was expecting; most other go-​kart tracks have been in cold and dark warehouses in some industrial park, while N2S is right in a shopping center, literally next door to Target.
I was fairly pleased by the track; it was definitely wide enough to allow for passing throughout, and it was slick enough that you had to seriously pay attention in order to be quick. The barricades looked much better than the standard piles-​of-​old-​tires, but that probably makes it harder for them to redesign the course if they wanted to.
The karts are much better than I was expecting; good, grippy steering wheels, strong brakes, and even a reverse gear! They are electric, so there’s not nearly as much grease and grime from racing, or exhaust fumes in your face. Not only are they electric, but they have some wireless controls built-​in, too (if someone crashes, they can quickly slow down all other karts to avoid a 10-​kart pile-​up). It did look like they had two other types of karts, maybe for the kiddos, I guess.
It was a bit pricey ($ 23 for ~14 laps or ~10 minutes), but they seemed busy enough that they can get away with it. There were five of us in my group, and we had to wait about 45 minutes before it was our turn to race (and there were five more random people racing with us).
Even though it was my first time, and I only did one race, I got a 25.363 lap, which turned out to be the fastest of the ten drivers in my race. Go me!

This place is awesome! They do birthday parties for all ages, or you can just race 1time with friends!
Good for adults and kids of all ages! They group people together by age and experience.
Adult Race: 14 Laps or Time Equivalent $ 18 for members $ 23. I think it was a little pricey for 14 laps, but what a good time!
And after you burn some rubber, they record your fastest lap on their screens so you can see how you fare with the rest of Reno! Once done they print out your stats too!

Very cool and clean place to take the kids. My son loved it and we had a lot of fun. It is pricey but I feel it was worth it since he had such a great time. I was shocked at how fast those karts actually go. I was worried that my nine year old son wouldn’t be able to handle it but he did really well. He even bumped me a few times to my dismay.
The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly and I felt that they were well educated on the use of the karts. The karts could actually be pretty dangerous if not driven properly but the staff did a great job explaining to use how they worked. We will be back.