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K1 Speed Takes Over West Oahu's Podium Raceway
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Podium Raceway, which has been open for a little more than three years in a 44,000-square-foot warehouse in West Oahu, is now owned by a California firm called K1 Speed that has kart racing centers in several states.
The deal, which closed within the last two weeks, does not include the property. K1 Speed is taking over the lease from the former owners, Kelly and Neil Tsutsui, Sheree and Mark Jeffries and Warren and Michele Cole, who all come from various positions in the construction industry.
"The owners called and wanted to know if we were interested," Randall Hoppe, spokesman for K1 Speed. "They were interested in new ventures, but wanted to ensure the integrity of what they've built would remain top notch."
He noted that there will be no major changes to the kart racing center in Kalaeloa, and that if anything, it will add more employees. A new restaurant also is expected to be added to the center.
Hoppe expects the center, which will change its name to the K1 Speed brand, to have a staff of up to 25 people.
“It was always a hope and dream to open a center in Hawaii," he said.
K1 Speed, one of the largest indoor karting companies in the country, operates more than 20 centers across the nation, including in California, Washington state, Arizona, Texas, Illinois and Florida.
Podium Raceway is the only public indoor electric kart racing track in Hawaii.
The Groove Hawaii, an entertainment park which opened earlier this year in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, offers go-cart racing in an outdoor setting.
The deal, which closed within the last two weeks, does not include the property. K1 Speed is taking over the lease from the former owners, Kelly and Neil Tsutsui, Sheree and Mark Jeffries and Warren and Michele Cole, who all come from various positions in the construction industry.
"The owners called and wanted to know if we were interested," Randall Hoppe, spokesman for K1 Speed. "They were interested in new ventures, but wanted to ensure the integrity of what they've built would remain top notch."
He noted that there will be no major changes to the kart racing center in Kalaeloa, and that if anything, it will add more employees. A new restaurant also is expected to be added to the center.
Hoppe expects the center, which will change its name to the K1 Speed brand, to have a staff of up to 25 people.
“It was always a hope and dream to open a center in Hawaii," he said.
K1 Speed, one of the largest indoor karting companies in the country, operates more than 20 centers across the nation, including in California, Washington state, Arizona, Texas, Illinois and Florida.
Podium Raceway is the only public indoor electric kart racing track in Hawaii.
The Groove Hawaii, an entertainment park which opened earlier this year in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako, offers go-cart racing in an outdoor setting.
