A new motor speedway opened in East El Paso on Feb. 6, but plans for the official ribbon cutting of Zero to 60 Motor Speedway is expected to take place Mar. 6.

The track, located at 8600 Gateway East Blvd. in the Kessler Industrial Park, is a quarter-mile long and can accommodate about eight to 10 drivers at a time. The indoor go-kart speedway features 100 percent electric Sony-manufactured go-karts from France that can hit top speeds of 50 miles per hour.

“We are the only motor speedway in the country to carry the latest generation of kart technology from Belgium and Europe,” said Joe Acosta, partner and operator of Zero to 60 Motor Speedway. “The manufacturer is known to be the best in the world as far as karting and we are very lucky and proud to have it.”

Adult go-kart drivers must be at least 16 years of age with a valid driver’s license. Racers under the age of 18 must have a minor release form signed by a parent or guardian and notarized if not present. All adult riders must be a minimum of 11 years of age and at least five-foot-4-inches tall.

Acosta said for safety precautions, it is recommended that all drivers wear closed-toe shoes and their hair tied up inside the helmet during the race.

“They are a blast to ride and get your adrenaline running high,” Acosta said.

All races are based on time and not on position. The races are usually eight to 10 minutes long and drivers are able to get about 20 to 25 laps in during one race.

“The 15th lap is usually the best one in most races and we have software technology that is able to track the times for every lap,” Acosta said. “The program enables us to keep a record of the best drivers so we can invite them back to compete in other races.”

Kevin Keenan, senior computer science major, said this is something El Paso has been anticipating.

“The city is growing and we don’t see a lot of unique attractions developing around here so this sounds unique and thrilling,” Keenan said.

The main attraction of  Zero to 60  are the go-karts, however the 30,000-square-foot facility also features a retail shop, a bar that serves beer and wine, other concessions, pool tables and a lounge area with Wi-Fi. Drivers are allowed to have a maximum of two drinks prior to entering a race.

Television monitors displayed throughout the facility will air Nascar and Formula One races, other sporting events and fights throughout the day.

Zero to 60 also features two large private rooms available to rent for any type of event such as birthdays and corporate meetings.

“We want to accommodate to everyone,” Acosta said. “Parents can eat some lunch and do some work in the lounge area while the kids enjoy themselves in the speedway, and anyone using our private rooms for a meeting, for example, can grab a bite to eat and race the karts in between breaks.”

The motor speedway will also have a kitchen that will offer a variety of unique menu items named after auto phrases. Some items they will be serving are appetizers, hamburgers, hotdogs and nachos. The kitchen is scheduled to be ready by the end of this month.

Mariel Frias, sophomore media advertising major, said Zero to 60 is interesting.

“I have never heard of this before, but I would love to try it out,” Frias said.

The ideas for the Zero to 60 Speedway were sparked three years ago.

“El Paso is like a hidden treasure and is growing in a good direction,” Acosta said. “It doesn’t really have a lot of entertainment areas that are appealing to adults and young adults, which is why we decided that El Paso was the right market for this kind of industry.”

Acosta said the concept of the company is automotive so they are looking to work with local dealerships in town to showcase their latest models and new vehicles.

“It was an incredible and massive project, but we are proud of it and happy to bring it to El Paso for the community to enjoy,” Acosta said.

Zero to 60  is open every day of the week, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Each race costs about $20 per race per driver.

Valerie Herrera may be reached at [email protected].