Control Systems

Go Kart Control Systems

Ride Commander Features

1) Each Ride Commander Controller has an integrated ride timer to start and stop the ride automatically.

2) Each Ride Commander has an MP3 player to announce the rules at the start of each race and a safe exit message at the end of each race. This message lets your guests know the risks and how to operate the vehicles safely before the start of each ride.

3) In addition to safety, the messaging system for each attraction is also used to entertain, enlighten or inform the guests waiting in line to further enhance the ride experience. At Amusement Products, we have found that adding more features for the customers’ senses makes the attraction a more immersive experience. For example, the ThunderVolt Ride Commander plays a rotation of messages that sound like two race announcers talking about the exciting new features on the karts, getting those in line excited about the race to come.

4) During the ride, the Ride Commander helps control the vehicles to keep the customers safe. For all attractions, the vehicles can be stopped with the push of a button and the race resumed after the issue is resolved by the track attendant.

5) The Ride Commander can be set to one of nine frequencies so that it won’t interfere with other attractions using a Ride Commander at the same facility.

6) SLOW DOWN: a single button push can slow all karts or a single kart one mile an hour at a time to help get rowdy or out-of-control riders slowed to a safe operating speed.

7) ON BOARD RACE MESSAGES: Each time the attendant has to alter the race or the race conditions change, there is a message in each kart that lets all drivers know what is happening on the track.

8) CREW CHIEF MESSAGE: Racers will hear a message in their kart only when they need pointers on how to improve their racing experience.

How can the Zone System improve your track operation?

The Zone System addresses problem areas of the track, such as sharp turns, steep downhill grades and pit approach areas. The flexible operations of the Zone System are set in the Ride Control Transmitter and can be adjusted in the future if necessary. Zones may also be added to an area of the track that becomes problematic.

Examples of how the Zone System can help your track:

TRACK ADJUSTMENTS: If there is a turn on your track where riders wipe out when pressing the BOOST button before entering the turn, you can place a “NO BOOST ZONE” just before the turn and a second zone sensor that will resume the BOOST function after leaving the turn.
SPEED CHANGES: While the traditional ThunderVolt system uses dynamic braking to allow your coaster track to run the same speed uphill and downhill (18 mph climbing and 18 mph on a 15% downhill run), sometimes younger racers can handle the turn at the bottom of the hill when going faster. The “SLOW DOWN ZONE” will not only disable the BOOST feature in this area, it will automatically slow the karts down to a slower speed so they can more easily negotiate the turn.
SPECIAL SOUND EFFECTS: Each Zone can activate a sound file on the kart as it enters a specific Zone. For example, when a kart enters an area where a zone sensor slows down the kart the driver will hear “Now entering the Deceleration Zone.” Other sound effects include a police siren, crash sounds, explosions, etc. This keeps the racer informed and the race more enjoyable.

While this system is new, there are many features that will be added as we continue to develop its full capabilities. Customers that choose to purchase the Zone System with their karts can add these new features with a simple software update and adding additional Zones when they choose. What is a great new system today will be even better in the future. Contact an Amusement Products representative to discuss what the Thundervolt Zone System can do for you.

Zone System Features:

Disable the BOOST button in certain areas of the track
Reduce top speed of the cars in certain areas of the track
Apply braking to the car to maintain a safe speed on steep downhill descents
Play a sound file warning of steep descents, sharp curves, or just for effect in a non-problem area
Return the cars to normal operation after problem area has been passed
Can perform any, all, or any combination of the above functions in each chosen area of the track
Area-specific sounds
Area-specific performance changes
Track interaction changes

Check out this powerful solution to boost every go-karting center to a new level. Not just timing, but a complete racing management tool.

Accurate to 1/1000 of a second. Offering lap times ups the competition at your track. It is a great way for racers to show their skills and challenge their friends! At least one detection point should be the START/FINISH line. This is where each lap result is timed for each kart. There is a second component on the kart that identifies the kart crossing the START/FINISH line. Each Lap Time is recorded with the best overall time winning the race.

Parts for the Timing System:

Kart Identification (one per kart)
START/FINISH Detection Point
Timing system software
Additional Detection Points (optional)

Parts Not Included:

Computers to drive the software
LED TV’s or projection TV’s for displaying results
Registration pads for waiver signing

Park & Charge System

SAVES $40,000 TO $80,000 PER YEAR IN LABOR OVER MANUAL CHARGING!

While manually plugging the chargers to the karts may save money on the initial investment, you will quickly exceed this savings with the additional labor required by this manual process. With the innovative Park and Charge System, the contacts are mounted to the floor with pucks hanging below the karts to do the charging automatically. The Park and Charge System results in no labor, more efficient charging, and longer battery life.

This automatic system starts charging the karts two seconds after they stop in the pit and recharges the batteries to 95%+ charged (full) in three to four minutes. It saves one to two people on every shift which is over $80,000 in labor savings for indoor operators every year!

Karts

Take advantage of all of this technology with the best commercial go kart manufactured in the USA, the LIGHTNING with the ThunderVolt operating system.

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Parts

With Amusement Products, you can be sure we will keep your karts running with high quality parts delivered on time with excellent customer service.

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Tracks

The best tracks take advantage of the technology used in our ThunderVolt LIGHTNING racing go karts. Designed to bring customers back time and time again.