Go Karting Stag Do

A go karting stag do is about as close as most of us will get to Formula 1, and it brings out the worst in everyone. The quietest lad in the group turns into a menace on the first bend, the stag’s future brother-in-law drives like he’s on the school run, and somebody gets a black flag for ramming within ten minutes. I love it.

It’s basically Mario Kart without the banana skins. You get a briefing, a helmet and some practice laps, and most sessions then run as qualifying and a race or grand prix, with a podium at the end. There’s a winner to resent, a villain to blame and a lot of shouting from behind the barrier.

Nobody needs any skill to start, and everyone has an opinion afterwards. The racing gives the group something to argue about all weekend (usually who cheated), and the timing sheets settle debates the lads would otherwise drag on in the pub until closing.

It’s a sober activity too, which is no bad thing on day one. It saves your stamina for the evening, and it means the stag starts the night with a story rather than a headache.

If the stag is annoyingly good, give him a handicap. A start from the back of the grid does the job nicely, and if he still wins, at least he earned it. If he’s hopeless, make sure there’s a trophy for last place too.

Rally karting takes the karts off the tarmac and onto loose gravel and dirt. You slide round corners instead of gripping them, the back end goes wherever it fancies, and you come off the track looking like you’ve been dragged through a hedge. It’s a bit more chaos and a bit less precision, which on a stag do is a very good trade.

It suits groups who’ve done normal karting before and want something different, or lads who’d rather drift sideways than chase lap times. Wear clothes you’re happy to get dusty, or muddy if it’s rained.

• Indoor or outdoor. Indoor tracks are usually in town and work in any weather. Outdoor tracks tend to be longer and faster, but bring a waterproof if it’s grim.
• The booze rule. Not before you race. Tracks will turn away anyone who’s had a drink, and fair enough.
• Track time. Bigger groups often get split into heats. Ask how many karts go out at once and how much driving each person actually gets.
• Shoes and clothes. Flat, closed shoes. Race suits get hot and sweaty, so plan a shower and change before the evening.
• Trophies. Some packages include a podium ceremony. If not, bring your own silverware (see the kit below).

Karting fits into almost any weekend, as most cities have a track within reach. If the group wants more horsepower, look at a track day or a Formula 1 driving experience. For more mud and less tarmac, quad biking is the obvious partner.

Then have a look through our stag do destinations to find somewhere with a good night out to finish, and read our organising advice before you start collecting deposits.