SINCE March, Catherine Hayes has been busy lugging around six hundred tyres while her business has been closed, but she\u2019s enjoyed every minute.<\/p>\n
The new owner of Ballarat Indoor Go Karts and Laserforce, alongside husband, Darren Hayes, she\u2019s made the most of the COVID-19 period, working to give the fast-paced space a complete refresh, while keeping her three staff employed and spending time with her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe bought the business three months and two days before we had to shut down. Once we got over the shock of it all, and knew what the government was doing for small business, we got our three staff back on and they\u2019ve been multi-skilling ever since,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve changed the track layout and moved tyre walls around, the walls are a new colour, we\u2019ve overhauled all of the karts, built a new briefing room, built new fencing, and changed the laser tag arena too.<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally open seven days a week, we had all these plans that we wouldn\u2019t have been able to achieve if we didn\u2019t close. In hindsight, we\u2019ll come out of this in a far stronger position.\u201d<\/p>\n
Selling out of Jim\u2019s Fencing last May, the Hayes family were attracted to the go kart centre when they were looking for a new venture at the end of 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt had been run down, but was still a really iconic place for Ballarat. Everyone remembers coming here, and we saw the potential of it,\u201d Mrs Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re now reopen with a whole new visual. It\u2019s calmer than the previous green, it\u2019s far more professional and it feels bigger. Our regular and new clients will be excited and feel a warmer welcome when they come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laserforce is not yet allowed to open to the public as an indoor amusement centre, but its space adjacent to the race track will feature new artwork, arcade games, a parents\u2019 sitting room, and a designated party room, ideal for teen birthday celebrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got three teenage daughters and there is nowhere for teenagers to go in Ballarat that doesn\u2019t involve alcohol, other than tenpin bowling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t sell alcohol, it\u2019s safe here, we have experienced staff, we\u2019re passionate about what we do and that\u2019s what parents are looking for, so that\u2019s another market we\u2019d like to attract,\u201d Mrs Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s also nowhere in Ballarat for corporate adrenaline junkie activities, so we\u2019re hoping we can provide a venue for corporate groups of up to 50, once that\u2019s allowed, where they have exclusive venue use and catering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clubspeed software is set for installation at Ballarat Indoor Go Karts in July, and the new track configuration accommodates a central viewing area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a big timing and registration system, with phone apps, pre-registration and indemnity form capabilities,\u201d Mrs Hayes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents and people watching were always up at the far end and could never get a good visual on their kids or other adults racing, so we\u2019ve created a walk zone into a space where they can watch and feel a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n