Remember the days when you used to go outside and rev up the go-kart in street or backyard?  Flying down the yard going 20 mph was a thrill that you would remember for a lifetime!  Times have changed, the toys have gotten bigger, faster and more technical.  The era of the backyard go kart is a thing of the past.  Homes are closer together, safety and liability linger and now the new age of electronics and entertainment have hit.

The go kart industry has kept pace with the ever changing demands of consumers.  What was once the backyard activity has now spawned facilities nearing 100,000 sqft and holding corporate teambuilding events, birthday parties, competition races and more.  What was a dream to many has now become a reality.  For roughly $20 a ride you can get the thrill of a lifetime.

Indoor karting facilities offer an experience like none other.  Road course style tracks, high performance karts, beautiful fit outs and high tech scoring systems make for an exciting afternoon.  To be a 10 year old kid or a 100 year old kid, it is amazing that racing has become so available.  No requirement for experience or investments, just the need for speed.

If you haven’t looked up go karting lately you might want to Google it and see what you can find in your neck of the woods.  I promise it will give you and adrenaline rush!

Teambuilding is vital for any group working together, playing together or interacting together with a focus of reaching a common goal.  This is something we have preached at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix for the past 4 years.  A couple of months ago it came to our attention that we were talking the talk but not walking the walking.  Last night LVGP held it’s first ever holiday party.  We used the night to celebrate our victories of 2010 and to get everyone excited for a fresh start in 2011.

To celebrate we chose to take everyone to a local bowling alley (couldn’t do go karting ;) ) and do a secret Santa gift exchange.  It was a great experience seeing everyone out of the working environment and enjoying each other’s company.  Not to pat myself on the back but I was very excited to see how strong our team has bonded here at the facility.  There was not one individual who did not show up to the event or was not engaged throughout the evening.  Bowling is not for everyone but the fact that everyone participated shows that they care more about the team interaction then they do their individual preferences.  THAT IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS!!

We will be posting our holiday pics on Facebook so if you are not a fan of Lehigh Valley Grand Prix you should be!!

The holidays are past us at this point but the holiday hangover cloud still looms.  You cannot afford to wait to get everyone “ON TRACK” for 2011!  Lehigh Valley Grand Prix offers some great packages to give your team a boost of adrenaline as well as getting the team focused on first quarter goals.  Team building programs are crucial to get everyone on board with the organizational programs.  It is a must to make sure that everyone is awake and energized so that you can hit the new year full speed ahead!

If you are interested in learning more about how we can get your team to the next level call our Event/Corporate Events Planner, Kristine, at 610-432-RACE.

2010 has been a year that Lehigh Valley Grand Prix has learned a lot about itself and it’s customers.  In an environment where economies were collapsing and consumer spending was tight, LVGP was able to find success.  Through investments in key products such as new karts and timing systems LVGP was able to enhance the racing experience to deliver a high quality racing experience.

The new karts were a major investment for the company.  The new Sodi GT5 karts are arguably the top performing kart in the industry.  You want the best and that is what we deliver.  These indoor racing karts are designed for the every day consumer with advanced bumper systems and chassis but do not sacrifice agility, handling and speed for the enthusiast.

Our new timing system now allows customers to link up their facebook accounts for automatic posts on their profile pages.  It also enables customers to receive emails of their results and check their race results on our new website.  We felt that all of these features were critical in today’s world of social media and that it took the racing experience to a new level.

One of our key findings this past year was that we have an extremely loyal customer base.  We cannot give enough thanks to all of our customers for keeping our business alive through what was challenging times.  We know and understand that your dollars were tight and you chose to spend with us and for that we are grateful.  It has been our focus to keep giving back to our customers through reinvestment in the products and working hard to deliver a high level of service.

Not only have we invested in products at the track but we have also invested in our people.  We have added some key people in positions that are striving to make your experience memorable.  Our goal is not to fill positions but to fill positions with a team that will make you feel special and add to your experience.

LVGP has now set itself up to add some new and exciting products in 2011 as well as some new things to enhance the racing experience.  Again, a BIG THANK YOU to all of our customers for a successful 2010 and we look forward to delivering another year of racing excellence for 2011.

Thank you!

Mike McCreary, President

It is that time of year when the company is hosting it’s annual holiday party.  This is a great time of year to enjoy the festivities but be careful because it can also be a dangerous season for job security.  It is easy to forget the work place boundaries when alcohol is thrown into the mix.  Be sure to read these helpful tips before you dive into the conversations, open bars, and a more relaxed atmosphere at the company event.

1)  Indulge in the free bar-  It is very easy to get excited about a free bar!  Been there and done that!  You need to remember that this is a work event.  Alcohol changes judgement and behavior.  This is not a wedding or bachelor party, this is a work event.  Professionalism is key for survival.  Limit yourself to 1 or 2 drinks period.

2) Be a Debbie Downer-  Nobody likes a negative attitude.  Don’t be the person who is complaining about the food spread, decorations or the music.  Remember that this is not a requirement for the company to throw a party.  Also, remember that the economy still stinks!  Revenue and profits could be down and your complaining might strike some real nerves with the boss or owner.

3) Mention raises or bonuses-  If you receive a nice raise or bonus and mention it to a coworker who did not then you are a jerk.  If you complain about not receiving a raise or bonus then you are the loser.  Either way you can’t win!

4)  Make Moves on Coworkers-  The environment is loose and friendly.  You have had a drink or two and now you have gained the courage to make a move on a coworker.  Not only are you asking for a lawsuit but you are not exactly sending the right message in your workforce.  Who wants the sloppy drunk from the office??

5) Gossip- My final recommendation is to not gossip.  Not only does it put you in a bad position but nobody likes to be around the gossip queen.  Enjoy yourself, keep your thoughts and comments to yourself and enjoy the party!

Have a Happy Holiday from your friends at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix!

The Corporate environment is something that intrigues me.  How people use their resources and skill sets to get the optimal performance level out of their staff is challenging.  There is no exact formula to running a great operation.  All of the manuals, courses and training programs are great but in the end it comes down to how you can deal with your team as individuals.  Everyone is different and has different needs.

The challenge we all face is “How to create a cohesive team with our individuals?”  The answer to that isn’t simple or clear cut.  The old method of a dictatorship with strict guidelines and discipline isn’t necessarily the best approach.  Today we need to find creative ways for the team to gel and create stronger bonds.  This doesn’t mean that every day is a party at the office but it does mean that people who like each other, will be more effective working together.

Creating bonds through fun team building activities outside of the office can be an efficient and cost effective way of creating these bonds.  There needs to be a maintenance plan put in place that incorporates training and fun activities.  Think of something fun and creative each quarter to keep your team engaged and energized.

Some suggestions; glass blowing at Banana Factory, Clay Shooting at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, Indoor kart racing at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix or Paintball are good places to start!