Malibu Grand Prix cart-looking to buy

[boatpi]

Sure bunch of old timers remember these tracks they were pretty much across the country. The carts were made by Virage corporation. They made four separate additions the first one had a wankel rotary engine and a centrifugal clutch.

Most are gone, but there are some around. I know Rdp reaches pretty far looking for one of these. It has to be mechanically restored engine wise. the body and bad shape I can deal with.
But

 

[Get415]

Yesssss, we used to go to the one in Northridge! Wow this brought back some memories

 

[Dog]

I found this on a search.

Malibu Grand Prix Worldwide | Malibu Grand Prix Virage generation 4, For sale as is | Facebook

Malibu Grand Prix Virage generation 4, For sale as is. $850 each. Will work with your shipper (you set up) Pick up near Wellington KS.

www.facebook.com

 

[boatpi]

They have a pretty good Facebook page. I posted a wanted and I’ve done a Facebook marketplace search on some of the western United States localities that may have some used cars floating around.
with 1000s of cars they had they have to wonder what happened to all of them. My home track was fountain Valley, but I actually was part of a competition group with three other tracks, including La Puente on some pretty good trophies.
Nothing so far.

 

[johnnyC]

Yesssss, we used to go to the one in Northridge! Wow this brought back some memories

i used to go there also .... it was a blast

 

[Orange Juice]

Phoenix had a track for many years down by Big Surf.

 

[napanutt]

Early 80’s I think it was there was one near Concord CA. They were bad ass.

 

[DarkJuJu]

Might want to look for Chaparral speed way cars from 80s-90s from Phoenix if your not picky, one of the Munster kid actors owned the race track down on like Van Buren and 40th street. I see them pop up once in a while.

 

[oldman]

They have a pretty good Facebook page. I posted a wanted and I’ve done a Facebook marketplace search on some of the western United States localities that may have some used cars floating around.
with 1000s of cars they had they have to wonder what happened to all of them. My home track was fountain Valley, but I actually was part of a competition group with three other tracks, including La Puente on some pretty good trophies.
Nothing so far.

The one I think your talking about was Puente Hills?, It had a drag strip also with propane powered small blocks.

I spent way too much money running laps at that place. It rocked.

 

[Tank]

What size motor was in those and how fast? That’s an awesome idea to pick
One up.

 

[Captain Dan]

Miramar Road, San Diego

 

[boatpi]

Original series one had a 36 hp wankel engine and I believe the last ones had a Kawasaki, which are still used today and all industrial uses the same horsepower

 

[Willie B]

… Went to the one in Northridge quite often… I think the go kart track next to Ascot Stadium was a Malibu… And I also went to a go cart track in Houston about 1982… That possibly could’ve been a Malibu… I had forgotten all about those fun days…

 

[Orange Juice]

Found you a key chain. https://www.ebay.com/itm/3563991948...byjWVBwTp6s166Yees7zafoA==|tkp:Bk9SR5jL_9GNZQ

 

[hav19]

What else did people do on Thursday Nights in La Puente???

 

[Rennsport]

I recall they were powered by two cylinder snowmobile engines. Much fun they were. Got kicked out of several facilities. Almost knocked myself out one time jumping across a turn essentially short cutting a corner.

 

[Rennsport]

 

[4Waters]

The one I think your talking about was Puente Hills?, It had a drag strip also with propane powered small blocks.

I spent way too much money running laps at that place. It rocked.

That was Speed Zone

 

[rivermobster]

I remember all of those places.

Good times!

 

[TimeBandit]

My friend "Big Ben" worked at the Northridge Malibu, lots of free laps.

One Sunday after road racing at Riverside we hit a Malibu on the way home somewhere between Riverside and Van Nuys, no idea where.

I did a couple laps and the worker said "you are very close to the lap record" lol, I guess A 500 GP bike warms you up pretty good!

 

[riverroyal]

Miramar Road, San Diego

I was thrown out of that place at 24. Like 2 employees escorted us to the door.
Apparently they don't want you to go as far out on the track as possible. Then head in straight line back to the front. I clearly remember grass flying.

 

[TrollerDave]

That was Speed Zone

But I think years ago it was a Malibu or one like it.

It’s a Boomers now.

 

[Orange Juice]

My friend "Big Ben" worked at the Northridge Malibu, lots of free laps.

One Sunday after road racing at Riverside we hit a Malibu on the way home somewhere between Riverside and Van Nuys, no idea where.

I did a couple laps and the worker said "you are very close to the lap record" lol, I guess A 500 GP bike warms you up pretty good!

They told everybody “that was almost a track record” to get you to buy more laps.

 

[4Waters]

But I think years ago it was a Malibu or one like it.

It’s a Boomers now.

Maybe, I'm pretty sure the Malibu in Northridge was never a kart track again after it closed. I went to Speed Zone in Orlando 25yrs ago, it was cool, the dragsters were gay but my opinion is slightly biased since I owned a drag car at the time, for the average person it was a kick in the pants.

 

[Tank]

Original series one had a 36 hp wankel engine and I believe the last ones had a Kawasaki, which are still used today and all industrial uses the same horsepower

What did they do for speed?

 

[Willie B]

… I remember going to the one in Northridge one afternoon after a day of driving heavy equipment… myself, and a couple of buddies did a few laps… And then we noticed there were guys coming out of a garage whose carts seemed to be way faster than the rental carts… I don’t know if they let people bring their privately own carts there or what……

 

[oldman]

That was Speed Zone

Looks like it was really neither. Or both. ​

We would cruise the parking lot, On good nights we'd line up races and head off to secluded locations and street race. on other nights it was dates.

​

City of Industry, California​

[edit]
Originally located on Castleton Street, right next to the Pomona freeway, it featured a large arcade with the latest coin-operated games, 2–3 full-sized pay-per-play pool tables, along with the infamous go cart track. Both 3⁄4-scale Indy-Style race cars and smaller go-carts were raced on the track. MGP also owned/operated the fun center next door simply known as "Showboat". Showboat had its own arcade section, two 18-hole miniature golf courses, and a water park. Both places no longer exist; in their place is a SpeedZone (originally Malibu SpeedZone) and features the scaled race cars, go karts, and scaled dragsters.

 

[Lumpy]

What else did people do on Thursday Nights in La Puente??? View attachment 1469775

I got mine somewhere!!!

MaMaMaMaMaaaaaa Malibu Grand Prix!!!! Good times back then!

 

[RitcheyRch]

Yesssss, we used to go to the one in Northridge! Wow this brought back some memories

Went there quite often

 

[boatpi]

Warner bought them out, then big corp had a 'better idea, and rean them into the ground. Now all we have is indoor electric. Our new to us house has a 165' oval driveway, this would be a nice practice track I thought. So my journey to locate one.

 

[Wayn-o]

Phoenix had a track for many years down by Big Surf.

The guy there told me that track was the fastest track of all the Malibu grand prix tracks.

 

[mbrown2]

They have a pretty good Facebook page. I posted a wanted and I’ve done a Facebook marketplace search on some of the western United States localities that may have some used cars floating around.
with 1000s of cars they had they have to wonder what happened to all of them. My home track was fountain Valley, but I actually was part of a competition group with three other tracks, including La Puente on some pretty good trophies.
Nothing so far.

Loved the La Puente track... could burn through lots of $$ there... Once did a work party there...it was awesome racing against my bosses!

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Anyone been to K1 Speed out in the IE?

 

[mbrown2]

LOL...LP that's my hometown....spent many nights there, next door at Showboat, across the street at Skate Country, and down the street at PJ Pizzaz and the Movies... Puente Hills...the good ol days no phones to stare at...

What else did people do on Thursday Nights in La Puente???

 

[rightytighty]

LOL...LP that's my hometown....spent many nights there, next door at Showboat, across the street at Skate Country, and down the street at PJ Pizzaz and the Movies... Puente Hills...the good ol days no phones to stare at...

Yeah - me too!!!!. Loved Malibu GP. Right up against the freeway. ( I was sure everyone was watching me fly through the course as they sat in traffic on the 60. )

And Puente Hills Mall-- Good times.. Every time I see the terrorist scene from Back to the Future, I perk up!

My kids : "I know, I know, you learned how to drive in that parking lot.." LOL ( That is where Dad showed me in a real car, but I drove faster at Malibu GP!)

 

[CommanderLee]

A few of the girls in my friend group in HS and after worked at Chuck E Cheese and would give us cups full of tokens and an empty one to get a coke. We would grab them and head over the hill to Malibu Grand Prix to play games for free for hours since the tokens worked there. Never once did they catch us or even question us and we did it a lot.

 

[HTTP404]

Anyone been to K1 Speed out in the IE?

Yes! It's about 5 minutes from my house. That place is the real deal. I haven't rented a kart yet but have watched some of the pro level races doing laps.

K1 Circuit - California’s Premier Outdoor Kart Racing Track

California's premier outdoor go-kart racing track. Electric competition karts for rent & sale, open practice, pro karting events, and more.

www.k1circuit.com

 

[hav19]

Yeah - me too!!!!. Loved Malibu GP. Right up against the freeway. ( I was sure everyone was watching me fly through the course as they sat in traffic on the 60. )

And Puente Hills Mall-- Good times.. Every time I see the terrorist scene from Back to the Future, I perk up!

My kids : "I know, I know, you learned how to drive in that parking lot.." LOL ( That is where Dad showed me in a real car, but I drove faster at Malibu GP!)

Too Funny, I lived in Temple City, so we would drive through the Mall parking lot to get to the GP, well we were driving home after racing one night and the mall parking lot was blocked off and was all wet (it wasn’t raining) as we drove around you could see something being filmed with big lights and stuff, Yup it was the night they filmed the scene in back to the future! My poor wife has heard this story many times, it was awesome!!!!!!!

 

[oldman]

Too Funny, I lived in Temple City, so we would drive through the Mall parking lot to get to the GP, well we were driving home after racing one night and the mall parking lot was blocked off and was all wet (it wasn’t raining) as we drove around you could see something being filmed with big lights and stuff, Yup it was the night they filmed the scene in back to the future! My poor wife has heard this story many times, it was awesome!!!!!!!

We were up on Colima looking down on the parking lot when they shot a bunch of stuff out there about 11pm with the DeLorean. It was one of the 88 MPH scenes, flames on the ground.

All of that was where I grew up, We played on the freeway when they were building it. the 60 stopped at 7th Ave.

 

[coolchange]

Yes! It's about 5 minutes from my house. That place is the real deal. I haven't rented a kart yet but have watched some of the pro level races doing laps.

K1 Circuit - California’s Premier Outdoor Kart Racing Track

California's premier outdoor go-kart racing track. Electric competition karts for rent & sale, open practice, pro karting events, and more.

www.k1circuit.com

I think that’s the track. My kid was talking about. He works at MB two. You have to join become a member before you can race. They have different levels. Entry-level cards will do about 50. Then you can step up to the next level after five or six races. I think those carts do, about 80 he said.
If you have some type of license from a sanctioning body (He does SCTA) Then you can move into the second level carts without having to do entry level.

 

[wallnutz]

The guy there told me that track was the fastest track of all the Malibu grand prix tracks.

Phoenix also had a couple of special cars that were a tick faster than the regular ones.

 

[Wayn-o]

Phoenix also had a couple of special cars that were a tick faster than the regular ones.

Yes , he said they had the fastest Virage car too. I got my Virage license at the track that was by Miramar in San Diego. The guys at the Phoenix track let me use the Virage car without having to relicense at that track.

 

[scottchbrite]

Yesssss, we used to go to the one in Northridge! Wow this brought back some memories

And Pepe’s go carts too. I think it was north ridge too

 

[Get415]

Yep, Pepes was fun. Right off Roscoe / Hayvenhurst behind the airport.

 

[boatnam2]

My step moms Uncle owned the track right next to Torrance airport way back in the day, it was just the regular old carts but both her brothers worked there, they would let me keep going when everyone else was finished, so much fun as a kid. A car flipped on a freak accident deal and the kid died in her Uncles arms, that was the end of that and a few other tracks he owned.

 

[boatpi]

Search is over, and I just picked this up. Long story, and I have to omit some details. As it turns out I likely purchased the most pristine MGP car around, 99% complete and running. It will undergo a resto, engine and brakes good, some bolt detailing, and needs a re paint, cracking poor job. It is edition 2, with a 2 cylinder 2 stroke, Cuyuna 2SI engine. I am stoked that I located this.

 

[DarkJuJu]

That's pretty cool.

 

[DarkJuJu]

Yes , he said they had the fastest Virage car too. I got my Virage license at the track that was by Miramar in San Diego. The guys at the Phoenix track let me use the Virage car without having to relicense at that track.

Found this on the innerwebs, pretty interesting I thought.

Tempe, Arizona​

[edit]
The Tempe, Arizona, site on Hayden Road, south of McKellips Road closed in the mid-1990s. The land is now occupied by a FedEx distribution facility. This site was acquired by MGP from a private operator, Grand Prix of Phoenix in 1979. Therefore, it was the fastest Malibu track in the country with only 13 turns in a 1/2 mile. Track record was in the 47-second bracket. It was a favorite stop by many touring artists including Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Aerosmith, Scorpions, Foreigner, and many more. Also professional drivers like Michael Andretti, Dan Gurney, Al Unser Jr.

Malibu Grand Prix - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[dirtslinger2]

Search is over, and I just picked this up. Long story, and I have to omit some details. As it turns out I likely purchased the most pristine MGP car around, 99% complete and running. It will undergo a resto, engine and brakes good, some bolt detailing, and needs a re paint, cracking poor job. It is edition 2, with a 2 cylinder 2 stroke, Cuyuna 2SI engine. I am stoked that I located this. View attachment 1472188 View attachment 1472189 View attachment 1472190 View attachment 1472191

sweet, where did you find it?

 

[CLCookie]

My friend "Big Ben" worked at the Northridge Malibu, lots of free laps.

One Sunday after road racing at Riverside we hit a Malibu on the way home somewhere between Riverside and Van Nuys, no idea where.

I did a couple laps and the worker said "you are very close to the lap record" lol, I guess A 500 GP bike warms you up pretty good!

Probably Hacienda Heights, we frequented there. It wasn't cheap to race on a High School budget. We spent more time down at Ascot on the slick track.