DMC Karting in Johor
December’s knocking, and you know what that means. Invitations to festive house parties will be filling up your Google Calendars, and more likely than not you’ll be firing up party games on the Nintendo Switch such as Mario Kart to fuel your gatherings. But, if you’re looking to shake things up this year, settle your friendly competitions offline by visiting DMC Karting.
It’s a Go-Karting arena in Johor that’s not too far from the checkpoint, which opens till late. It even has an on-site cafe which whips up the perfect supper grub to indulge in after a night of high-octane racing. We took the liberty of heading down for a few laps around their circuits ourselves; here’s all you need to know before swinging by with your mates:
The current exchange rate is S$1 =~RM3.31 as of 3rd December 2024.
What is DMC Karting?
DMC Karting is an indoor go-karting facility in Masai, Johor. It’s located just a 20-minute drive from the checkpoints, so it isn’t too far from the usual JB haunts such as Johor Bahru City Square mall and KSL City Mall when you’re hopping the border for the weekend.
In case you’re wondering, DMC stands for Drift Master Club, and no, it’s not affiliated with the famous hip-hop group of the 80s.
It’s decorated with flashy neon signs, so there’ll definitely be pretty backdrops for your IG updates. The whole facility is sheltered too, so you can head down rain or shine for your sessions. DMC Karting opens daily from 12pm all the way to 12am, which means you can race the night away on their 2-storey circuits.
DMC Karting has a cafe on its grounds where visitors can drop by to cure their hunger pangs before or after their go-kart sessions. They have drinks, small bites, as well as mains to keep you going, while lok lok lovers can grab handfuls of skewers to enjoy deep-fried.
2 different circuits to try, for both kids & adults to race on
When it comes to securing your slots at DMC Karting, you’ve got to head down in-person as they don’t have an online booking portal. The facility wasn’t crowded at all when we headed down on a weekday afternoon, but do plan your visits ahead of time and visit as early as you can to beat the potential weekend crowd.
The circuit’s layout at DMC Karting.
DMC Karting’s rates start from RM30 for 10 minutes on their Level G circuit, while RM50 gives visitors access to their Level G and Level 1 circuits for 10 minutes. By the way, you don’t need a driving license to whiz across their circuits, so non-drivers and kids can have a blast here too.
Level G is a kid-friendly circuit that’s suitable for go-kart novices with not much experience behind the wheel, but it still has its fair share of twists and turns to navigate. Those who’re seasoned go-kart drivers will want to opt for the combined Level G and Level 1 circuit, as they’ll get a rush of adrenaline when they zoom down the additional ramps during their session.
Before we revved our engines, we sat through a safety briefing and strapped on the helmets provided by the staff. You can also choose to put on swanky LED goggles for extra protection and swagger for RM5, but even without them we were fine and dandy.
A demonstration by the staff of how wildly their carts can drift.
Most importantly, the staff will teach you how to pull off sick drifting stunts, which is done by operating a lever on the right side of your vehicle. You’ll then be brought to the starting line, and once you’ve queued up Tokyo Drift’s theme song to play in your head, off you go. Despite their size, their carts are nothing to be scoffed at, as they can reach speeds of up to 40km/h.
This rainbow-hued tunnel is a great spot for photo ops as your friends speed by.
For parents waiting for their kids to have a go on the circuits, there are plenty of chairs set up right beside the track that are perfect for snapping pics as they zoom past you.
On-site cafe with canned drinks, lok lok & Western mains
Once you’ve had your fun, you can make a pit stop at DMC Karting’s on-site cafe to take a breather and refuel. They’ve got a plethora of canned drinks (from RM3) such as A&W Root Beer, Pokka Green Tea, and Coca Cola in case you’re parched after your drive.
As for small bites, order a side of nuggets (RM8.90) and cheese fries (RM6.50) to keep your mouths busy. And since you’re in Johor, you can’t miss out on lok lok, so get your skewered, deep-fried delicacies right here. The cafe is stocked with fan favourites such as enoki mushrooms, crabsticks, fishballs, and hotdogs.
For something a little more substantial, go for their mains. The cafe has a variety of Western dishes you can order, including Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM16.50), Fried Fish & Chips (RM15.50), and Tomato Ham Spaghetti (RM8.90). Otherwise, you can also try their Claypot Noodle Chicken (RM12.50) or Claypot Rice Black Pepper Fish (RM15.50).
Challenge your friends to a race at DMC Karting
You can’t really ask for more from a go-karting facility. Sheltered premises to protect drivers from the elements, bends and obstacles to conquer, and even a tasty nosh to look forward to after your races; DMC Karting has it all.
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For more things to do in JB during your day trips across the border:
- Lotso-themed Loop & Co. cafe
- Meow Space – Claw machine haven in JB
- Tsutaya Bookstore AEON Mall Tebrau City
Photography by Joycelyn Yeow.