When the staff of Eastern Building Components was looking for a new way to celebrate Christmas, someone suggested kart racing.

The 11 staff members who came to RushHour Karting off of U.S. 70 on Dec. 19 didn't regret their decision to forgo a traditional party.

"We had so much fun," said Hank Toler, who organized the function. "It was the best company outing I have attended."

One of the facility's owners, Sherif Matta, said the number of business and civic group customers was increasing. Many groups choose karting because they want to strengthen their team spirit and have fun at the same time, Matta said.

Toler said karting also seemed to be suitable for a diverse group of people. "We had people ranging in age from 25 to 65 years, male and female," he said. "Everyone said they had a good time and asked when we are going to go back there."

RushHour, which has karts for adults and children, attracts families and individual drivers too. The business pulls people from Clayton, Garner Smithfield and Raleigh.

At RushHour, drivers attend a briefing before heading to the indoor track. Matta or one of his associates talks about safety measures, equipment, various flags used in racing and the rules of the track. Drivers receive neck braces, helmets and headdresses to put under their helmets. Matta also gives tips on how to maneuver the 1/3-mile course.

"Take wide-angle turns and let off the gas when you come to a curve," he said. "And it's OK to hit the breaks at a curve. If you happen to hit the tires lining the track, you will feel it, but it won't break you. There's no bumping, and we don't want anyone to get hurt."

At the track, drivers practice for five minutes and then race against a clock. They receive a sheet that tells them every lap's time. After that, the fastest drivers might compete against each other.

Besides one-time visitors, the business has about 4,000 registered members who come to drive more regularly, Matta said. He also invites companies and other groups to pick three or four drivers who then compete against teams from other businesses.

"Each team tries to finish as many laps as possible within a given timeframe," he said. "That way the teams don't have to be here at the same time, which would be difficult to schedule."

Karting is commonly perceived as a steppingstone to the more expensive ranks of motor sports. It can prepare the driver for high-speed wheel-to-wheel racing by helping develop quick reflexes, precision car control and decision-making skills. It can also bring an awareness of the various factors that can be altered to improve the competitiveness of the kart, such as tire pressure and gearing.

Dillon Spain of Clayton drives a kart both for pleasure and practice. "I want to get into NASCAR one day and race against my favorite, Jimmie Johnson," the 11-year-old said.

Spain, who has been successful in the category for 8- to 10-year-olds, is also interested in making the car as good as possible.

"The only thing I'm focused on when I'm driving is feeling the car and trying to get to the front of the pack in a safe way," said Spain, who began racing about three years ago.

His father, Barry, thinks Dillon has a knack for driving and knowing the kart. "We went to the Johnston County Speedway to watch a karting race, and he told me he wanted to try racing," Barry Spain said. "So I got him a used frame and a motor, and he instantly thrived in it. At the end of his first year, he was named the first improved racer in all age groups."

Barry Spain concedes that karting can be a dangerous sport, but the family takes every precaution it can. Dillon wears a neck brace, a helmet and a chest protector. The family also shares a prayer before a race.

"Dillon is no different than a kid who wants to play football or basketball," Barry Spain said. "He just happens to love racing, and we are trying to make it as enjoyable and safe for him as possible."