Experience the Science of Speed on the North Shore

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

I actually had fun driving in Pittsburgh today thanks to science.

The Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center’s new immersive experience allows visitors to race electric karts on a multi-level indoor track. While navigating elevation changes, hairpin turns and head-to-head competition at up to 45 mph, they’ll also learn about concepts such as traction, aerodynamics, energy transfer, momentum and reaction time.

If only rush hour traffic was this entertaining!

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The Science of Speed, Powered by Lenovo opens to the public on Saturday, Aug. 1. The North Shore’s former SporksWorks building is now a 21,000-square-foot gearhead dream with 750 feet of track, interactive STEM exhibits, historical information and Formula 1 racing simulators. (I pitched the idea of a Pittsburgh driving simulator that teaches yinzers how to merge, signal and enter a tunnel without pumping the brakes.)

Once you’ve made a few laps, zoom to the Pit Stop Lounge, which offers light bites, local beers, NA beverages and craft cocktails such as Pole Position Punch.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Daily daytime hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission to the Science Center is required, with kart races and simulator sessions available for purchase onsite. Guests as young as 7 years old must register, sign a waiver and meet height and weight requirements.

From 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Science of Speed shifts gears into an after-hours social hub for adults ages 18 and older with no general admission required. Assemble your crew and leave your road rage at the door.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

“Instead of simply reading about physics or engineering, visitors will feel the forces acting on a race car, make split-second decisions behind the wheel and immediately connect those moments to the technology and STEM concepts that power today’s fastest vehicles,” says Jason Brown, director of the Science Center and vice president of Carnegie Museums, who also complimented me on my Motorhead T-shirt.

The Science Center, Pittsburgh’s most visited museum, has been on a fast-track of transformation since a 2025 rebrand that was fueled by a $65 million gift from Dan and Carole Kamin and their family. The facility, which opened in 1991, is in the process of upgrading more than 75% of its exhibition spaces by the end of 2027.

In December 2025, Sports360 made the team. The 9,500-square-foot experience features 25 hands-on stations inspired by football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer and Olympic sports.

I’m a big fan of Monster Trucks, but if small-scale modes of transportation are more your speed, the Miniature Railroad & Village is a must-see.