Pennzoil to host real Mario Kart racing at SXSW 2014

If you have ever walked through the oil section in your local store, you have probably seen the yellow Pennzoil bottles sitting on shelves. Pennzoil is sponsoring what may be the coolest thing going on at SXSW 2014 in Austin. The oil company will be letting visitors race in real-world Mario Karts.

The event is called Mario Karting Reimagined and it is inspired by Mario Kart 8 and sponsored in part by Nintendo. Visitors to the show will be able to slip behind the wheel of a real Mario Kart and race around the track in competition with other users.

The karts will be able to run over Pennzoil logos on the track that will give their Kart special powers. You won't get to toss turtle shells at your opponents, but the power-ups will make the cart slower or faster. The racing action will be broadcast at SXSW on a big Jumbotron for everyone to see.

Those that race will wear a helmet with a camera attached and will get a link to video of their laps on the track. The track itself is set up at the Palmer Events Center and will be open from noon to 6 pm on March 7-9. Mario Kart 8 will hit the Wii U in May.