Buckmore Park Kart Circuit facts for kids
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| Location | Kent, England |
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| Major events | MSA Race meetings, National Championships, Bambino Club meetings, Junior Club meetings, Grand Prix League, Elite Series, Iron Man, Man of Steel |
| International Circuit | |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 0:37.82 (DD2) (Amanda Lassu, Year, 2007) |
Buckmore Park Kart Circuit is a famous outdoor kart racing track in Chatham, Kent, England. It's approved by the MSA, which means it meets high safety and competition standards. Until 2017, it was owned by John Surtees, a racing legend who won world championships in both Formula One car racing and Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
The circuit is located in a lovely woodland area, close to major motorways and the fast High Speed 1 train line. Because it's so close to London, it's one of Britain's busiest karting tracks! Buckmore Park has many different types of karts, so people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy karting there.
Many famous Formula One drivers, like Johnny Herbert, Jenson Button, and Lewis Hamilton, learned to race at Buckmore Park. Lewis Hamilton was even discovered there in 1996 during the Champions of the Future Event! Besides racing, Buckmore Park also has places for meetings and food.
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Buckmore Kart Racing School
The Buckmore Kart School has been teaching future racers since 1972. They've helped train over 20 European and British kart champions!
You can find different training options here:
- Introductory and Advanced Training: For kids aged 8 and up, these courses help you learn the basics or improve your skills.
- Bambino School & Club: This is for younger kids, aged 6–7, who want to start their karting journey.
Types of Karting Events
Buckmore Park is well-known for its Hire Kart Club, which hosts many exciting events for its members.
Sprint Racing
In 'Sprint' style racing, drivers compete in a series of shorter races called heats and then a final.
- Heats: Drivers start in different positions (front, middle, rear) in each heat to make it fair.
- Finals: Your starting position in the final is decided by how many points you earned in the heats.
Popular sprint events at Buckmore include:
- The Grand Prix League
- National Sprint
- International Sprint
- Junior Kart Club classes
Endurance Races
Some drivers prefer 'Endurance' races, which are longer.
- Qualifying: Drivers do a short qualifying session to decide their starting position. The fastest driver starts at the very front.
- Race Length: These races usually last about an hour.
Examples of solo endurance races are:
- Solo 30 Enduro
- Solo 45 Enduro
- Man Of Steel
- Iron Man
Team Races
Team races are also very popular. They work like endurance races but involve fuel stops and changing drivers.
- 3-Hour Race: Uses powerful RT8 390cc karts for teams of 2-4 drivers.
- 6-Hour Team Endurance: A longer race for teams to test their stamina and teamwork.
Star Pupil Competition
At the end of each hire season, Buckmore Park holds a special 'Star Pupil' day. This event is for the best drivers from all its hire kart categories. Drivers compete in a mix of endurance and sprint races.
Two special guest judges choose the winner. They don't just look at how fast you are on the track! They also consider:
- Being on time for race briefings.
- Being polite and courteous.
- Your general behavior off the track.
Many talented young drivers have won this award, including Carl Tebbutt (2006), Simon Rudd (2007, 2012), Jack Harding (2008), Terry Waller (2009, 2011), Matt Jones (2010), Paul Janes (2013), and Piers Prior (2014, 2015).
Buckmore Park has also added new awards like Rookie of the Year, and Junior and Bambino Star Pupil events for younger drivers.
History of Buckmore Park
The idea for Buckmore Park started in the early 1960s. A local businessman named Cecil Whitehead, who supported the Scouts, saw a chance to let them try kart racing. The local Scouts were leasing a woodland area at the top of Bluebell Hill, which was perfect for a track.
Whitehead worked with a track designer, Doug Jest, and local motor clubs to create a 400-meter circuit. He then convinced the Royal School of Military Engineering to build the track as a training exercise. This meant the circuit opened in 1963 without any cost to the Scouts!
Growth and Improvements
During the 1970s, the track was used by Scouts, visitors, and the Rochester Motor Club. However, by the 1980s, it needed repairs because the Scouts didn't have enough money to keep it up.
In 1985, new owners took over and started to fix up the track. Their main goal was to get an MSA competition license so the circuit could host official races and become a successful business.
- 1989: After a lot of work, the circuit started holding events again, with the first official RACMSA race.
- 1992: Buckmore Park hosted its first national championship.
- 1994: The track was made longer, reaching 900 meters.
- 1999: The track was extended again to meet international length standards. Around this time, the bumpy access road was replaced with a smooth tarmac road.
- 2003: A brand new £1.25 million clubhouse was opened by famous racing figures like Stirling Moss, Bernie Ecclestone, and circuit part-owner John Surtees.
In April 2015, John Surtees, who already owned the land, took full control of the circuit.
