insideKENT Magazine Issue 31 - October 2014 | Page 97

DAYSOUT BUCKMORE PARK Buckmore Park Kart Circuit has been the Silverstone of the go karting world for more than half a century. The circuit, located between Chatham and Maidstone, just off junction 3 of the M2, has become famous for being in at the start of some great racing careers. Its first success was with Johnny Herbert, who started his career at the Kent venue and is now a respected SKY pundit. Johnny achieved great success in karting before moving up to Formula 1, where he achieved three race wins and a total of seven podium finishes for such legendary teams as Benneton, Sauber, and Jaguar Racing. Just a few years later, Jenson Button and a very young Lewis Hamilton honed their skills on the iconic asphalt. In fact, it was at a race meeting at Buckmore that Ron Dennis of McLaren signed up Lewis to be a part of its great team. can get their first taste of driving using 6mph electric karts on a simple kidney-shaped circuit that is designed exclusively for the youngest driver. Those aged 8-11 years and 12-15 years have their own karts and circuit configurations, and therefore can simply arrive ā€˜nā€™ drive most weekends. In 2014, Buckmore Park realised that its main circuit was simply too busy, and so it opened a brand new 310-metre track called the Paddock Circuit. In addition, two new fleets of karts were purchased to allow young drivers access to go-karting most weekends and almost every day during the school holidays. These days it is far easier for any young driver to take their first steps on the motor racing ladder. The circuit offers tra