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 ānā 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