insideKENT Magazine Issue 43 - October 2015 | Page 155
CHARITY
WINNERS OF LONDON PLAY’S 2015 GO KART BUILD AND
RACE HEAD TO BUCKMORE PARK
Children from the
charity London
Play headed over
to Buckmore
Park Karting
Circuit, Kent, this
September. The
group varying in
ages from six to
16 years old
recently won the
prize, donated by
John Surtees of
the famous
Buckmore Park
Kart Circuit, after
successfully building and racing their own kart earlier the same month.
Many of the children have never been out of central London; this prize
experience saw them witness some serious horsepower, with a session
on a karting simulator, behind-the-scenes tour of the circuit and karting
sessions in karts suitable for their ages.
John Surtees is keen to help inspire, educate and train young people with
motorsport-related programmes in technology and engineering, and was
impressed on how this winning team of participants from the London Play
event put their heads and hands together to build and successfully race
a go kart. Some of the children had never worked with tools before, and
the process helped them hone new skills in construction, mechanics,
teamwork, problem solving, time management and physics.
John Surtees OBE said: “I believe
that in order for children to reach
their full potential, they should be
exposed to new experiences and
challenges. It is through the process
of uninhibited, playful exploration
that children will discover their true
talents and passions and become
aware of the possibility of following
them”.
Earlier in September, the children
participated in the London Play
2015 Go Kart Build and Race. The
event which took place at Mudchute
Farm on the Isle of Dogs saw 150
eager children from across the
capital battle it out to design, build
and decorate push go karts from
scratch with the supply of wood,
wheels, axles, screws, bolts, tools
and paint of their choice within a
time limit of just four hours – and
then race them against each other.
John Surtees rolled up his sleeves,
and was on hand with advice and
ideas for budding racing drivers,
automotive engineers and