Buckmore Park Karting

What Buckmore Park Karting does

Buckmore Park Karting Ltd operates a single MSA-approved outdoor kart racing circuit on Maidstone Road in Chatham, Kent, established in 1963 and held within the Surtees family since John Surtees consolidated commercial ownership in the 2010s. The venue spans a full international-length circuit (reaching its current configuration in 1999) with a 900m national layout, a clubhouse inaugurated in 2003, and on-site catering facilities. The business serves five distinct customer segments: adult recreational and competitive racers (16+), junior drivers progressing from Bambino School (age 6) through competitive clubs, corporate and group events (12-250+ drivers), birthday parties (ages 8-15), and aspiring professional racers via the Driver Development Programme. The fleet consists of SODI RT10 senior karts (390cc Honda 4-stroke) and SODI LR5 junior karts (160cc Honda 4-stroke), complemented by six full-motion Vesaro racing simulators with D-BOX motion platforms and Simuscube direct-drive steering.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of transactional and recurring streams. Transactional income comes from 30-minute practice sessions, open races (Sprint, Grand Prix, Endurance), birthday party packages (£650-£760), gift vouchers (£15-£500), and annual endurance events (24-Hour Team Grand Prix at £2,625 per team, 12-Hour at £1,400 per team). Recurring revenue is anchored by the Buckmore Sim Racing Club's tiered monthly memberships (Bronze £32, Silver £59, Gold £89). Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via the integrated booking platform (booking.buckmore.co.uk) with Stripe payment processing, supported by a dedicated gift card portal, phone and email sales, and a 60+ year heritage that drives organic demand from the motorsport community. The Paddock development (planning approved July 2025, 20,000 sq ft) and the launch of the Driver Development Programme (2026) represent the principal forward growth vectors.

Name

Buckmore Park Karting

Legal name

Buckmore Park Karting Ltd

Website

https://buckmore.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Buckmore Park Karting operates a single MSA-approved kart racing circuit in Chatham, Kent, established in 1963, serving adults, juniors, corporate groups, birthday parties, and aspiring professional racers through karting sessions, championships, simulators, and a Driver Development Programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Karting Circuit and Motorsport Experience Venue

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Tracks & Racing Facilities (MPAKAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Race Tracks, Circuits & Motorsport Venues (MPAKAGAE), Motorsports Series & Championships (Sanctioned Racing Calendars) (MPAKAGAA), Motorsports & Racing Experiences (THAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Outdoor kart racing
• Corporate team building
• Racing simulator hire
• Motorsport driver development
• Endurance kart racing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Karting Sessions and Race Entry Fees: Revenue from 30-minute practice sessions, open races (sprint, grand prix, endurance), championships (Pro, Sprint, Endurance Series), and annual special events (24-hour and 12-hour Team Grand Prix). Fees vary by event type and duration.
2. Racing Simulator Sessions and Memberships: 30-minute simulator sessions available for individual booking and exclusive group hire. Monthly membership tiers (Bronze £32/month, Silver £59/month, Gold £89/month) with annual savings. Minimum age 12 years.
3. Driver Development Programme: Intensive week-long academy for 16 individuals aged 12+ pursuing motorsport careers. Cost is £1,950 (inc VAT) covering circuit time, expert tuition, meals, kit, and parent/guardian attendance. Limited to 16 drivers.
4. Catering and Cafe Services: On-site cafe serving 6oz Aberdeen Angus burgers, sandwiches, paninis, with vegetarian and vegan options. Local supplier produce. Exclusive catering available for private events (cold buffet, hot buffet, hog roast, sandwich platters).
5. Gift Cards and Vouchers: eVouchers and physical gift cards available in denominations of £15, £25, £50, £100, £150, £250, £500. Valid for 12 months from purchase. Physical cards incur £3.99 P&P (free over £100).
6. Corporate and Group Events: Exclusive track hire for groups of 12-250+ drivers. Event formats include Sprint, Grand Prix, and Endurance races. Catering packages available. Used for team building, charity events, stag/hen parties.
7. 24-Hour Team Grand Prix Entry: Team entry fee of £2,625 with three payment schedule (£875 deposit, £875 by Feb 2026, £875 by April 2026). Pro and Rookie classes, teams of 4-10 drivers (minimum 3). 390cc RT10 Sodi Karts supplied.
8. 12-Hour Team Grand Prix Entry: Team entry fee of £1,400 (inc VAT) with deposit of £450, second payment of £475 by Sept 2026, final payment of £475 by Oct 2026. Teams of 4-8 drivers (minimum 3).
9. Birthday Party Packages: 8-11 years parties: £650 fixed price for up to 12 drivers. 12-15 years parties: £760 for 12 drivers, extra drivers charged individually up to 18 total. Includes podium ceremony, medals, trophy.
10. Simulator Party Packages: Fixed party price of £225 for up to 12 drivers (minimum 8). 1-hour exclusive simulator experience with presentation ceremony, medals, and trophy for overall winner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Buckmore Park operates an MSA-approved outdoor kart racing circuit in Chatham, Kent, offering adult and junior karting sessions, open races and championships (Pro, Sprint, Endurance Series), annual 12-hour and 24-hour Team Grand Prix endurance events, corporate and group event hire, birthday parties, a Driver Development Programme, and six full-motion Vesaro racing simulators. The venue uses a fleet of SODI RT10 senior karts (390cc Honda) and SODI LR5 junior karts (160cc Honda), supported by on-site catering, gift vouchers, and monthly simulator memberships.

Product overview

Buckmore Park Karting operates a single-site karting circuit in Kent, UK (established 1963) offering multiple activity categories. The core offering includes adult and junior karting sessions ranging from 30-minute practice to championship races, complemented by 6 full-motion racing simulators. The business serves diverse segments: individual drivers, corporate/group events (12-250+ participants), and birthday parties (ages 6-15). Additional revenue streams include annual endurance events (24hr and 12hr Grand Prix), a Driver Development Programme academy, exclusive owner-driver karting, on-site catering, and gift vouchers. A planned 20,000 sq ft Paddock development will add a restaurant, conference facilities, and additional simulators. The company also provides live timing and lap record tracking. The fleet uses SODIKart RT10 (senior) and LR5 (junior) karts with Honda engines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Karting Sessions

Quantifiable outcome

• Track lap times in region of 50 seconds for experienced drivers on International circuit; 35 seconds on shorter National circuit
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Champions Kart ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Champions Kart Club, led by Darren Beavers and affiliated with The Kart Championship (a National MSUK championship series), takes over operation and management of owner driver karting at Buckmore Park from 2026. Their Motorsport UK recognised club will handle all owner driver karting related matters at the circuit.
• Rochester Motor ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rochester Motor Club provides a fully funded scholarship place for the Driver Development Programme, available to low income households. Joint initiative to support emerging motorsport talent.
• MortonScarrminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRenowned architects working with Buckmore Park on The Paddock development plans - a 20,000 sq ft motorsport-themed facility with restaurant, simulators, and conference spaces.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe provides PCI-compliant payment gateway processing for all online transactions on booking.buckmore.co.uk. Customers enter credit/debit card details directly on Stripe's secure server. Payment details encrypted using SSL technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Silverstone: UK's premier motorsport venue operating the Silverstone circuit, driving experiences, and motorsport-themed events. Broader incumbent in the motorsport venue space with overlapping motorsport heritage and experience-based offerings.
• Goodwood Motor Circuit: Heritage motorsport venue in West Sussex operating driving experiences, the Festival of Speed, and Goodwood Revival. Broader incumbent with motorsport heritage and ticketed motorsport experience offerings.

Direct peers

• Glan-y-Gors Kart Circuit: Welsh outdoor karting circuit hosting MSA and club-level events. Comparable venue profile with championship hosting and recreational session offerings, though serving a different UK region.
• PF International Kart Circuit: Premier outdoor karting venue in Lincolnshire hosting major national championships including Kartmasters. Comparable as a top-tier UK outdoor karting circuit competing for elite and competitive drivers.
• Llandow Kart Circuit: Long-established outdoor karting circuit in South Wales with practice, race, and corporate event formats. Comparable heritage venue competing for similar recreational and competitive karting demand.
• Whilton Mill Kart Circuit: Established outdoor karting circuit in Northamptonshire hosting national and club-level championships. Comparable in scale, MSA licensing, championship hosting, and customer segments to Buckmore.
• Daytona Motorsport: Multi-site UK karting operator offering indoor and outdoor tracks with comparable session, race, and corporate event formats. Directly competes for the same recreational and corporate customer base in the South East.
• Bayford Meadows Kart Circuit: Outdoor karting circuit also located in Kent, providing the closest geographic head-to-head. Operates similar practice, race, and corporate event formats aimed at adult and junior drivers in the same catchment area.
• Three Sisters Raceway: Outdoor karting circuit in Wigan offering practice sessions, races, corporate events, and parties. Comparable product mix and customer segments with similar pricing tiers.
• TeamSport Karting: UK's largest indoor karting chain with multiple venues and similar product offering (adult/kids sessions, corporate events, simulators, parties). Closest direct competitor at scale, though primarily indoor vs. Buckmore's outdoor MSA circuit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buckmore Park Karting