Best Karting circuit South London/Surrey/Kent area?

[moebiusuk]

I want to start karting, maybe in a competitions. But before I do anything like that, I just want to have a go and practice, maybe in an arrive'n'drive session and chat to some people.

Can anyone recommend an adult, professional circuit near me? I've read that Buckmore Park is probably the best place but want to see what you guys thought.

Thank you.

[spats]

I'm near Buckmore and I've done quite a few arrive and drive on the 1200m circuit. Plus a few grand prix type events, where you share teh driving with a mate or 2 and a charity event where teams drove for 30 mins each and the winners got a trophy which was a nice touch (even better when I crossed the line to find it was our team that had won!)

Also been to indoor karting in Lakeside which was good fun. Not as fast top speed but still a nice circuit all in all.

Theres another outdoor track at lakeside and one also in Sittingbourne that I know of. Personally I would got to Buckmore every time.

[Synchromesh]

For A&D, Daytona Sandown Park is the only place in the SE where you can drive proper 2-stroke karts.

[moebiusuk]

Awesome, thanks very much. Buckmore it is.

I won't be racing or anything firstly, just want to have a go at a practice session alone. I'm a sim-racer which is nice and cheap but it doesn't scratch the itch so I'm evaluating my options to see if karting is what I want to do.

[moebiusuk]

Synchromesh said:

For A&D, Daytona Sandown Park is the only place in the SE where you can drive proper 2-stroke karts.

Does Buckmore not have proper karts? Their site states that they use RT8 karts with a Honda 390cc engine and Sandown uses 125cc 2-stroke Rotax-Max karts.

[spats]

They have changed their karts since I last went. They used to have twin engine karts. Sorry not up on my kart knowledge but they went well enough down the long straight to make us all feel like we were going warp factor 9

[zac510]

If you've never driven a kart at all before then the basic hire karts at Buckmore will definitely scratch the itch.

Just getting your times fast and reliable is hard enough for amateurs without worry about how many strokes you have

[Synchromesh]

moebiusuk said:

Synchromesh said:

For A&D, Daytona Sandown Park is the only place in the SE where you can drive proper 2-stroke karts.

Does Buckmore not have proper karts? Their site states that they use RT8 karts with a Honda 390cc engine and Sandown uses 125cc 2-stroke Rotax-Max karts.

When looking a 2 vs 4-stoke in this context, cc isn't useful comparator. The Rotax karts are proper karts similar to what's used in racing, the RT8s are still rental karts. That's not to say the ones at Buckmore won't be fun (it's great circuit btw) but if you're looking to drive the best karts in the SE, then go to Sandown.

When you've done some A&D, have a look at Club100.

[dnomyar]

Synchromesh said:

moebiusuk said:

Synchromesh said:

For A&D, Daytona Sandown Park is the only place in the SE where you can drive proper 2-stroke karts.

Does Buckmore not have proper karts? Their site states that they use RT8 karts with a Honda 390cc engine and Sandown uses 125cc 2-stroke Rotax-Max karts.

When looking a 2 vs 4-stoke in this context, cc isn't useful comparator. The Rotax karts are proper karts similar to what's used in racing, the RT8s are still rental karts. That's not to say the ones at Buckmore won't be fun (it's great circuit btw) but if you're looking to drive the best karts in the SE, then go to Sandown.

When you've done some A&D, have a look at Club100.

What he said......
Daytona, (Sandown) run a race series, championship with their 2T karts, moves around the country.
Very competitive, either 'heats' or/and an endurance race format.
VERY competitive, the karts are all track tested prior to racing, to ensure parity, tremendous fun and, as I said, very competitive!
(Running your own 2T kart for a year, budget around £15k).
If you're not sure, try one in their A&D sessions. 20 minutes of flat out circuit time.
I started 5 years ago, come and join us, speak to Mark, he runs the series, nice chap.

[_Neal_]

zac510 said:

If you've never driven a kart at all before then the basic hire karts at Buckmore will definitely scratch the itch.

Just getting your times fast and reliable is hard enough for amateurs without worry about how many strokes you have

Definitely this. I'm highly novice, and done arrive & drive at both, plus novice endurance racing at Buckmore, and definitely prefer the circuit at Buckmore to Sandown.

[moebiusuk]

Thanks again guys. I'm going to try Buckmore park with my brother purely because we get 45mins for £49. It seems like Sandown has "proper" karts but I'm not sure I could tell the difference so we'll give Buckmore a go first, next weekend.

[Mr_Thyroid]

Lydd is a good track.

[ribiero]

Rye House has a couple of very good A+D Championships http://ryehousekarting.co.uk/

Daytona's traveling D-Max Sprint Series is about £1600 a year to enter all rounds, Daytona do cheaper 4 stroke's for arrive + drive practice though as a tamer alternative to the 2strokes, I think they're running the same Sodi's as Buckmore?

Club 100's a stronger championship than D-Max, budget is about £1800 in entry fee's for the year.

Ignore that £15k number that was thrown around, I know people racing Easykart, TKM + Rotax for a fraction of that, let alone what I spend ProKarting.

[Kraken]

For a first timer you definitely want to go 4 stroke rather than 2 stroke. Problem is by the time you get good enough to realise the difference you soon notice the big difference in performance with the A&D type rotax engined karts. They're impossible to keep level on performance, fine for a bit of fun in a session but no good if you want to take part in a race. If you want to get serious about a&d karting Club100 is the only real offering.

[woof]

Synchromesh said:

For A&D, Daytona Sandown Park is the only place in the SE where you can drive proper 2-stroke karts.

Another thumbs up for Daytona Sandown
http://www.daytona.co.uk/venues/sandown/index.php

Give them a call - very helpful and friendly bunch

Edited by woof on Tuesday 2nd September 15:58

[Mr_Thyroid]

woof said:

Another thumbs up for Daytona Sandown
http://www.daytona.co.uk/venues/sandown/index.php

Give them a call - very helpful and friendly bunch

Edited by woof on Tuesday 2nd September 15:58

I agree - you'll probably want to do your first couple of sessions in the prokarts but the DMax, although a little faster, are actually easier to drive because they're more responsive (must say I haven't driven their new Sodi vehicles though)

[moebiusuk]

Do these circuits ever get a couple of guys on their own, who just want to have a go?

Everytime I read about go-karting, there's only two groups, the competitors and the stag do. But what about the middle? Is it weird to book a practice session, hire a kart and have a go at besting your own times. I can't afford to get my own kart and compete yet but I do love motorsport and want to get involved somehow but I don't want to look like norman-no-mates who turns up and just drives.

[Dan_The_Man]

Buckmore and Daytona are both excellent.
Please avoid F1K at Colnbrook (near Heathrow) had an awful day there as did our whole group.

[dnomyar]

moebiusuk said:

Do these circuits ever get a couple of guys on their own, who just want to have a go?

Everytime I read about go-karting, there's only two groups, the competitors and the stag do. But what about the middle? Is it weird to book a practice session, hire a kart and have a go at besting your own times. I can't afford to get my own kart and compete yet but I do love motorsport and want to get involved somehow but I don't want to look like norman-no-mates who turns up and just drives.

This is the perfect description of an arrive and drive session.
Check the website! Choose a quiet session and book.
There may be a few chaps on track, pick a fast, smooth driver and follow them. Learn the circuit, find your own benchmark time, and work on it.
Most circuits have friendly staff, they all prescribe to the modern mantra 'customer service', who will assist and give tips if you ask.
I remember a session at Sandown once, one of the track marshall's was pointing out the entry and apex points on a couple of corners for a chap in a kart, I tried it and saw an improvement in my line, and lap times.!!!!!

Arrive and drive, timed practice sessions = fun and lots of laughs, you, you and mate(s), you and friends you haven't met yet.
Open races = more fun, a few laughs and fairly competitive, frustrating if you're not very good, enjoy the experience, and watch the faster drivers. The karts are all very similar in performance, there is a reason they are quicker!!!
Championships = VERY competitive, VERY exciting, very close racing, appeals, arguments, realising you were a dcik and punted him/her off, apologise, new friend. Race. Repeat.
4 stroke race karts, fast, easy to learn, reliable, great fun and a laugh. No real skills required to 'mix it with the own helmet and race suit drivers'.
2 stroke race karts, club 100 or D-Max, top of the tree for performance, in hire karts. Very fast, sure footed, responsive, hairy at times. An experienced driver(kart) will get the best out of them. Daytona take their championship around the country. The karts are all closely matched in performance. Go and watch a round, chat to the staff. Mark and Jim run the series, very approachable chaps, Jim has a reputation for getting the first, second and third round in!!!
(And they are sponsored by TW Steel, the big-watch, watch people, winners receive a limited edition Daytona - TW Steel watch)!!! If anyone can beat Chris C, I'll pay your entry fee, I keep the watch.................

[Sammo123]

moebiusuk said:

Do these circuits ever get a couple of guys on their own, who just want to have a go?

Everytime I read about go-karting, there's only two groups, the competitors and the stag do. But what about the middle? Is it weird to book a practice session, hire a kart and have a go at besting your own times. I can't afford to get my own kart and compete yet but I do love motorsport and want to get involved somehow but I don't want to look like norman-no-mates who turns up and just drives.

This is exactly what my friends and I do. None of us can afford to race in a series at the moment so when we have some spare cash we go and do an Arrive & Drive session or an Open Race, usually at Daytona Sandown. I have even been known to head over there by myself sometimes to race. Lets be honest, once your in the kart it doesn't matter if you're with your mates or not. It's still great fun even going by yourself and you will still get that massive sense of achievement if you manage to get nice and high up the order.