Looks like its now official, rumors have been rife for the past 2 months or so, just got this e-mail, as I'm sure all BPKC members did
Really I cant say I blame them, as a crude and basic cost estimation, if they get 100 MSA competitors for both days of a given MSA weekend, at £45 + 65 = £110 = 11,000 in the kitty, but minus the MSA costs, which I think is a few grand......whereby if they run the corporate fleet on both days they can net about £25,000 a day, so £50,000 per weekend.....multiply that by 12 months and its a total difference of £468,000 of lost revenue over a year due to MSA owner driver racing.......its just a business decision.......really sad, but I understand their logic.
"Please see the announcement below which has also been sent to all BPKC members, officials, Buckmore Park staff and other BPKC partners.
We would like to echo the sentiments from the press release below and take the opportunity to thank you again for all your support over the years.
Buckmore Park to focus on leisure karting by ceasing owner driver championship racing
Buckmore Park is to continue its investment in leisure and corporate karting in 2018 and has announced it will cease owner driver championship racing, Buckmore Park Kart Club (BPKC), following the completion of the 2017 race season in December.
Buckmore Park has announced: “Over the past few years we have invested heavily in the circuit to continue to keep Buckmore’s reputation as the best kart circuit in the UK. Every year we welcome over 60,000 visitors to our circuit making us one of the South East’s most popular leisure attractions. In order to maintain our high standards we have decided to cease our owner driver championship. BPKC operates at a loss and relies on funding from our leisure kart business. As costs have increased and membership of the kart club has declined it has now become untenable to continue it.”
Buckmore Park maintain MSA circuit status so that MSA racing can continue with other promoters.
In 2015, Formula 1 World Champion, John Surtees purchased Buckmore Park and led an extensive programme to create the safest, most advanced kart circuit in the UK which resulted in Buckmore being named Circuit of the Year by Karting Magazine. Buckmore Park is one of the trickiest and most technical circuits in karting due to large elevation change, positive and negative camber, fast and slow corners.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. Karting clubs across the UK have seen a decline in traditional MSA owner-driver racing, which has led other karting tracks to cease their owner driver championships.”
“We would like to thank all our Club members and race teams for their support over the years and we would also like to acknowledge the many race officials and the Buckmore Park staff who have worked hard to deliver a first-class service. We recognise the efforts of our Competition Secretary, Sheila Rose, for her long-standing work and her dedication. Special gratitude goes to our Clerk of the Course, Martin Bean, who became the de facto chief executive of the Club and helped the team and our late President, John Surtees, to bring Super One and the ‘O’ Plate back to Buckmore and single handedly assembled and led a first-class team of officials.”
About BPKC
Buckmore Park is an MSA licensed and ABkC registered circuit which hosts monthly club meetings under the auspices of the Buckmore Park Kart Club (B.P.K.C.). BPKC is open for owner-driver karters and the club hosts various local and national championships throughout the year, and owner/driver open practice sessions are held at least twice a month. BPKC will cease running their owner driver championship following the completion of the 2017 race season in December.
For more information please visit: http://www.buckmoreparkkartclub.co.uk/
About Buckmore Park
In 2015, John Surtees, 7 time Motorcycle World Champion and Ferrari Formula 1 World Champion, had the opportunity to take over ownership of Buckmore Park. Since then we've invested in upgrading all the facilities, both on and off track, and we're proud to be recognised as one of the most impressive and advanced karting circuits in the world.
Sadly John passed away in March 2017 leaving a rich motorsport legacy and a big vision for Buckmore. Buckmore Park Kart Circuit continues to be owned and operated by the Surtees Family. Leonora Surtees, Director at Buckmore Park, commented “Every day we strive to realise Dad’s grand plans, and to secure the future of Buckmore by building a sustainable business model. Our customers remain central to all we do and it is critical we continue to deliver the excitement, the thrill and the emotion to everyone who visits us.”
For more information please visit: https://www.buckmore.co.uk/about"
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