We've come a long way in our efforts to provide some of the best karting experiences around

In 1998, Bob and Tracy Pope made the journey up north to take over Teesside Karting. This was after running a very successful international business that took endurance karting all over the world - as far afield as Brazil and Finland!

Over the last 35 years, Bob has played a major role in the development of arrive and drive style karting as we know it today, opening the first indoor kart circuit in London in 1985. With his company, Playscape, he quickly expanded into a number of locations across central London.

Moving forward - the next step

Moving forward, the next step was to develop a true endurance kart. A 4-stroke kart, easy to maintain and easy to race, the twin-engined Pro Kart was born in collaboration with Zip Karts. With two Honda 160 engines strapped to a new, wider and stronger chassis, the development of this style of kart quickly translated into longer endurance events than ever before. The first of these took its lead from one of the most iconic races in the world: Le Mans. In 1990, the first 24-hour kart race took place and was the start of something big. At its peak, running up to ten 24-hour races every summer, meant taking to the road for many months at a time.

The home of the British 24-hour kart race

This was what eventually led Bob and Tracy to find the circuit at Teesside in 1997, then called Langburgh. Consequently, it soon became the home of the British 24-hour kart race and has since been developed into a multipurpose venue for karts, bikes and even cars. From mini-bikes to drift-cars from across the country, Teesside Karting has got it all.

In 2016 after the sad passing of Tracy, Bob took a step away from the circuit and the business was taken over by his daughter Kat and her husband Paul - they continue to re invest in the circuit, continually improving the site.

Our Achievements

We've come a long way in our efforts to provide some of the best karting experiences around, and are proud to be associated with various organisations and successes on and off the track.

• • 12 August 2024: Chris "Peddles" Pedlingham Shatters 24-Hour Karting World Record – Pedlingham surpassed the previous world record by completing 1,004 laps (1,647 km) in 24 hours, breaking the record after 22 hours of driving and receiving cheers from fellow drivers and supporters at Teesside.
  • Le Mans 24-Hour Circuit Le Quest: Organised for 30 years.
  • British 24-Hour: Hosted for 27 years across circuits including Rye House, Buckmore Park, Birmingham Wheels, Knuts Corner, and Teesside.
  • 100+ 24-Hour Races: Organised across Europe and South America.
  • British Endurance Championship: Organised from 1990-2004 and again from 2007-2016.
  • World Record (1993): Ashley Hall, Martyn Compton, Steve Shine, and Mark Allen set a world record for the longest distance covered outside by modified karts—1,886.6 km (1,172.3 miles), driving in 1-hour stints.
  • First Indoor Kart Track: Opened the UK’s first indoor kart track in Camberwell, London.
  • Twin-Engine Pro Kart: Designed and built the first twin-engine Pro Kart with Zip Karts.
  • Record-Setting Event (1993): Organised the largest MSA event at Silverstone with over 600 drivers.