BKA To Pay Tribute To Maynard Soares
The Bermuda Karting Association [BKA] will honour the life and legacy of Maynard “Duke” Soares this Sunday, December 14, at the Rubis Southside Raceway during the annual Duke Soares Memorial Trophy Day 2025.
A spokesperson said, “Maynard “Duke” Soares, along with four fellow racing enthusiasts, helped establish the Bermuda Karting Club, setting the foundation for organized karting on the island.
“On Sunday, the BKA will pay tribute to the man regarded as a driving force behind the sport’s early development in Bermuda. His passion for motorsports remained unwavering until his passing three years ago at age 79.
“Soares’ racing career began in 1962 and took him across England and Europe—including Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium—where he earned runner-up championship titles and multiple class honours.
“His talent later carried him to tracks in Guyana, Barbados, Tampa, Florida—where he competed in 24-hour endurance races—and the iconic Daytona International Speedway, where he captured a first-place finish.
“Locally, he was a familiar and respected competitor in both karting and powerboat racing.
“In recognition of his accomplishments, Soares was named one of the inaugural inductees into the Bermuda Motorsports Hall of Fame.
“The BKA invites the public to the Rubis Southside Raceway this Sunday, December 14, with racing beginning at 11:30 a.m. Spectators can enjoy a full day of racing while reflecting on the lasting impact Duke Soares had on karting in Bermuda.”
