Galletta's Karting Club

Most karts in a single race in Galletta’s Karting history to date at 18 strong. We could set this every single race night… if enough racers simply came to race! Problem: WHERE ARE THE DRIVERS 99.9% OF THE TIME?!

8/28/2005 40-Lap results:

August 28th, 2005 – Chris ‘ChrusherComix’ Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #8) emerged victorious from an 18-kart race; the largest field in track history at Galletta’s Speedway!!! Read on below!

Chris Stevens wins in the Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #8!

In the most-attended race in Galletta’s Speedway history up to this point (our track has always been – since the early 1990s – a free-of-charge, not-for-profit, family-and-friends, race for fun but count the points backyard go-karting speedway), Chris ‘Crusher Comics’ Stevens (in his Darth Sidious/San Antonio Spurs/New York Jets/ChrusherComix/Towner Comics/Galletta’s Greenhouse #8) survived the war of attrition as he was able to take the lead on lap twenty after a fast John Fellows (in his #14) lost control and flipped off between turns one and two.

Above: John Fellows flying in the #14 (though using a 5.5hp engine underweight…)

Mark Miller and his mysteriously powerful #007! Why is the 5.5hp sticker removed? :/

Chris led the rest of the way, but not without some serious challenges by (ABOVE) Mark Miller (in his #007) during the second half of the race. The #007 challenged Chris for several laps down the stretch after the then second place Ogre (in the Galletta’s #4) clumsily fell off of the track and Mike Billion (in his #57) let Mark by to pursue the #8, while Billion held points-leader Matt Stevens (in his Galletta’s #3) away from challenging the leaders. Matt had to recover from several accidents to even get fourth, as did nearly all of the drivers. The top five finishers were also the top five ranked points-per-race drivers, as Ed Maynes survived a few scrapes and close-calls to pilot his #18 to fifth. Mark himself had to come back from getting plowed off the track by his son, Shane Miller (and his #32). Unfortunately for Shane, he was injured when he caught someone’s wheel in a large pile-up and flipped. Shane banged up his knee pretty bad in the accident and had to be carried off the track and checked out at a local hospital. Everyone at Galletta’s Speedway hopes it’s not an injury that will keep him out of future races or worse.

(Above) Hard racing in turn three with Mike Billion, Chris Chrusher Stevens, and Supplement Boy Matt Stevens

However, the race was marred with countless accidents and filled with plenty of reckless driving. Both Fred “Madman” Collins (in the Galletta’s #2) and newcomer Stu Feiske (in the Galletta’s #6) had to be taken out of the action for two laps each as they were involved with too many accidents in close succession. Although he didn’t get disqualified for this event, Bob Piazza (in his #11) angered several drivers who took exception to the fact that Bob did not run the #11 in a solid line and either caused them to wreck or at least lose some positions; in some cases intentionally. Ed Meynes, John Fellows, Gary Miller (in his #24), and (the previous week) Chris Stevens were all involved with scrapes with Bob, who will likely be suspended for one race. In any types of motorsport races, ESPECIALLY OPEN WHEEL RACES… you MUST run clean lines and give room and respect to your competitors. One hooked wheel and someone can get airborne, flip and get hurt. Respect your opponents, stay classy, and be a sportsman, it isn’t worth damaging property and/or hurting anybody (including possibly yourself!) to win (especially being a raw rookie in your first race) a backyard speedway race with no money, media coverage, or trophies on the line. It wouldn’t even be worth it if there was, either.

Some of the visitors OHV karts has been suspected of altering his 5.5hp motor with racing parts or possibly running a 6.5hp without the sticker, which would be not only dishonest but illegal according to our “Gas Stock Motor” rules. This is continuing a trend where they have been racing hard and using suspiciously and inexplicably powerful engines, which disappoints the other drivers, as they appreciate the competition, want them to continue racing with us, but want to keep the racing fair and competitive. More next week.

8/28/2005 40-Lap results:

1. (#8) Chris Stevens
2. (#007^) Mark Miller ^^
3. (#57^) Mike Billion
4. (#3) Matt Stevens
5. (#18) Ed Maynes
6. (#2) Fred Collins (-2 laps DQ)
—DNF—
7. (#14^) John Fellows
8. (#11) Bob Piazza *
9. (#1) Rob Garrison
10. (#5) Rob Jimenez
11. (#83) Jason Mills
12. (#0) Jim Losurdo
13. (#32^) Shane Miller
14. (#4) Ogre Stevens
15. (#7) Josh Schute
16. (#24) Gary Miller
17. (#6) Stu Feiske (-2 laps DQ)
18. (#61) Dan Woodard (DNS, broke on lap 0)

^ = 5.5hp motor
DNF = Did not finish race
* = May be suspended for complaints of reckless driving from some drivers and spectators
^^ = Suspected of illegally modifying a 5.5hp OHV engine

Videotaped race. Now available via DVD. Write Chris for prices and details. Usual cost is $5-7 per DVD, plus shipping ($1-3 in USA).

Oswego Speedway Unveils a New Dirt Track?! And Invites Karts? Hmm…

Oswego Speedway’s Dirt track (2005 pic) three years before it was named Oswego Kartway!

Labor Day Weekend 2005:
Gary Miller took his Galletta’s-Style 1-WD gas 5hp Stocker to Oswego Speedway on their dirt track in the back of the back grandstands! Okay, so he should not have because by turning left (going AGAINST STAGGER) with a stock gas 5hp and raced against SEVERAL 2-WD WKA-TYPE METHANOL MOTORS AND METHANOL RACING LAWN MOWERS that are staggered correctly (to turn left with FAR more powerful allowed engine specs), the kart was not suited and was by far the slowest (if they were going the other way, it wouldn’t be the same embarrassing result) but it WAS nice to see a Galletta-type kart at Oswego Speedway. If they allow us our own class, we’ll race when they open next year, but if they force us with methanol karts, then we will most certainly pass. We race for fun and showing driver talent, not to show who put the most money in a kart.

Galletta’s Go-Kart Racing Association 
Galletta’s Speedway 2005 points Standings
(14 races from 06/05/2005 thru 08/28/2005)

Copyright 2005 Galletta’s Greenhouse