Galletta's Karting Club

AUGUST 14th, 2005 – Oswego, NY: Gary Miller (in his own freshly rebuilt #24) led twenty-six laps before chain and drive-wheel problems parked him for the night. But it was Chris Stevens (in his Galletta’s #8 kart) inherited the lead and never looked back to end his winless dry spell that dated back to Fall 2004. Mike Billion (in his #57) held off points-leader Matt Stevens (in his Galletta’s #3) for 2nd, continuing to impress in his rookie campaign.

“MARK MILLER!! MARK MILLER! BY GAWD THEY BROKE HIM IN HALF!”

Mark Miller (in his #007) took a frightening spill when he locked wheels with the #57 (and possibly also Rob Jimenez in the rental Galletta’s #5) early in the race. Mark flipped the #007 violently on his head, shoulders, and back with the #007 kart being on top of him at one point, but fortunately shook it off and continued the race with scrapes and bruises. He recovered enough for a 4th place finish. Mark did luck out when he lost yet another tire, but fortunately after the race completed.

[After the race, Mark wanted to see and borrow the tape of the spectacular crash. To this day, he has never returned it, so this vicious wreck cannot be shared on the website or DVDs (Mark, if you’re reading this, please return it so we can digi

tally transfer and upload it for everyone to enjoy).

3/6/2021 UPDATE: We *DID* find a 2nd copy of the race in a recently located VHS-C tape! Hooray! However, the tracking on this said tape was highly sketchy, so Mark’s VHS copy would be a cleaner tape, as well as possibly having a 2nd camera angle!]

The (Mini)Ogre, Wes Stevens, as usual, quits with minor, preventable problems in the fast Galletta’s #4 kart and is dropping like a rock in the points standings. A scoring problem occurred when Dick Degroff, Mike Cleary and Jim Losurdo (a man who apparently has a temper and was wrecking into people without going to the rear) didn’t properly get recorded by the sideline track officials because it was quite hectic action and there were some odd occurrences back there during the race. Instead of re-scoring the entire event, Cleary and Losurdo were given the same 9th-place points, and because they’re not regular competitors, they don’t care about the points anyway so no harm. If they were regular, weekly competitors, we would have reviewed the video to ensure proper scoring. The rookie Jim Losurdo appeared to have a temper and did not acknowledge our rules (which are simple rules shared by most raceways), which include if you make contact that causes a wreck, you must go to the back, and you cannot pass people under yellow. General rules that the man apparently can’t comprehend. My goodness I would hate to think of the horror if that man was ever to have the reins to run a track. Sheesh!

Winner…

Videotaped race (via 2 cameras — although Mark Miller “borrowed” them and we’re yet to get them back. Very sadly, I might add, considering the fantastic flip that we’d love to share voa DVD and YouTube! After this event, there will be no more borrowing of master copies. Copies will be made available for sale only.).

8/14/2005 40-Lap results:

1. #8 Chris Stevens
2. #57^ Mike Billion
3. #3 Matt Stevens
4. #007^ Mark Miller
5. #18 Ed Meynes
6. #2 Fred Collins
7. #5/#7 Rob Jimenez
8. #7/#1 Dick Degroff (?)
9t. #6 Mike Cleary (?)
9t. #0 Jim Losurdo (? – DQ for Wrecking & Arguing)
—DNF–
10. #24 Gary Miller
11. #4 Ogre Stevens
12. #83b Jason Mills
13. #14b John Fellows

^ = 5.5hp motor (suspected of being 6.5hp), All others 5hp motor.
DNF = Did not finish race

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