Galletta's Karting Club

Galletta’s Go-Kart Racing Association – Mixed Motor Gas Stockers / 1-Wheel Peel Racing Go-Karts
August 21st, 2005 at Galletta’s Greenhouse Karting Speedway!

GO GO MATTIE-JO!!!!
  
[RIGHT] Matt Stevens (in his Galletta’s #3) won his fifth race of the year and widened his lead in the points standings by leading the final thirty-four laps of the high-scoring fifty lap event, even clocking scorching 16.9s on the final circuits. [LEFT] Matt was followed closely by Chris Stevens (in his Galletta’s/NY Jets/San Antonio Spurs/Emperor Palpatine #8), who kept up with him but didn’t have enough for any passing attempts. The two had both recovered from several accidents during the race to then walk away from the remainder of the field at the race’s conclusion.

However, the race was marred with some controversy near the beginning, as Mike Billion (black helmet in his #57) and Mark Miller (red helmet/white shirt in his #007) came together in turns one and two. The wreck started a near-fight between the two as Mike believed that Mark caused the wreck intentionally as revenge for the previous week’s violent wreck that sent Mark and the #007 flipping down the front stretch. The two had to be separated after tempers flared, but the two friends later reconciled. The tape didn’t show any evidence of intentional wrecking, and it was believed to just be a hard-racing accident. Also involved in the accident was Ed Meynes as he braked his #18 off of the track to avoid the two, and Matt did the same. However, Jason Mills‘ brakeless #83 (red helmet/yellow shirt) wasn’t able to stop in time and crashed hard into the #3 and domino-effected into the #18 (black helmet in back). Ed suffered a sore neck and back, and Matt’s front end had to be reconstructed during the red-flag break. The #57, #18, and #83 did not return to the race. The #007 continued, but shortly thereafter retired with more drive-wheel problems.

Hard racing in turn one!

The race was controlled early by John Fellows in his #14, as his new 5.5hp engine powered him to a decent lead for the 1st sixteen laps (some of the racers felt that he was FAR underweight for a 5.5hp). Matt was able to get by the #14, as did Chris in traffic, but the #14 took the #8 out in turns three and four. Chris was also involved in two other wrecks, one including the #11 of Bob Piazza when the two collided while racing in turns one and two. Bob had a strong race and finished 3rd after tuning his motor up.

 
Gary Miller followed by Fellows, Mills and Piazza.

    Gary Miller (in his #24) was again strong before he was involved in a late-race accident including Ogre (in the #4) and Fellows. The #24 got sideways and collected the two, with Ogre’s front end painfully resting on Gary’s leg. The wreck parked the #24 and #14 for the night. Although Ogre continued, he believed he finished fourth and accused the #6 of Brian Osetek of being down a lap. A review of the tape saw no evidence that Osetek was ever lapped, so the #6 was scored with fourth and The Ogre scored with fifth.

In a flashback photo from 1998, Wesley Ogre Stevens poses in his fast Galletta’s #4 vehicle, while RaYzor Castaldo prepares to reign blows upon him. Incompetence and bad luck has plagued Wesley’s career for over a decade now.

Osetek scored many points by running a steady race without breaking down, although he had a very squeaky ball-bearing giving way in his right rear tire. Rob Jimenez parked the Galletta’s #0 early, but finished the race several laps down in the rental Galletta’s #5 early in the race. Despite finishing fourth on the track, he was scored seventh from the lost laps.

 
Shane Miller is forced to retire after his drive wheel hub broke during a caution lap. Here, Chris “ChrusherComix” Stevens, who stopped behind him to avoid wrecking with him,  and Gary Miller Sr. stopping for a moment and look on.

Gary Miller (in his #24) was again strong before he was involved in a late-race accident including Ogre (in the #4) and Fellows. The #24 got sideways and collected the two, with Ogre’s front end painfully resting on Gary’s leg. The wreck parked the #24 and #14 for the night. Although Ogre continued, he believed he finished fourth and accused the #6 of Brain Osetek of being down a lap. Nobody was sure, so the #6 was scored with fourth and Ogre scored with fifth. Rob Jimenez parked the Galletta’s #0 early, but finished the race several laps down in the rental Galletta’s #5 early in the race. Shane Miller (#32) and Fred Collins (#2) also retired late with wheel and tire problems.

Flippin’-mad Fred Collins (#2) also retired succumbing to a slow-leaking flat tire. Fred likely lost the tire while taking one of his trademark nonsensical solo rides into the woods.

    Videotaped race. DVD available for $5, pickup at Galletta’s Greenhouse or $10 shipped.

8/21/2005 | 50-Lap results:

1. (#3) Matt Stevens *
2. (#8) Chris Stevens *
3. (#11) Bob Piazza *
4. (#6) Brian Osetek *
5. (#4) Ogre Stevens *
—Lapped Karts—
6. (#7) Josh Schute *
7.  (#0/#5) Rob Jimenez *
—DNF—
8. (#24) Gary Miller Sr. *
9. (#14^) John Fellows
10. (#2) Fred Collins *
11. (#32^) Shane Miller
12. (#007^) Mark Miller
13. (#57^) Mike Billion
14. (#18) Ed Meynes *
15. (#83) Jason Mills *

 *= 5hp motor (Box stock w/shaved head, Galletta’s Approved)
^ = 5.5hp motor (or 6.5hp motor with stickers removed & shaved heads?)
DNF = Did not finish race

Now for the points standings after this 15-kart, 50-lap extravaganza!

Galletta’s Speedway 2005 points Standings
(13 races from 06/05/2005 thru 08/21/2005)
Copyright 2005 Galletta’s Greenhouse