Galletta's Karting Club

Friday, July 18th, 2008 Gas Stocker Kart Race at Galletta’s:

Because our Sunday 7/13/2008 race  at Galletta’s Backyard Kartway was rained out, and this Sunday looked like a threat of rain, our race at Galletta’s was held on Friday, 7/18/2008. Though Nick Dann led half the race, and John “JP” Stepien and Matt Stevens swapped the lead, it was Chris ‘The Cerebral Chrusher’ Stevens that took the 45-lap, 10 kart race win for his 1st race of the year at Galletta’s, and his 2nd overall of 2008. The race was close and competitive throughout, with bumper-to-bumper action, close back-and-forth passes, and nobody blowing anybody away. Points and descriptions are up to date.

The first heat saw Wavin’ Nick Dann take the win from his pole-sitting handicap position in his dad’s #86 kart. His father, Dick, was tired from work, and disgruntled over some rough driving and bad luck all season, put his racing career on hiatus for the near future. Nick was followed by Gary Miller (in his #24), who barely passed Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #6) on the last lap. Buddy and Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8) tied for 3rd, and Larry Phillips finished 5th (in the Galletta’s #7). This race was extremely close throughout, with bumper-to-bumper racing from first lap to last.

The second heat saw another pole-sitter lead all ten laps, as Russ Hockey won in his Hockey #00. Again, Russ’s kart, much like the Dann machines, handles much better at Galletta’s than Oswego for some reason. Russ was followed by Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33), JP Stepien (Galletta’s #0), Ryan Coleman (Galletta’s #9), and Melissa Gabel (Galletta’s #3). Ryan was flying until he crashed while riding up JP’s backside. The wreck caused a motor problem in the #9, as the #9’s carburetor sputtered due to being clogged by the jarring of the accident, so Ryan swapped karts with Larry and drove the Galletta’s #7 in the feature (Ryan is fast in and has won with both karts and three different motors anyway).

[Picture forthcoming]
The 10-kart, 45-lap feature was incredibly close from start to finish. Nick Dann set a good pace in his dad’s #86 and led the first 27 laps with few unsuccessful challenges from Russ Hockey, JP Stepien, and Buddy Cottom. The field was essentially bumper-to-bumper once again. Ryan Coleman was again the hard-charger passing both Matt and Chris, trying to make amends and race clean because the previous week he bumped everyone on track en route to a dominant win.

[Picture forthcoming]
On lap 6, Russ’s #00 veered back onto the track, and due to the lack of track, Ryan Coleman ran into Chris Stevens’ left-rear drive-wheel in turn 4 which caused a scary accident (and damaged the #8’s paint-job [see above]). Shortly after, Gary Miller hit Melissa Gabel’s left-rear drive-wheel and broke his tie rods, which made him leave in an angry tirade, much to the displeasure of everyone. This type wreck has happened several times in the past year, and it is the same type of wreck where Wesley Stevens wrecked and broke shoulder blade and ribs when he tried to pass a 1st-time-driver and got pinched off the track into tires and brush. Also similar a few weeks earlier when MC Howell got into a few wrecks when he was pinched off by Ryan, who, in turn, also got pinched off in similar fashion earlier – both of which damaging gas tanks. All of these near-identical wrecks have led Chris and Matt’s passing of a new driver courtesy rule, where a driver MUST give the kart in front of them the right to his or her groove unless they for sure saw you if their groove is going to pinch one off, you must give them that room and try another groove or a stronger run on another lap. The driver in front must give racing room to a driver attempting a pass if they know that they are there. The difficult part to negotiate is if the driver in front knows that the driver behind is there and is pinching them off on purpose, or if they are unaware. The driver behind should give the benefit of the doubt to the driver in front. Only if the kart behind is over halfway in front and the driver ahead clearly sees that another kart is there, then can they both “race for the spot” and both drivers must give each other room. These are open wheel racing karts, and wrecks can get extremely dangerous for both driver and equipment if respect, patience, and self-control are not practiced. We believe that the cookie-cutter WKA karts could learn some lessons from us in this manner, as they often bump and grind because their body panels somewhat protect them from most of the potential where we learn to drive clean and respectful. If we see any more wrecks like this at Galletta’s, we will penalize the behind driver 10 points, and the front driver 5 points.

[Picture forthcoming]
On lap 28, Buddy Cottom’s Galletta’s #6 ran over the back end of Nick Dann’s #86, and this wreck put JP Stepien into the lead. This then set up a tremendous battle between JP, Chris and Matt Stevens, with JP at first pulling away. The loose track and equalized motors made for  an exciting race for the lead during this period. On lap 33, JP, Chris, and Matt swapped the lead back and forth on nearly every loose turn, with Chris barely coming out on top of the exchange before a caution came out. It was possibly the only time in recent memory where three karts swapped the lead that many times in one lap. Chris was then able to barely hold off Matt and JP to take his first win at Galletta’s of the 2008 season, and his second overall feature in a row (after taking the last Oswego feature). JP had the best overall race of the night, being in the top three positions for all but the first two laps of the night, and only a loose track cost him his possible 1st win ever at Galletta’s.

1st – Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8) | 2nd – Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33) | 3rd – John “JP” Stepien (Galletta’s #0) | 4th – Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #6) | 5th – Nick Dann (Dann #86) | 6th – Russ Hockey (Galletta’s #5/Hockey #00) | 7th – Melissa Gabel (Galletta’s #3) | 8th – Larry Phillips (Galletta’s #9) | 9th – Ryan “I listen to backstabbers instead of Chris and Matt” Coleman (DNF; Miller #24/Galletta’s #7) | 10th – Gary “I’m not having fun anymore, so I’ll stop other people from having fun too… ‘Hey Ryan, they switched motors when you won last week! (Haha, I won’t tell him that it’s a newer, fresher, more compression, and equally as fast motor and that I bitched and called Chris and Matt and Wes and wanted him banned because he wrecked me last week, heheh… boy I’m clever!)'” Miller (DNF; Miller #24). (NOTES: Dick Dann took the week off in protest against Ryan Coleman and Buddy Cottom’s driving last weekend). Now for the updated points for the 5hp gas stocker points championship of the world:

Our race at Oswego Kartway scheduled for Thursday, July 17th, 2008 was cancelled by our club due to not having enough drivers (we set our own limit on both tracks of at least 8-10 drivers with gas 5hp flatheads to run. We only had 5-6. And with 6-7 Galletta’s competitive, race-ready, race-winning backup karts sitting, that means we need more renters. Come on and race with us! However, with all of the people who tell us, “I’ll never race at Oswego Kartway because [the operator] is a cheating @$$#0!&. How the hell did they ever put that fight-happy, dishonest cheat in charge or why anybody ever wants to race there with him in charge, I’ll never know!” and with him turning people away saying we don’t have rules (we DO, he just IGNORES them and sells Animal parts to karts racing against us in what is supposed to be a “box stock OHV” vs. a “box stock Flathead with shaved head” class!) it makes it very difficult for our class to grow at that track. SO if you have butt-hurt because we didn’t bring our class (and unlike flatkarts, we don’t NEED your track to get our weekly racing fixes) , don’t blame us, blame your own actions, JL!

Driver and kart counts at both tracks we race at (Galletta’s and Oswego) have been much lower than expected this season. We are in a transitional period between losing veteran drivers (who have lost interest due to work, school, other local karting divisions, and “not having fun anymore”) and finding new drivers to fill their spots. We are looking for new people to race with. If you are interested in racing once in a while or joining us for weekly racing, you are invited to race with us. If you weigh under 200 lbs. and have racing experience (or the patience and willingness to learn), you will be instantly competitive in one of our karts. If you weigh over 200 lbs., you would qualify for a handicap kart with a racing cam and header for extra power, but with practice you’ll be right there competing for wins. Either way, come on out, watch our races, rent one of our backup karts, or build your own. We’ll help you get started and get your kart up to par with the rest of the field. You’ll then have the opportunity to race on two tracks in Oswego, NY all Summer (and parts of the Spring and Fall). Most of our races are an exhibition in evenly-matched karts, where usually experience and talent mean the difference between 1st and 10th, thanks mostly to Galletta’s head mechanic, Matt Stevens.

Want to join us? We invite drivers (either people to rent our karts and/or with their own 5hp karts) to join us and race at Oswego and Galletta’s. We have our own motor class at Oswego now, but still need regular drivers to fill the karts. If anybody is interested in filling a kart on Thursdays at Oswego ($5 to rent for 10 lap heats and at least a 25 lap feature plus Oswego track entrance fees) or Sundays at Galletta’s ($20 for a 10 lap heat and at least 45-lap feature), just contact us. At Galletta’s, it is free to bring your own kart (though we accept $3-5 clay donations). If you rent a Galletta’s kart, you can drive it for no charge at Oswego the following race (excludes Oswego’s gate fees). You will not ever get the opportunity to sit in a racing vehicle of any type and be given a competitive car for a more affordable price than a Galletta’s 5hp race unless you built one yourself (and many times even then, as our backups are all painstakingly competitive, race-winning karts). And other divisions take thousands to compete in. Ours cost only a few hundred. You can’t race for a cheaper price than at Galletta’s Karting Club. Join us.

WHEN IS OUR NEXT RACE TO WATCH OR RACE IN? EASY! JUST LOOK AT…
THE 2008 OSWEGO GAS STOCKER KARTS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:
1. OSWEGO: Thursday, May 8th, 2008: 25-Lap Race (Winner: Matt Stevens in 5hp).
2. OSWEGO: Thursday, May 15th, 2008: 25-Lap Race (Winner: Joe Hayden in 6.5hp).
3. OSWEGO: Thursday, May 22nd, 2008: Regular Race (Rained out)
4. OSWEGO: Friday, May 30th, 2008: 35-Lap MONEY RACE! (Winner: Matt Stevens in 5hp).
5. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, June 1st-June8th, 2008. Clay track Maintenance week. More.
6. OSWEGO: Thursday, June 5th, 2008: 20-Lap Race (Winner: Dave Melfi in 6.5hp).
7. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, June 8th, 2008. 45-Lap Race (Winner: Matt Stevens in 5hp).
8. OSWEGO: Thursday, June 12th, 2008: 25-Lap Race (Winner: Joe Hayden in 6.5hp).
9. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, June 15th, 2008. 50-Lap Race (Winner: Matt Stevens in 5hp+).
10. OSWEGO: Thursday, June 19th, 2008: 40-Lap Race (Winner: Dave Melfi in 6.5hp).
11. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, June 22nd, 2008. Twin-30s (Winners: Matt Stevens in 5hp & Ryan Coleman in 5hp+).
12. OSWEGO: Thursday, June 26th, 2008: Cancelled: Track Conditions.
13. OSWEGO: Saturday, June 28th, 2008: Cancelled: Track Conditions.
14. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, June 29th, 2008. Cancelled: Rained out.
15. OSWEGO: Friday, July 4th, 2008: 25-Lap Money Race (Winner: Nick Dann in 5hp+).
16. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, July 6th, 2008. Independence Day 50 (Winner: Ryan Coleman in 5hp+).
17. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 10th, 2008: Regular Race (Winner: Chris Stevens in 5hp).
18. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, July 13th, 2008: Cancelled: Rain Out. 
19. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 17th, 2008: Did not go; Unable to bring more than 5 drivers.
20. GALLETTA’S: Friday, July 18, 2008. 45-Lap Winner: Chris Stevens.
21. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 24th, 2008: Cancelled: Rained Out.
22. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, July 27th, 2008. Harborfest race; Cancelled: Rained Out.
23. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 31st, 2008: Practice for Friday Show.
24. OSWEGO: Friday, August 1st, 2008: MONEY RACE!
25. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 3rd, 2008. Regular Race.
26. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 7th, 2008: Regular Race.
27. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 10th, 2008. Regular Race.
28. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 14th, 2008: Regular Race.
29. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 17th, 2008. Regular Race.
30. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 21st, 2008: Regular Race.
31. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 24th, 2008. Regular Race.
32. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 28th, 2008: 2nd ANNUAL OSWEGO SPEEDWAY DIRT TRACK CLASSIC!!!
33. GALLETTA’S: LABOR DAY WEEKEND OPEN DATE: May race on one day, possibly Sept. 1st, T.B.A.. Oswego Kartway is also T.B.A. after this date.
34. GALLETTA’S: Saturday, September 6th, 2008. Regular Race.
35. GALLETTA’S: Saturday, September 13th, 2008. 12 lap heats, 45 lap feature. (Possible bye-week/open date)
36. GALLETTA’S: Saturday, September 20th, 2008. Probable date for the 13th Annual Galletta’s Kart Klassic! Probable 1pm start, between 175-200 laps.
37-up. OPEN DATES/RAIN DATES/FALL CHALLENGE SERIES after this date. 

Key:
GALLETTA’S = Race located at John J. Galletta Memorial Gas Stocker Kartway (Behind Galletta’s Greenhouse in the Town of Oswego, NY).
OSWEGO = Race located at Oswego Kartway (Behind Oswego Speedway in Oswego, NY).

Our Harborfest-Avoidance ’08 race scheduled for Sunday July 27th, 2008 at Galletta’s Karting Speedway is likely rained out, as the track has been more flooded this summer than in the entire 18-year history of the track. This decision could be reversed if the track dried up and drivers pitched in and helped with the track (and the likelihood of both of those things happening are approximately the same as flying monkeys, hell freezing over, our top ten retired drivers coming out of retirement, and Harborfest actually being something other than a nonsensical exercise in the mundane redundancy of herding people around a city at the same time when they can go any other time of the year for free and not be overcrowded). Call if you’re interested in racing at either track. Friday, August 1stis the final Friday Night Money Show of 2008 at the Oswego Kartway, and we have our usual dependable regular drivers, but it is getting more and more difficult to fill in our potent Galletta’s Team Karts, all of which have won features and can win any given race with a good driver behind the wheel, but everybody knows that almost all of the regular methanol kart drivers – already there with their helmets and suits – will never try because they know that Matt and/or Chris – the 5hp gas stocker division founders and 1-2 punch in points every year – will defeat them in, so they are afraid to join us, and use “they’re turning the wrong way”, and “my kart costs more so I’m a better driver”, as weak-ass excuses to hide what they already know – they can’t cut it in our class. Props to anyone who races multiple divisions, especially ours, which is what our good friend – 2007 Galletta’s Speedway Rookie-of-the-Year/ 2007 Visiting Track Champion and current head-and-shoulder’s-class-above of the methanol flatty division at Oswego – Kyle Reuter did, and has said that racing with us earns you street cred in karting – all the motors are equal, we don’t let anybody cheat, and you can’t buy yourself a win. A win in a Galletta’s event is a hard-earned one and it shows driver talent. We agree, but you can look down a long list of drivers at the listings and note just how many never raced once at our track, showing true wussdom.

Now for the two-track total pints for the 5hp gas stocker karting class of Oswego, NY:

2008 5hp Gas Stocker Point Standings of Oswego County, NY  
After 13 combined events at both Galletta’s and Oswego Kartway from 5/8/2007 -thru- 7/18/2008. Each track has separate points series on each week’s page. This is the 2-track total points series:

Rank	Driver Name & Karts Piloted All drivers use 5hp Gas Stocker Flathead motors unless otherwise noted. 6.5hp OHV motors were disqualified from our points series and races after 6 events for not obeying “stock” rules. Veterans have driver profiles.	Total Points (Place)	Average Points Per Event	Events	Heat Wins	Feature Wins
1	“Mighty” Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33, 3)	1564.50	120.35	13	3	5
2	Chris “Chrusher” Stevens (Galletta’s #8, 4)	1446.00	111.23	13	3	2
3	Russ Hockey (Hockey #00, Galletta’s #5)	1060.50	88.38	12	1	0
4	Wavin’ Nick Dann (Dann #68, 86, Galletta’s #5, 1, Miller #24)	1049.50	131.19	8	1	1
5	“Tricky” Dick Dann (Dann #86)	839.00	104.88	8	0	0
6	Flyin’ Ryan Coleman (Galletta’s #9, 7, Miller #24)	743.50	148.70	5	2	2
7	Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #6, 1, 7)	679.50	135.90	5	0	0
8	Gary “I’m not having Fun, I’m Done!” Miller (Miller #24)	658.50	94.07	7	1	0
9	Melissa “Low-Groove ” Gabel (Galletta’s #3)	592.00	118.40	5	0	0
10	John “JP” Stepien (Galletta’s #0)	587.50	146.88	4	1	0
11	Joe Hayden (Handicap 6.5hp/Animal OHV #5)	500.00	83.33	6	0	2
12	Mike “MC” Howell (Galletta’s #5, 6)	477.00	119.25	4	1	0
13	Eric Raponi (Handicap 6.5hp/Animal OHV #83)	471.00	78.50	6	4	0
14	Dave Melfi (Handicap 6.5hp/Animal OHV #22)	443.00	73.83	6	0	2
15	Oscar Berry (Berry #11)	393.00	65.50	6	0	0
16	Wes “Ogre” Stevens (Galletta’s #4)	151.00	75.50	2	0	0
17	AJ Russell (Galletta’s #6)	142.00	142.00	1	1	0
18	Jeff Tetro (Galletta’s #2)	124.00	124.00	1	0	0
19	Flippin’ Fred Collins (Galletta’s #2)	119.50	119.50	1	0	0
20	Rob Clarke (Galletta’s #6)	113.00	113.00	1	0	0
21	Larry Phillips (Galletta’s #9, 7)	100.00	100.00	1	0	0
22	Ken Lindsley Jr.	75.00	75.00	1	0	0
23	Ken Lindsley III	69.00	69.00	1	0	0
24	Joe Miller	65.00	65.00	1	0	0

 

The Galletta’s Go-Karting Club was founded by brothers Matt and Chris Stevens in the early 1990s when they modified yard karts for racing purposes. They are the inventors of “clockwise 5hp flathead gas stocker kart” racing, and have a 13-kart race team that includes several backup karts available to be rented and raced at both Galletta’s and Oswego Speedway all summer. Invented with specifically “gas stock 5hp motor” rules so that a person doesn’t have to spend thousands of dollars to race in extremely competitive racing events, the class grows in talent and competition every single year. Join us by building your own kart for around $500 or rent one of our team karts on Summer Thursdays or Summer Sundays in Oswego, NY!

 
The Oswego Gas Stocker Kart Club races at Galletta’s Greenhouse Kartway & Oswego SpeedwayKartway.

Due to the fact that the karts are so affordable and the oldest veterans have been racing for nearly two decades, it is one of the most difficult karting divisions to win at, but yet you can be instantly competitive for just a couple hundred dollars IF you’re a good driver. You can’t outspend your opponent due to our gas-powered stock-only rule, so you must out-race them and out-setup them. In fact, nobody has ever defeated Matt & Chris in the open challenge: race a stock 5hp flathead and stop them from scoring 1st & 2nd in a points season. Though hundreds of people have tried in hundreds of races since the early 1990s, Chris and Matt have scored 1 & 2 every year. But it’s not just them you have to race. Our regular drivers are all talented and experienced. You can prove your skills against the winningest karters in the local area AND you won’t even have to spend a lot of money to get started! We dare you to try! Make your own or rent one of our racing team karts. Sound like fun? Read on, explore the website, and join us!