Sunday, August 17th, 2008 5hp Gas Stocker Kart Event at Galletta’s:
 photo gallettas20080817winnersbv2_zpsbbc6fcfd.jpg

 

The Galletta’s Karting Club held a Twin-30s Race night race on Sunday August 17th, 2008 at Galletta’s Karting SpeedwayBecause this race had the fewest entrants of a Summer race at Galletta’s in four or five years, the first feature was the first-ever all “Hot Stocker Cam” race, and the second feature was an “All-Stock Cam” race. Also, Matt and Chris again decided to use Galletta’s backup karts that are usually rented out to visiting drivers in the second “stock cam” feature.

Twin 30 #1

The first feature, an “All Hot Stocker Cam” 30-Lap feature, was won by Buddy Cottom in the Galletta’s #7, his second of 2008. He led most of the race after passing early leader Larry Phillips and fending off a few challenges by Gary Miller, Chris Stevens and Matt Stevens. A fun, yet fierce, and grueling race.

Galletta’s August 17th, 2008 Twin 30 #1  – Final Order of Finish:
1st: Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #7)
2nd: Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8)
3rd: Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33)
4th: Russ Hockey (Hockey #00)
5th: Melissa Gabel (Galletta’s #3)
6th: Larry Phillips (Phillips #04)
7th: Gary Miller Sr. (DNF – Galletta’s #9)

Twin 30 #2!

The second 30-lapper was won by Chris Stevens in his old 2000-2001 Galletta’s Klassic-Winning #5 after Russ Hockey lost the lead by getting loose in turn 4 and sliding off the track. Gary Miller and Larry Philips retired.

Galletta’s August 17th, 2008 Twin 30 #2 – Final Order of Finish:
1st: Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #5)
2nd: Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #1)
3rd: Russ Hockey (Hockey #00)
4th: Buddy Cottom (Phillips #04/Galletta’s #0)
5th: Melissa Gabel (Galletta’s #4)
6th: Larry Phillips (DNF – Galletta’s #7)
7th: Gary Miller Sr. (DNF – Galletta’s #0)
8/17/2008 Galletta's Twin-30's Winners - Chris Stevens & Buddy Cottom

2008 5hp Gas Stocker Kart Point Standings at Galletta’s Speedway  

After 7 events at Galletta’s Greenhouse Yard Karting Speedway from 6/8/2007 -thru- 8/17/2008:

Rank

Name & Karts Piloted
(All have 5hp flathead motors.
Most “veteran” drivers have clickable profiles)

Total Points (Place)

Average Points Per Event

Events

Heat Wins

Feature Wins

1

Matt Stevens Profile“Mighty” Matt Stevens
(Galletta’s #33, 1)

1175.50

167.93

7

0

3

2

Chris Stevens ProfileChris “Chrusher” Stevens
(Galletta’s #8, 4, 5)

1154.50

164.93

7

2

2

3

Buddy Cottom profileBuddy Cottom
(Galletta’s #6, 1, 0, Phillips #04) 

942.50

157.08

6

1

2

4

Melissa Gabel profileMelissa “Low-Groove ” Gabel
(Galletta’s #3, 4)

861.00

123.00

7

0

0

5

Russ Hockey profileRuss Hockey
(Hockey #00, Galletta’s #5,  9)

827.00

137.83

6

2

0

6

Ryan Coleman profileCryin’ Ryan Coleman
(Galletta’s #9, 7, Miller #24)

743.50

148.70

5

2

2

7

Gary Miller's profileGary Miller Sr.
(Miller #24, Galletta’s #0, 9)

734.00

122.33

6

1

0

8

Tricky Nicky Dann's profileNick Dann
(Dann #68, 86,
Galletta’s #5, 1, Miller #24)

631.50

126.30

5

1

0

9

JPJohn “JP” Stepien
(Galletta’s #0)

587.50

146.88

4

1

0

10

Dick Dann profileDick “Afraid to Die” Dann
(Dann #86)

537.38

134.38

4

0

0

11

Mike MC Howell profileMike “M Fn’ C” Howell
(Galletta’s #5)

399.00

133.00

3

1

0

12

Larry PhillipsLarry Phillips
(Phillips #04, Galletta’s #9, 7)

358.00

119.33

3

0

0

13

Gary Miller Jr. in his dad's #24Gary Miller Jr.
(Miller #24)

147.50

147.50

1

0

0

14

AJ Russell (Galletta's #6)AJ Russell
(Galletta’s #6)

142.00

142.00

1

1

0

15

Jeff Tetro (Galletta's #2)Jeff Tetro
(Galletta’s #2)

124.00

124.00

1

0

0

16

Fred Collins bioFlippin’ Fred Collins
(Galletta’s #2)

119.50

119.50

1

0

0

17

Rob Clarke (Galletta's #6)Rob Clarke
(Galletta’s #6)

113.00

113.00

1

0

0

 

WHEN IS OUR NEXT RACE? 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: 5hp gas stockers cancelled (not enough drivers).
20. GALLETTA’S: Friday, July 18th, 2008. 45-Lap Race (Winner: Chris Stevens in 5hp).
GALLETTA’S: Sunday, July 20th race: Rained Out. Held the Friday, 7/18 instead.
21. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 24th, 2008: Rained Out.
22. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, July 27th, 2008. Post-Harborfest Race (cancelled: wet track conditions and not enough helpers and drivers.)
23. OSWEGO: Thursday, July 31st, 2008: Practice for Friday Show.
24. OSWEGO: Friday, August 1st, 2008: 40-Lap Money Race (Winner: Matt Stevens x2 in 5hp vs. 5hp and vs. 6.5hp)!
25. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 3rd, 2008. 55-Lap Race (Winner: Buddy Cottom in 5hp).
26. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 7th, 2008: 30-Lap Race.
27. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 10th, 2008. HAIL/RAINED OUT.
28. OSWEGO: Thursday, August 14th, 2008: 30-Lap Race: Winner: Matt Stevens in 5hp.
29. GALLETTA’S: Sunday, August 17th, 2008. Twin-30s Winners: Buddy Cottom & Chris Stevens in 5hps.
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 (BehindGalletta’s Greenhouse in the Town of Oswego, NY).
OSWEGO = Race located at Oswego Kartway (Behind Oswego Speedway

Now for the two-track TOTAL of the… 
2008 5hp Gas Stocker Kart Point Standings of Oswego County, NY  

After 18 combined events at both Galletta’s and Oswego Kartway from 5/8/2007 -thru- 8/17/2008.

Rank

Name & Karts Piloted
(*5hp flathead stock unless otherwise noted. This points total does not include several 6.5hp-exclusive races at Oswego. Handicap 6.5hp motors are also in italics.)

Total Points (Place)

Average Points Per Event

Events

Heat Wins

Feature Wins

1

Matt Stevens Profile“Mighty” Matt Stevens 
(Galletta’s #33, 3, 1)

2206.50

122.58

18

4

7

2

Chris Stevens ProfileChris “Chrusher” Stevens
(Galletta’s #8, 4, 5) 

2099.50

116.64

18

3

4

3

Russ Hockey profileRuss Hockey 
(Hockey #00, Galletta’s #9, 5) 

1661.00

97.71

17

2

0

4

Buddy Cottom profileBuddy Cottom 
(Galletta’s #6, 1, 7, 0, Phillips #04) 

1245.50

138.39

9

2

2

5

Gary Miller's profileGary Miller Sr.
(Miller #24, Galletta’s #0, 9)

1028.00

102.80

10

2

0

6

Dick Dann profileDick Dann 
(Dann #86)

1012.00

101.20

10

0

0

7

Melissa Gabel profileMelissa “Low-Groove ” Gabel(Galletta’s #3, 4, 33)

951.00

118.88

8

0

0

8

Tricky Nicky Dann's profileWavin’ Nick Dann 
(Dann #68, 86, Galletta’s #5, 1, Miller #24)

908.00

100.89

9

1

1

9

Ryan Coleman profileFlyin’ Ryan Coleman 
(Galletta’s #9, 7, Miller #24)

743.50

148.70

5

2

2

10

Joe Hayden #5 (Oswego-only) Joe Hayden (Handicap 6.5hp+ OHV #5)

600.00

85.71

7

0

3

11

JPJohn “JP” Stepien
(Galletta’s #0)

587.50

146.88

4

1

0

12

Mike MC Howell profileMike “M F’n’ C” Howell 
(Galletta’s #5, 6, 9)

584.00

116.80

5

1

0

13

Eric Raponi #83 (Oswego-only, No profile) Eric Raponi
(Handicap 6.5hp+ OHV #83,
5hp Galletta’s #9)

557.00

79.57

7

5

0

14

Dave Melfi
(Handicap 6.5hp+ OHV #22)

527.00

75.29

7

0

2

15

Oscar Berry profileOscar Berry
(Handicrap 6.5hp #71,
Berry 5hp #11)

471.00

67.29

7

0

0

16

Larry PhillipsLarry Phillips
(Phillips #04, Galletta’s #9, 7)

443.00

110.75

4

0

0

17

Wesley Ogre Sevens's driver profile Wes “Ogre” Stevens
(Galletta’s #4)

351.00

87.75

4

0

0

18

Gary Miller Jr. in his dad's #24Gary Miller Jr.
(Miller #24)

147.50

147.50

1

0

0

19

AJ Russell (Galletta's #6)AJ Russell
(Galletta’s #6)

142.00

142.00

1

1

0

20

Jeff Tetro (Galletta's #2)Jeff Tetro
(Galletta’s #2)

124.00

124.00

1

0

0

21

Fred Collins bioFlippin’ Fred Collins 
(Galletta’s #2)

119.50

119.50

1

0

0

22

Rob Clarke (Galletta's #6)Rob Clarke
(Galletta’s #6)

113.00

113.00

1

0

0

23

Missy Berryl profileMissy Berry
(Handicap 6.5hp OHV #64)

88.00

88.00

1

0

0

24

Mrs. MelfiPeggy Melfi
(Handicap 6.5hp OHV #66)

84.00

84.00

1

0

0

25

Ken Lindsley Jr. in Galletta's #6Ken Lindsley Jr. 
Galletta’s #6

75.00

75.00

1

0

0

26

Kenny Lindsley III in Galletta's #1Ken Lindsley III
Galletta’s #1

69.00

69.00

1

0

0

27

Joe Miller in Galletta's #9 (No profile)Joe Miller
Galletta’s #9

65.00

65.00

1

0

0

* = NOTE: This points total does not include 6.5hp-exclusive races at Oswego, nor the one race with all 6.5hps except Matt in a 5hp. The 6.5hp racers have a separate points race that we currently don’t have on record, and they also elect to not race at Galletta’s, nor race against Galletta’s 5hp gas stockers at all (probably because it is a lose/lose scenario to beat or lose to smaller motors). This will be the last list that includes 6.5hp motors, as further lists will be altered to give wins to the highest-finishing 5hp and remove the 6.5hp drivers, per their wishes.

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). NEW SPECIAL DEAL: If you rent a Galletta’s racing kart for $20 at Galletta’s on a weekend race (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), then you can also drive it at Oswego the same week (a Thursday or Friday) for free (just help us load up or truck the kart)! Why allow someone to race our karts for free at Oswego? Because we are seeking new drivers on BOTH tracks after a transitional period of some retiring veteran drivers, some drivers jumping to different (more expensive) divisions, and lack of new developing rookies, and Oswego already has a entrance fee to consider anyway. We want more drivers, and we’ll cover your gas if you race with us at Galletta’s on Sundays. 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. Go ahead and try your own for anything less.  

Chris’s Post-race blog: 
2008 has been a strange season for the Galletta’s Karting Club, as we have lost regular drivers due to several reasons (one moved up to a higher-priced methanol division – he is extremely talented and deserves to; some went to the 6.5hp Oswego division because they had no hope of ever winning a race; a few can’t race regularly because of work schedules; the usual handful who then just wuss out and quit with no reason given. However, the kicker was that one even quit when he thought that we rented him a bum motor and didn’t even stick around to race it and see that was a fresher motor than he had been running, it now had brakes, AND he had already won three features in two different rental karts and three different motors in less than one season already (more features than even I had won in that same span), AND the guy who told him that we switched motors psyched him out because he didn’t want him racing here anymore, and bitched about him for two weeks straight! Whew! He shouldn’t give up and give into the couple of  guys who complained about him, and race with us like I want him to.).

But losing drivers has never been the question, as every year or two since 2000, we lose a few old drivers and gain a few new ones. One can see this by viewing our humorous History Section and looking at every year’s points standings since the website has been up (2004200520062007, and current 2008). However, 2008 marks the first time in the 2000s that we have not replaced retired drivers with new ones. Galletta’s karts are open to rent and race at Galletta’s and Oswego Kartway, and any of them can win features given some skillful driving. Don’t believe us? Well, it gets proven every time a renter wins a race (look at how many different winners we’ve had since 2002 in Galletta’s karts and their own) or when Chris and Matt drive karts that everybody else thinks are bums and either win or get top 3 positions. Yet people stop racing. Why? Come on out!

The first 30 lap feature tonight was an all-cam show; the first one in the history of Galletta’s. From 1990-2006, all cams were box stock Briggs 5hp cams. Then, Team Dann tried “hot stocker” or stock “cheater” cams. They were allowed for drivers over 200 lbs. only, and it helped Dick and Nick get a little more power and equalize speeds with lighter drivers. However, a few more were experimented with in order to comply with racing 6.5hp karts at Oswego. Now Matt is experimenting with cams in all or most of the karts because Dick and Nick can’t race weekly Sundays anymore, and Ryan Coleman quit racing weekly. We’ll also look into weights, which will be hard due to the wildly different weigh ratios between each driver and each kart, and it will need to be based on driver/kart combos. It will take some time, but we’ll figure out the fairest thing soon. Little does it matter for the rest of us, because even though light-weight Matt is light, his  fast #33 is one of the heaviest karts and that does offset when a heavier driver uses a much lighter kart, so most weights won’t have to be adjusted as much as some believe. (Some just say Matt wins so much because he is light. Yes, he’s light, but he’s also very experienced and very talented. Too many sore losers take those things away from him, and it pisses me off. It’s more than just weight for the reason he’s the winningest driver of any form of racing in the local area since the 1990s, and likely the country. Yes, we are just a little known karting association, but we are extremely affordable to race, anybody can join no matter their salary or social status, we have had hundreds of different drivers and hundreds of races since the 1990s, and keep meticulous statistics, so we can back that statement up.) The second feature was an all-stock cam race where Chris and Matt raced backups that are usually rented out (and got 1st & 2nd). One positive, however, is that with less drivers, there are often less wrecks and better drivers meaning less cautions.

We’re looking for a big 2008 Oswego Classic and 2008 Galletta’s Klassic. Old or new drivers, come on out. The racing has never been closer, the karts have never been faster, the karts have never broken down this little, and the tracks that we race on have never been smoother. RACE, YOU BUNCH OF SISSIES! 🙂

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Our basic info pageOur "Away" track: Oswego Kartway!Welcome! We are a Karting Club that invented and races extremely affordable 5hp, Single Wheel Drive “Gas stocker” go-karts for a Points championship every summer at Galletta’s Greenhouse Karting Speedway and a Gas Stocker division at Oswego Speedway‘s Clay Kartway. We also record weekly dirt karting classes in the Oswego area and make them available on DVD! Join us racing by either building your own or renting one of our team backup karts. Or just watch in person, or by buying our DVDs. Please read on and learn more about our extremely affordable brand of highly competitive racing!

The Galletta’s Go-Karting Club was founded by brothers Matt and Chris Stevens in the early 1990ss 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!

John J. Galletta Memorial KartwayOswego Speedway's Kartway
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!

 

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More Galletta’s Go-Karting flips, crashes and tight racing carting highlights on:
YouTube
YouTube And the complete and high quality races found on this site and YouTube can be purchased in our Galletta’s Go-Kart DVD store!

Galletta's Go-Kart News & Message Board!
Comments, questions, and additional info with Galletta’s Kart Club drivers and officials can be found on our new message boards. ->

Click Here for Facts, Questions & Answers.

Click here for Basic rules, regulations, and prices.

Our karting club’s home track is located in back of:
Galletta's Greenhouse of Oswego NY (Official website)
Galletta’s Greenhouses
60 County Route 20
Oswego, NY 13126-6512
(315) 343-0879 or (315) 343-4281

Need directions? Here they are!

Please visit Galletta’s Speedway racer/co-founder/co-owner Chris “Crusher Comics” Stevens’s other websites that include my cartoons, comic books, children’s book, and family greenhouse:
Cartoonist/Graphic Artist, Chris Galletta Stevens
TEE AND WEE CHILDREN'S BOOK

Chrusher: Graphic Novel