Galletta's Karting Club

On Thursday, August 21st, 2008, the Galletta’s Karting Club took our unique brand of SWD (Single Wheel Drive) 5hp Gas Stocker racing action to Oswego Kartway for the final regular season race before our 2nd Annual Oswego Speedway Dirt Track Classic. We only had an 8-kart race (with several karts left home sitting with nobody to drive them – ANYBODY want to race one?) at Oswego Kartway!

DVD to the Thursday, August 14th, 2008 racing action at Oswego Kartway is available and includes all classes (WKA Juniors, WKA Medium, WKA Heavy, SWD 5hp Gas, 6.5hp Gas, Open, and WKA Champ).   However, though the DVD has all classes, this website covers primarily the Galletta’s Gas Stockers. Galletta’s races primarily have single-wheel-drive karts (staggered to turn right for superior cornering) that run on pump gas and use stock parts with limited racing part allowances. We are also called “Super Racing Yard Karts” as we are a hybrid between expensive racing karts and inexpensive yard karts. Anybody can join. Here are some highlights from our Gas 5hp Single-Wheel-Drive class in the Galletta’s/Oswego Dirt Karting 2008 Volume #14 DVD.

The heat was won by Wes Stevens (Galletta’s #4), and he was followed closely by Dick Dann (Dann #86), Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33), Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8), Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #7), Russ Hockey (Hockey #00), and Melissa Gabel (in her brand new Galletta’s #80 – virtually a clone to her fiancée’s #33 except for more bumpers). Larry Phillips did not start when the BH Racing #04’s pull cord ripped out while waiting to get onto the track.

Larry Phillips and Wesley “Ogre” Stevens lead the pack for the drop of the green!

Wesley “Ogre” Stevens won in the Galletta’s #4 by storming off to a huge early lead and beating his two boys Chris and Matt to the finish line. This was Wesley’s first win since the 16th Annual 2006 Galletta’s Klassic 150 and first feature win at Oswego since the 2006 Oswego Kartway 40-Lap Finale. This is also the first race he won since getting hurt in the 17th Annual 2007 Galletta’s Klassic 175, so it was a good show for the grumpy lil’ Ogre! Although Ogre won, his youngest son and defending Track Champion (and current points leader) Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33) slowly was closing on him before the checker – again proving that Matt will be the man to beat in the Oswego Classic. Third was Ogre’s eldest son, Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8) who was the winner of the 2007 Oswego Kartway Gas Stocker Classic (then known as the Super Yard Kart Classic). They were followed by Russ Hockey (Hockey #00),  Buddy Cottom (Galletta’s #5), Larry Phillips (BH #04), and Melissa Gabel (Galletta’s #80). Knowing how much karting experience these three have, the chances of any driver from any other methanol karting class is slim to none. We see how few sacks are in the other divisions. If they had any, they’d give us a try.

Next race is THE CLASSIC! YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US! RENT ONE OF OUR KARTS AND ENTER OUR OSWEGO SPEEDWAY CLASSIC WEEKEND RACE!!!
The whole group of 5hp Gas Stocker drivers was proud of the fact that they had zero cautions in their feature (and only 1 for a spinout in the heat), when the other, more expensive racing classes were plagued with cautions; especially the WKA Heavy Flat Karts, who had 12 cautions in a 30 lap race.  Astonishing! Not that they noticed, but we showed them how it’s done. This should also be noted that our karts, though not as fast as the methanol motored divisions, can run FAR more laps, and is hoping for a longer Classic than the WKA-type karts. We’ll see if they get some respect and be allowed to run a longer race than their methanol counterparts. We think we’ve earned it. Now for first the Oswego-only points, then the combined points:

2008 Oswego Kartway Gas Stocker Point Standings:  
After 12  events at Oswego Kartway from 5/8/2007 -thru- 8/21/2008.

Rank	Driver (Galletta’s Veterans Have Profiles)	Karts Piloted	Motor Type	Total Points (Place)	Average Points Per Event	Events	Heat Wins	Feature Wins
1	“Mighty” Matt Stevens	Galletta’s #33, 3	5hp Flathead	1125.00	93.75	12	4	4
2	Chris “Chrusher” Stevens	Galletta’s #8, 4	5hp Flathead	1038.00	86.50	12	1	2
3	Russ Hockey	Hockey #00	5hp Flathead+	904.00	75.33	12	0	0
4	Joe Hayden	Hayden #5	6.5hp OHV Handicap	600.00	83.33	7	0	3
5	Eric Raponi	Raponi #83 (OHV), Galletta’s #9 (5hp)	6.5hp OHV Handicap	557.00	79.57	7	5	0
6	Dave Melfi	Melfi #22	6.5hp OHV Handicap	527.00	75.29	7	0	2
7	Dick Dann	Dann #86	5hp Flathead+	475.00	79.17	6	0	0
8	Oscar “I took out the micrometer!”Berry	Oz #11, 71	5hp Flathead, 6.5hp OHV Handicap	471.00	67.29	7	0	0
9	Wes “Ogre” Stevens	Galletta’s #4	5hp Flathead	453.00	90.60	5	1	1
10	Buddy Cottom	Galletta’s #7, #5	5hp Flathead	381.00	95.25	4	1	0
11	Gary Miller Sr.	Miller #24, Galletta’s #9	5hp Flathead	294.00	73.50	4	1	0
12	Wavin’ Nick Dann	Dann #68	5hp Flathead+	209.00	69.67	3	0	1
13	Mike “MC” Howell	Galletta’s #6, 9	5hp Flathead	185.00	92.50	2	0	0
14	Melissa Gabel	Galletta’s #3, 80	5hp Flathead+	155.00	77.50	2	0	0
15	Larry Phillips (Phillips #04, Galletta’s #9, 7)	Phillips #04	5hp Flathead+	152.00	76.00	2	0	0
16	Missy Berry	Oz #67	6.5hp OHV Handicap	88.00	88.00	1	0	0
17	Peggy Melfi	OHV #66	6.5hp OHV Handicap	84.00	84.00	1	0	0
18	Ken Lindsley Jr.	Galletta’s #6	5hp Flathead	75.00	75.00	1	0	0
19	Ken Lindsley III	Galletta’s #1	5hp Flathead	69.00	69.00	1	0	0
20	Joe Miller	Galletta’s #9	5hp Flathead+	65.00	65.00	1	0	0

* = Note on motors: The gas 6.5hp motors (dubbed “Outlaws”) raced with 5hp motors for part of the season until neither motor side could agree on rules. Every week would be an argument over “those guys have way more horsepower than us” vs. “those guys are way lighter than us.” No middle ground could be reached, not even racing a 2-in-1 race with two winners and two points systems in one race. Their points are counted in only the races where both 5hp & 6.5hp motors raced in the same race, but excludes one race where Matt raced a 5hp against all 6.5hps and won. They also have their own points separate and not listed here.

Welcome! We are a Karting Club that invented and races extremely affordable 5hp, Single Wheel Drive “Gas stocker” 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!

2008 Gas Stocker Kart TOTAL Point Standings of Oswego County, NY 
After 19 combined events at both Galletta’s and Oswego Kartway from 5/8/2007 -thru- 8/21/2008.

Rank	Name & Karts Piloted (Galletta’s Veterans have profiles. *5hp flathead stock unless otherwise noted. This points total does not include several 6.5hp-exclusive “Outlaw” races at Oswego. $ = Guaranteed Galletta’s Team Kart Spot)	Total Points (Place)	Average Points Per Event	Events	Heat Wins	Feature Wins
1	“Mighty” Matt Stevens $ (Galletta’s #33, 3, 1)	2300.50	121.08	19	4	7
2	Chris “Chrusher” Stevens $ (Galletta’s #8, 4, 5)	2187.50	115.13	19	3	4
3	Russ Hockey  (Hockey #00, Galletta’s #9, 5)	1741.00	96.72	18	2	0
4	Buddy Cottom $ (Galletta’s #6, 1, 7, 0, 0, Phillips #04)	1323.50	132.35	10	2	2
5	Dick Dann  (Dann #86)	1092.00	99.27	11	0	0
6	Gary Miller Sr. (Miller #24, Galletta’s #0, 9)	1028.00	102.80	10	2	0
7	Melissa Gabel $ (Galletta’s #3, 80, 33)	1016.00	112.89	9	0	0
8	Wavin’ Nick Dann  (Dann #68, 86, Galletta’s #5, 1, Miller #24)	908.00	100.89	9	1	1
9	Flyin’ Ryan Coleman  (Galletta’s #9, 7, Miller #24)	743.50	148.70	5	2	2
10	Joe Hayden (Handicap 6.5hp+ OHV #5)	600.00	85.71	7	0	3
11	John “JP” Stepien (Galletta’s #0)	587.50	146.88	4	1	0
12	Mike “M Fn’ C” Howell  (Galletta’s #5, 6, 9)	584.00	116.80	5	1	0
13	Eric Raponi (Handicap 6.5hp+ OHV #83, 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	Larry Phillips (Phillips #04, Galletta’s #9, 7)	510.00	112.00	5	0	0
16	Oscar Berry (Berry #11, Handicap 6.5hp #71)	471.00	67.29	7	0	0
17	Wes “Ogre” Stevens $ (Galletta’s #4)	453.00	90.60	5	1	1
18	Gary Miller Jr. (Miller #24)	147.50	147.50	1	0	0
19	AJ Russell (Galletta’s #6)	142.00	142.00	1	1	0
20	Jeff Tetro (Galletta’s #2)	124.00	124.00	1	0	0
21	Flippin’ Fred Collins  (Galletta’s #2)	119.50	119.50	1	0	0
22	Rob Clarke (Galletta’s #6)	113.00	113.00	1	0	0
23	Missy Berry (6.5hp OHV #67)	88.00	88.00	1	0	0
24	Peggy Melfi (6.5hp OHV #66)	84.00	84.00	1	0	0
25	Ken Lindsley Jr.  Galletta’s #6	75.00	75.00	1	0	0
26	Ken Lindsley III Galletta’s #1	69.00	69.00	1	0	0
27	Joe Miller Galletta’s #9	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!

 More Galletta’s Go-Karting flips, crashes and tight racing carting highlights on:

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!

Comments, questions, and additional info with Galletta’s Kart Club drivers and officials can be found on our new message boards. ->

Galletta’s is a backyard karting track that does not charge anybody to watch or race (though we ask for clay donations). If you want to rent a fast Galletta’s 5hp Gas Stocker Kart on Oswego’s dirt karting tracks, then inquire! There’s always at least one or more karts open and waiting to be raced! Bring your own 5hp gas stocker kart or rent one of ours and join us! We usually run 8-12 kart races weekly, but we’d love to have more on both tracks that we race at, so we ask for more people joining us. Experienced drivers or beginners? It doesn’t matter, you can race! Interested? Call us up! Plus, everybody is getting tuned up for the Oswego Speedway Classic weekend at Oswego Kartway. Did you ever think that you could be racing at the famed Speedway on Classic weekend? You can, and for VERY affordably. Rent one of our karts for $20 a week (averaging around 100-130 laps of action on two different Oswego tracks), or we’ll help you buy or create your own for just a few hundred dollars. Call us up or email us and find out more details.

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.  Now the season recaps…

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 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: