Galletta's Karting Club

6/30/2013: Chris Stevens Sweeps the Twin-35s in his Galletta’s Greenhouse #4 & the #0!

SUNDAY, JUNE 30th, 2013 – Chris Stevens duplicated his brother’s previously undone feat of winning back-to-back Twin-35s in two different karts. Tearing up the 1st feature in the Galletta’s  Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #4 with a nice fresh replacement engine he purchased off eBay for $25 (he blew a rod in the opener), he then hopped into the often ignored Galletta’s Greenhouse #0 in the 2nd feature and promptly looked just as fast, if not faster taking the win in that, after the initial leader – a VERY game and rocketship fast Dave Spanfelner – slowed up due to what seemed to be a burnt out clutch on the DS Humphrey’s #54. Thirteen karts and 70 laps in one race. This is what we mean when we say biggest and most competitive karting class in the area, bar none. That’s right, not 80 karts divided by 12 divisions and 3-7 minute 20-lap races and 12 different winners of 3-7 kart races each night. This is man stuff here. No, not that man stuff, man you guys are sicko pervs. 

Commentators Chris Stevens and Uncle Ogie Stevens bring you the unfathomably talented and exciting racing action weekly in our Galletta’s Karting Club DVDs ($5), AVCHDs ($8) or Blu-rays ($12). Cameras by Rungnapha “Aou” Stevens and Melissa Stevens.

RETCON MAKEUP RACE CREDITS:

Yes, it is true. At Galletta’s, since we count every organized race, attendance is key in competing. In fact, most drivers never have a shot because they simply do not race a full schedule. Well, we allow those who miss a week or two to get back into the points hunt by racing in “retcon/makeup” races. They are usually 5-10 lap heats (most often 8) and each competitor who enters them is counted in the earliest race they missed, and given points as if they were there, entered it, and simply didn’t finish the race, putting them in last. It’s better than either not giving them the opportunity (and therefore missing one race means they’re out of the hunt), or lopping off actual races that should always count in those who made every race to appease those who couldn’t (which lesser tracks do… I mean, how lame… taking away credit of earned races? Wow, hope they don’t charge for them. Er, they do? Oh. Sorry…). We love it… but that’s what you get when you’re smart and care about fair competition and good sportsmanship. Not saying others aren’t, but, well, damn man, c’mon now.

8-LAP RETCON RACE RESULTS:
1st. Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6) – Credited 14th in the 6/5/2013 event’s 45-lapper
2nd. Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7) – Credited 11th in the  6/9/2013 event’s 45-lapper
3rd. Adam Lytle (Lytle Motorsports #33c) – Credited 10th in both of the 6/23/2013 event’s 35-lappers
4th. Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2) – Credited 15th in the 6/5/2013 event’s 45-lapper
5th. Collin Miller (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0) – Credited 16th in the 6/5/2013 event’s 45-lapper
6th. Mark “Gooner” Groesbeck (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1) – Credited 10th in both of the 6/19/2013 event’s 30-lappers

Other than the make-up race, we scheduled no heats and opted to go for twin-35s. That’s 70 laps of racing going between 35-50mph at around 15-16 seconds a lap. That’s a lot more than 5 minutes of feature racing per dozen classes. Not naming names, Larry, who do you think I’m talking about? Tracks all over the country have that problem, not just a local one, sheesh.

 35-LAP FEATURE #1

Thirteen kart field starts up prior to the 1st feature. The largest kart racing class in Oswego. Adam Lytle on the pole and the lineup is another impressive example of how our handicap system is the best.

Lytle has struggled in his 1st and 2nd seasons with motor troubles, but today the former Gary Miller #24 re-numbered #33c and the Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #4 are both sporting a new motors prepped by Master Motor builder Matt Stevens, who cannot be beat in new gas stock carb Briggs flathead engine building. What? That stun you? WKA rules deem our motors illegal (our cams are considered cheater cams in WKA) and the little cheat tricks that’ll win you a WKA race don’t work in our club. Nor would a standard tank of the needlessly expensive, fast-burning methanol make it through one of our longer races. So, yes, that includes those who think they’re the best at building and racing but never won here. Don’t caaaaarrrrre, then! Let’s watch what Adam and Chris do. Oh, by the way, did I mention the motor on Chris #4 was purchased on eBay for $25? Forgot to mention that? Well, now it has been mentioned. And we don’t send them out or order them from Southern builders either.

Looks like a competitive, well ordered field here.

Feature #1 Start:
1st. Adam Lytle (Lytle Motorsports #33c)
2nd. Billy Truax (Ruggio Racing #02)
3rd. Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
4th. Eric Woolworth (Raven Tavern #88) [1 win]
5th. Dave Spanfelner (DS Humphrey’s #81) – 1 win
6th. Chris Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #4) – 1 win
7th. Brian Galletta (Brian Galletta Motorsports #28, #13) – 1 win
8th. Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com #74) – 2 wins
9th. Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
10th. Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2)
11th. Collin Miller (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0)
12th. Mark “Gooner” Groesbeck (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
13th. Melissa Stevens – w/Lilybeth Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19)

Lo and behold… the two motors that Matt just prepared battling for the lead. Chris Stevens catches Lytle starting slow on a restart and takes the lead.

The 13-kart field takes the 2nd turn during the 1st feature.

This was the battle for the final portion of the 1st feature, Chris Stevens (Galletta’s/Chrusher.com #4) leading Adam Lytle (Lytle #33c), with Matt Stevens (Galletta’s/Chrusher.com #74) and Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s #6) close by. Chris did pull away from the pack as the race wore on… his $25 motor a big success! Gary Miller Jr. and Colin Miller did very well (in Gary Jr.’s 1st race in over a year and Colin’s 1st actual feature race ever – he had raced in heats before).

The race for 2nd… Matt again uses his dreaded slingshot out of turn 4 on the last lap. By the cameras, we cannot tell if Matt got him, or if they tied.

35-LAP FEATURE #1 FINISH:

1st. Chris Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #4) – 2 wins!
2nd. Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com #74) – 1 win
2nd. Adam Lytle (Lytle Motorsports #33c)
4th.  Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
5th. Dave Spanfelner (DS Humphrey’s #81, #54) – 1 win
6th. Billy Truax (Ruggio Racing #02)
7th. Brian Galletta (Brian Galletta Motorsports #28) – 1 win
8th. Colin Miller (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0)
9th. Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
10th. Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2)
11th. Mark “Gooner” Groesbeck (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
12th. Eric Woolworth (Raven Tavern #88) [1 win] [Laps down]
13th. Melissa Stevens – w/Lilybeth Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19) -DNF

RETCON RACE MAKEUP POINTS:
14th. Joe Sereno (Galletta’s Greenhouse #5) – Earned 7/28/2013

35-Lap Feature #2:

2nd feature started with an inverted field from the finish of the 1st. Dave Spanfelner was a man on a mission powering out into the lead early in his DS Hump’s #54.

2nd Feature Start:
2nd feature usually is inverted from the finish of the 1st, minus the prior winners also inverted, but to the back.

1st. Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
2nd. Billy Truax (Ruggio Racing #02)
3rd. Adam Lytle (Lytle Motorsports #33c) -DNS
4th. Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2)
5th. Eric Woolworth (Raven Tavern #88) [1 win]
6th. Brian Galletta (Brian Galletta Motorsports #28) – 1 win
7th. Dave Spanfelner (DS Humphrey’s #54) – 1 win
8th. Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #3) – 2 wins
9th. Chris Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #8) – 2 wins
10th. Mark “Gooner” Groesbeck (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
11th. Colin Miller (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0)
12th. Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
13th. Melissa Stevens – w/Lilybeth Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19)

Matt’s helmet cam as he raced behind Dave Spanfelner (DS Humphrey’s #54) and Chris Stevens #8 (inset). Dave was the dominant force in this race, blasting out to an impressive early lead, until mechanical problems slowed him down. Chris also stalled the #8 and had to hop into a backup… the Galletta’s Greenhouse #0, a team kart that is usually available to be rented, and often sits idle. He took off to his 2nd huge lead of the night after #54 badly slowed and he was able to get the pass.

Matt pulled along Chris on a restart, but Chris held him off  (in the rental Galletta’s #0) and wound up crawling away for his 2nd win of the night, duplicating a feat that in 18 years, only had been done by his brother… last week’s race!

Chris pulls off an improbable 2-feature sweep.

35-LAP FEATURE #2 FINAL ORDER OF FINISH:

1st. Chris Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse/Chrusher.com/R&C Sushi #8, #0) – 3 wins
2nd. Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #3) – 2 wins
3rd. Dave Spanfelner (DS Humphrey’s #54) – 1 win
4th. Billy Truax (Ruggio Racing #02)
5th. Mark “Gooner” Groesbeck (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
6th. Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2)
7th. Eric Woolworth (Raven Tavern #88) [1 win] -DNF
8th. Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7) -DNF
9th. Brian Galletta (Brian Galletta Motorsports #28) – 1 win -DNF
10th. Colin Miller (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0) -DNF
11th. Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6) -DNF
12th. Melissa Stevens – w/Lilybeth Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19) -DNF
13th. Adam Lytle (Lytle Motorsports #33c) -DNS
         RETCON RACE MAKEUP POINTS:
14th. Joe Sereno (Galletta’s Greenhouse #5) – Earned 7/28/2013

EXTRA NOTES – PLEASE DO NOT SAY WE RIG IT AND RACE FASTER/BETTER KARTS. WHY? PAY ATTENTION:
Chris Stevens may have won 3 features thus far in 2013 (and his 71st career feature win on the two local Oswego tracks since we began counting them in 2000), but two have been in Galletta’s Greenhouse Team karts that are usually sitting idle, and available for rent on most evenings – the Galletta’s Greenhouse #2 and #0. Yes, it is true, this does indeed slap those in the face who would never run here because (1) they don’t have a kart and (2) think the rentals are all slow/rigged, doesn’t it? I agree, it does. Makes them all pussy, beta whiners. No, ARROGANT pussy whiners. *BAAAAAM, PEANUT BUTTER AND JAAAAMM!* Why do I talk trash? Well, because there is literally zero reasons why we can’t have anywhere from 10-20 people weekly except for the fact that (1) some people think they’re better, higher-classed racers because they race on the local pay tracks, and (2) some people think we rig it so we can’t be beat. Bull. We can win in any kart in our fleet and prove it on nights like this. Prove your talent and come on our track and win. We won at the lil’ track out in back of the big track too. It’s cool, but it doesn’t make you better or worse. Come show your stuff and see the fun and close competition we have.

2013 1-WD Gas Flathead Karting World Championship Point Standings after 6/30/2013’s Event

For the Galletta’s Karting Club’s World Championship of 1WD Gas Flatheads held on Galletta’s Greenhouse Backyard Karting Speedway for the 2013 season to date,  scored in this manner . Our club’s complete All-Time Points Standings from 2000-to-‘the-last-completed-season’ are found on  this webpage , and our division’s complete 2006-08 standings on Oswego Speedway’s cutesy lil’ dirt track out back Kiddie Kartway (before our class was  barred from, mocked and threatened ) on  this page . At season’s end, the current totals will be added into the below:

Pos. (Last Week)	Name (Go-Karts Piloted) [Most drivers have clickable Driver Profiles] ® = Used Retcon Race; # = Used Timeout	Total Points (Place)	Average Points Per Feature	2013 Events Entered	2013 Features Entered	2013 Heat Wins/ Entered	2013 Feature Wins *=Tie	Career Feature Wins (2000-up)	Years Pro in GKC
1st. (3rd)	Chris “Chrusher ” Stevens (Galletta’s #4, 2, 8, 0, 74)	898.5	112.31	5	8	0/1	3	67*	18th
2nd.	Master Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33, 3, 74) (#)	868.0	108.50	5	8	0/1	2	117*	18th
3rd. (1st.)	Brian Galletta (Brian Galletta #13, 28)	831.5	103.94	5	8	1/1	1	4	8th
4th.	David Spanfelner (D. S. Humphrey’s #54, 81, Galletta’s #28, 9)	786.0	98.25	5	8	0/1	1	2	2nd
5th.	Eric Woolworth (Raven Tavern #88)	729.0	91.13	5	8	1/1	1	1	2nd
6th. (9th.)	Adam Lytle (Adam Lytle #33c) ®	619.5	77.44	4	8	0/1	0	0	2nd
7th.	Billy Truax (Galletta’s #7, 1, 02) ®®	617.0	77.13	3	8	0/1	0	0	1st
8th.	Melissa Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19)	530.0	66.25	5	8	0/1	0	6	7th
8th.	Lilybeth Rose Stevens (Scissors ‘n Fur #19)	530.0	66.25	5	8	0/1	0	0	®
10th.	Kevin Galletta (Galletta’s #7, 9) ®®	426.5	71.08	2	6	0/1	0	0	1st
11th. (14th.)	Mark “Gooner Gilligan” Groesbeck (Galletta’s #1) ®®	394.0	78.80	2	5	0/1	0	0	®
12th. (11th.)	Marc Sgarlata (Galletta’s #7) ®	207.0	69.00	1	3	0/1	0	0	®
13th. (12th.)	Joe Sereno (Galletta’s #5)	205.5	102.75	2	2	0/1	0	4	3rd
14th. (–)	Gary Miller Jr. (Galletta’s #6) ®	203.0	67.67	1	3	0/1	0	1	2nd
15th. (13th.)	Scott McGroty (Galletta’s #1) ®	196.0	65.33	1	3	0/1	0	0	®
16th. (–)	Branden “Toomer” Matott (Galletta’s #2, 9) ®	194.0	64.67	1	3	0/1	0	0	1st
17th. (–)	Collin Miller (Galletta’s #0) ®	182.0	60.67	1	3	0/1	0	0	1st

Next race’s handicap starting order:

Per usual, our race starts for all regular point events are (1) inverted by season wins and points-per-event as tie breaker, (2) no season wins but career wins, points-per-event as tie breakers, and finally no wins and inverted by points-per-event. Here is the handicap: