![8/11/2019 – Twin-25 Feature, 10-Kart Battle Royale SWEPT by Matt Stevens; Steals both from bro, Chris! [+YouTube]](https://karting.gallettasgreenhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/48564706891_eb9a069f27_o.jpg "8/11/2019 – Twin-25 Feature, 10-Kart Battle Royale SWEPT by Matt Stevens; Steals both from bro, Chris! [+YouTube]")
8/11/2019 – Twin-25 Feature, 10-Kart Battle Royale SWEPT by Matt Stevens; Steals both from bro, Chris! [+YouTube]
8/11/2019 – Twin-25 Feature, 10-Kart Battle Royale SWEPT by Matt Stevens; Steals both from bro, Chris! [+YouTube]
Sunday, August 11th, 2019 – Oswego, NY – In what was the most populated race in the past few seasons, 10-drivers started and battled it out. And the racing was close and fun to behold. A handful of rookies that joined the club last weekend are getting the hang of it, and it made for some exciting race footage! Matt Stevens stole BOTH features from his brother Chris! And while this may seem glorious, a quirk in our handicap system assures Chris keeps scoring more points than Matt but still will keep starting in front of him because total wins take precedent over total points! This has Matt considering a rule change because he’s simply not happy with just WINNING ALMOST EVERY RACE AND OUTCLASSING EVERY SINGLE KARTER IN ALL-TIME OSWEGO KARTING HISTORY. TWO race videos (Tower Cam and Helmet Cam) with an edited video containing both cameras synched. Read on!
8/12/2019 NOTE: I apologize for being exceedingly late with this week’s race page. My wife and I were busy with our daughter’s 5th birthday party and important work-related paperwork this week. – Chris
8/20/2019 NOTE: Everything should now be fully up to date! – Chris
8/11/2019 – Rookie/Makeup Points Heat #1:
Last week’s batch of new rookies are back (with another newbie) and set to join the regular veteran races after a quick makeup point heat race! This will score makeup points for the week #2’s 6/30/2019 show.
Full-res victory pic.
START:
1. Nicolas Olivares (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
2. Shane Evans (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
3. Greg Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
4. Zachary Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #28)
5. Randy Baldwin (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
6. Tony Hemingway (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33c)
FINISH:
1. Nicolas Olivares (Galletta’s #1) = 9th in 6/30/2019 Twin 25s
2. Greg Blanchard (Galletta’s #5) = 10th in 6/30/2019 Twin 25s
3. Randy Baldwin (Galletta’s #7) = 11th in 6/30/2019 Twin 25s
4. Zach Blanchard (Galletta’s #28) = 12th in 6/30/2019 Twin 25s
5. Shane Evans (Galletta’s #6) = 13th in 6/30/2019 Twin 25s
6. DNF – Tony Hemingway (Galletta’s #33c) = Stored Bonus Points (if needed)
Sunday August 11th, 2019 – 25-Lap Feature #1 of 2
We started a little late due to several unforeseen circumstances (three late arrivals, one of whom was myself, as I had to run off to get a last second birthday cakes for my daughter’s 5th birthday party. Our apologies and all further races should start earlier).
START:
1. Tony Hemingway (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33c)
2. Zachary Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #28)
3. Shane Evans (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
4. Greg Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
5. Nicolas Olivares (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
6. Chris Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #8)
7. Steve Sixberry (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #9)
8. Matt Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33)
9. Randy Baldwin (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
10. Melissa Stevens (Scissors n Fur #80)
Unedited Tower Cam Footage
(NOTE: Includes Rookie Makeup Heat & both 25-lap Features)
Newcomers Shane Evans and Nicolas Olivares were the early 1-2 leader combo, but their the three vets of Chris Stevens, Steve Sixberry and Matt Stevens found their way around them. Then track conditions played a role next as Chris Stevens had to correct trajectory after he hit a pothole (and his foot fell off the gas pedal), and as Steve Sixberry got caught bumper-to-bumper behind him, that opportunist Matt snuck by the both of them. He seems to have solved his #33’s hard handling as once he got into the lead, he pulled away from the rest for the win.
FINISH:
1. Matt Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33)
2. Chris Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #8)
3. Nicolas Olivares (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
4. Zachary Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #28)
5. Greg Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
6. Steve Sixberry (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #9)
7. Shane Evans (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
8. Tony Hemingway (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33c)
9. Randy Baldwin (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
10. DNF – Melissa Stevens (Scissors n Fur #80)
MAKEUP RACE POINTS:
11th. via 7/21/2019 Makeup Heat: Andrew Hook (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
Sunday August 11th, 2019 – 25-Lap Feature #2 of 2
2nd of a Twin-feature inverts the finish of the 1st except those who have won at least one feature are inverted in the very back.
START:
1. Shane Evans (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
2. Tony Hemingway (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33c)
3. Randy Baldwin (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
4. Greg Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
5. Zachary Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #28)
6. Nicolas Olivares (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
7. Steve Sixberry (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #9)
8. Chris Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #4)
9. Matt Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #74)
10. DNS – Melissa Stevens (Scissors n Fur #80)
Unedited GoPro – Chris Stevens Helmet Camera
(NOTE: Battery died before the finish of the 2nd feature in the GoPro camera angle.)
Again, newbie Shane Evans held strong in the early going, but Chris and Matt Stevens again capitalized on rookie inconsistencies to pull into 1st and 2nd. Chris controlled the rest of the show driving a defensive line due to the bumps, but this cost him as Matt used a last corner slingshot to pull alongside his brother Chris and nip the win by a bumper. Chris blamed the track conditions as he was driving a bit too conservatively — especially in the final corner, where Matt ALWAYS attempts a slingshot to take a spot at the finish line. This makes at least three features this season where Matt has barely snuck by his big brother to steal his win, all entirely thanks to bad track conditions (two this weekend)! Meanwhile, Nicolas Olivares was able to recover from a broken kart and score 3rd, as he and all of the new rookies are getting better and better every race! If only more vets would show up — the racing will be shockingly good! Hey vets… where the **** are you?
FINISH:
1. Matt Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #74)
2. Chris Stevens (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #4)
3. Nicolas Olivares (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #1, #0)
4. Greg Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
5. Randy Baldwin (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
6. Zachary Blanchard (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #28)
7. Shane Evans (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
8. Steve Sixberry (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #9, #2)
9. Tony Hemingway (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #33c)
10. DNS – Melissa Stevens (Scissors n Fur #80)
MAKEUP RACE POINTS:
11th. via 7/21/2019 Makeup Heat: Andrew Hook (Team Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
2019 Galletta’s Greenhouse Karting Speedway Point Standings
After 6/23/2019 through 8/11/2019 events:
KEY:
m = Makeup points race run
® = Rookie/1st Season Driver
Next Week’s Handicap Starting Order
Regular season races start via inverting by wins, then points-per-race. However, we are adding a few new caveats to the rule. See below the chart for more.
| Pos. | Driver | Avg. Pts. | 2019 Wins |
Win % |
| 1st | Zachary Blanchard | 42.17 | 0 | 0% |
| 2nd | Shane Evans | 42.75 | 0 | 0% |
| 3rd | Greg Blanchard | 43.83 | 0 | 0% |
| 4th | Randy Baldwin | 46.13 | 0 | 0% |
| 5th | Nicolas Olivares | 49.17 | 0 | 0% |
| 6th | Tony Hemingway | 50.20 | 0 | 0% |
| 7th | Nolan Goessl | 51.50 | 0 | 0% |
| 8th | Andrew Hook | 56.31 | 0 | 0% |
| 9th | Gary Miller Jr. | 54.63 | 0 | 0% |
| 10th | Steve Sixberry | 65.70 | 2 | 20% |
| 11th | Adam Lytle | 74.13 | 1 | 25% |
| 12th | Josh Arnold | 74.88 | 1 | 25% |
| 13th | Chris Stevens | 77.40 | 1 | 10% |
| 14th | Matt Stevens | 74.35 | 5 | 50% |
| 15th | Kirstie Potter | 31.00 | 0 | 0% |
| 16th | Jesse Evans | 34.00 | 0 | 0% |
| 17th | Returning Vets | 00.00 | 0 | 0% |
| 18th | Newbie Rookies | 00.00 | 0 | 0% |
| 19th | Melissa Stevens | 48.20 | 0 | 0% |
Discussion over potential new handicap start rules – including a new one:
As noted in the victory picture caption, our race start handicap system is usually extremely good at handicapping by (1) wins and (2) points to ensure that the race is going to be as competitive as possible. People who have won and scored the most points will always have the most work cut out for them by starting in the back, and the people who have won and scored the least need only to hold off people, which is usually how they learn how to take the track and be able to win.
However, little caveats show up that bring up a point about little inconsistencies and loopholes that sometimes force us to do slight alterations o the rules.
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Those with 25% win percentage (or more) are still handicapped by total wins 1st, no matter their points.
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Those with 24% win percentage (or less) are still handicapped by points-per-race first, then wins.
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Those with 0 wins are still handicapped ahead of those with wins, no matter their points-per-race.
To read the elaborated, bloviated reasons (as many who know me will say, is typical of when I try to explain things) for this rule, scroll below to the comment section.
-Chris
Discussion over potential new handicap start rules – including a new one:
As noted in the victory picture caption, our race start handicap system is usually extremely good at handicapping by (1) wins and (2) points to ensure that the race is going to be as competitive as possible. People who have won and scored the most points will always have the most work cut out for them by starting in the back, and the people who have won and scored the least need only to hold off people, which is usually how they learn how to take the track and be able to win.
But little hiccups and caveats can and do occur, such as:
So while this rule has significantly helped out competition… it seems as if now Matt and Chris seem to have hit opposite sides of this rule. For example:
With the handicap the way it is, Chris sometimes starts in front of people who he has more points than, just because he has less wins than them. So, this loophole rewards those who are consistently scoring points and penalizing those who sacrifice points for win.
This had added drama to the Klassic 200 as well, as people can’t sandbag TOO much in the early going. Everyone wants to conserve fuel and drive system health, BUT, still want to score as many of those bonus points as they can as well. One can make a MASSIVE jump or a MASSIVE dive with their Klassic performance. It is, by far, the most important race of the year. Matt used to be happy driving in last place for the 1st 100 or so laps of the 200, but the bonus points counting in the Klassic means he can’t do that anymore… unless he doesn’t care about the track title.
Because Matt has the same amount of wins (5) as everybody else combined (S. Sixberry with 2, while Chris, Josh and Adam all with 1 each = 5 total), AND Josh and Adam have only raced a partial season and still picked up wins… this the best I can come up with is this:
Those with 25% win percentage (or more) are still handicapped by total wins 1st, no matter their points.
Those with 24% win percentage (or less) are still handicapped by points-per-race first, then wins.
Those with 0 wins are still handicapped ahead of those with wins, no matter their points-per-race.
This still assures Matt will start in the rear, BUT will help drivers like (for example) Steve, as he has 2 wins early on but his points-per-race has suffered greatly of late. However, Matt HAS to be handicapped for winning around 50% of the races when others win 0-20% tops… every… single… year. It actually should be the Matt Stevens rule, because his career wins are nonsensically high, and he should start dead last every single race no matter what to make things more interesting. He complains about Chris scoring more points than him sometimes, but he forgets that (1) he still has WAY more career wins and track championships than Chris and (2) Chris’ win percentage is tied for the highest of all other drivers EXCEPT Matt. Matt doesn’t need ANY handicapping help since — as he brags constantly about — he knows the track and karts better than anybody. So… he can come from last every week and not have a problem, then. 🙂
See you next week!