Galletta's Karting Club

Sunday, August 6th, 2023; OSWEGO, NY, USA – Matt Stevens dusted off his Galletta’s Greenhouse Racing #33 kart and took both 20-Lap feature wins on Sunday. The race was again sparsely populated (regular drivers wanted!), but most notable for the return of the All-Time Visiting points Leader, Adam “AJ” Lytle… who wished to have one last race in before he had surgery that may end his karting career for good (we hope not, pray his surgery is a success and wish him well).

With AJ Lytle and AJ Larkin both racing, we only needed one more AJ to make for an AJ-athon… (or would it be An AJ Trio, or a Triumvirate of AJs?)… but sadly Mr. Arnold “AJ” Nason was feeling under the weather and also upset about his storage locker being robbed (for the 3rd time in 3 months), and did not make it.

Sunday, August 6th, 2023 Event

HEAT RACE

As usual, we hold Heat races for 1st-timers, rookies, and returning veterans who missed at least one race. The race then counts for points as placing last in the race they missed. This can help drivers who miss a week or two, but anything more than that it just is a headache for point-scoring statistician/racer/video editor/website producer — me, Chris.

START – 8-Lap Heat Race (Makeup Points for Vets & Rookie Qualifier):

1. (R) Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2)
2. Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
3. (R) AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7)
4. (NR) Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78)

(R) = Rookie
(NR) = Rookie 1st Time On Track

FINISH – 8-Lap Heat Race (Makeup Points for Vets & Rookie Qualifier)
    Makeup Race Points:
1. Makeup Points for 2023/07/30 Twin 25s – 8th. Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
2. Makeup Points for 2023/07/30 Twin 25s – 9th. AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7) (R)
3. Makeup Points for 2023/07/30 Twin 25s – 10th. Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2) (R)
4. Makeup Points for 2023/07/30 Twin 25s – 11th. Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78) (NR)

(R) = Rookie
(NR) = Rookie 1st Time On Track

FEATURE #1

8/6/2023 – 20-Lap Feature #1

F1 START:
1. (R) Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2)
2. Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
3. (R) *AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7)
4. *Nicolas Olivares (Galletta’s #1)
5. *Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33)
6. *Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8)
7. Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s #19)
8. DNS – (NR) Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78)

KEY:
* = 2023 Feature Win
(R) = Rookie Season
(NR) = Newcomer Rookie 1st Time on Track
DNS = Did Not Start (But qualified & scored

Race notes:

• The 1st feature saw the returning all-time visiting points leader Adam Lytle lose his temper a bit when then-leader Jeremy Burton went off the track and returned onto it, making contact and spinning Lytle out. Jeremy is only in his 2nd or 3rd race at the track (and still getting the hang of it), so we feel that Adam should’ve been easier on him, not to mention that it was a fairly common racing accident, and in no way an intentional one.
• Chris Stevens’ #8 had a mysterious sputter to a crawl on a restart. It appeared to be the brake band catching on the sprocket, as after the race, Matt tested it and it ran fine. But just in case it was something more serious, he parked it for the #4. Always remember, at Galletta’s, you CAN hop into a backup kart if your starter kart is having problems, but you lose -5 points and start in the rear. (And to follow that, you can also do this in the Klassic 200, but you lose -25 points and also 1 lap, which you *can* make back in 200, especially when there’s late-race refueling).
• Without his brother to challenge him, Matt Stevens then slowly picks off competitors one by one and takes the win in his #33 kart, although AJ Larkin made him work for that lead!

F1 FINISH:
1. **Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33)
2. (R) *AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7)
3. *Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #8; #4)
4. Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
5. (R) Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2)
6. *Nicolas Olivares (Galletta’s #1)
7. DNF – Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s #19)
8. DNS – (NR) Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78)

KEY:
* = 2023 Feature Win
(R) = Rookie Season
(NR) = Newcomer Rookie 1st Time on Track
DNS = Did Not Start (But qualified & scored

FEATURE #2

START – 8/6/2023 – 20-Lap Feature #2:

1. (R) Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2)
2. Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
3. *Nicolas Olivares (Galletta’s #1)
4. *Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #4)
5. *(R) AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7)
6. **Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33)
7. DNS – Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s #19)
8. DNS – (NR) Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78)

KEY:
* = 2023 Feature Win
(R) = Rookie Season
(NR) = Newcomer Rookie 1st Time on Track

Race Notes:

• Mr. All-Time Visiting points leader AJ Lytle had a well-timed pass to take the lead on lap one (which you can hear impressed Chris on the helmet cam). Sadly… the steering was too tight (possibly from the accident in the 1st feature) and he lost control and looped to an almost Mario Kart 180 spin right into Chris Stevens coming out of turn 2!
• With Chris (seemingly the only driver who knows all of Matt’s tricks and can hold him off) meeting misfortune in both the 1st and 2nd feature, this set up Matt to again pick drivers off one by one and take the 2nd feature.

Quite frankly — and we’ve had this problem for years now — we simply need more drivers on the track! It’s not that we don’t have drivers, it’s that they don’t all come regularly and on the same weekends! If you look at our history, every year we have a decent quantity of drivers, but then look at their features entered? The vast majority only race once or twice a year, a few make most of the races but miss a few, and usually Chris and Matt are the only ones in every race. C’mon people! The difference between an ok race and an amazing one is… people showing up on a weekly basis! Yes, track and kart operator Matt *does* need to be ready to start earlier… but at the same time, even when Matt *is* ready to go early, we have to wait for people, some of whom don’t come at all.

FEATURE #2 FINISH

FINISH – 8/6/2023 – 20-Lap Feature #2:

1. ***Matt Stevens (Galletta’s #33)
2. *Chris Stevens (Galletta’s #4)
3. (R) Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2)
4. *Nicolas Olivares (Galletta’s #1)
5. DNF – *(R) AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #7)
6. DNF – Adam Lytle (Galletta’s #33c)
7. DNS – Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s #19)
8. DNS – (NR) Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78)

KEY:
* = 2023 Feature Win
(R) = Rookie Season at Galletta’s
(NR) = Newcomer Rookie 1st Time on Track
DNS = Did Not Start
DNF = Did Not Finish

2023 Galletta’s Greenhouse Speedway Point Standings – Sponsored by R & C Sushi Bar LLC

Totals tallied between 7/16/2023 – 8/6/2023

Scoring

NEXT RACE:

Races are always late afternoon/early evening, and check in to be sure. And, remember, as always:

• – Driver attendance: At least 3 visiting drivers are required to hold a race for the bare minimum of 6 (we always have 3 home drivers every event).
• – Weather dependent: Some rain is good for the track, but too much (or not enough) isn’t.
• – Timing: Check the start time with track and kart operator Matt Stevens. Summer starts tend to vary between 5-8 PM, Fall starts tend to vary between 2-6 PM. Don’t come too early (and leave mad about waiting too long), and don’t come too late (and make other people mad waiting for you), but check in with Matt! ?
• – Unexpected Returning & 1st-Timer Drivers: Please arrange in advance to ensure the kart assignments are arranged and we don’t start the race too late. We always welcome new drivers, but please plan ahead!!!
• In summer we prefer either Sundays, but starting in late August, Sundays will be impossible (Chris & Rung Stevens’ work schedule). Starting then, we are more open to scheduling races on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, or *LATE* Sundays (Like Midnight. So no, probably none. We aren’t in our teens & twenties — we used to midnight race a lot back then).

Scheduling Nightmare — YEAR TWO!

For the 2nd year in a row, we have had great difficulty scheduling races. The lack of available drivers on race days has been the primary reason, but not the only one. Lost races this season:

• Week 1: Sunday, August 13th, 2023 – Despite the track and karts being ready, the race was canceled (due to not enough visiting drivers available).
• Week 2: Sunday, August 20th, 2023 – No race is planned, as track and kart operator Matt Stevens and his family will be on their 1st family vacation to Disney World for the week (*cough, still owe $4.5k for the roof though cough*). Makeup point practice is possible under proper conditions.
• Week 3: Sunday, August 27th, 2023 – Despite the track and karts being ready for a makeup points race, the event was canceled (due to not enough visiting drivers available).
• Week 4: Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 – Regular Points Race (+ Makeup Point Race) afternoon. Contact Matt for the exact timing. Monday evening *may* be a makeup race (TBA). *BLEEP* Despite the track and karts being ready for a makeup points race, the event was canceled (due to not enough visiting drivers available).
• Week 5: Monday, September 4th, 2023 – Possible: Regular Points Race and/or Makeup Point Race evening, Possible Regular Points Race (*IF* enough regular drivers are available *and* Chris is home from work. Possible makeup race (*IF* enough drivers who’ve missed at least one race are available and someone records the entire race). If 3 or less, no, 4 or more, sure. Contact Matt for the exact timing.
• Week 6: Saturday, September 9th, 2023 – Possible: Regular Points Race and/or Makeup Point Race evening, Possible Regular Points Race (*IF* enough regular drivers are available). Possible makeup race (*IF* enough drivers who’ve missed at least one race are available and someone records the entire race). If 3 or less, no, 4 or more, sure. Contact Matt for the exact timing.
• Week 7: Saturday, September 16th, 2023 – Possible: Regular Points Race and/or Makeup Point Race evening, Possible Regular Points Race (*IF* enough regular drivers are available). Possible makeup race (*IF* enough drivers who’ve missed at least one race are available and someone records the entire race). If 3 or less, no, 4 or more, sure. Contact Matt for the exact timing.
  Postponed: Not enough drivers.
  
• Week 8: Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 – The weekend was canceled by dictate by Queen Melissa for Lilybeth and Sarah’s birthday party.
• Week 9: Our Klassic 200-Lapper is scheduled for Saturday, September 30th, 2023, early afternoon start. We will race no matter how many or few drivers can make it. Excessive rain that ruins the track is the only way we will not run that day unless we have guaranteed drivers another Saturday. We are almost always flexible on our race scheduling… but often to a fault. Postponed: Not enough drivers.
• Week 10: Our Annual Klassic 200-Lap Championship Race was scheduled for Saturday, October 7th, 2023. Postponed: Not enough active drivers.
• Week 11: Our Annual Klassic 200-Lap Championship Race was scheduled for Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Postponed: Not enough active drivers came early enough, so we instead raced a regular Twin-20s event on Saturday, October 14th, 2023.
  (The 21st is kept open for possibilities, but the race on the 14th saw to it that the track and some of the karts need some TLC.)
• Week 12: Our Annual Klassic 200-Lap Championship Race is NOW LOCKED IN and scheduled for Saturday, October 28th, 2023, early afternoon start. Excessive rain that ruins the track is the only way we will not run that day. (Sorry for the constant delays, as Matt’s been sick and also had parts lost in shipping, and visiting driver availability has been exceedingly difficult, but we have enough drivers locked in to finally get our 1st Klassic 200 since 2020!)