2023/10/28 – The 26th Running of the Galletta’s Greenhouse Go-Kart Klassic [+YouTube]
Saturday, October 28th, 2023, OSWEGO, N.Y. – 103 laps out of a scheduled 200 were run, shortened due to a rough track, many cautions, a BADLY miscounting of laps by Starter Wes Stevens, and most of the competitors leaving early, but we did it! We got our 1st Klassic done since 2020 (we lost 2021’s Klassic due to Matt having marital issues and a roof needing reconstruction, then we lost our 2022 Klassic due to… well… nobody showing up despite months of ready karts, good weather, and a clean track!). Here’s how it all went down!
Starting Grid (via Time Trials)
Usually, our regular season races are handicapped by inverting (1) wins and (2) points. However, with our Klassic Championship races — being both the longest race and highest point earners — Time Trials determine the starting grid. For this Klassic (and it’s an idea that we should stick to from here on out), due to the lack of regular season race attendees, we decided to “lock in” the regular season drivers with at least 1 regular season win in a 1st tier (starting by fastest timed lap), followed by a 2nd group by fastest lap time.
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- 17.24: Chris Stevens (Galletta’s Racing #4) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.48: Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Racing #3) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.68: Andrew Hook (Galletta’s Racing #0) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.33: Logan Crisafilli (Galletta’s Racing #93) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.45: Tyler Thompson (Galletta’s Racing #83c) 2023 Galletta’s Klassic
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- 17.67: Austin Carroll (Galletta’s Racing #78) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.73:Tucker Wells (Galletta’s Racing #6) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.76: Hunter Lawton (Galletta’s Racing #7) 2023 Klassic
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- 17.84: Tony DeStevens (Galletta’s Racing #2) 2023 Klassic
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- 18.50: Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s Racing #19) 2023 Klassic
Overall the times were slower than in the past (mostly due to track conditions; our track dragging equipment has been in various states of disrepair, and although the Larkin brothers — AJ and Steve — helped us most of this season, sadly neither could make this race — they, along with several other regulars who were unable to make it, were greatly missed!). But despite not having a lot of track time at Galletta’s, the visiting drivers timed quite well, which was no surprise due to all of them having a lot of experience in other forms of racing, including (as many local race fans will recognize them) from big tracks!
Under a proposed rule that Chris Stevens enacted to try and increase regular attendance and with a shorter length Klassic, prior 2023 Season Feature Winners would get a provisional locked-in starting position over drivers that did not get a win that season, which enabled Matt Stevens to start 2nd (despite having the 4th fastest time) and Andrew Hook to start 3rd (despite the 6th fastest time). Matt did not know about this and would disagree with this rule, but the fact of the matter is that we didn’t realize that we lined up wrong, and the race was going to be under the usual 200 laps, so the rule in hindsight justified it. Under normal 200-lap Klassic conditions, we’ll likely go back to the overall fastest time trial, but we’ll discuss it next time.
The Race Videos
11/2023 Update: Due to work, I regret I had been unable to keep up with the race pages promptly. But I diligently got the following 3 videos (and the above driver profile pictures) completed for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
YouTube Video #1 – All Footage from the Tower & Chris Stevens’ OswegoSushi.com GoPro (Unedited w/Titles)
This video is just all of the footage combined, with no processing (minus the pictures and driver names). It goes back and forth between Rung “Aou” Stevens’ SonyCam from the Tower and Chris Stevens’ GoPro helmet-cam. I plan to edit it better… if I have time.
YouTube Video #2 – Stationary LiveStream from Turn 3 (Unedited)
Unedited YouTube Livestream from Turn 3.
YouTube Video #3 – Stationary LiveStream from Turn 1 (Unedited)
Unedited livestream from Turn 1, courtesy of Camerawoman Rung’s YouTube Channel.
The Laps… Why not your traditional 200?
The race went through several concepts before we decided on 70 laps. But then something else odd happened.
- If we had enough drivers AND started early enough, we planned to race all 200. However, we had struggled to get enough drivers all year, and waiting for people led to either late starts and/or canceled races, not to mention the track conditions were fairly rough due to our dragging equipment down. So…
- Due to a few drivers saying they could make it later on, we had planned intended to be a two-parter. Since we missed all of 2021 and didn’t have a 2022 Klassic (due to a lack of drivers), we planned to run TWO 100-lap races, with the finish of the 1st being the start of the 2nd, plus adding on any late arrivals. Thus, the original plan was:
– The 1st 100-lapper would count as our 2021 Klassic,
– The 2nd 100-lapper would count as our 2022 Klassic, and…
– The total of both races would count as the 2023 Klassic. - However, we started a little later than we wanted… after 4 PM. We were initially hoping for anywhere between 1-3 PM.
- With a little over 50 laps in (according to Wes Stevens’ lap count), several karts broke down and drivers tapped out (due to a combination of the karts breaking down, exhaustion due to the deteriorating track conditions, and needing to get to some Halloween festivities), so only three drivers remained.
- No further drivers made it to a potential 2nd add-on race. And we asked.
- Thus, we decided to shorten it to 70 laps… because quite frankly, we were unsure if any kart could make it to 100 due to the track’s rough shape.
Final Order of Finish & Point Standings are …COMING SOON!
As soon as I can, I’ll be working on the points. I’ll tackle a little bit at a time until it’s done. Thank you for viewing and come back often!
8/1/2024 UPDATE:
Yes, that’s not a typo! 9 months later (we could’ve had a baby in that time!), I was able to finally able to write the finish of the races, and add up the final points for 2023 Season. Between work (SUNY Oswego Sushi Chefs and Galletta’s Greenhouse Planters), the holidays, a hectic 3-week Vacation to Thailand (that included some frustrating flight delays and missed connecting flights that got me sick with a mystery illness at JFK Airport), and other hobbies and family functions for Chris and his wife Rung, I was unable to tackle the points and this page before! But here we are!
Klassic ’23 Scoring Sheet
Also here (with lap and time stamps according to the video).
2023 Klassic Final Order of Finish
The race finished with 104 laps completed. This included 88 under the green flag and 17 under the caution flag. Wes Stevens operated the lap counter, which ended at lap 70. This means he didn’t count a single caution (we usually do in Klassic and when there are too many cautions — which was the case for the 1st half of the race) and missed 18 green flag laps. We need people to help with flagging and lap counting as much as we need drivers. Seriously.
- 103 LAPS: Chris Stevens (OswegoSushi.com / Galletta’s Greenhouse #4)
- 103 LAPS: Matt Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #3)
- 103 LAPS: Andrew Hook (Galletta’s Greenhouse #0)
- 83 LAPS: Hunter Lawton (Galletta’s Greenhouse #7)
- 83 LAPS: Logan Crisafulli (Galletta’s Greenhouse #93)
- 83 LAPS: Tucker Wells (Galletta’s Greenhouse #6)
- 83 LAPS: Tony DeStevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #2)
- 83 LAPS: Austin Carroll (Galletta’s Greenhouse #78)
- 83 LAPS: Tyler Thompson (Galletta’s Greenhouse #83 / #43)
- 2 LAPS : Melissa Stevens (Galletta’s Greenhouse #19)
Provisional Points (Awarded thanks to track work and an unscored practice session before the 2023 Opener) - 0 LAPS: AJ Larkin (Galletta’s Greenhouse #1)
- 0 LAPS: Steve Larkin (Galletta’s Greenhouse #5)
- 0 LAPS: AJ Nason (Galletta’s Greenhouse #01)
Notes:
- 4th through 9th was decided when 6 drivers left on lap 83 (Lap 51 according to the lap counter, which was operated by Starter Wes Stevens).
- When they left, the race was shortened to 70-laps according to the Lap Counter (again, which was only 51 at the time).
- At the end of Wesley’s 70th lap, we were actually on lap 103 when the race video was finally pieced together and all laps were tallied).
2023 Finalized Point Standings
| Pos. | Name (Karts Driven) / * = Makeups | Total Points | Average Points Per | Features | Feature Wins | Feature Win % | Won / Heat & Makeup | 17 Race Seasons | All-Time Wins | Last Race Entered | Last Week |
| 1 | CHRIS STEVENS (Galletta’s #8, 4) | 1212.5 | 110.23 | 11 | 3 | 27% | 1/1 | 28th | 92 | 2023-10-27 | 1 |
| 2 | MATT STEVENS (Galletta’s #74, 33, 3) | 1146.0 | 104.18 | 11 | 3 | 27% | 0/1 | 28th | 157 | 2023-10-27 | 2 |
| 3 | AJ Larkin (Galletta’s #9; 5) * | 697.5 | 63.41 | 11 | 1 | 9% | 0/1 | (R) | 1 | 2023-10-14 / 27 | 4 |
| 4 | Andrew Hook (Galletta’s #0, 39) | 651.0 | 130.20 | 5 | 1 | 20% | 0/1 | 2nd | 2 | 2023-10-27 | 7 |
| 5 | MELISSA STEVENS (SNFr #80, 19) | 645.0 | 58.64 | 11 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | 11th | 8 | 2023-10-27 | 6 |
| 6 | Nicolas Olivares * (Galletta’s #1, 6, 5) | 518.5 | 64.81 | 8 | 1 | 13% | 1/1 | 2nd | 5 | 2023-08-06 | 3 |
| 7 | Steve Larkin (Galletta’s #7, 5) | 465.5 | 66.50 | 7 | 0 | 0% | 0/0 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-14 / 27 | 10 |
| 8 | Tucker Wells (Galletta’s #6) | 426.5 | 142.17 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-27 | 18 |
| 9 | Jeremy Burton (Galletta’s #2, 93) ** | 402.5 | 50.31 | 8 | 0 | 0% | 0/2 | (R) | 0 | 2023-08-06 | 5 |
| 10 | Tyler Thompson (Galletta’s #78, 2, 83, 43) | 349.0 | 116.33 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-27 | 18 |
| 11 | Logan Crisafulli (Galletta’s #93) | 334.0 | 334.00 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-27 | 18 |
| 12 | Austin Carroll (Galletta’s #78) | 295.0 | 295.00 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-27 | 18 |
| 13 | AJ Nason (Galletta’s #43, 83c) | 269.0 | 89.67 | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0/0 | 1st | 0 | 2023-07-16 / 10/27 | 17 |
| 14 | David Hartpence Jr. (Galletta #2, 0) * | 238.5 | 59.63 | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1/1 | 2nd | 2 | 2023-07-30 | 8 |
| 15 | Bob Failmezger (Galletta’s #6) * | 236.5 | 59.13 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-07-23 | 9 |
| 16 | Tony DeStevens (Galletta’s #2) | 229.0 | 229.00 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-27 | 18 |
| 17 | John Mathis (Galletta’s #83c) * | 183.0 | 45.75 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-07-23 | 11 |
| 18 | Adam Lytle (Galetta’s #33c) * | 182.5 | 45.63 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 1/1 | 7th | 10 | 2023-08-06 | 12 |
| 19 | Randy Baldwin (Galletta’s #9) * | 182.0 | 45.50 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | 1st | 1 | 2023-07-23 | 13 |
| 20 | Nathan Powers (Galletta’s #6) * | 172.0 | 43.00 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-07-30 | 14 |
| 21 | Stacie Wells (Galletta’s #78) * | 159.0 | 39.75 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-08-06 | 15 |
| 22 | Matt Bubenhausen (Galletta’s #93, 7) * | 156.0 | 39.00 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0/1 | (R) | 0 | 2023-07-30 | 16 |
| 23 | Devon Tonkin (Galletta’s #93) * | 115.0 | 57.50 | 2 | 1 | 50% | 0/0 | (R) | 0 | 2023-10-14 | 18 |
After each season’s completion, it’s time to finally update the…
All-Time Points (2000-2023)!
This is tallying every Point Scored Galletta’s Karting Club event that has been raced between 2000-2023 at Galletta’s Greenhouse Backyard Kartway, and also our “Gas 1-WD Clockwise Race-Modified Yard Kart” division at Oswego Speedway’s Dirt Kartway between 2006-2008. We have seasons between 1996-1999 where we lost our points records (just old-fashioned pen on paper back then), but if we find them in a storage box somewhere, we’ll add them. We also has a few off-season “rookie races” that also were not counted (lost names).
Thank you for viewing and we hope you all come again (and especially race with us) in 2024!!!
Sincerely,
Chris Stevens
Racer, Website & Video Editor, Scorekeeper, Historian and Promoter for the Galletta’s Greenhouse Karting Club
