Site Search

Sponsors:

.

The Oswego Kartway & The Galletta's Karting Club

Posted on June 2009 by The Galletta's Karting Club's webmaster, ChrusherComix Studios.

This page documents the history of The Oswego Kartway's (formerly known as Oswego Speedway's Dirt Track) relationship with the Galletta's Karting Club of Oswego, NY. Since the Kartway banished the club in January 2009 and deleted all references of them shortly thereafter despite the club attending and supporting the track since it's inception in 2006, this page is meant to keep a record of the relationship between the track and the club and exactly what happened. Why were the two parties disgruntled at each other? Why was the club banned? Why did Oswego Kartway's operator and some of his friends publicly mock Galletta's Karting Club founding members? Why did the Galletta's Karting Club post harsh accusations against the Kartway on their website? Realizing that rumors can get out of control, and many people taking the side of the Kartway because they do not know us and only know one side of the story, the Galletta's Karting Club wishes to put out all of the facts on record for anybody to read. Instead of cluttering up too many webpages with it, it's all documented here.

The Galletta's Karting Club at Oswego Kartway Archive (2006-2008):

Between 2006-2008, the Galletta's Kart Club ran 31 events at the Kartway. For each of these races, we brought between 5-15 PAYING customers to their track weekly, many of whom would never buy a $3,000-$7,000 go-kart just to race there with, so raced in our class where karts cost around $300-$700 and have the same excitement of competitive racing. Most of these races, we were forced to run mixed against a different, more powerful motored class of OHV Outlaws. Our complete archive of events at Oswego is here, many with DVDs that contain partial program (some classes in 2007) or complete program (All classes in 2008) race DVDs are available:

 

Now it would take quite some time to look at every race from 1st to last (although they are all in the above window). So, it has been recapped for you here:

2005: Before the Oswego Kartway Existed...

.

Not always were things bad between the Galletta's Karting Club and the Oswego Kartway. Quite frankly, once upon a time, they were great, and mutually helpful to one another. In fact, in 2005, before the Oswego Kartway existed, the man who would later become the original (and rather agile and active for an injured fellow) track operator of the Kartway --visited the Galletta's Karting Club's Backyard Speedway with some friends who were racing with us. He watched our races and even joined in a couple. Go-kart racing had been taking place behind Galletta's Greenhouse since the early 1990s when brothers Matt and Chris Stevens (who live and work at Galletta's) started racing a yard kart and a recreational park kart, based after both their grandpa Galletta's idea to have a kart track and their love for Oswego Speedway racing. Over the years, the karts were adopted for racing, and with frame-building assistance from their dad Wesley, became somewhat of a hybrid between a yard kart and a racing kart. But money was the key, as the brothers wanted a form of equalized, competitive racing that we could be able to afford as a summertime hobby, unlike WKA-type karting, which is fairly expensive to enter let alone compete in, as many people use it as a stepping stone to real race car racing and spend top-dollar as a career opportunity. Competitive karts in such classes can cost up to ten times as much as what the brothers were willing to commit to a hobby. This is why the club used pump gas-fueled, 100% box stock Briggs & Stratton 5-horsepower flathead engines from the early 1990s through 2005, and essentially built and maintained our own frames instead of purchasing prefabricated racing chassis.

However, the operator's friends used the new (at the time) Overhead Valve motors. Galletta's allowed them on an experimental basis, provided that they were box stock and 5.5hp and only for drivers in excess of the 190-200 lbs. range (most club regulars were in the 150-170 lbs range and drove karts that were appropriately light or heavy to make up the difference). However, these motors proved to be extremely powerful and were easily overpowering the 5hp flatheads. As it was, the Galletta's Club rules were altered to allow shaved heads, which equalized the competition somewhat, until the OHV motors again got even faster. After the flatheads proved no match for the 6.5hp OHVs, as novice/1st year drivers were defeating veteran/10-15 year drivers on a regular basis by pure motor power. When it was discovered that the operator's friends were using 6.5hp OHV motors with the stickers removed, in addition to other internal work, the Galletta's Club decided that we should either have everyone use the same flathead 5hp motor, or split the classes in two by motor type (in essence have 5hp flatheads for drivers under 190 lbs., and OHV motors for anyone over 190 lbs.). His friends were upset and unfortunately never came back to race at Galletta's, which disappointed us greatly, but the integrity of our rules had to come first to keep competition equal and prices down, even if it meant we lost a few strong competitors.

2006 - Oswego Speedway's Dirt Track Opens

In late 2005, the Oswego Speedway Dirt Track was created. One Galletta's Club driver tested it Labor Day Weekend 2005, and we felt that if they allowed us to race in our own gas 5hp flathead 1-wheel-drive class (AKA right-turn instead of the 2-wheel-drive karts usual left-turn), it would be very fun to race at. In 2006, it opened to karting classes. The Galletta's Club members were eager to try a new track in addition to racing in back of the famed Oswego Speedway, the track that founders Chris and Matt had attended on a near weekly basis for most of their lives and based their races after. The first week was a success, we enjoyed the experience of racing on a small track with a tight clay surface (far different from our 2x's larger, looser Galletta's track) and we were thrilled to have a second change-up track to race at, so we agreed to go back. The second week, however, our friends with OHV "Outlaws" were at the track and we were forced by the track operators to race with them. We did, but there was some controversy about allegedly purposeful wrecking, not obeying race rules by not going to the back after a wreck, passing under caution and angry arguments over that and motors. After one wreck, where the #18 flathead was spun out (according to the driver of the then-leading #18 and several spectators) by an OHV kart that the track operator forced us to race against, and after the race the OHV drivers (OHV Outlaws) challenged the flathead drivers (Galletta's Karting Club) to a fight in the pits. The track operator was quoted saying that he hoped one of them would "pound the piss out of" one of our club members, and that he never forgave us for kicking his buddies out of Galletta's the prior year, which was not true (they stopped coming when we decided to split motors into classes). The track also allowed 'Open' methanol karts to run in our class and even wreck some of our 'Gas Stock / Super Yard Kart' drivers without penalty, which further disgruntled many of our club members. We figured if that is how they allowed people to run on their track, we wouldn't come back even if we did enjoy the different experience of racing there. And many of our club members never did go back.

.

2007 - Growth & Expansion

In 2007, track operator Jim Losurdo invited us back, provided we adopted slicks on our drivewheel tires. Initially we resisted after (1) what happened last year with forcing us to run against bigger motors, (2) the allowance of unpenalized and seemingly purposeful wrecks, and (3) the fact that our inexpensive club would have to change tires twice a week from treads on our backyard speedway to slicks on the pay track, but decided to give it a chance. We began videotaping the races at Oswego Kartway in '07, like we have done at Galletta's for every "Klassic" since 1998 and every weekly Galletta's race since 2005.

2007 Season YouTube Video Playlist Volume #1:

Jim was also gracious enough to give Matt tips on how to improve Galletta's racing surface, and let Matt borrow a grate to drag and smooth the track. Our track's large size and without anywhere close to enough funds to buy clay, so we make do and enjoy Oswego's tight clay surface, which is different from our loose one, and gives a drastically different two-a-week race season. However, we again had concerns about OHV Outlaws having too much horsepower for our standard club motors. It was proven for much of the year, with one OHV kart not only having more power than anybody else, but also wrecking and arguing with some of our club members. In fact, one wrecked all of our members in one race alone. Some of our club members refused to even go to the track anymore. But others persisted and raced weekly, as they felt a good balance between the top speed of the Galletta's 5hp flatheads and the low-end power of the 6.5hp OHVs was at a somewhat workable middle ground.

2007 Season YouTube Video Playlist Volume #2:

The season culminated with the three original members of the Galletta's Karting Club - Chris, Wes, and Matt Stevens - taking the top-three trophy positions in the first ever Oswego Speedway Dirt Track Classic (Gas Stock Division). All race recaps can be seen and DVDs can be purchased via our archives located at the left side of this page.

 

2008 - Renamed Oswego Kartway

In the 2008 offseason, Galletta's agreed to do weekly DVDs of all of the races for $5 each per disc in '08, something that many Kartway racers and family members were very happy about. In addition, we agreed to do the logo and banners for the Kartway's new website, and promotional materials (trophies, signs, pamphlets and programs). I agreed to do them for a cheap price  ($10-25 each for banners, $50 for a logo to use everywhere) in comparison to most graphic artists, as it's mixing my profession with my low-cost hobby, racing go-karts affordably. However, the fee for the logo and banners went unpaid during the hectic season.

2008 Season YouTube Video Playlist Volume #1:

Galletta's also attended the 2008 winter driver meeting. There, we agreed to use the same rules that we used in 2007, which was gas Briggs 6.5hp OHV motors (box stock except carb cast imperfection cleaning) for the "Outlaw" team and gas Briggs 5hp Flatheads (stock parts and shaved heads) for Team Galletta's, as in 2007, we felt that they were at least close, even if the 6.5hps had a shade more power. However, when week one lined up at the newly renamed Oswego Kartway, it was apparent that the OHV Outlaws stepped up their game and had far more horsepower than previous seasons. Many began to speculate immediately that they were using Animal motors, which would be in violation of our simple, yet effective rules (of allowing them to use store-bought, stock Briggs Intek 6.5hp OHV motors with a sputter-corrected carb as a weight handicap against our 5.0hp Briggs flatheads with heads shaved). A few weeks into the season, one race in particular, they were blowing Galletta karts away, and smelled like they were burning fuel additives, something that was also not allowed in Galletta's rules. After this, we contemplated never coming back. Then, the track operator walked into our kart garage at Galletta's Greenhouse and let us know face to face of skullduggery - that the Outlaws indeed were using stock Animal take-out parts (that he personally sold them, as he and his Champ Kart Methanol Animal class removed and did not need) and fuel boosters. He also told us to speed up our own karts and screw our racing partners (at Galletta's, whatever we do to upgrade our karts, we also do for all of our fellow racers, as we believe in equal competition and fair sportsmanship, we do not cheat and abhor cheaters). In order to counteract this, Galletta's implemented something that they had never done before. Legalize the use of some racing cams for all drivers. Previously, only the heaviest Galletta's Club drivers were allowed them, and we had to radically change our rules to adapt to the Outlaws for the 3rd time in the last three years. This did temporarily equalize the races again, but the disagreements continued. The two divisions of the 1-WD Gas Stockers decided to mutually part ways and split the division by motor, and the track operator reluctantly agreed. In fact, a few weeks when Galletta's came forth to the Outlaws and we agreed to run both classes on the same track (in order to have one 9-12 kart race instead of two 4-6 kart races) but score them as two different divisions, a few Outlaws were so angry with us over the motor split that they refused to even do that.

2008 Season YouTube Video Playlist Volume #2:

Disrespect from track officials and other divisions

One of the biggest insults to our club came by the other divisions unwillingness to accept us as a racing division. Because (1) we drive the other way -- turn right instead of left --, and (2) our karts and engines cost 1/10th of theirs but yet we put on a show equal or better to the other classes (which we later on saw as cookie-cutter karts and kiddie classes in response to hearing the derision).

Then, there's this... the Oswego Speedway's Weekly Eagle Magazine:

Every divison winner's picture was posted. Except ours. And the track promoter made sure he made his pic in there. And his engine builder. And his engine builder's son. Well, at least Kyle got in there, a graduate of our division.

But here was our divison winner pic that week -- which THEY HAD and STILL got left out:

And it was easy! Why? Because our guy -- Matt Stevens, the founder of Galletta's Greenhouse Karting -- SWEPT TWO DIVISIONS THAT ONE NIGHT? The 1-WD Gas Flatheads and 1-WD Gas OHVs. Two birds with one stone to use this pic! And there was a HUGE, UGLY white box with HUGE letters in it's place! More than enough room for another pic and STILL post next week's race's date in big font with room to spare!

The track promoter at the time called it an honest mistake to forgot to add our victory photos. When it happened again, he forgot again, just a coincidence. But it happened all year. You know, guys, you can be honest. You just didn't like our "yard karts" putting on an equal-to-better show and you thought we downgraded the class" of the track. Just admit it. It's ok.

Or maybe it's because our guy SWEPT TWO DIVISIONS THAT WEEK? Maybe? Maybe... just maybe you had a problem that a lil' yard kart dude showed you up? Naw... can't be that. Otherwise, you'd put the winners to ALL OF THE CLASSES... right? Yeah, whatever. Thanks for the support.

The Final Straw: The Oswego Kartway Classic Screw Job

The 2008 Classic was the final straw in the storied history of Galletta's Club racing at Oswego Kartway from both sides (Most of the Galletta's drivers and the track operator's). During the 2008 Classic, points and wins leader Matt Stevens was leading the race by a straight-a-way on the last lap. One corner man held out the yellow flag, and Matt believed that the caution came out and slowed. But the track operator threw the checker, and when Matt's father Wes passed Matt at the finish line, the race was awarded to then-2nd place Wesley. This confused everybody, and quite frankly we didn't fully understand it until after the race was well over and we reviewed the tape over and over. Matt was particularly hurt and felt  betrayed by the track operator, who called the race under a caution and rewarded the to someone who did not lead one single lap under green. But regardless, the founders of the Galletta's Karting Club still swept the top three positions for the 2nd straight year, but in a different order (Matt/Wes, and Chris). Again, all race recaps can be seen and DVDs can be purchased via our archives located at the left side of this page. We never have anything to hide, our huge website covering every season from 1996 and every race from 2005, our ever-growing supply of edited YouTube videos and unedited race DVDs are all an open book, and we do not censor or threaten people that we disagree with. After this, although 75-80% of the kart/driver combos were all within 5 lbs. of each other in terms of weight, the Galletta's drivers, based both on the operator's request in addition to help our three heaviest drivers at the time, enacted definite weight/cam guidelines, and all agreed that we probably would only go to a handful of shows at Oswego Kartway the following season due to the annually increasing costs of racing there and the above noted poor experiences with the track operator being unfair, biased against us, disrespectful to our rules, and even sometimes downright hateful and threatening to us despite the fact that we - without special treatment or pay - brought the biggest class of paying customers to his track throughout 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Aww, you guys just don't like them because you can't race there like us real racers!

Been there.

Done that.

The Galletta's Karting Club raced in the first three seasons of the Oswego Speedway Dirt Track (which later became Oswego Kartway). In all three seasons, club founder Matt Stevens won all three track championships in the mixed-motor 1-WD division. And Matt, his brother Chris and father Wes SWEPT 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the first two Classics at Oswego Kartway - with the 2007 one still being the largest (15 karts), most diverse (Flatheads and OHVs, all weights and ages) and longest (50 laps) Classic to date on the track.

We had nothing else to prove before our division was removed from competition.

There was a 3 year open challenge during our stay there to any driver on the track in any division to step into any of our karts and beat us in them. We had no takers. Well.. we had one, who didn't do bad, but didn't beat us either. The challenge has still been out there since 2006 to today - come on out and race us at Galletta's. What it tells us is... they know their place.

.

.

The All-Time Oswego Kartway Points:

.

Between 2006-2008, the Galletta's Kart Club ran 31 events at the Kartway, many mixed with a different class of OHV Outlaws. Of 40 drivers who raced in the 'Gas Stocker / Racing Yard Kart' division, nearly 30 were from Galletta's Karting Club and raced our standard 5hp flathead motors. During this period, the class was the only one to have 10-16 kart weekly races (of paying customers I might add!) and count points and wins. We were one of the original support classes for the track in 2006-07, as when we were having 10-16 kart races, a few methanol classes were a meager 1-5 karts each. Of course they grew, but never thanked us, and disposed of us as soon as enough support classes came in and we were deemed unnecessary or even a burden by the track operator (see below). Here are the point and win totals for the club at the track during that three year period.:

 Oswego Kartway All-Time 1-WD Gas Stocker Kart Points Standings  
After every "Gas Stocker" event held at Oswego Kartway from 6/23/2006 -thru- 9/4/2008. This class is the only non-open division at Oswego Kartway with two different motors, as forced by the biased track operator. Red Text = 6.5 horsepower motor; Black Text = 5.0 horsepower motor. Most of the below list is mixed-motors, however, there was a split into two motor divisions during the 2008 season. After this point, only 5hp Gas Stocker events were counted in this points series, as it is the Galletta's-Legal motor from 1996-2009.

Rank	Name (Motor type & Go-Karts Piloted) 6.5hp OHV gas motors were handicap motors for heavier drivers, and were allowed until midway through the 2008 season, when the two sides could not agree on rules and agreed to split into 2 classes; 5.0hp & 6.5hp.	Total Points (Place)	Average Points Per Event	Events	Feature Wins	"Classic" Wins	Win %
1	Matt Stevens (Team Galletta's #33, 3) 5.0 horsepower motor	2,951.5	95.21	31	12*	1*	39%
2	Chris "Chrusher" Stevens (Team Galletta's #8, 4, 5, 7, 1) 5.0 horsepower motor	2,385.0	88.33	27	4	1	15%
3	Wesley "Ogre" Stevens (Team Galletta's #4) 5.0 horsepower motor	1,926.5	87.57	22	3*	1*	14%
4	Eric Raponi (Team Outlaw / Raponi #83, Galletta's 5hp FH #9) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	1,913.5	79.73	24	3	0	13%
5	Joe Hayden (Team Outlaw / Hayden #5) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	1,443.5	84.91	17	4	0	24%
6	Dick Dann (Team Dann #86, Galletta's #0) 5.0 horsepower motor	1,167.0	72.94	16	1~	0	6%
7	Russ Hockey (Team Hockey #00) 5.0 horsepower motor	1,119.0	79.93	14	0	0	0%
8	Gary Miller Sr. (Team G-Miller #24, Galletta's #9) 5.0 horsepower motor	763.0	69.36	11	0	0	0%
9	Oscar "Breaker" Berry (6.5hp OHV #71, 5hp FH Oz #11) 5.0 horsepower motor	742.0	74.20	10	0	0	0%
10	Mike Billion (Team Outlaw / Billion #57) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	653.0	72.56	9	1	0	11%
11	Mark Miller (Team Outlaw / M-Miller #00) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	652.0	72.44	9	1	0	11%
12	Buddy Cottom (Team Galletta's #7, 1) 5.0 horsepower motor	646.0	92.29	7	0	0	0%
13	Mike "MC" Howell (Team Galletta's #6, 9, 5) 5.0 horsepower motor	602.5	100.42	6	0	0	0%
14	Kyle Reuter (Team Galletta's #0, #5) 5.0 horsepower motor	533.0	88.83	6	0	0	0%
15	Dave Melfi (Team Outlaw / Melfi #22) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	527.0	75.29	7	2	0	29%
16	Brian Bortel (Team Galletta's/Bortel #15) 5.0 horsepower motor	460	65.7	7	1	0	14%
17	Nick Dann (Team Dann #68) 5.0 horsepower motor	452.0	64.57	7	1	0	14%
18	Melissa Gabel (Team Galletta's #3, 80, 33) 5.0 horsepower motor	442.5	88.50	5	0	0	0%
19	Rob Jimenez (Team Galletta's #5) 5.0 horsepower motor	420	60.0	7	0	0	0%
20	Josh Schute (Team Galletta's #7, 05) 5.0 horsepower motor	420	60.0	7	0	0	0%
21	Ed Maynes (Team Maynes #43 ) 5.0 horsepower motor	340	66.7	5	1	0	20%
22	Larry Phillips (Team Phillips #04) 5.0 horsepower motor	335.0	83.75	4	0	0	0%
23	Lee Bartlett (Team Bartlett #924) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	320.0	80.00	4	0	0	0%
24	Shadoe Russell (Team Galletta's #2, 7) 5.0 horsepower motor	316.0	79.00	4	0	0	0%
25	Howard Seabrook (Team Seabrook #28) 5.0 horsepower motor	300	60.0	5	0	0	0%
26	Derek Woodworth (Team Woodland #29) 5.0 horsepower motor	300	60.0	5	0	0	0%
27	Kenny Lindsley III (Team Galletta's #2, 1) 5.0 horsepower motor	285.0	95.00	3	0	0	0%
28	Missy Berry (5hp FH Galletta's #0, #7, Outlaw OHV 6.5hp #64)	237.0	79.00	3	0	0	0%
29	Chris Stockham (Team Galletta's #9) 5.0 horsepower motor	234.0	78.00	3	0	0	0%
30	Rick Maynes Team Maynes #9 5.0 horsepower motor	180	60.0	3	0	0	0%
31	Jason Mills Team Maynes/Mills #38 5.0 horsepower motor	180	60.0	3	0	0	0%
32	Shane Miller   (Team Outlaw / Miller #32) 6.5 horsepower Motor	180	60.0	3	0	0	0%
33	Mike Phinney (Team Galletta's #6) 5.0 horsepower motor	169.0	84.50	2	0	0	0%
34	Kaleb Anderson (Team Galletta's #1) 5.0 horsepower motor	169.0	84.50	2	0	0	0%
35	Ryan Coleman (Team Galletta's #0) 5.0 horsepower motor	126.0	126.00	1	0	0	0%
36	Team Parkhurst A [Parkhurst] (???) Unknown motor	97.0	97.00	1	0	0	0%
37	Peggy "Team Melfi" (Team Outlaw / Melfi #66) 6.5 horsepower OHV motor	84.0	84.00	1	0	0	0%
38	Team Parkhurst B [Parkhurst?] (???) Unknown Motor	83.0	83.00	1	0	0	0%
39	Ken Lindsley Jr. (Team Galletta's #6) 5.0 horsepower motor	75.0	75.00	1	0	0	0%
40	Joe Miller (Team Galletta's #9) 5.0 horsepower motor	65.0	65.00	1	0	0	0%

KEY:
* = Tied for Feature Win (Counted as 1 for each with asterisk).
~ = Includes 2008 Oswego Classic Fastest Time Trial win (with an illegal carburetor allowed by track officials).
Red Text = Raced Gas Briggs & Stratton 6.5 horsepower Overhead Valve motor.
Black Text = Raced Gas Briggs & Stratton 5.0 horsepower Flathead motor.

2009 Offseason - Galletta's Club is barred:

.

After a January 2009 offseason meeting that we could not attend (Matt and Melissa were bowling in Melissa's bowling league in her hometown of Wolcott, I was celebrating my wedding anniversary with my wife, under the weather and had no transportation, and everyone else we asked to represent us didn't feel the need to go because we would just race under our Galletta's Club rules like we did late in 2008), but posted our rules beforehand, track operator posted the following on our message board:

"Sorry guys, There will be no more yard kart racing at oswego kartway.We will have a affordable class for those interested.Anyone interested in this class or has any questions you may contact me at 592 1995 or losurdoracing@yahoo.com"
-Track Operator Jim Losurdo

Somewhat stunned, we asked Jim for answers as to why were were banned. He never really gave any. He claimed it was because we weren't at the meeting, but we posted before the meeting was held that we could not attend and our rules are always posted here. We brought up the points that we brought 5-15 paying customers to their track every week (most classes didn't not have this, at least when we were there), never had a fight with anybody at the track (other classes did), we provided full race videos to all at the track (nobody else did), make logos for (which they never paid for). Jim responded with angry, belligerent comments such as these:

"...it is the last time I will be dealing with you bunch of spoiled lil mamas boys.........."
-Track Operator Jim Losurdo

"But,Chris you are right about 1 thing,I think you are a sniffling little mommies boy,with a really lot to say on the computer.Better be careful that might get you in trouble someday."
-Track Operator Jim Losurdo

Needless to say, the thread continued with more insults from people at the track, such as being called, "the biggest cry babies ive seen",by one racing family, followed by "have fun racing your t.c. supply karts at that hay field, no lights, UN safe track," and "you for sure proved that you will not be back to oswego,or invited to hastings. your family/ group are a bunch of nut jobs - wood chucks."

OK, firstly, none of us had ever heard the term woodchuck before. In fact, when asking, nobody ever did. Later on, we found an online description on UrbanDictionary:

Woodchuck
Upstate NY slang for a person of limited means; often on public assistance. The woodchuck is usually very crass and does not adhere to social norms. did you see those woodchucks ? Two or four legged ? #welfare #low life #poor #rude #scum

So, NOW it makes sense. It's a word for an Upstate NY Welfare case with social problems. Apparently, it's a term they threw around alot in the Scriba/Mexico NY area were they all live and it appears to be rampant, but we had never heard of it until we read that years later. But there's a problem... none of us were on public assistance. We all lived on our own property (and while at the time we saved for but now we) own our own homes on it, and have a small business. Sure, none of us are rich, but not poor, either. In fact, a few years after this, Chris and his wife started a successful small business of their own, had kids, built their own home, and often travel across the world to visit her family in Thailand... while the people who write this shit against us just spend their lives and cash on watching races and/or racing go-karts around Upstate NY, and occasionally save up to go see a NASCAR event. We assume that simply because we did not want to race in the pricer karting classes that they assumed that we are welfares. Nice. Classy, too. And not adhering to social norms? Like the pits of the Oswego Kartway is filled with people who adhere to social norms? Like their responses to us are normal? For God sakes they start swinging for a hell of a lot less than we took, and we've seen it! In fact, this whole thing blew up because we didn't stick up for ourselves and took it when they screwed us for 3+ years. I swear... the people who write this shit have low-IQs and even less class. But that was a bit of a rabbit trail, het's get back to the point.

Later in that same thread, we were accused of being a business pocketing money illegally (everyone who knows us knows that all donations go into the karts and track, never one cent is made, and allowing people to use either our own or their own motorized vehicles on their property for free or nominal fees is legally free to do so), and cheating (we abhor cheaters and all of our karts were 100% the same and equalized from 1996-2007, and only the Kartway changed our internal motor rules in 2008). We also instituted progressive weight/cam classes within the same Galletta's class in the 2008/2009 offseason. The same person said Dick was angry at us at Galletta's, and at the time (mid-2008), yes he was angry because Jim forced Matt to upgrade our stock cams to race cams to compete against OHVs, something I did not agree with and the heavier drivers such as Dick, Nick, and Larry strongly disapproved of, as they were previously the only drivers allowed race cams to make up for weight differences. Jim didn't care about them though, and told Matt not to care about them either, as during the 2008 season said to Matt, "just speed up your own kart and screw the other drivers. They don't care about you! Just make your own kart go as fast as you can make it to go beat those (OHV Outlaw) guys, and tell your brother to spend less time typing away on his website and more time helping you work on the karts!" (Oddly enough, in hindsight, although a selfish, rude, and dishonest thing to tell Matt to do, Jim was right about them not caring about us, because a few of the drivers that Matt helped without pay for years defected, turned their backs on us, never raced with us anymore, and raced exclusively at Oswego Kartway). Also, "Watch your back," warned their webmaster to one of our members who was rightfully angry about us being called whiners, nutjobs, and crybabies, and this is the same person that still never paid for the logos - and quickly swapped them for a new one as soon as my wife asked why I had not yet been paid.

Yet, the people who called us whiners, cheats, crybabies, altered the name of our half-century strong family business to include the word "gay" in it, and implied that we were poor or mamma's boys or whatever other insults they threw at us, would probably start swinging if they or their children were the ones forced to race against bigger motors then mocked and threatened when they protested. I would bet cash on that. But the track was number one, so we were dispensable. So, regardless, you get the general idea. This wasn't just about phasing out "yard karts." Jim knew we weren't yard karts (as he helped devise the name "Gas Stockers" that we used in 2008) and used that yard kart term disrespectfully towards our class and all the drivers in it. Both the Galletta's Club (1-WD 5hp gas flatheads) and the Outlaws (1-WD 6.5hp gas OHVs) were determined to be eliminated from the Oswego Kartway's weekly schedule by the track operator. Both classes were immediately phased out in favor of the 2-WD Box Stock Clone motors (called pro stocks on their track as apparently a backhanded remark to us). The clones feature the same expensive prefabricated race chassis as other WKA/NKA-esque classes at Oswego, but use gas clone motors (that are, after their standard enhancements, around the same price as - if not a little more than - our gas flatheads). There have been disputes about just how "box stock" and "clone" these motors are (as they have instituted race cams for example, and some drivers left the division claiming that they signed up to be box stock and then had new race parts forced upon them - hmm... sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?), but that is no longer our concern, as our tried-and-true affordable deviation (founded in the 1990s when their track was still nothing more than a parking lot for Oswego Speedway Classic 200 back grandstand spectators) are barred. In the year following our banishment, our 10-15 kart classes of affordable homemade karts were effectively ostracized on their forums in addition to being barred. Here is the club's official, and somewhat angry postings after the announcement was made:

UNPAID DUES: Oswego Speedway's Dirt Track - Oswego Kartway track operator, Jim Losurdo,  banned our 1-WD  Gas Stocker class from competition at the Oswego Kartway, did not pay for logos used for one year, and people from the Oswego Kartway childishly mocked us and physically threatened our lives on a public forum. In discriminating  against our established and affordable class--which had fully supported the track bringing 6-15 karts (with paying customers) per week ever since it's inception ( 2006-08), gave free promotion to, produced high quality weekly DVDs of their events for, created professional uncompensated and over a year later, STILL unpaid logos and banners for, never fought at, never had one severe crash or injury at, and raced at despite the track operator's irrational refusal to acknowledge - and even irrational rebellion against - our simple points & rule set--was never answered in either a logical, fair, calm, nor rational manner by one person, including the track operator. Did I mention how that in addition to barring us, during our three years there, they intentionally allowed some people in our class to cheat and have larger horsepower motors and race-enhancements. He also called us many angry & childish names and did not act like a professional track operator, nor respectful person should. The Galletta's Kart club will race on our own track and all local tracks that allow us our simple rule set and points system formula upon invite only. You can read about and discuss the situation in this large message board thread here, and see results to our final race there here. All comments, debate points, and opinions on all sides are welcome, and will not be deleted. We believe in freedom of speech & debate, and not deleting anything that isn't 100% positive. Think I'm overreacting? Look at how their track officials treat people who disagree with them - with cowardly anonymous IDs that do personal attacks, mockery and threats of bashing skulls in with a sharpened shovel even after we were already long gone for nearly a year! However, considering their annual price increases, the Galletta's Kart Club (a class averaging between 6-15 weekly competitors) has - making it one of the largest single karting classes in the area - estimated that we will collectively save $2,000-$3,000 in entrance fees by racing on our own track exclusively for the majority of our points series instead of two tracks like we have been doing the past three years (What they do with all that money is a mystery to me, especially since they still didn't pay for their logo yet)! This news means more enhancements to our own karts and own track with professional AND fun racing, and less problems with dishonest people ruining their parent track's name... with their weak simulation of a professional track - no points, no DVDs, no names, booting people, not paying people for work - just the big track's name and money in it. Keep screwing people, keep mocking people, keep fighting, and keep thinking your races are important only because of your location. If a $5,000 kart can only go 27-30MPH, it is nothing more than a glorified Kiddie Kartway in the shadow of a famous track, which is the reason why anybody even goes there. Keep your huge entrance fees and your transponders and and we'll keep our money and still have a bigger class field and more fun, thanks. In case you're wondering, this stays on our main page until I are paid up, and your threats are being closely monitored by the authorities. Thanks.

1/2009 BANISHMENT FROM OSWEGO KARTWAY:
The above point tallies are likely the finalized ones, as the Oswego Kartway - led by track operator Jim Losurdo - banned our 1-WD Modified Gas Stock Flatheads (Formerly Super-Yard Kart) class from competition. This is utterly incomprehensible considering that our karting club has (1) brought 5-15 karts with paying customers nearly every single week between 2006-2008, (2) gave free promotion via this website, our business and word of mouth, (3) produced weekly DVDs of nearly all of the races between 2007-2008, (4) provided uncompensated logos and banners for their website, trophies, and printed materials, (5) respectfully obeyed and broke no track rules, (6) had no fights, (7) had no injuries or even remotely shaken-up drivers, (8) had less accidents than any other class on nearly every week, (9) had, on average, some of the biggest (10-15 karts) and most competitive fields (handicapped starts and multiple passes every race) in the Kartway's history. No other kart team or person can take claim to all of the above except the Galletta's Karting Club, as their "70 karts" is 1-5 karts per class in several classes (maybe 8-10 maximum in one or two classes on rare nights, usually just for money or trophy races - meaning Galletta's still has the largest (8-15 weekly) and longest-running (since the early 1990s) dirt karting class in Central NY and probably points far beyond), and often watered-down competition, arrogant attitudes, no real champion decided, and fights galore. The reasons given have been weak, laughable, biased, refuted, and identified as personal hatred and even delusional paranoia. Furthering their bias towards us, members of the Oswego Kartway taunted, mocked and even threatened us publicly, in message board forums and on YouTube for approximately a year afterwards. In addition to never receiving an apology from anybody at the Kartway, they also removed all links and notes to us on their website. Tim Kelly - Kartway's webmaster and spokesperson - may want to erase all records of us being there and ignore our contributions to the track, including artwork, DVDs of complete races in 2007-2008, photos and graphics of mine that they never paid for, but people remember. And good family tracks with class and integrity do not treat people the way they treated us, as other than a disagreement about rules in our class with Jim Losurdo (we have rules, Jim wanted to force us to do rules more like WKA, which would effectively defeat the purpose of our club to have affordable karts ($300-$700 range instead of $3,000-$7,000 range) and allowances for heavier drivers to have more horsepower via race cams and approved extras (instead of dividing classes via a strict weight requirement), we never once did anything disrespectful towards the track and only defended ourselves after we were banned, mocked and ostracized. With the costs rising, more classes being created every year, races remaining short and fielding a competitive kart being expensive, we probably were only going to race a handful of times during the season anyway, but our class's banishment and malicious public mockery assured that it would be none since 2008. If you're buddies with the guys up top, though, you'll do fine. Just don't get on their bad side and be prepared to pay a lot of money. All we ever wanted was a public apology and payment for some graphics that the track and website used for a season, but we got neither, which is why we put up a video that exposes how some (but not all) fairly prominent people at the track act and it's not all family goodness and honest, good-natured competition like they proclaim.

.

.

Greenhouse or Go-Karts?

Shortly after Galletta's was barred from Oswego, we were approached by a student reporter from Syracuse University. We probably would have brought them with us to get footage at Oswego and Galletta's, but since we were freshly barred, the reporter decided to cover us alone instead: 

Attack of the Kartway:

.

The above two videos apparently roused much anger from some folks at the Kartway during the summer of 2009. We really didn't understand it, because here we were, a small group of karters who race affordable homemade karts in our backyard in back of our small family business and no longer raced there so they could have more track time for more expensive classes. Sure, we defended our names and we were upset at our banishment and the track's unwillingness to pay for logos used. Still, we shouldn't be that offensive to them. Yet, the Kartway was treating us like competition and being cutthroat against us with comments such as these.:

"i lost all respect for you chris you fu%cking clown you post that video on the internet you my friend are a f&ckin loser and a low life get a real job and stop drawing comics at 30 something years old and your karting buisness with one phone call can and will be shut down and if you doubt me for one second you F&ckig loser you and your karting will be no more...... and what so called racing u have is nothing to compare to the kartway or any other track the only national attention you have is on youtube you guys struggle to get no more than 10-11 guys its becasue u guys are wine @sses nobody cares for you and redneck s%it. the day someobody gets serously hurt is the day your karting will be no more...... go ahead track my fuking i.p. address you f&^ckin nerd you can laugh and say oh this dont hurt me but really chris it p!$$es you off inside... hurts your feelings you annoying lil w!ne @$$ NOBODY LIKES ANY OF YOU A$$HOLES tips of growing up 1.get out of mamas house 2. get a real job 3. stop drawing comics your not getting anywhere d.c. comics dont want your @$$ your hopeless " 
-Anonymous Disgruntled Kartway Supporter

Obviously, that was pretty nasty. But it went along with people from there calling us "Gaylettas" and equating our races with lawnmower races (which would backhandedly insult some lawn mower racers in addition to us) on their since deleted message board (although the comments were not deleted for weeks). Whoever the person was, our website and videos offended them so much that they began to personally attack me as a struggling freelance commercial artist, likely a dig exposing why they never paid me, disrespect bordering on hatred. Nice, huh? It continued:

 "awhhh did i hurt chris's feelings where he would have to ban me. ok so i skimmed threw all of these post i idnt have the time to read them all so ill just fire back right now hhahaha obsever his comics didnt get hime a house he hasnt gotten anywhere and he never will f&^kin nerd that he is. the main reason you guys are not wanted anywhere haha because you guys cry about everything so muc maybe if you guys would of sucked it up and race with what was given to you them you would probably still race. f^%kin clown ahahah you say im washed up lmao haha ok buddy im out working looking to buy my first house while lil christopher is still living with momma lol im the loser no buddy reality check you and your "clique" at the famed gallettas speedway are the losers half of you guys dont have teeth some of you guys cant keep a job or your kids hahah free ride in life oh please again i got bills im paying a kid lovely fiance and house im buying free ride you f&cking loser . lmao oh and you did you say something about my family HEY F%CK HEAD YOU DONT KNOW $H!T ABOUT ME F&CKING KEEP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH ILL FIND YOU ALONG WITH MY POINTED SHOVEL ALONG YOUR HEAD COME ON PISS ME OFF ILL SHOW UP ON SUNDAYS AND STRAIGHTEN ALL YOUR TEETH OUT FOR YOU GUYS YOU GUYS ARE NEVER HAVE BEENS NEVER WILL BES YOU WONT BE MISSED WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LAY 6 FEET UNDER NOBODY CARES ABOUT ANY OF YOU YOUR ALL LIL HOBBITS... YOU ALL CRAWL OUT OF YOUR HOLES FOR ONE DAY A WEEK TO RACE F*&KING CLOWNS kool1- what are you ten "fartway"? stfu hang yourself kok - you say that ohh you are mad cuase we can beat you at your own game HA you f**king guys cant race twenty laps without someobody storming off crying hahah YOU JUST MADE ME LAUGH TILL A TEAR CAME TO MY EYE we have 70 karts a week your lucky to get 10-11 a race and you dont think i can have you shut down?????!!?! aaha we will see what gallettas go karts future has in store"
-Anonymous Disgruntled Kartway Supporter

It should be noted that we are one class that gets 10-15 guys, which either matches or even outnumbers the Kartway's (their classes are anywhere from 5-10 karts, but they simply count all of their classes together, which is not a comparison!). Apparently our homemade karts putting on an equal or better show for a fraction of the cost, nearly matching their speeds and and getting as much recognition as their so-called professional karts really irked them to the point of mocking our livelihoods and threatening violence. And "living with momma" is quite humorous, as Chris and his wife are small business owners saving money to build their own house on family property (and have since had two kids and travel the world when visiting her family). Meanwhile, the shovel stalker -- who probably never left Upstate NY in his life -- hid behind a made-up internet address and never once gave his real name, showing his absolute cowardice, and, by default, exposed the fact that he is probably an unmarried punk loser on welfare with no kids, caring for a cucked kid, having the state pay for his kid, and/or a child rapist. The onus to prove otherwise is on him.

Mind you that we never did get an apology from these people, they never bothered showing up with their pointed shovels, and the authorities were made aware of the threats and were monitoring the situation. In fact, charges could have been brought up on some people who the police believed were to be involved if I forced the issue, but when the threats and postings stopped, the authorities decided to just lay off any charges unless more threats occurred. So, lucky for the shoveler--on so many levels--that they never did stop by to back up the threat. So not only was this person exceedingly insulting to us, and particularly so to me, they were also a gutless coward who never admitted to the posting, and neither apologized nor offered to say it to my face and risk their cowardly butts by putting their money where their mouth was. You are an embarrassment to humanity, sir or ma'am.

We aren't in Competition, but...

It struck us as odd that some people believe that we are a competing track and lashed out against us simply because we don't race at Kartway anymore. Huh? We're just one karting division. We existed FIFTEEN YEARS before the Oswego Kartway did! And we are a private backyard karting club, not a pay track. If anything, they took drivers from us, not vice versa. We used to race there, but were barred to make room for others. Our facility isn't a pay track. We're just a free, donation-run backyard karting track, and we have never tried charging money to people. We ask for donations to pay for gas and parts, and that's it. Free to watch, free to enter a race. If we did this for money, or for fame, we would have stopped in the early 1990s back when it was just 2-3 karts total. Yet, many aspiring and hobbyist drivers fill the Kartway every week, and pay high prices to do so. Although their classes are smaller than ours on average (1-6, although some average 7-10), they do get 60-70 drivers combined, while we get 8-12. Before Kartway existed, we averaged 10-18, so they did effect our numbers. And, 7-8 drivers who race there semi or full time got their start with us and no longer race here, which is hurtful. We don't care if someone races on other tracks, but why not support your friends who got you into the local karting sport too? We'd like 10-20 on track, and our track is large enough to support so many karts on track, but it never happens, despite being no charge and having arrive-and-drive karts. We are not in competition with the Kartway, but we are wondering why despite Oswego being a racing town, we don't get more people a week racing? Especially when you compare us.

Comparison between Oswego's Pay Karting track and Galletta's free Backyard Karting Track.

.

In addition, while there are a few gas classes, methanol is the preferred fuel of choice for most pay track racing classes. While many lament the price of gas, and claim that it is more per gallon than methanol, gas burns *MUCH* slower. Can a methanol kart go 200 laps with a standard, stock small engine tank on a large track without refueling? One tank of methanol goes how many laps on a short track? Do the math. Wise-up and stop using redneck logic in an attempt to put us down.

.

Final Notes

Well, there you have the story of Galletta's & Oswego Speedway's small dirt track, the Kartway. We used to enjoy racing there, but our banishment and ostracism against us put an end to that.  None of us hold any grudges against people who race there (other than maybe a handful of people who mocked and threatened us on our own webforum in addition to their since-deleted message board), and we have good friends who race there and still sometimes race with us in our club, particularly track helpers and current and former racers from our club. We also recognize the good young drivers and excellent karting equipment that is displayed there every week. We never had a problem with any of them and wished them well, even admired them. 

But this isn't about the people who go there every week looking for a good place to race. Not at all. This is about the Oswego Speedway Kartway management still never paid for logos (something that often happens, and often so because artists are upfront and idealistic, while clients disrespect the fact that art is work and time that the artists employ to get the product done needs pay), nor did they ever apologize publicly or privately for their childish banishment and hateful mockery that they posted, tolerated and seemingly encouraged. We still race weekly all summer and into fall at our own track at Galletta's Greenhouse in the Town of Oswego just outside of Minetto, just as we always have since the early 1990s and always will until we get bored of it. Racing is not a career for us, it is an affordable hobby. But most of us have other hobbies and aren't into the 'spend every cent of extra cash you have on a go-kart for a 5-minute race.' We didn't need to go there, we did to both support the track and have a secondary track to run on. It was difficult for us to load 3-10 karts and truck them down every week, and all we got back was cause us to be publicly humiliated by people who apparently thought our homemade karts racing was an insult to them and their $2,000-$6,000 karts.

Judge as you may, but at least you have the whole story, and not gossip. I have taken a lot of flack for being a documentarian on our club events, and some things the track management would have preferred to keep under wraps, even if it meant lying and threatening. But we love that documentary aspect of our racing club. In fact, none of this negativity would have ever had to be shown if (1) we got paid for our logos and banners used during the 2008 season (I only asked for $75 - $20 for the banners and only $55 for the logo!), and (2) we never received a public nor private apology for being mocked, ostracized and threatened before and after we were barred. Thank you for reading. But is any of this all that surprising? Typical of the parent track in general, that eats its own best drivers and car builders, and it's more than just the economy why their attendance is suffering and the car counts are dwindling. It lost these lifetime customers, and we grew up loving Supermodified racing since the late 1970s.

.

You may read and discuss the issue here. Thank you. You can also join us on Facebook 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!

.

THE GALLETTA'S BACKYARD KARTING SPEEDWAY ALL-TIME POINT STANDINGS are found HERE!

.

The Galletta's & Oswego Kartway Gas Stocker Kart 2-Track Total Point Standings from 2000-2008 are found here!

The Galletta's Kart Club All-Time Win totals are found here!

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 single wheel drive and "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 Speedway Kartway.

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!

.

.

Comments, questions, and additional info with Galletta's Kart Club drivers and officials can be found on our ProBoard message boards.

Website by ChrusherComix Studios - Graphic Art, Comics, and Website Design by Christopher Galletta Stevens:

Please visit Galletta's Speedway racer/cofounder/co-owner Chris "Crusher Comics" Stevens' other websites that include my cartoons, comic books, children's book, and family greenhouse:

.

All pictures & text © copyright 2005-2009 Galletta's Stock Karting Club & Chris ChrusherComix (unless noted).
Website designed and maintained by Chris ChrusherComix. All content is his, and nobody else's at Galletta's (unless noted).
Chris ChrusherComix is available for commissioned website design and graphic artwork at low-prices.
This website is best viewed under 1024 x 728 screen resolution.