Galletta's Go-Karts - September 10th & 11th, 2005 results

Race One-
9/10/05 Final 5.5+hp/5hp mixed class 40-Lap results:

1. (#3) Matt Stevens
2. (#00^^) Mark Miller
3. (#0/#8) Chris Stevens
4. (#24) Gary Miller
5. (#5) Rob Jimenez
6. (#7) Josh Schute
---Lapped Karts---
7. (#2) Fred Collins
8. (#6) Phil Hall
---DNF---
9. (#57^) Mike Billion
10. (#4) Ogre Stevens
11. (#29) Tom Murray
12. (#1) Jim "JR" Pitsley
13. (#61) Dan Woodard
---Did not complete 1 lap---
14. (#18) Ed Meynes
15. (#83) Jason Mills

Race Two-
9/11/05 40-Lap (1st 5-hp only) results:

1. (#3) Matt Stevens
2. (#8) Chris Stevens
3. (#5) Rob Jimenez
4. (#4/#6) Ogre Stevens
5. (#0) Kelly Miller *
---DNF---
6. (#24) Gary Miller
7. (#18) Ed Meynes
8. (#2/#1) Fred Collins
9. (#6) Eddie Scruton
10. (#7) Clueless Cody Collins

^ = 5.5hp motor
^^ = 5.5hp motor & suspected of illegal modifications
DNF = Did not finish race
* = Finished 3rd but DQ-ed to last on lead lap (Disobeying rules)

On the 4th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Matt Stevens (in his Galletta's #3) patriotically won two races in two nights by blowing by nearly the entire field in four laps during the first race and then passing Gary Miller (and his #24) after the #24 led the first twenty-four laps in the second "5-hp only" race. (Matt, under the suggestion from fellow Galletta's Karter Jason "The Hammer" Mills, a few weeks earlier instituted a new rule allowing our box stock 5hp flathead karts to now have hand-shaved heads to equalize the competition after suspicions arose of the 5.5hp OHV karts actually had 6.5hp motors with Dremel-tool shaved heads, as Jim Losurdo admitted to.) Matt was only challenged by one driver. Mark Miller (in his #00) closely followed Matt in Saturday's event, but after the race stormed off the track accusing Matt of cheating, which everybody believes Mark did.(Track officials know that Matt runs only 5hp engines with only shaved heads, but have never seen Mark's modifications that he and Jim Losurdo basically admitted to). Mike Billion (in his #57) also stormed off the track angry about the fact that he was passed by Mark and Chris after lapped traffic (Tom Murray driving his own #29 for the very first time) did not obey the passing flag and stay to one side of the track. He may have also been angry that he was accused of illegally altering his engine, but since the OHV karts do not explain to us what they do to their motors and why they keep getting more and more powerful every single weekend, we can't really agree to compete with these motors in the same class. Chris Stevens was charging early in the Galletta's #0 during the 1st race, but after a throttle gave way while third (to only Matt and Mike), he jumped into his Galletta's #8 to place third in the first race and then scored a second place in Sunday's race.

The final regular season race of the year with Mark Miller & Mike Billion, who would choose exclusively use Intek OHV engines and not race at Galletta's anymore. A vote of the other drivers has outlawed that style of engine from our box stock 5hp flathead races for the foreseeable future. We only allow 5hp flat heads. They are also allowed to come back and race in their exclusive 5.5hp OHV class, but the mixed-motor races are making too many people on both sides have hard feelings, and the intention of the Galletta's Box Stock motor rule is to keep it cheap, even, and fun! If they agreed to keep their motors box stock, then a weight-to-hp ratio could be worked out. However, when every single week the 5.5hp OHVs suddenly could get faster and faster, and guys with less than a year (2-15 races) experience and an extra 5-40 lbs. could blow away guys in flathead 5hps with 10-40 lbs. less and 1-8 more years (30-300 races) experience, it seems a little bit... maybe... I dunno'... as if the OHV guys maybe... just maybe... have something more than a box stock 5.5hp OHV motor? Maybe? What would you call that?

^^ = A new rule was passed after this race due to a verbal war erupted during and after the conclusion of the September 10th, 2005 race. After this point, we are no longer allowing OHV 5.5hp+ engines to compete in the same races as the flat-head 5hp engines. This is due in part with a lack of equality in the horsepower (the 5.5+hps have an unfair advantage of power in the corners) and the allegations that some of the drivers are buying 6.5hps and removing the stickers, or buying special after-market parts for them. These drivers have extremely heavy karts that should be lightened up for both their speed and the protection of the other drivers who feel that they are too big, bulky, and heavy to fairly race against. Several drivers complained about the fear of injury racing against such heavy karts sliding into them and a few regular racers stopped coming primarily for this reason. Lighter frames with a 5hp engine (free of special-market racing parts) is the goal for every competitor at Galletta's (since 2005; shaved heads allowed, other racing modifications are not - see rules page for more details). We will consider a 5.5hp+ class, but the official track class is after-market-free 5hp, as all nine track karts and most of the visiting competitors use them exclusively. Track officials WILL set up any 5hp kart for optimal, race-winning performance (and have done so many times: See Ed Meynes, Gary Miller, and Eddie Scruton, all of whom were slow and then were able to win or compete every week after their karts were rebuilt). Inquire with Matt at the track or via email.

This is unfortunate, because most of us enjoyed the competitiveness and desire to race that they had. But rules are rules, and the temporary allowance of OHV 5.5-and-up engines is, for the time being, not allowed with the flat-head 5hp motors. I think almost everybody understands this, but it surprises me how many people were angry and no longer talking with us based on this decision).

Videotaped race. DVDs are now available for every videotaped event. Please contact Chris Stevens via email for buying a DVD that will contain anywhere from 2-4 races per disc and only costs $5-7 per DVD (+$3 shipping in the USA, more outside).