Galletta's Kart Club - 2009 Season, Week 3:
The Gas Flathead Championship Series of Oswego, NY continued on
Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at John J. Galletta Memorial Speedway:

Here's some of our action, compressed to lo-res and just a few race & crash highlights on YouTube.


On Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at Galletta's Greenhouse's at John J. Galletta Memorial Karting Speedway, Jason "The Hammer" Mills won his 3rd career feature, and in dominant fashion. The 11-kart, 45-lap feature was his first win in only his second race back since returning from nearly two years away from the sport. And, unlike other local "professional" track, we do not mock family names and  respected businesses like Pheeble Phatass Phil Marsden (AKA tapdancin' beauty pageant racin' dad).

The first heat saw Melissa Stevens make a pass on lap one to take the win, challenged closely by Buddy Cottom, Gary Miller, and Chris Stevens, and then Tony Gonyeau. Jason "The Hammer" Mills won the second heat after a couple of passes and pulled away. He was followed by Russell Hockey, Matt Stevens, Nick Dann, and Larry Phillips, who has been fast, but is suffering with a bad back which is keeping him from competing for wins.

The Galletta's handicap start (inverted with low points-per-race racers in the front, with all prior winners in the back). When Jason Mills made the pass for the lead on rookie Tony Gonyeau, the #7 spun out and caused a chain reaction which saw karts scatter (YouTube clip will be up later), and Russ Hockey lose a left rear tire again. He then hopped into the Galletta's #9. Our starter/flagman was Mike "MC" Howell, "his one true talent is that he can wave a stick," said Buddy Cottom. MC relieved Wesley "Ogre" Stevens - whom we still can't talk out of retirement... (he only raced last season at Oswego Kiddie-Clique-Kartway after we begged him so we could have enough people to race there - nobody liked the outrageous prices, angry track operator, and its small size and lack of laps to run. Its for kids and adults seeking glory behind the famed oval).

Jason Mills took the lead ion lap five and never looked back, pulling away from everybody on every restart.  The racing, other than Jason pulling away from Gary Miller, and Gary pulling away from the rest of the pack, which was a fantastic exhibition of driving skills with Buddy Cottom, Russ Hockey, Chris Stevens and Matt Stevens working their tails off to keep up and pass each other a few times during the race. Gary would have had 2nd place sealed if not for losing a tie-rod bolt with around ten or so laps to go, and Chris exited the track two times to avoid wrecks, which cost him dearly in the points. Matt Stevens , who had to come from the back three times--once after his #33's clutch teeth gave way and he had to hop into his#3--nipped Buddy at the line for 2nd. Also, Tony Gonyeau, the only rookie in attendance, impressed many with his 5th place finish in a field full of great veteran drivers... something that our buddy Pheeble Phil couldn't do in his wildest dreams.

Jason Mills (Galletta's #2) won going away, with Matt Stevens (Galletta's #3/33) nipping Buddy Cottom (Galletta's #6) by a bumper at the line for second. They were followed by Russ Hockey (Hockey #00/Galletta's #9), Tony Gonyeau (Galletta's #7), Chris Stevens (Galletta's #8), Melissa Stevens (Galletta's #80), Gary Miller Sr. (Galletta's/Miller #24), Nick Dann (Galletta's #1) and Larry Phillips (L&K Engine #04 - DNF) tied for 9th due to retiring at the same time, and credited with 11th place points for his practice/warm-up session was  starter Mike "MC" Howell, who is a master of flagging on four local tracks! Great job, MC!

Per usual, in addition to counting points and wins for every single race we do, we videotape every single lap of every race from two camera angles and make them all available on DVD for $5 a pop. Because we aren't doing this to make money off of people (free to watch or bring your own kart, or just race one of ours for gas and parts), nor necessarily try to pad stats to do a career in big-money racing. We do it to have FUN racing affordable racing machines, and groom racing skills, not prissy primadonnas who throw temper tantrums and whine like babies and call a respected business, a whole family, and their friends "clowns" and "gaylettas yard sale" because an unbiased reporter covered a homegrown, built-from-scratch kart club in their news story. Grow up. Oh, and pay up while you're at it, Mr. Selective Censor "webman." Allegedly "50-70 karts" a week paying $18-35 a pop and you can't pay up for the logo yet? Something don't add up there.