Oswego Speedway Exhibition #2: 
Friday, June 30th 2006:
On Friday, June 30th 2006, a handful of the Galletta's Go-Kart Association ventured to the Oswego Speedway (which Chris, Matt, and several of the competitors have been regular visitors since childhood) and put on another exhibition that had two 10-lap heats and a 20-lap feature with our "limited modification Yard Karts". With no points involved, we just raced loosely and in in a random order (we usually handicap low-to-high points starts) and just had fun. Dick Dann won his heat in the Galletta's rental #0, and Ed Meynes won both his heat and the feature in his own #43 kart, fighting off challenges from Wes "Ogre" Stevens, Chris "ChrusherComix" Stevens, and Brian Bortel. The competitors enjoy Oswego's small clay surface because it seems to equalize the kart speed differently than the Galletta's track, and the shorter races mean starting up front is crucial to your chances. And, also opposite of the Galletta's track, which has long straights and the outside groove is the faster one, Oswego's track has almost no straights and the inside groove is the quickest. Hence, it's a great change-up from our regular racing. If we can get all of our karts and drivers up, and get a bigger trailer and trucks to haul them, we will be putting in for the winnings fund. For more info, go to the Oswego Speedway's official site here. Now, onto Sunday's race at Galletta's Greenhouse....

Oswego Super-Yard Karts at Galletta's 2006 Race #4 results:
Sunday, 07/02/2006 (Two 10-lap Heats and 50-lap Feature) 

For the first time in recent Galletta's Speedway history, we have enacted heat races. Back in the early 1990s, when we only had 2 and 3 karts, we would race heats, alternating in elimination matches to decide the winners. Now, with eleven Galletta's house karts and several regular competitors who bring their own, (and a handful of terrible drivers wrecking last weekend and not showing up for this race) we felt the need to bring heats back into the fold. But perhaps the biggest reason is that every week we have a few first-time drivers, and most of them need to get some racing under their belts before they can compete. Heats give more track time than just throwing them into the fire like we have been doing.

 Heat #1 went to Rob Jimenez (in the Ken Pitsley motor/Galletta's #5) followed by Chris "Crusher" Stevens (in his own Galletta's #8). The photo on left sees him taking the lead from Kenny Maynes with Fred Collins in pursuit. Heat #2 saw Matt "Musher" Stevens (in his Galletta's #3) pass almost everybody in one lap and yet barely hold off a fast Ed Maynes (in his own #43) for a Heat win.

Opening lineup of the July 2nd race, with Kenny Maynes in the Maynes #18 leading the pack. Grumpy Gary Miller chose to not race and instead be a flagman. The opening stages saw Weaseling' Wesley "Ogre" Stevens lead early with a new engine that Matt worked on all week. But the bumpy track took Ogre's drive wheel out of commission, which gave Robbie Jimenez the lead with Matt, Ed, and Chris in hot pursuit, with Ed seeming like he had enough speed to pass anybody on the track.

Unfortunately, Ed Meynes retired early with engine problems, leaving it a three kart race between Rob, Matt, and Chris. Bumper to bumper for the vast majority of the race, it came down to lapped traffic, where the seasoned brothers ducked low under Rob as the approached Brad Jones (a 1st-time rookie driver in the Galletta's #6) and Rob crashed into the #6 causing a nasty flipping crash in the back stretch. Rob then left the premises in order to catch some fireworks with his grandparents, and hence costing himself dearly in the points race.

(Left) Fast Flippin' Flying Friggin' Freddie Collins, in one of Chris's old karts, the Galletta's #2, smashing into the race tower, which startled camera-woman and Chris' wife, Au. Fred was OK, and it appeared to be one of his usual once-per-week spectacular crashes. In spite of this, he still is fourth in points! The race resumed to see the battling' brothers, Matt and Chris 1 and 2. However, the duel would have to wait for another race, as Chris was next to drop out with motor problems that developed in the #8. Chris hopped into another of his old karts, the #5 that Robbie abandoned, and was able to pick up a few more places and points before the race's and. (Right) Thus Matt glided to an unchallenged victory to pick up his 2nd of the year and take a lead in the points standings. Impressive performances by rookie Rick Meynes and surprisingly quick 1st-time-driver, Bill Kuykendell, finishing 2-and-3 in the feature, surviving the war of attrition. Most new drivers take around 4-20 races to get into the groove and finish in the top 3 with the more experienced veterans, but Bill and Ed's brother Rick both proved to be way ahead of that learning curve. We hope they become regular racers!

July 2nd, 2006 50-lap Final order or finish:

2006 Galletta's Go-Karts Point Standings
After 4 races from 6/11/2006 thru 7/2/2006:
 

2006 Volume #3 DVD:
Contains the July 2nd, 2006 races at Galletta's. Two camera angles of each race.  Price $5.

DVD is available for $5.
Galletta's Go-Karts 2006 Volume 3 DVD includes the
two heats and feature from two cameras in the pits and the race-tower. Only $5!

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