Galletta's Go-Kart Club and Speedway of Oswego, NY, USA

Galletta's 2007 Race #3: 6/17/2007 45-Lapper:

Matt Stevens wins 3 of 4 races he entered this weekend in his Galletta's #33, as he follows up his Oswego Speedway Dirt Track victory by taking the 3rd feature of the year at Galletta's after he caught Dick Dann (in his Dickhead #86) in traffic. Dick Dann was followed by Chris Stevens (in the Galletta's #8), Wesley "Ogre" Stevens (Galletta's #4), and Nick Dann (Dickhead #02) and others who all survived the grueling and exciting 14-kart event. Discussion of this race can be found here.

2007 Volume #3 DVD:
Contains the June 15th, 2007 races at Oswego Speedway and the June 17th, 2007 races at Galletta's.

...but time-travel to win a heat is low!

Kyle Reuter won the 1st heat and Nick Dann won the 2nd heat. Finally, Nick gets to se his goodbye wave on someone (but many believe he abused his powers as "Chain Lube Man" to time-travel and win... just look at the time on those to shots! That tricky Nick "Of Time" Dann!

Check out the Anamorphic Widescreen shot from the DVD. Looks great in a big screen TV!

Here is a video clip of Matt making a move past a handful of karts on one lap early in the feature. Moves like this is why Matt has so many wins under his belt. Chris also does a great move to avoid a spinning Fred Collins at the end of the clip.

Kelly Miller was flying in his #S9 go-kart that he and Kyle Reuter took turns driving in the first few weeks. Using a power gear that definitely helps heavier drivers, Kelly pulled up alongside Chris Stevens to challenge for 2nd in the feature. However, the balance is not set on this kart yet as it has flipped two times in three races (He flipped again even after this one!). Based on a suggestion from Kyle and Kelly, here's a quick, low-resolution video clip of one the flips that I made from the DVD.

® = Rookie (Less than a handful of races run).
DNF = Did not finish the race.
^ = Used Time-Out (kart repairs that take more than a few minutes).

Matt took the win, his 1st of the year. The win moved Matt up to 2nd in the point standings past Gary Miller and closer to points leader Chris Stevens. In fact, if Gary did not quit the race early (in protest of an accident that he and Oscar got into), he probably could still be ahead of either Matt or Dick Dann, but he has now dropped to fourth. The Galletta's Go-Kart rules on accidents, since day one, is that if you are involved with an accident that brings out the caution, you must go to the rear. Gary hit the inside wall and his kart became lodged with Oscar's. After the caution came out, then Gary broke his kart free. Only if you stop your kart to avoid an accident and make no contact with anybody can you keep your position. That has been Galletta's caution rules since day one. Matt went to the back for less of an accident (twice) and still won, and I did the same last year. Learn from Matt! The race isn't over until you cross the checkered flag and anything can happen in between. Don't give up. A fast car coming from the back to the font is half the fun! More discussion and pictures here. Now here are those very point standings:

Galletta's Go-Kart Club 2007 Point Standings
After 3 events from 6/3/2007 to 6/17/2007:

Galletta's Go-Karts Exhibition at Oswego Speedway's
Mixed-motor/Open Yard Kart Class on 6/21/2007:
At Oswego Speedway's Dirt Track on Thursday, the Galletta's Karting Club invested in some slicks and gave the track a spin. Inverting last week's order of finish and drawing for position, the we ran a heat and a 30-lap Feature. Eric Raponi took his first row starting position and won (in his OHV 6.5hp #83), followed by Matt Stevens (in the Galletta's #33 with a stock 5hp Briggs) and Kyle Reuter (Galletta's 5hp #0). Mark Miller (who won the heat with his #00 with a Briggs 6.5hp OHV) finished fourth on the track, but in reviewing the tape we observed that during a caution he restarted 2 positions higher than he was supposed to, so he was DQed to last in the points scoring. That moved up Gary Miller (stock 5hp #24), Joe Hayden (OHV 6.5hp #5), Chris Stevens (in the Galletta's #8 with a 5hp Briggs), and Wesley Stevens (in the Galletta's #4 with a 5hp Briggs) one spot each.

Galletta's Go-Karts Exhibition at Oswego Speedway's
Mixed-motor/Super Yard Kart Class on 6/15/2007:
In a surprise, we were invited back to race at Oswego Speedway's Dirt Track on Friday as a support class for the Tobias Slingshots. Our treaded tires were banned from Oswego's track in the off-season (because we were told that we rip the clay up) but since most of our racers feel uncomfortable racing against guys with bigger motors anyways (their open class will allow 5.5hp, 6.5hp, and 7.5hp OHV motors with racing parts and even occasionally Racing Raptors as well - motors that we banned from our track in the spirit of fairness), none of us ran to buy any slicks. Well, since the Slingshots were ripping the track up anyway, we were invited back with our class standard tires and had a great time.

Here we are lining up for the 12- lap heat. Matt Stevens (in the Galletta's #33 with a stock 5hp Briggs) drew the pole and won it followed by Mike Billion (in his #57 with a 5.5hp Honda), Chris Stevens (in the Galletta's #8 with a 5hp Briggs), and Wesley Stevens (in the Galletta's #4 with a 5hp Briggs).

Here is the starting grid for the 35- lap feature event. Matt Stevens (in the Galletta's #33 with a stock 5hp Briggs) passed a handful of competitors and won it followed polesitter Wesley Stevens (in the Galletta's #4 with a 5hp Briggs), Mike Billion (in his #57 with a 5.5hp Honda OHV), and Chris Stevens (in the Galletta's #8 with a 5hp Briggs). Mark Miller (with his #00 with a Briggs 6.5hp OHV[?]) and Dick Dann (in the Dickhead #86 with a 5hp Briggs) spun and crashed across the finish line after that. They were followed by Eric Raponi (OHV 6.5hp #83), Oscar Berry (Flathead 5hp), Joe Hayden (OHV 6.5hp #5). Nick Dann (5hp) broke a hub in the heat and didn't make the feature.

Here is your winner, Matt Stevens, sweeping the heat and the feature in his Silver Bullet #33, the first time it has ever made the journey to Oswego Speedway. He won two races there last year in his old Galletta's #3 (which was driven last week at Galletta's by his girlfriend, Melissa Gabel). We videotaped the event and took many pictures and it came out great! It'll be on next week's DVD, as I'll couple it with our scheduled Sunday, 6/17/2007 race (Pre-orders, let me know!). Also, I'll try to upload more photos later, but only per request. However, all pics are on the DVD. Read more here and/or discuss this race here on the message board!

The next race is set for Sunday, June 24th, 2007. Qualifying events (The new Rookie/Novice Qualifier Race and/or Veteran Heats) will begin at 6:20pm, and the Feature will begin shortly after they are completed. You MUST reserve your spot in the racing festivities via arrival or phone call by 6:20pm, or else we WILL start without you. Bring your own stock 5hp kart or rent one of our Galletta's backup/rentals. As for further updates, new rules (designed to speed-up the racing action while adding more safety) and communication with us and other Galletta's Karting Race Club drivers, please join our brand new Galletta's Go-Karts Message Board!