Day: April 27, 2021

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Vintage Racers Roar at Georgia’s Roebling Road
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Vintage Racers Roar at Georgia’s Roebling Road

By John Copeland
Photos & Captions By Dick Charest

The first weekend in March can be unpredictable weather-wise, in the southeast, but 2 months after the final checkered flag of the year at Daytona, the WKA Vega Tire Road Racing Series, presented by Summit Racing Equipment, descended on Roebling Road Race Course near Savannah, Georgia.

Roebling Road couldn’t be in a more iconic setting, a 2.02 mile, 9-turn road course nestled beneath towering oak trees draped with Spanish moss.

Kart #68, Scotty Orr’s Coyote,Yamaha KT-100 was a consistent runner with a 4th on Saturday and a 3rd on Sunday.

Saturday’s Vintage Piston Port class featured 4 entries contesting the 30 minute race. Arthur McKenny was the class of the field, lapping 4 seconds faster than his nearest competitor. All 4 racers made it to the checkered flag with McKenny taking the win over Christopher Foskey, followed by William Anderson and Scotti Orr.

In Saturday’s Vintage Open class, Tony Ellison continued his winning ways in a tightly fought battle with Dick Charest and Terence Armstrong. Piston Port winner Arthur McKenny was in the hunt as well before retiring after 5 laps. Christopher Foskey dropped out after 1 lap and Rick Gilmore lasted until lap 11 before retiring. At the flag it was Ellison, followed by Armstrong besting Charest by less than half a second to take 2nd.

Sunday’s Piston Port race saw the same 4 karts on the grid, but McKenny’s luck ran out after only 1 lap and he retired. William Anderson took this one by a lap over Christopher Foskey, with Scotti Orr in 3rd.

The last Vintage class of the weekend was Sunday’s Vintage Open and only 3 competitors made it to the grid. Once again is was all Tony Ellison and he ripped off laps 1 ½ seconds faster than his winning pace on Saturday. Unfortunately neither of his fellow Vintage racers could hang on as Dick Charest retired after 2 laps and Terence Armstrong was unable to complete the 1st lap. Ellison cruised to an uncontested win.

Next up on the Vintage enduro calendar is the Shenandoah Circuit at Summit Point Raceway on April 17th & 18th, hosted by the Woodbridge Kart Club. That same weekend WKA will welcome Vintage enduro karters to the “Roval” at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Competing race dates at tracks so geographically close is never a good thing, but hopefully racers will pick their favorite track and support these events.

Kart #173, Bill Anderson’s Van-K with a TKM Piston Port won the Vintage Piston Port race on Sunday, along with his 3rd on Saturday. Kart #73, Bill Anderson’s Margay with a Mac-91
Kart #07, Terry Armstrong’s Quicksilver DAP T-62 was always in the hunt in Vintage Open, placing 2nd on Saturday behind Ellison and then breaking the T-62 crank on the first lap on Sunday.
Kart #31 (blue tanks), Tony Ellison’s Quicksilver with a K-35 was the kart to beat in Vintage Open. It had the speed and reliability to win both Saturday and Sunday’s races while clicking off a 1:25.271 best lap!
Kart #31 (silver tanks), Tony Ellison’s Margay with a DAP T-62
Kart #27, Terry Armstrong’s Quicksilver kart with a K-55
Dick Charest’s K-299 dual carbs proved to be a tuning challenge all weekend with changing weather conditions – never could build the necessary heat in the Komet.
Kart #161 Dick Charest’s K-299-powered Invader managed a Third Place in Vintage Open I, one lap behind Tony Ellison on Saturday and captured a Second in Sunday’s Vintage Open 2 with only four laps completed
Kart #16, Chris Foskey’s KT-100 Coyote finished 2nd out of a four-kart field in Vintage Piston Port on Saturday, then backed it up with another second on Sunday, laying down a best of 1:31.947.
Kart #16, Chris Foskey’s K-35 IKS had engine problems in Race #8 on Saturday and dropped out after one lap.
Kart #6W, Arthur McKenny’s KT-100-powered Margay was the class of the field running a 1:28.294 and wining Race #6 on Saturday, and setting fast time on Sunday before dropping out of Sunday’s race after one lap.
Kart #1, Rick Gilmore’s Invader with dual K-99s. Rick had a tough go in Vintage Open with a spin and off-track “experience”.