September 2022 – Vintage Karting Association

Avon 13th Annual Vintage Kart Reunion

By Scott Kneisel
Photos by Natalie Bogerman

This year was our 13^th annual vintage kart reunion and was another great event. We had 45 registered drivers, their pit crew (s) and many spectators. In the demonstration heats we had 54 entries in 11 individual classes.

Thursday July 28^th was move in and practice day and like usual it rained pretty hard in the morning but as a group effort, when the sun came back out we had the track dried and populated with karts by 1:30 PM and a full afternoon of practice.

Friday July 29^th was a full day and the weather was great with practice all morning and heat number 1 in the afternoon and finished by 3:00PM. Following a short break we had a fantastic kart show put on by Kurt and Natalie Bogerman that featured 50 entries. The breakdown was 16 Historic Rear (pre-1964), 22 Rear (1965 and newer), 10 Sidewinders and 2 Minibikes. The show was judged by Paul Hunter, John Phippen and Kurt Bogerman.

Following the show awards we did the 50-50 raffle and as an additional bonus, we also raffled off 10ea $50 gift certificates kindly donated by Red Line Oil who helped sponsor the event and provided us with the gift certificates as well as a couple “trick” banners and medallion lanyards.

After all that we finished the day with a pizza feast compliments GVKC.

Even great karts look better on the Start/Finish Line.

Saturday we practiced in the morning, fantastic weather again and ran heats 2 and 3 after lunch. We only had one minor “mix-up” with no injuries and a very safe event. By 3:30PM we had a trophy call and people started packing up to leave. Another one in the books!!!

We would like to thank the VKA for re-imbursing us for the costs of the EMT as well as the entry fees for the junior racers.

Thanks to all who participated in the event as well as the track workers who did such a great job.

The Avon Team.

TNT Kartways Vintage Olympics – Quincy, MO

By James Kammueller
Photos by Lori Biehl, Christy Miller, Don Roll and James Kammueller

Combined Class 8 – Groups A & B and Classic Class 19 – Groups A & B. #5 Bill McCornack (8 B) and #75 Amy Scoggins (Classic A) put on quite a show in heat 3. Both took 1st in their respective classes by winning all 3 heats. Other drivers pictured include #13, Michael Day, and #71 Reg Rowsey.

It does get hot and humid in the Midwest and that was the case at the West Quincy TNT Kartway during the August 4 through 6, 2022 VKA Event with highs in the upper 80’s to low 90’s, few clouds and no rain during the entire 3-day event. There were 67 karts in attendance, and we also had a great turnout for the kart show that featured many beautiful karts. In all, 22 demonstration event classes were represented. Promoter Jeff Miles and crew, that included family members, did a great job of keeping the event on schedule and handling the numerous duties required both on scene, and behind the scene, at VKA events.

Thursday was a practice day. Friday featured morning practice, the driver’s meeting, tributes to two well-known former drivers who have left us, one heat event, the kart show and some great food including barbecued chicken wings, fried catfish and sunfish, baked beans, coleslaw and watermelon.

Combined classes West Bend Sidewinder, Sportsman Rear and Over 60 Masters. R to L are Trevor Brookman, Nick Kammueller, Kirk Gustafson, Tom Day, Dr. J.and Randy Duncaff.

The first tribute was made by Guy Roberts. Guy and many of his family members were in attendance to pay tribute to Guy’s father-in-law Bill Bickers who was the first of four generations of kart racers in the family. The family shared a display of trophies and memorabilia from Bill’s career. In 1957 Bill got into karting while living near Chicago. By 1959 Bill had relocated to near Urbana, Illinois and had become a Go Kart 800 dealer and McCulloch engine builder. Bill was an accomplished driver who competed in a number of national championship race events. He took great pride in his engine building as his engines had, at times, beaten more notable builders at major race events. He was one of four people who brought karting to central Illinois by starting a small track called Bolling Green near Urbana. Bill took great pride in watching his grandsons and great grandson also enjoy success in karting before his passing in June of this year.

Combined classes of Dual Yamaha, Dual Sidewinder and Dual Rear. #11,Cody Brookman, #4, Pete Vetter, #51, Matt Morgeson and #00, Rodney Fish.

Next, TNT owner Terry Traeder paid tribute to race driver Rick Gifford who drove not only karts but also competed in various types of auto racing including late model stock cars, sprint cars and road racing. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s Rick won thirteen U.S Go Kart National Championships and in 1979 won the coveted Professional Karting Association Race in Medford, Oregon. After that Rick shifted to auto racing. He was ranked as the 32nd best all time driver in karting.

VKA driver Matt Morgeson showed his vocal talents by singing our National Anthem. Matt Krechel then drove a final tribute lap to Mr. Gifford, to the Garth Brooks song “The Dance”.

Saturday activities stayed on schedule with morning practice until 10:30 AM followed by heats 2 and 3 and the awards.