Avon 13th Annual Vintage Kart Reunion

Avon 13th Annual Vintage Kart Reunion

By Scott Kneisel
Photos by Natalie Bogerman

Another view of the Kart Show

This year was our 13th 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 28th 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.

And they’re off!

Friday July 29th 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.

Go! Go! Go!
Some days it’s like herding cats
Flat out, through Turn One
Sportsman Rear lugging through the hairpin
Practice under a big beautiful sky
Mark D’Elia 1960 Simplex MK1, Historic Past Champion
David Santee’s 1966 Rupp Chaparral, Rear Modified, (Roger Santee accepting award)
Rich Gamrod, 1990 Phoenix, Sidewinder Unrestored
Russ Jennings, 1982 Emmick Star, Sidewinder Restored
Rodrigo DeFrancisco, 1987 DAP Greyhound, Sidewinder Past Champion
Sam Polito, 1965 Rupp GP, Rear Past Champion
It’s good news when the EMT is having a restful day!
Sportsman Rear (Mac): 1. Mark D’Elia 2. Bob Kurkowski 3. Kent Windham
Sometimes their big brothers come to watch
Steve Miller, 1961 McCulloch 200, Historic Modified
Lean and Mean
Ted Furtch. 1963 Rupp GP, Historic Restored
Pizza, Raffles, & Kart Show
Cheryl Furtch - Best Rear Engine Restored & People’s Choice. Nice Job!
Rear engine karts? Yeah, we’ve got ‘em.
Gearing up for practice
Dual Rear: 1. David Santee 2. Rich Gamrod
Yamaha Masters: 1. Noland Tripp
Yamaha Limited: 1. Rodrigo DeFrancisco 2. Russ Jennings 3. Gordy Beidler
Exiting the track, all smiles!
Yamaha Stock Appearing: 1. Brian Lonneville 2. Keith Lonneville
4-Cycle: 1. Rich Gamrod 2. George Lobur 3. Ron Roof
8.2 Sidewinder: 1. Skip Owen 2. Karl Ginter 3. Dave Dracha (absent from podium)
6.1 Rear: 1. Kent Windham 2. Doug Tenney 3. Brian Santee
Historic Podium: 1.Rusty Becker 2. Jonathan Fairoaks 3. Mike Pappaceno
Sportsman Rear (820): 1. Rodrigo DeFrancisco 2. Jonathan Fairoaks 3. Mike Drechnowicz
Sam Polito, 1967 Rupp Continental Special, Minibike Best In Class
Skip Owen, 1964 Rupp A-Bone, MC101, Rear Unrestored
Juniors: 1. Diego DeFrancisco 2. Sebastian DeFrancisco
TNT Kartways Vintage Olympics – Quincy, MO

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.

Results

Some great photo work by Don Roll catching drivers entering the front straight. Top photo is Steven Fairfield in his MC 91 powered 83 Proline. Kart #9 is Jim King and the other driver is Amy Scoggins in combined classes 8A, 8B, 19A and 19B. Bottom photo is Nick Kammueller in his MC 91B1 powered 79 Expert in Class 12.
The Vandermaiden drivers and their 4 - cycle karts.
Yamaha Limited action. #75, Amy Scoggins, #30 Matt Roberts and #701 Shawn Meyers.
Vico Prelogar driving his Class 7 (Dual Rear) MC 101 powered kart. Vico is one of our excellent young drivers in VKA.
#5 Bill McCornack and Reg Rowsey in combined Classes 8 A & B and 19 A & B.
Yamaha Piston Port drivers ready for the green flag. Drivers include #11, Cody Brookman, #176, Kevin Heinecke, #81, Kris Porter, #9, Henry Povelones, #68, Steve Curts, #55, Steve Wager, #4, Christian Miles and Vico Prelogar.
Yamaha Piston Port action. #632 is Gene Lang, #80 is Andrew Glann, #57 is J. T. Noble and # 4 is Christian Miles.
Action in Class 4 A. #17 is Dr. J. and #77 is Rick Magnuson.
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.
Combined Sportsman Sidewinder and 6.1 Rear Classes. Sportsman Sidewinder drivers are #80 Andrew Glann, #7 Kevin Rice and #117 Nick Kammueller. Number 6 is Mark Andermann (6.1 Rear).
Combined classes of Dual Yamaha, Dual Sidewinder and Dual Rear. #11,Cody Brookman, #4, Pete Vetter, #51, Matt Morgeson and #00, Rodney Fish.
Piston Port Racing. #632, Gene Lang, #81 Kris Porter and #9 Henry Povezowgs.
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.
Combined classes West Bend Sidewinder, Over 60 Masters and Sportsman Rear. W. Bend drivers are Tom Day in front and #63 Randy Duncaff, #17 is Dr. J. (Masters) and #117 is Nick Kammueller in Sportsman Rear.
A sea of red karts in Yamaha Masters. #75 Jim Rowe at left, #4 Marty Weston, #59 Lorenzo DiBacco, #14 Dave Fisher, #114 Dale Fisher and #30 Guy Roberts (behind # 59).
#49 Tom Brabant leads #77 Rick Magnuson in MC 49 Class 4 - Group A.
Participation in Class 4 - Groups A & B for MC 49 motors is continuing to grow this season with some great racing action seen at Quincy. There were 8 entries total - five in 4 A and three in 4 B. Rick Magnuson, # 77, prevailed in Group A and Kevin Rice, #6, won in Group B. Drivers at left from front to rear are Kevin Rice, Dr. Jay Bruninga ("Dr. J"), Rick Magnuson and Patrick Trybah. Drivers at right from front to rear are Tom Brabant, Vince Arconati, Billy Dalton and John Wall.
Bill Bicker's memorabilia.
Kart show winners (L to R) Jack Hale (kart # 11), Steven Fairfield, Martin Reding, Gil Berge, Dave & Don Roll, Kruze Miles (kart #7), Reed Fair, John Wall, and Nick Kammueller.
Kart show.
Tribute lap by Matt Krechel to Rick Gifford.
Matt Morgeson performing our National Anthem.
Terry Traeder's tribute to Rick Gifford.
Michael Day (L) and Gene Lang.
Kevin Rice (L) and Billy Dalton.
Rick Cramer.
Kirk Gustafson.
Ken Woolridge, and his tribute to Bill Bickers.
Lorenzo DiBacco (standing) and Bill McCornack.