@ Lamar County Speedway Barnesville, Ga. 3/25/21 thru 3/27/21
By Bob Barthelemy Photos by Don Roll & Forest Bass
The weather was beautiful all day Thursday with temperatures in the mid 70’s. Dicky Wilson and Eric McMillian started the safety tech inspections Wednesday, as many arrived early to get their pit spots set up, and continued throughout the day Thursday. Thank you to the GSKA workers and the entire GSKA team for a well-run event! I also want to thank Todd Shearin for making it exciting calling the races and a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem Saturday. Also, thank you to Aubree McClellan for leading us in the National Anthem Friday. A special thanks to Eric McMillian for his help throughout the weekend. Thank you to all the Vintage Karters with 89 entries participating at this event.
Jerry Nagle was the only entry in C-Open Sidewinder, but gave the BM130s a workout anyway.
After a round of safety tech inspections Thursday morning, the track was opened for open practice at 9:30. We started with open practice for all senior drivers (40 minute session with a max of 10 karts on the track at a time). The junior drivers (9 entries) were then allotted a (10) minute practice session followed again by the senior drivers. We repeated this order throughout the day and closed the track for practice at 5:30 pm. I am very encouraged by the number of entries in the junior class as they represent the future of our sport.
Friday morning rain was forecasted and they were correct. From 8:00 to 9:30 it was a torrential downpour followed by steady drizzle till 2:00 pm. We worked over an hour to get the track dry with a shop vacuum and several blowers. After getting the track reasonably dry, we opened it for practice (approx. 45 minutes) to ensure the track was dry enough for competitive action. We then conducted our driver’s meeting including a brief devotional recognizing Mike Adkins, Pearle Gamble, and Lou Smiley who all passed since December of 2020. We were able to get the first heat races started by 4:00 pm. We had 20 classes represented and by grouping some of the classes together we were able to run all classes in 13 groups. We completed all but a few of our 1st heats when light rain delayed the program again. We called a quick drivers meeting on the grid asking the drivers if they want to dry the track and continue with most of the 2nd round of demonstration heat races under the lights or shut down for the day and pick-up on Saturday. The overwhelming majority wanted to continue into the night so we dried the track again and did just that. All heat races went smoothly. We completed all of the 2nd heat races for the day about 9:00 pm and proceeded with the banquet.
Yamaha Masters (over 60) lining up for the green.
We all enjoyed a great finger food buffet prepared and served by Vicki & Glenn Forsyth in the concession/registration building and pavilion area. In honor of Mike Adkins, Pearle Gamble, and Lou Smiley, Bob Barthelemy acknowledged that “In memory of” plaques will be placed on the walls of the concession building.
Romero Llamas and his team of judges got the kart show judging activity going at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning on the front straight. The Kart Show awards were presented a little after 10:00. We recognized Pete Lotz as the furthest traveled and awarded the plaque to him (Belgium, Wisconsin). We then conducted the 50/50 raffle presenting several GSKA & VKA T-shirts and calendars. The big money winner was Steve Mox, who graciously donated half of his winnings back to the VKA. David Luciani headed up the sale of 50/50 raffle tickets ($1220.00) a record high for our event. We then opened the track for 30 minutes of practice. We called a quick drivers meeting, prayed, and Todd Shearin sang the National Anthem and we started the third round of heat races before lunch. We completed the third round of heat races before 2:00 pm., then presented the awards for the demonstrations and finished by 3:00 p.m.
Great show participation with outstanding karts. Individual show coverage and photos will be posted shortly.
Kart Show Results
Historic Unrestored: Aubree McClellan 1968 Margay New Breed Restored: Rob Rizzuto 1961 Dart Mac 91B
Rear Unrestored: David Luciani 1960 Go Kart 800 West Bend 820 Restored: John McMullen 1961 Percival Hellcat SL Modified: Kevin Rice 1961 Fox West Bend 820
Sidewinder Unrestored: Rick Williams 1987 Coyote Bullet Restored: David Brock 1978 Hartman Modified: Dustin Merritt 1987 Invader
Past Champion:
People’s Choice: Bill Shelly 1975 Blackhawk
Yamaha Masters started to spread out through turn 1 with Rick Williams leading and Marty Weston in pursuit.
It was good to see WKA Sprint legend Joey Lunati (#2) at Barnesville. Joey was the only entry in 150cc Classic – come on Haddock, he needs some competition. At one time Joey had about 75 Macs in his attic…
A swarm of Yamahas take the green flag in one of the many Yamaha heat races.
Cale Boarman from Owensboro, KY gets crossed-up but his aggressive driving style took him to victory, sweeping all three heats in the Junior Class.
Trevor Lotz negotiating the Wilson Twister on his #19 SAE to a win in the Rear 6.1 class.
Bowen Carlock leads a huge pack of Yamaha Limiteds on his way to winning the Limited class victory.
Aubree McClellan showing perfect form in her Mac49 ’68 Margay New Breed. She also won Best Historic Unrestored class in the kart show.
#41 Stuart Keller, #177 Brandon McMillian and Dustin Merritt#112 in Yamaha Limited navigating the Wilson Twister.
Rear 8.2 Mark & Autumn Nagel and Bill Winegarden followed Rear 6.1 Sean Kavanagh and Trevor Lotz (out of photo).
Mark Green from China Grove, NC in his Yamaha Limited pursued by Bowen Carlock.
Rick Gilmore gets loose in his 8.2 sidewinder.
Aiden Riley power sliding through turn #1 finished third overall in the Junior Class.
Sportsman Rear groups A&B led by Tony Severino into the Wilson Twister.
Tony Severino leads Robert Rizzuto in Sportsman Rear through turn #1.
Jamey Stropko from College Station, OH, finished 2nd in the Junior Class.
Mark Green’s Yamaha Dual finished 2nd to Gary Combs, but is hard to ignore in day-glow colors.
A pair of 100cc Classics with Sean Collins on pole and six Yamaha Limiteds led by Steve Lofton come down to take the flag.
Jerry and Mark Nagel in Rear C-Open doing battle. Jerry kept the lead for the win.
Had to show you Jimmy Gay (AKA Chicken Man) from Hoschton, GA, in his Historic entry. Driving attire put a smile on everyone’s face!
The World Karting Association held the 2021 Karting Challenge at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC on April 16-18, 2021. It was a multiple event with road racing on the CMS “Roval”, modern sprint racing on the sprint kart track in the infield near turn 3 of the main oval, and dirt sprint racing on the dirt track right next to the Speedway. Road racers moved in on Friday morning April 16th. The road course was rented to Mustang racers on Friday morning so we were not able to get on the track until the afternoon. WKA changed the configuration of the road course adding a 180-degree loop at the end of the road course before going onto the oval.
Bill Johnson’s Piston Port/USA entry was running a MC-101, but during the race on Saturday his GoPro was falling off, and when he reached to grab it he hit the quick-releas-se fuel cap and had to pull in. He also suffered some engine damage knocking him out for Sundacy.
The track was very bumpy, especially between turns 3 and 4 of the oval and as you entered the road course from the oval. And when I say very bumpy, I mean very bumpy. Many racers said that their heads were jarred so badly in turns 3 and 4 of the oval that they had trouble seeing the turn-in for the front stretch chicane. The track roughness also took its toll on equipment since our racing karts don’t have suspension. All that jarring will eventually break something.
There were 3 Vintage Twins at the track on Friday. Rick Gilmore just got his engine mounts for his twin on Thursday afternoon so he didn’t have time to get the engines set-up on his C-Open enduro kart. He worked on it off and on during the day on Friday. Ron Caldwell had added a fuel tank to his C-Open sprint kart to have enough fuel capacity for the road race. Unfortunately Ron locked up an engine during a practice. Undaunted, he installed a spare engine and went back out for another practice session. However luck was not with Ron this day. His new tank cracked so he packed it up and went home. The 3rd Vintage Twin was Tom Tretow who came all the way from Wisconsin. Tom’s Invader twin was set-up with 2 TKM 135cc reed valve engines. During practice on Friday, Tom put a hole through the top of the piston in one of his engines. Unable to repair the engine at the track, Tom removed the 135cc TKMs and installed a pair of 100cc PCR reed valve engines and started dialing them in.
Ron Caldwell brought his twin DAP T-60 (each with dual 34mm Mikunis) sprint kart. After installing a larger fuel tank for the enduro, he proceeded to seize an engine. He installed a spare, then the new fuel tank cracked.Tom Tretow’s dual Invader with twin TKM 135 reed valve engines got off to a rocky start when he “holed” a piston in practice. However, he had a pair of backup PCR 100s that ran flawless the rest of the weekend.
There were 3 Vintage Piston Port/USA karts, all set-up with McCulloch MC-101s. As far as I know they did not have any significant issues during practice.
There were 2 Vintage Open karts, Rick Gilmore’s Margay with a K-299 B-Bomb and my Invader with a K-299 B-Bomb. Rick seized a piston in practice on Friday and spent the rest of the afternoon swapping engines. I went out for the 1st practice to familiarize myself with the new track configuration and to check my clutch and carb settings. My clutch was over slipping and when I came in I noticed that the outboard clutch oil seal had blown out. I set to work removing the rear axle to remove the axle clutch. I got a replacement seal, installed it, turned out the clutch adjusters to reduce clutch slip, and refilled the clutch with new oil. Then I re-assembled the rear axle and went out for another practice session. This time the clutch was still over slipping but just a little bit so I turned out the clutch adjusters a little bit more to reduce clutch slip. During the next practice session, the clutch was right where I wanted it to slip so I concentrated on getting the carbs dialed in.
After a couple of short practice sessions on Saturday morning I had the engine, carbs, and clutch just where I wanted them to be. The kart handled well and the brakes performed well.
Dennis Griffith’s Van-K kart ran a MC-101 in Piston Port/USA class. Dennis won his class on Saturday when the two other competitors, Bill Anderson and Bill Johnson both experienced problems.
Race #3 on Saturday included the Vintage Twin 1 class. Rick Gilmore was still working on repairing the damage to this Vintage Open kart so he didn’t get his Vintage Twin ready for the race. Consequently Tom Tretow was the only Vintage Twin to make the grid. Tom ran very well and showed how quick a good Vintage Twin kart can run.
Race #6 on Saturday included both the Vintage Open 1 class and the Vintage Piston Port/USA 1 class. Rick Gilmore and I were gridded for the Vintage Open 1 race and Dennis Griffith, Bill Anderson, and Bill Johnson were gridded for the Vintage Piston Port/USA 1 class.
I got a great start and took the lead of the Vintage Open 1 race right off the starting grid. I led every lap and won the race. There were 7 classes running together but there were no traffic problems. I found out after the race that Rick Gilmore stripped a belt coming off the starting grid so he did not even complete one lap. Dennis Griffith running the Vintage Piston Port/USA 1 class with his Van-K kart and a MC-101 had a great race with me. I was slow in the infield road course and Dennis caught and passed me there just about every lap. However I would catch him on the oval and pass him before we entered the front stretch chicane so I led every lap. At about 1/3 race distance, my temperature indication failed due to a broken CHT thermocouple lead. At about half race distance, my slippy pipe cable broke so I lost some top end speed. With only a couple of minutes left in the vintage races, the red flag came out due to an accident in one of the other classes so our race ended just a little early. Dennis and I both completed 11 laps and our best lap times were less than half a second apart. We were essentially glued together for the entire race. It was fun.
Gilmore’s dual B-bomb-powered Invader will be a missile when he gets it sorted out.
In the Vintage Piston Port/USA 1 class, Dennis Griffith was quite a bit quicker than both Bill Anderson and Bill Johnson. Dennis led that class from start to finish. Close to the end of the race, Bill Anderson suffered a broken rod in his MC-101. He still completed 10 laps. On lap 8 Bill Johnson’s GoPro camera started to fall over so he reached over to get it but the bumpy track caused his elbow to hit his flip up tank cap and it came open. He couldn’t close it on the track so he came into the pits ending his race after 7 laps. Bill also felt he may have hurt his engine in the race.
Bill Anderson’s MC-101 broke a rod on Saturday, so he installed a 100cc Mac for Sunday. Unfortunately, it too failed after 5 laps.
I did not run practice on Sunday morning since I needed to correct the issues from yesterday’s race. I installed a new CHT thermocouple lead and installed a new slippy pipe cable. Then I did my standard pre-race preparations.
On Sunday, race #2 featured the Vintage Open 2 class and the Vintage Piston Port/USA 2 class. I was the only kart in Vintage Open 2 since Rick Gilmore worked on his Vintage Twin kart to get it ready for the Vintage Twin race later that day. I got a great start and came off the grid like a rocket ship. The engine ran well, the clutch worked well, and the kart handled well. There were 7 classes running together but there were no traffic problems. Only 6 minutes into the race, my new CHT lead broke and then the MyChron4 gauge quit working entirely. I richened the rear carb HS needle just a little bit and ran the rest of the race without any gauge info. Now that’s real “vintage”. My fastest lap time of the Vintage Open 2 race was 2:01.545 so I was almost 5 seconds faster than I was on Saturday. I ran the entire race without any issues except for the gauge failure and completed 14 laps.
Bill Anderson was the only entry in Vintage Piston Port/USA 2. After damaging his MC-101 on Saturday, Bill ran a 100cc McCulloch in the Sunday race. Unfortunately as he came off turn 4 of the oval his engine suffered multiple engine failures. Bill quickly turned onto pit road preventing further damage to his engine. Bill completed 5 laps before dropping out.
Rick Gilmore brought two beautiful Enduros to Charlotte. Here is his single B-bomb-powered Margay. Last-minute parts arrival and engine woes plagued Rick all weekend. Got lots of wrench time and very little track time. (Been there, done that – Ed.)
Sunday’s race #4 featured the Vintage Twin 2 class. Unfortunately Rick Gilmore was unable to sort out the issues on his vintage twin kart and did not make the grid for the race. Tom Tretow ran well again and cruised to an uncontested win.
I had decided about a month before the race that this would be my final enduro road race. I’m 74 years old and it has been getting more physically challenging for me to do the enduro races. However I wanted to go out on a good performance and I am happy that I was able to do that. To me a race is successful if my equipment runs well, I drive well, and I finish the race. I will still participate in vintage sprint races but this was my “curtain call” for enduro kart racing. I have had a great time racing enduro karts for many years and have been very successful at it. It’s much better to go out on top than to stay too long in a sport. I will miss it but I have had a very good career road racing karts and I have no regrets about stopping now.
Here’s Dick Charest’s Komet K299-powered Invader that won both Vintage Open races. Dick retired from Enduro racing on a high note.
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”.
Gus Traeder’s secret to staying young – surround yourself with women!
Most of the karting universe knows Faye’s racing history and prowess at running a karting business. Faye’s driving career spanned the late 1950,s and the 60’s when karting was growing and new innovations came hard and fast. She and husband Tom would create Bug, and then Team Bug, and proceed to drive headlong into the history books of kart racing.
I began racing karts in 1985. While I had seen Faye in the pits from time to time, I didn’t really formally meet Faye until my first IKF Sprint Grandnationals in 1987 held at Garnett, Kansas, where I won my first Duffy. I began running a Bug the following year and my husband Rick would convert to Bug shortly thereafter. Rick and Faye would spend vast amounts of time discussing chassis and tires. Faye’s Husband “Big” Tom Pierson and I would become close friends too, and the four of us would remain close buds, and frequently meet up to catch up.
Rick and I stopped racing in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s, but never lost touch with Tom and Faye. After Tom’s passing, I would drive down for a night or weekend just to spend time with Faye. She was heartbroken and felt a little lost without Tom. But Faye threw herself into the business, with a whole lot of support from sons Tommy and Jon, she moved ever forward, as was her nature.
Quincy 2005 – Faye’s ready to ride!
A couple years later Faye called me one afternoon to tell me that she had been asked to attend a vintage karting event in Quincy, Illinois. She had promised Gus Traeder that she would attend, and Faye then explained that IKF Director Deb Harper had set up their travel plans. Deb was going to attend with Faye and write articles for interested karting publications. But, Deb had something come up and could no longer make the trip. It was just a couple of weeks away, so Faye asked if I would go with her, and to please bring my driving gear because she really didn’t know if she could do more than one heat race (Quincy in the heat you know…). She wanted me to be her backup driver; which would turn out to be the VERY LAST THING Faye needed.
And what an adventure it turned out to be – Faye would soon name us the “Thelma & Louise” of vintage karting. We had the absolute time of our lives together. We couldn’t attend an event in Quincy without stopping to put our feet in the mighty Mississippi River, which is how we discovered Hannibal, MO. Over the years it became ritual, after which we would eat at the amazing catfish house in Old Town.
On some of those trips to Quincy together, and the many other tracks around the country, Faye and I would get so tickled and begin laughing so very hard we had to pull over. Our friendship grew immeasurably during these times.
So after that one phone call, that one trip, I watched Faye’s glow come back as she was once again in her element. She was hooked, and I can tell you that she loved vintage karting most dearly. She cherished all of the incredible new memories through her time in the Vintage Karting Association and being at the tracks with all of you.
Faye always carried a notepad to each event so she could keep up with those she met along the way. After deciphering her notes and reminiscing about each event, we talked about all of y’all. Way, way too much to tell, and some things…I will never divulge – but it makes me giggle to this day.
Before vintage, we were friends who enjoyed and respected each other. But after our years of running amok together, the bond went well beyond friendship. I sincerely thank all of you for making our time with you so special. As her son Jon told me recently “What a run you two had together” and it’s so very true.
Obviously death is inevitable, but Faye was a super hero to me. Faye “Lady Bug” Pierson was truly a lady, she was poised and practical, a bit daring, forever playful, smart, sometimes downright sassy, she was so dear to all, she was my friend.
Prairie City 2002 – Faye with Tom Medley and his Faller kart
The first time I met Faye was at the 1992 IKF Sprint Nationals held at the Adams track in Riverside, California. After the event I needed a ride to one of the local airports. Faye offered to take me. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. We would talk on the phone often as she was the Bridgestone distributor for the West Coast.
Fast forward to 2002 and the Prairie City track. There was a vintage event there and who shows up but Faye Pierson with Tom Medley. Faye was wheeling Tom’s Faller kart around the track at the time we were having flagged heat events. Faye and I had a great time dicing back and forth – that was the beginning of my vintage days with Faye. We would fly into St. Louis and meet up at the airport (Faye, Mona Sturgeon, Ernie Fisher and myself), rent a car and drive to Quincy, Illinois. We would always stop at Hannibal, Missouri for fried catfish. Those were some great times and memories.
Faye was a living legend. One of the years at the banquet she was given the key to the city. We had a lot of fun at the track, we also had just as much fun at dinner. California always had a contingent of vintage karters at those events.
Faye, Tom Medley and Vince Hughes got together to start up the Riverside vintage event soon after. The first year we shared the track with pocket bikes. Then the event grew to where the vintage kart program had become a full three day event. Mona stepped up to the plate to help Faye and Vince out, Ernie Fisher was the official flagman at this event for many years.
Quincy – Earl Larson, Pete Berlt, Faye, Tom Medley & Terry Ives
Faye would always make it to the Northern California events too. At a Davis, California event I remember Faye, Mona, Tom Corso and myself went downtown. We had to have ice cream and we did. No matter what event we went to, Faye was always there and a big part of the event. She had no qualms about mixing it up with the guys. She could still outdrive many of us. The last time we visited was at the Riverside vintage event in February of 2020. Jon Pierson had moved Faye to live with him in Oregon and brought Faye down for a visit.
Vintage karting brought a lot of happiness to Faye, She looked forward to the people and they all loved her and the seat time she got in her Bug. I could go on and on with my memories with Faye, but it would take me forever to write it.
We are all going to miss this wonderful woman that brought so much happiness to everyone she touched.
Patch presented to participants at 2019 VKA Riverside
