Adams, California 2015

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VINTAGE KARTING ASSOCIATION REUNION, RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA, FEB 5, 6 AND 7 2015.

ELEVENTH ANNUALVINTAGE KART REUNION, BEST EVER!

Event promoter Louie Figone in his summing up at the conclusion of the Eleventh Annual Vintage Kart Reunion awards distribution reiterated what many of the participants had said to him that this was the best Riverside vintage karting event ever. And that was said last year as well; the meeting just gets better and better!

Just like the previous ten, the eleventh annual Vintage Karting Association Reunion was held at the historical Adams Motorsport Park located on 24th Street in Riverside California. Eighty eight karts signed-on to race and numerous others took the opportunity to use practice as a track day. The number of competition karts in attendance was increased by the appearance of the beautiful Trailer Queens that only participated in the Friday evening kart show. The weather was typical of winter in southern Californian with temperatures in the low seventies Fahrenheit for the entire meeting.

Australian participation in this year’s meeting was up on last year from two to three entries, Colin Bennett from Melbourne Victoria, joining regular vintage participants at the Riverside vintage kart reunion, brothers Graeme and Bruce Barwick from Sydney New South Wales and Tin Can Bay Queensland respectively. Travelling with his wife Roslyn, Peter Ward from Eddington Victoria, a many times Australian kart champion oversaw the preparation of the karts and at least two other Australians made the trip as team supporters. The long journey from Australia to California is never a wasted effort for the contingent from down under and this year was no exception.

Victory in the Dual Rear class was deservingly won by Graeme Barwick driving a RobRon Chaparral powered by a Peter Ward tuned Maico. Graeme took the overall win with victories in races two and three and a third place finish in race one. Graeme’s wining margin was twenty five points from Iowan Pete Williams, a former driver of the Chi-Town Hustler Funny Car in the late 70’s.

Again the Australian flag was raised to the top of the podium when Bruce Barwick secured victory in the class for competitors who were over sixty years of age. Bruce was second in the first two races and victorious in the final race giving him a winning margin of 147 points.

Because of engine gremlins Victorian Colin Bennett was unclassified in the first race in the Single Sidewinder 100cc class on board his 1975 Bug Wasp powered by a Komet K88. Master mechanic Peter Ward worked his magic on the ailing engine allowing Colin to finish third and then second in races two and three respectively. These results tied Colin for second place on points, however his none score in race one meant that Colin had to settle for third place.

Another great Riverside vintage karting event for the Australian competitors and their enthusiastic band of travelling supporters.

The Riverside team of Australian vintage karters that competed at Adams are indebted to Faye 'Ladybug' Pierson for providing preparation facilities at the Bug Engineering plant and kart museum located in nearby Azusa.

Check out www.vkavintagekarting.com for more pictures and information.

Report: Frank Weir

Photos: Jerry Imboden (Kart Art)

and the Australian crew

L to R: Graeme Barwick (Sydney, NSW) winner Dual Rear Class, Faye 'Ladybug' Pierson (Bug Engineering), Louie Figone (Event Promoter), Bruce Barwick (Tin Can Bay, Queensland) winner Over 60 Class, and Peter Ward (Eddington Victoria, Crew Chief and multi times Australian kart champion).