Old New York Kart Tracks

Post all your vintage karting messages here in the General Discussion Forum

Moderator: Rob Voska

Post Reply
User avatar
Scott Kneisel
Posts: 477
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:48 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: '63 Rupp Grand Prix, 66 Rupp Chappy, Mc6's, Mc8, Mc10's, Mc20's
Lotsa' other Macs
User Agreement: Yes
Location: Farmington, NY

Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Scott Kneisel » Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:48 pm

Hi Vintage Karters!
I am trying to locate the New York tracks I used to race on as a teen in the 60's. I have found airial shots of the old track at Weedsport which is no longet used, the Cherry Valley and Genessee Valley (Avon) as well as Batavia which are all still in business for modern karting but not vintage. The one track I cannot find is Clayton, NY up in the Thousand Islands area. I just spent a week up in that area on vacation and asked around but no one seems to remember that track. They were on the IKF circuit, I even have a trophy from that track and I also joined the "flip club" up there trying to pass the leader on the last lap of the last heat of a points race. Right off the end and up a hay bail. Anyway, if anyone is reading this and has any idea of where that track was actually located or even any remembrance of it, I would appreciate it. I am posting this on all the sights.
Thanks you,
Scott

Jerry Fish
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:27 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: none did IKF racing in the mid 60's to mid 70's, I have lots to share with your members.
User Agreement: Yes

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Jerry Fish » Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:06 pm

Hi Scott:

Just joined REAR after seeing your post... I know it was about 3 years ago you posted this... but I think you will be interested to find that I have raced at Weedport Kart Track... and I have a color video of a couple of heats and my first win as a kart racer @ the Weedport Track, ... it was in the summer of 1966.. don't have a date.. but maybe you were there!!!!

I had a Dart Kart with an MC9....I also raced at Cherry Valley (Lafayette,NY) and Hillcrest Kart track near McClean NY in the mid 60's also...took some time off to go to automotive school.. then continued racing from 1974 to 1976.... things changed and had to sell all my stuff.. but I am now much older (in my early 60's) and I have found all this vintage karting stuff online and it is great fun to see all the restored early karts... it really takes me back...

If you wish I could get you a copy of the video... its on my PC... maybe I can upload it or send you a DVD of it... let me know

Jerry Fish... Liverpool, NY

User avatar
steveohara
Posts: 411
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:29 am
Vintage Karting items owned: 1969 Bug Sprint Mc 91B1
1965 Dart Gran Prix twin Mc100s
1963 Bug Scorpion ESll Mc45

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by steveohara » Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:41 pm

Jerry,

Post the video clips on YouTube and then come back here and post the links.. you'll be famous! :)
Steve O'Hara

Jerry Fish
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:27 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: none did IKF racing in the mid 60's to mid 70's, I have lots to share with your members.
User Agreement: Yes

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Jerry Fish » Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:14 pm

Thanks Steve...

I will try to post the like to YouTube.... if it doesn't work... go to youtube and search "vintage kart racing, Weedsport, NY" and it will take you right to it....CLICK HERE to watch in Large HD Video mode (requires high speed Internet connection).

Give it a try....

Thanks Jerry

User avatar
Bob Towarnicki
Posts: 122
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:45 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: 65 Alley Kat Mc91
Narrow Hoop A Bone Mc91B
Various restoration projects
User Agreement: Yes

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Bob Towarnicki » Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:32 pm

Jerry,
Great video. So now its time for you to find a Dart Kart and a Mac and come out to The Big One on Labor Day. You have plenty of time to make the acquisition and it is a blast. The people are great and you will have a sore REAR at the end of the weekend. One caution though, the Dart Karts seem to have shrunk over the years. They are just not as comfortable as they were when we were in our early teens. I still have my Mc9 from back then as well as my original kart.
Bob

robert lefevre
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:11 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: early 60's go kart 800 with mc engines
User Agreement: Yes
Location: Auburn, New York

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by robert lefevre » Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:06 am

Jerry, great video brings back the old memories, i'm from Auburn and i too raced at weedsport back in the early to mid 60's great fun. Also ran at Hillside in McClean nice fast track. Like Bob said, you now need a vintage Dart kart to come out and have some fun. There is a vintage event not too far from us in Avon in July and of course the Big One on Labor Day weekend in Fremont, Ohio. I'm a newbie to this vintage also, but sure looks like a lot of fun and all the vintage guys are easy to talk too and will help you get up and running. I still have my Go Kart 800 and some MC's from my racing days, getting them set up for this summer.

Bob LeFevre

Ron merriman
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:11 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: Fox Flyweight

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Ron merriman » Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:27 am

WOW
I have been following this post and did not realize I so many vintage karters in my back yard ,I had a large collection I sold off a couple of years ago and now starting to collect again and have a couple of darts and not as easy to buy as they were to sell .I also run Hillcrest in McLean in the sixtys and live 15 minutes from there in Ithaca.

User avatar
Scott Kneisel
Posts: 477
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:48 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: '63 Rupp Grand Prix, 66 Rupp Chappy, Mc6's, Mc8, Mc10's, Mc20's
Lotsa' other Macs
User Agreement: Yes
Location: Farmington, NY

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Scott Kneisel » Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:47 am

Hey Ron,
I would like to meet you sometime, I have heard so much about you (all good)
Maybe this season you can come up to Avon for one of our practice days. I rent the track once a month for a day during the week (usually Wednesdays) just for us vintage guys. Usually have 4-5 drivers or so and many more karts. Al P has come up a couple times from your area, John and Sandy come sometimes from Western NY and Mike S always makes them with his collection of Rupp stuff. If you want, I will email you when we have the practice days.

If you can't make it during the week, maybe you can make the Avon vintage event the last weekend in July.


Slowly but surely more and more guys are getting back into vintage around here and we have a ball.
Take care,
Scott

Ron merriman
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:11 pm
Vintage Karting items owned: Fox Flyweight

Re: Old New York Kart Tracks

Post by Ron merriman » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:29 pm

Hi Scott,
I am in Florida right now but will be returning soon ,pm your phone # to rmerrima@twcny.rr.com and we will chat soon.
Ron

Post Reply