A Busy Weekend for
the EEKR
by Danielle
McCormack
Last weekend was
a busy one for the East End Kart Racing (EEKR) organization. On
Saturday night, the club held an exhibition during Riverhead
Raceway’s regular NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program. The
next day, the EEKR held their third meet of the season.
In what has
become a tradition for Riverhead Raceway’s Saturday night
schedule, the EEKR had the opportunity to showcase the future of
Long Island Auto Racing in front of Riverhead’s stock car racing
fans. Many fans stopped by the go-kart display that was set up
in the pit area after the races to check out the karts and find
more information on how to get involved.
“This has become
a great way of showcasing EEKR go-karters to the general
public," says EEKR president Dave Brigati. “The club has grown
in leaps and bounds ever since we have been publicizing and
promoting [the annual exhibition] at Riverhead. Some of today’s
racing stars got their start in go-karts just like these kids
from our club. It gives me such pride to see these kids race and
know that I'm helping them to become the stars of tomorrow.”
Despite an ominous overcast sky on Sunday, the weather did not
stop the third meet of 2010.
“I didn’t know if
we were going to be able to get the show in today because it
looked so gloomy,” says EEKR vice president Joe Orlando, “but
these kids were born to race and nothing is going to stop them,
not even a little rain.”
Regardless of
Mother Nature’s wrath, the EEKR had a good number of karts
attend and the show went on as scheduled.
The EEKR’s growth
in the last three years has been quite amazing. The club
attracts racers from all over the Island and beyond, including
Kevin Baird of Ridgefield, Conn. Kevin and his father Scott make
the two-hour trip down to Riverhead Raceway for every EEKR meet.
He has been racing go-karts for about five years; running them
in his home state of Connecticut as well as upstate New York and
some select National events down South. However, they couldn’t
find a home they were happy with. That’s until they were invited
by Sean Glennon and his family to an EEKR meet at Riverhead. The
Barids were so impressed with the club that they decided to
become members and run EEKR’s full schedule.
Brigati says
that, “the club wouldn’t be as good as it is without the club’s
officials, club members, family, and friends. We wouldn’t be
able to bring karters from out of state. The club must be doing
something right, or at least I would like to think so.”
Results (With
Car Number)
Kid Champ Kart
1. Kenneth Massa 51
2. Michael Hurley 48x
3. Jason Trinca 48
4. Jeffrey Farruggia 18
5. Joseph Persico 18x
Junior Champ Beginner
1. Jaclyn Busch 26
4-cycle Kid Karts
1. Jason Trinca 48
2. Joseph Bertuccio III 2
3. Riley Okeere 39
4. Anthony Vasseur 14
Junior Champ
1. Billy Humes 12
2. Kevin Baird 51
3. Alex Colasanto 66
4. Daniel Schlesier 96
5. Jack Handley Jr. 49
6. Ryan Lutz 36
7. Joseph Warren 1x
Junior I
1. Ryan Zukowski 29
2. Nick Harnage 2
3. Robert Thurau Jr. 88
4. RJ Gage 06
5. Ryan Warren 1x
6. Stacie Mason 07
Junior II
1. Vincent Biondolillo 66
2. Frank Kurklen 34
3. Joseph Gulotta 98
4. CJ Zukowski 69
Junior Sportsman Champ I
1. Nick Harnage 2
2. Eddie Fatscher 51
3. Jake Scharfenberg 44
4. Gillian Biondolillo 66
5. Jake Guyer 25
6. Kendall Grennan 38
7. William Ebert 14
8. Alyssa Colandro 45
9. Julia DiCanio 83
10. Kristian Pollack 36
Junior Sportsman Champ II
1. Mark Stewart 8
2. Anthony Marsh 22
3. Max Handley 49
4. Vincent Biondolillo 66
5. George Tomko 5
6. Alexa Hipperling 00
7. AJ Desantis 19
Medium Animal
1. Dean Grunert 21
2. James Hayden 42
Medium
1. Jason Agugliaro 69
2. Tom Franco 77
3. Dean Grunert 21
4. Jake Harrington 98
Senior Champ Over 35
1. John Ricciuto 00
2. Woot Lawrence 34
3. Richard Ventiera 1219
4. Bill Smith 37
5. Steve Elliston 72
6. Robert Thurau 7
Senior Champ Animal
1. Rich Wilson 12
2. James Hayden 24
3. Bruce Palzer 94
Senior Champ Raptor
1. Kyle Elwood 17
2. Vinny Delaney 46
3. Eric Zeh 34
4. Rich Wilson 12
5. Kyle Phillips 14
6. James Hayden 24
7. Brian Hansen 3
8. Tony Colandro 45
9. Kaylee Soper 8
10. Mike Malone 55
11. Melissa Barnes 18
12. Greg Spano 29
13. Amy Scharfenberg 44
14. Richie Davidowitz 25
Source: Danielle
McCormack/LongIslandJam.com
Posted: June
14, 2010
