Comments on: AROUND THE WORLD BY KART! http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:15:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/comment-page-1/#comment-1069739 Robert Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:50:49 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/#comment-1069739 I got involved with go karts around 1959 in Huntington Station, NY. My first kart was a Bilbrook with a Clinton engine purchased from a guy who had a shop on Jerico Turnpike. His name was Rudy Cushman and he formed a team and gave us jackets..red satin type. My buddy actually got a kart first. It was a Blitz with a West Bend engine. My next cary was a Blitz Kart which my dad had crash bars welded on the side and front. I believe it has a Power Products AH 58 engine. I was not 16 so we were confined to the small oval at Blitz Kart Stadium. Through all this time we got to know Willi Bruggemann and Jack Welter. We also hung out with a guy named Jack Sutherland who had a shop in South Huntington on Depot Rd. He was part of the Blitz Racing Team and I believe around 1961 Blitz built a line of karts for them to race in the Bahamas. I purchased one after the races from Jack. We moved to the west coast and the Bahama Kart as it was called was lost in a fire in Denver. My memories is that all the guys at Blitz were always nice to us kids and we would go up to the shop at times which if remember right was past the train station on the street where Manor Lumber was. These are great memories of getting introduced to karting. We also got to run occaisionaly at Islip Speedway. On the west coast I got a Dart Kart and went on for a number of years of success and trophys until a '51 Chevy and all the young girls changed my priorities. I got involved with go karts around 1959 in Huntington Station, NY. My first kart was a Bilbrook with a Clinton engine purchased from a guy who had a shop on Jerico Turnpike. His name was Rudy Cushman and he formed a team and gave us jackets..red satin type. My buddy actually got a kart first. It was a Blitz with a West Bend engine. My next cary was a Blitz Kart which my dad had crash bars welded on the side and front. I believe it has a Power Products AH 58 engine. I was not 16 so we were confined to the small oval at Blitz Kart Stadium. Through all this time we got to know Willi Bruggemann and Jack Welter. We also hung out with a guy named Jack Sutherland who had a shop in South Huntington on Depot Rd. He was part of the Blitz Racing Team and I believe around 1961 Blitz built a line of karts for them to race in the Bahamas. I purchased one after the races from Jack. We moved to the west coast and the Bahama Kart as it was called was lost in a fire in Denver. My memories is that all the guys at Blitz were always nice to us kids and we would go up to the shop at times which if remember right was past the train station on the street where Manor Lumber was. These are great memories of getting introduced to karting. We also got to run occaisionaly at Islip Speedway. On the west coast I got a Dart Kart and went on for a number of years of success and trophys until a ‘51 Chevy and all the young girls changed my priorities.

]]> By: David http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/comment-page-1/#comment-1064568 David Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:30:20 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/#comment-1064568 I'm looking to get in touch with Jack Welter, who was involved with Blitz karts on Long Island NY. Thanks I’m looking to get in touch with Jack Welter, who was involved with Blitz karts on Long Island NY.
Thanks

]]> By: Baxter Culver http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/comment-page-1/#comment-1063120 Baxter Culver Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:45:27 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/#comment-1063120 Just prior to joining the Army in the fall of 1960, I was one of the "kids" who hung out and worked at Echo Engineering, on N. Vendome St in Los Angeles. Wm Glen Davis, III (aka Beatnik) had been planning his LA to Mexico City by Kart trip for more than a year. I helped assemble the Echo Kart and was primarily responsible for constructing the trailer. Most of the component parts were donated by karting industry companies. We chased Davis halfway to San Bernardino that September day when he launched his trip. Last seen was the red flag atop a tall whip antenna as he darted in and out of LA traffic although, while I was stationed in Germany, I caught a picture posed by the Eiffel Tower . I later heard Davis had returned from Europe, his karting adventure over, and had ridden a mini-scooter across country back to California. The Karting scene in the early 1960's spawned some interesting characters and many serious racing drivers. Bill Davis was one of them. Just prior to joining the Army in the fall of 1960, I was one of the “kids” who hung out and worked at Echo Engineering, on N. Vendome St in Los Angeles. Wm Glen Davis, III (aka Beatnik) had been planning his LA to Mexico City by Kart trip for more than a year. I helped assemble the Echo Kart and was primarily responsible for constructing the trailer. Most of the component parts were donated by karting industry companies.

We chased Davis halfway to San Bernardino that September day when he launched his trip. Last seen was the red flag atop a tall whip antenna as he darted in and out of LA traffic although, while I was stationed in Germany, I caught a picture posed by the Eiffel Tower .

I later heard Davis had returned from Europe, his karting adventure over, and had ridden a mini-scooter across country back to California. The Karting scene in the early 1960’s spawned some interesting characters and many serious racing drivers. Bill Davis was one of them.

]]> By: Russell J. Thorne http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/comment-page-1/#comment-1053751 Russell J. Thorne Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:40:33 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/#comment-1053751 I can remember as a young child my father had a kart in the garage. I asked him about it years later and he told me he had named it 'Blitzkart' but did not actually get any credit for it. Can anybody shed any light on this? My father mentioned Willi Bruggemann often. William R. Thorne passed away 2 years ago at the age of 96. Russell J. Thorne Huntington Station, NY I can remember as a young child my father had a kart in the garage. I asked him about it years later and he told me he had named it ‘Blitzkart’ but did not actually get any credit for it. Can anybody shed any light on this? My father mentioned Willi Bruggemann often.
William R. Thorne passed away 2 years ago at the age of 96.

Russell J. Thorne
Huntington Station, NY

]]> By: Jack Welter http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/comment-page-1/#comment-885593 Jack Welter Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:40:22 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/03/31/around-the-world-by-kart/#comment-885593 My Self and Willi Bruggemann built the Blitz Karts for both of them by using our Huntington Long Island Production site, It was fun being envolved. Those Blitz Karts did not fail for the remainder of the trip, If William Glen Davis reads this, please contact me at the above E-mail address. Jack Welter My Self and Willi Bruggemann built the Blitz Karts for both of them by using our Huntington Long Island Production site, It was fun being envolved. Those Blitz Karts did not fail for the remainder of the trip, If William Glen Davis reads this, please contact me at the above E-mail address. Jack Welter

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