The next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart may be competing right now at a small track in eastern Montcalm County. Vestaburg Kart Speedway opened in May with races taking place at 6 p.m. most every Saturday. The track, located a mile north of M-46 on Edgar Road between Crystal and Pine Grove roads, was the brainchild of Dave Freeman. “I race myself a little bit and I just decided kids in the community needed something different to do with their time,” he said. “It helps them stay out of mischief.” He sometimes has more than 40 competitors a night at the one-eighth mile oval, high-banked dirt track. But the drivers aren’t just kids. “We have them as young as 5 but we’ve had one who was 70 years old,” Freeman said. “They’re also a couple in their 60s who run hard too. They like to mix it up.” The younger drivers run with “restrictor plates” on their karts, which slows down the speed by limiting the flow of gasoline to the motor, just like NASCAR does for races at the Talladeaga and Daytona superspeedways. Races are held in various age groups and classifications, including stock and open divisions, with trophies or medals going to the winners. There is also an overall season points winner in all 10 classes. There’s even a Winged Outlaw Class where the karts “look like miniature World of Outlaw sprint cars,” Freeman said. “We usually average 30 to 35 cars a night and we have a lot of ladies running,” he added. “Sometimes we have a woman’s class, but most of them aren’t interested in running together. They would rather compete against the guys.” The cars don’t look or operate like a typical go-kart. “These are racing karts,” Freeman said. “They are just like all the NASCAR drivers got started in. They have special chassis and aren’t your regular kind of karts you might drive around your yard.” The races are run under rules developed by the National Karting Association. Freeman, 36, owner of Freeman Builders, and his 7- and 9-year-old sons compete at the track. “The big boys still like to have a good time too,” he said. “It’s fun.” The track has already developed a wide following, attracting drivers from as far away as Indiana and all over Michigan, including Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Midland, Beaverton, Grand Blanc and St. Johns. “The location helps us because we are right in the center (of the state),” Freeman said. He wants to make racing a family affair. “We take intermittent weeks off to give people the opportunity to do other things with their families,” Freeman said. “We try to promote fair and fun racing. There is no alcohol allowed anywhere on the premises.” After tonight the remaining scheduled dates are Aug. 30 and 31 during Labor Day Weekend, and Sept. 6 and 13, with the season championships set for Sept. 27. For more information, call Freeman at 989-268-5902 or 989-620-4654, or go online to www. vestaburgkartspeedway.com.
Yes, none would pass as a mower under the USLMRA. This was a race of three outlaw tracks. Ithaca Dirt Devils, Western Ontario Outlaws (Woo's) and The Maple Rapids Grass Kickers. We make our own rules.
It's a combination of three outlaw tracks, they do what they want. The stock classes resemble lawnmowers, and all of them have lawnmower engines although most are highly modified. I heard some were making 60 HP. My friends machine makes 37 HP and he was clearly out powered. They really didn't have a class for him, so he had to run with the big dogs from Ontario. You have to admit it's a lot more fun to watch than regular lawn mowers. :o)
You're right, I wish the announcer would have came out better. It's just me running around with one camera trying to catch as much action as I can. Stuff happens pretty quickly, I'm just an amateur.
This is too Cool ,, I bet that is a Blast ,, are these types of Racing done everywhere , I wonder ? Thanks for Sharing 👍
Wow! This is just too awesome!! Hope you have more videos!
Thanks, I have a whole bunch more, mostly of the Maple Rapids Grass Kickers.
Too cool. Thanks for sharing.
That looked like fun
no numbers ?? how do you score them or dont you keep score ?
They all have numbers on their machines.
Sorry, but is there like a top alcohol class or something? Like an unlimited open maybe?
No worries didn't mean to sound rude. Still enjoyed the races to the end!
they look top heavy as heck
yep track is long gone .... google earth it nothing left was a very cool track in its day.
handle bars ??
The next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart may be competing right now at a small track in eastern Montcalm County.
Vestaburg Kart Speedway opened in May with races taking place at 6 p.m. most every Saturday.
The track, located a mile north of M-46 on Edgar Road between Crystal and Pine Grove roads, was the brainchild of Dave Freeman.
“I race myself a little bit and I just decided kids in the community needed something different to do with their time,” he said. “It helps them stay out of mischief.”
He sometimes has more than 40 competitors a night at the one-eighth mile oval, high-banked dirt track.
But the drivers aren’t just kids.
“We have them as young as 5 but we’ve had one who was 70 years old,” Freeman said. “They’re also a couple in their 60s who run hard too. They like to mix it up.”
The younger drivers run with “restrictor plates” on their karts, which slows down the speed by limiting the flow of gasoline to the motor, just like NASCAR does for races at the Talladeaga and Daytona superspeedways.
Races are held in various age groups and classifications, including stock and open divisions, with trophies or medals going to the winners. There is also an overall season points winner in all 10 classes.
There’s even a Winged Outlaw Class where the karts “look like miniature World of Outlaw sprint cars,” Freeman said.
“We usually average 30 to 35 cars a night and we have a lot of ladies running,” he added. “Sometimes we have a woman’s class, but most of them aren’t interested in running together. They would rather compete against the guys.”
The cars don’t look or operate like a typical go-kart.
“These are racing karts,” Freeman said. “They are just like all the NASCAR drivers got started in. They have special chassis and aren’t your regular kind of karts you might drive around your yard.”
The races are run under rules developed by the National Karting Association.
Freeman, 36, owner of Freeman Builders, and his 7- and 9-year-old sons compete at the track.
“The big boys still like to have a good time too,” he said. “It’s fun.”
The track has already developed a wide following, attracting drivers from as far away as Indiana and all over Michigan, including Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Midland, Beaverton, Grand Blanc and St. Johns.
“The location helps us because we are right in the center (of the state),” Freeman said.
He wants to make racing a family affair.
“We take intermittent weeks off to give people the opportunity to do other
things with their families,” Freeman said. “We try to promote fair and fun racing. There is no alcohol allowed anywhere on the premises.”
After tonight the remaining scheduled dates are Aug. 30 and 31 during Labor Day Weekend, and Sept. 6 and 13, with the season championships set for Sept. 27.
For more information, call Freeman at 989-268-5902 or 989-620-4654, or go online to www.
vestaburgkartspeedway.com.
Does this place still racing. Still open?
No, Husband & Wife got a divorce, It no longer exists. It's to bad, was nice track
What size track is that
I'm not sure, think it might be a 1/5 mile. Maybe Rhonda could answer this. Track no longer exists.
i wanna make one!!
Those aren't lawn mowers their go carts
Yes, none would pass as a mower under the USLMRA. This was a race of three outlaw tracks.
Ithaca Dirt Devils, Western Ontario Outlaws (Woo's) and The Maple Rapids Grass Kickers. We make our own rules.
And that’s “they’re”
The owners got divorced track is no longer there
Don't know why you call it lawn mower racing..there go carts with a lawn mower body on them..
It's a combination of three outlaw tracks, they do what they want. The stock classes resemble lawnmowers, and all of them have lawnmower engines although most are highly modified. I heard some were making 60 HP. My friends machine makes 37 HP and he was clearly out powered. They really didn't have a class for him, so he had to run with the big dogs from Ontario.
You have to admit it's a lot more fun to watch than regular lawn mowers. :o)
There are different classes but you have to start with lawn mower drive train and frame for most
Perhaps Mercedes F1 team should copy the design?
Maybe put some personality in it.
You're right, I wish the announcer would have came out better. It's just me running around with one camera trying to catch as much action as I can. Stuff happens pretty quickly, I'm just an amateur.
The Americans surely know how to spoil a British sport. Driving round in circles, ridiculous.
Don't let them play cricket for fs.
Sorry you feel that way, It was just a fun weekend of racing. Between two clubs one American, and one Canadian.
Ryan Ryker and his group are a joke 🙄
'Promosm'