Karting Gold Cup

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Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

Racers compete during one of the several races hosted at G&J Kart-way just outside of Camden, on Sunday July 5. The World Karting Association hosted the third leg of their Gold Cup at the local raceway. Pictured, drivers battle for position during a race at the Kartway. In some divisions speed reach upwards of 80 mph as drivers sit one inch above the ground. A variety of teams competed at G&J Kartway on Sunday, July 5. The entire camp area was full of drivers and teams who camped out for the weekend of racing. Teams with full sponsors and crews to family-run teams provided a wide range of levels of competition for the event. Pictured: teams work on their karts between races at G&J Raceway in Camden.

CAMDEN — Not many national touring series stop by Preble County but that is exactly what happened over July Fourth weekend at G & J Kartway in Camden.

The World Karting Association (WKA) hosted the third leg of “The Gold Cup” for the national touring series at the local kart track when over 120 go-karts representing 11 racing divisions reached speeds as high as 80 miles per hour on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The track has seen plenty of famous names cross the finish line; famous drivers like NASCAR Sprint Cup stars Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick, Sam Hornish, and Michael Waltrip all once raced on the asphalt at G&J.

Famous actors have even taken to the Camden track — like when Tom Cruise was preparing for his role in Days of Thunder according to Donald Boles, a board member of the OVKA.

“The thing people should know is this is where you come if you want to learn how to race. It’s pretty cool to think about all the drivers who once raced here,” Boles said.

Karting series like the WKA and Ohio Valley Karting Association (OVKA), whose home track is G&J Kartway, have long been an important part in developing racers in the Midwest, as they offer divisions starting with LO206 Kid Kart division for ages five to eight.

The OVKA has been part of Karting from the very beginning, according to Boles. “We’ve been a club for 51 years, we are one of the oldest clubs in the nation. There is a club in California and we’re not sure who is older, but we’re real close,” he said.

Tradition is a big reason why the Camden-based track is still being used for the series.

“We’re friendly people here, this is where it all begin we’ve doing this for thirty something years now, we got a good track owner, he’s very supportive of us and it’s been a good relationship,” Boles said.

For drivers however, the track is one of the more challenging tracks the series goes to.

“This is a pretty technical track. It’s a lot of handling so it’s a good track to drive” said Eric Fagan, a driver from Columbus, who was competing in the L0206 Senior Division.

Fagan travels the nation for his driving and said the combination of history and track style make Camden a good track. “It’s got lot of history, I travel all around and I have been most of the tracks and this is a fun track, I like coming here a lot,” he said.

The track hosts races for OVKA throughout the summer. The next race is set for Sunday, July 11, with races beginning at 11:30 a.m. Boles expects around 120 local drivers to compete over the weekend.

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