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MEMBER MEMORY BY DAVE NANCE
I got my 1st yard kart in 1973, a year-old kid! Runt and his dad
Wards green machine. In 1975- had a box-truck that they used to
st
76 I got my 1 race kart from take parts to all the big races in
RUNT's Kart Sales in the 1970s (it was packed full of
Gadsten, AL, the main race kart karts and parts too!). My dad
shop in the state, an event I will and Runt’s dad sat and talked of
never forget! The older kids their days during the war,
were beating me in there 5hp drinking black coffee like folks
yard karts vs. my 3hp kart. So, did back then. Runt was
my late father, a WW- gathering up all the parts and a
II veteran, took me to Runt’s kart kit for my 1 real race kart
st
place. It was an old gas station. (a Rupp A-bone, unpainted
Beside the gas station was kit), a new MC-92 with slipper
Runt’s original place; a small clutch and GEM cow-bell open
restaurant that was famous for header.
the hamburgers. It was a real
old-time place like you see in I begged my dad for a 2 engine,
nd
movies in the 40's and 50's with but he would not go for it! After
a counter with the round stools eating some of the best
and some booths. hamburgers I ever ate, my dad
and I went home to Huntsville.
Runt’s dad (also a WW-II vet) Dad took the frame to be painted
had started selling kart parts out metallic blue at an auto paint
of the back door of the restaurant shop where they baked the paint
in the late 1950's. Early on. I had to do all the wrench
customers included Lynn work due to my dad’s
Haddock and Lake injuries from the war. I put it all
Speed. Runt’s dad started together myself.
keeping kart parts so the racers
would have them when they Time for a test drive that I will
were needed. As karting grew, NEVER forget! The brand-new
they acquired the old-time gas MC-92 crackled to life on the 1
st
station next door as a place to spin; the smell of Klotz was in
keep all the karts and parts. By the air! Dad told me to take it up
the time I made it there in 1975, and down the street one time. I
you could barely walk thru the went up and down the street until
place! Karts and parts piled up all the neighbors came out to see
everywhere … heaven for an 11- what was making all the noise.
©
VKA FIRSTURN -20- Jun/Jul 2020
MMXX No. 4
