Berlin Lions' World Of Wheels Hosts Aspiring Racers

Text and photographs by Dave Burnham  

The Berlin Fair Grounds was a Mecca for four-wheel fans on Sunday. 

While the Summer Knights Car Club were attracting more than 500 cars to their annual car show, the Nutmeg Kart Club was putting on a show all of its own.  

Karting appeals to would-be racers of all ages and can be considered a relatively inexpensive way to go racing. Karting is also a superb training ground for anyone who wants to take their motorsport ambitions to a higher level. 

In Europe, karting has been a breeding ground for Formula One world champions such as Ayrton Senna. Many of today’s top American drivers like Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick began their journey to the top of the motorsport tree by skimming inches above the asphalt in a kart.  

“The club has been in existence for almost 38 years,” said Nutmeg Kart Club president John Latte. “We started in Shelton, and we were there until about five years ago, when our old track had homes built on it. We were lucky that the Berlin Lions allowed us the use of their [World of Wheels] facility. We’ve been through two expansions so far and next year we’re going for a third. This is my ninth year with the club and I’ve been president for seven.  

Kart racing with the Nutmeg Club is an event that can be enjoyed by all of the family. 

“Ages start from five and we go all the way up to racers in their mid 60s and everything in between. We have three generations – kids, parents and grandparents – who all race.”  

Sunday was the club’s first points event of the year and the season finishes on October 12th. The karts are also a popular attraction at the annual Berlin Fair.  

“Our regular racers come from all over Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Occasionally we'll get a few from Pennsylvania and North Carolina.  We’re sanctioned by the World Karting Association, the largest karting organization in the country.  

“We’re getting between 70 and 80 karts competing in each round. As far as people in the stands, we’ll probably have between 300 and 400 depending on the day and that’s growing.  

“It was really rough in the beginning. We’ve made some changes as far as the motors are concerned to make it more entry level. Most of these are all four cycle, six-and-a-half horsepower engines. Some run on methanol and some run on gas. We have a couple of two cycles in our unlimited class.”  

The racing was fast and furious as the drivers pounded the oval jockeying for positions. Whatever the age, they race hard and they have fun, and that’s what it’s all about.  

The next Nutmeg Kart Club event at the Berlin Fair Grounds will be Sunday, May 5th.