Track-Announcer.com paid a special visit to Mike and Kelley Engstrom’s Kam Kartway on Sunday, June 15th, for the purpose of getting to know more about the program they have running for the world of Go Kart Racing. This 1/8 mile semi banked clay oval dirt track is located 14 miles East of Texas Motor Speedway on HWY 114, just West of Rhome, Texas.

      The first thing you notice when you pull in the gate is the family atmosphere that surrounds and envelopes this racing facility. With their home situated as the backdrop for the track, you can’t help but feel you are here for a family outing as you pull into the pit area, claim your spot under one of the many sprawling shade trees and roll out your equipment for a an afternoon of laid back and enjoyable racing.

     Mike and Kelley have two daughters that race Go Karts, well…. Actually they are serious competitors in the Kam Kartway 600 Mini Sprints, a traveling series that runs at several tracks in the area, but they still race at Kam Kartway “Just for the fun of it”, according to Megan Engstrom.

     The racing at this track is sanctioned by the Burris National Speedway Series on the National Level and the SKRA, Southern Kart Racing Association, on a Regional level. The Classes they run start with the Kid Kart which is for the young beginner’s age 4 to 7. Once they have acquired some driving skills they can move up to the 3 ½ HP class. Again, this class is for ages 4 to 7, but those with some experience under their helmets.

     The Pure Stock Class is for drivers age 7 to 14. This class gives those who are of this age group a division designed to get them introduced to the more advanced Karts before they run with the seasoned veterans who have come up thru the ranks and are capable of running faster. Once a driver has at least a year’s seat time in the Pure Stocks, they can move up to the Super Stocks. This class, also known as the Stock Animal class, is a division is for the 8 to 15 year olds who have that previous experience in the Pure Stocks. The term “Animal” refers to a special racing engine designed and manufactured by Briggs and Stratton that is widely used in Kart Racing today.

     Once you have reached the 9 to 18 year old age group, have one year of “Animal” experience or the special approval of the track officials, you can move up to the Modified Division. This class is for the most advanced racers under the age of 19. The rules for this class allow for modifications to the engine that gives them impressive horsepower!

The next two divisions, Adult Animal and KT-100, are for ages 15 thru adult. These classes are for the seasoned veterans who have moved up thru the ranks and for adults who want to get into the action!

     So, as you can see, there is certainly ample opportunity for fun for all ages within the world of Karting. At the Kam Kartway, what we found was a first class operation run by an all volunteer staff that is dedicated to safety, fairness and providing a fun and exciting place for families to spend time together in a racing format that everyone can enjoy. Apparently, several families are willing to drive quite a ways just to do that. There were teams in attendance from as far away as Lufkin, Corsicana and Rockwall Texas. One team had driven in from Muskogee, Oklahoma.

     Mike Engstrom is the Track Owner and Promoter, his wife Kelley is the General Manager of Kam Kartway as well as the Head Scorekeeper and Registration Official. Phillip Brimmer is the Race Director, Mark Welch is the Flagman, Tom O’Neil is the Track Announcer, and Jimmy Dawn is the Track Official. Jordan McPherson along with Megan and Kaley Engstrom are Corner Workers. Kam Kartway also has an onsite parts store that is operated by Theresa Richardson. Great job you guys are doing! Keep up the good work!

Neal Palmer