Local Kart Racers Enjoy Winning Ways And Family Fun

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown’s Stephen and Nicholas Kopcik earned first and second place, respectively, in their divisions during the Nutmeg Kart Club racing season, which wrapped up earlier this month.

They compete at the Berlin Lions Club’s World Of Wheels race track, racing the cars they work on, with help from their father and a kart racer himself, Nick Kopcik.

Stephen, who is 11 years old, captured the most points in the Junior 2 Division for ages 10–12 and Nicholas took second in the Junior 3 Division (ages 12–15). The racers accumulate points at weekend competitions throughout the summer.

They put on their helmets and speed off every other weekend from April to October — doing laps at about 30–35 miles per hour. This marked the second consecutive year in which Nicholas has taken the crown in his age division.

“I just couldn’t believe I got my championship again — second year in a row,” Stephen said.

The key to being among the top racers, Nicholas added, is confidence.

“You just need to be confident throughout the whole entire racing season and try your best,” Nicholas said.

That attitude combined with a need for speed and some racing talent can go a long way, but the commitment and availability on the part of racing participants is also key as the more races in which they compete, the more points they can accumulate.

The young Kopcik racers have been involved for a few years and as much as they enjoy winning, these boys really love being at the track with their family members and friends — so they’re at the track every chance they get.

“It’s fun to go out there and race with your friends,” Nicholas said.

“I think the most fun is being on the track when you’re racing and when you’re working on the cars,” Stephen added.

It’s quite a family affair for the Kopciks. Stephen and Nicholas not only hit the track with their dad; their grandfather, Joe Tavella, also races. And Nick Kopcik’s wife, Melissa, also helps out at the track.

There are age- and ability-specific divisions to allow for racers of all types to get behind the wheel and have some fun.

“The nice thing about this is my wife, myself, both my boys, their grandfather are all participating,” Nick Kopcik said. “We all work on the karts together,” he said.

“We’re all together on a Sunday — it’s wonderful,” Melissa Kopcik said.

The Kopciks aren’t the only Newtown family involved with racing at the Berlin track.

The Danuszar family — Morgan, 14, Kelsey, who is 8 going on 9, and their father Nick — all hit the track together. Nick Danuszar won the Blue Clone Division.

“It’s so much fun. It’s such a big family sport. We just love having something we all do as a family,” Morgan said.

Newtown’s John Latte is the president of the club and also a member of an active racing family.

His wife, Paula, placed third in the Blue Clone Division. Their children Evan, 13 and Cole, 8, also race. And John Latte’s father, Al Latte, of Norwalk, races as well.

“It’s a great bonding time and it’s a great learning experience for the kids,” John Latte said.

Gary Phillips, a former Newtown resident who has family in town, works as a flagger at the track.

The competitive portion of the season ended in the first weekend of October but the fun continued with a Family Fun Day, in which parents got to race along side their children as part of the excitement, this past weekend.

For more information on kart racing visit nutmegkart.com.