Tatum Bohnstedt of Yukon will join other go-kart drivers for a meet-and-greet at noon this Saturday, June 28, at Hennessey’s Aquatic Center, located north of the football field on Mitchell Road.

Then at 7 p.m., the 16-year-old will be at the Hennessey Rodeo Arena, but won’t have to pay the general admission or pit pass fee because he’ll be competing.

The teen’s last name is synonymous with racing in Hennessey.

That’s probably due to the late Dewayne and Kate Bohnstedt.

They were a husband and- wife team in Hennessey who raced in Enid during the 1970s, or maybe earlier.

Several other Bohnstedt families have also raced and that includes Tatum’s father, David.

Tatum, who started racing when he was 5 years old, was asked by Kirk Berkley in 2019 to drive for him in the 250 class for high-performance karts, called superkarts.

Now, Tatum continues to drive for Berkley Racing.

Sunday afternoon, Bohnstedt told the Times & Free Press he knew about his Bohnstedt racing heritage and said he has cousins who are still racing.

Tatum and Racer Berkley, 17, sat in the back seat of this reporter’s SUV Sunday afternoon for a brief interview due to 90-degree outside temps.

The boys brought the equipment to Hennessey for Racer’s dad, Kirk.

He is promoter of outlaw motor sports and the one who will build the go-kart race track.

Kirk Berkley is owner of Outlaw Motorsports in Shawnee, a promoter of outlaw motor sports and is sponsoring the Hennessey races.

80 to 100 drivers expected to race in 6 different classes There will be six classes of competition on Saturday and the boys agreed they are “expecting to have between 80 to 100 karts to compete.”

Competitors will race in these classes, Kirk told the KT&FP this week:

• Junior, 5-9 year olds;

• 10-15 years;

• Stock Flat, 15 years and up;

• 250 Outlaw Motor Engine;

• Non-Wing, and,

• Open 500.

Admission and Parking

The general admission cost is $10 per person, and there are $75 pit passes if you want to see the karts and drivers up close.

Public parking will be around the Cow Palace and the elevator, said Harold Shaw, a member of the Hennessey Car Club Committee.

There will be reserved parking for kart drivers on the west side of the arena, he said.

Shaw had asked Berkley to bring his go-kart event to Hennessey.

Practice run is Friday night

Planners and sponsors of the event have announced a “practice night” to allow racers to familiarize themselves with the track.

It’s from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 27 at the Rodeo Arena.

Drivers will pay $20 and spectators get in free.