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GoblinFest 2025 Recap: Mountain roads, track time, and good company

Written by Adam Doyle on Oct 2, 2025

The Roads

Perfect fall weather set the tone. We spent long stretches carving the Ozark curves together, with a standout run on Push Mountain. It is always fun cruising on roads fit for the Goblin.

A line of DF Goblins heading to Central Arkansas Karting Complex — DF Goblins heading to Central Arkansas Karting Complex

The Tracks

Mountain View Go Kart Track delivered classic, elbows-out sessions. Close racing, lots of laughter, and maybe too many attempted bump-and-runs.

Goblin #184, Russell, at Mountain View Go Kart Track waiting for the night to start.

Central Arkansas Karting Complex was a highlight. We rented the track and cycled drivers through three sessions of five laps each. We got the Goblins out on track to really find their limits, and in Wes’s case, maybe go a bit past them. Plenty of paddock bench-racing afterward, and a clear consensus: we’ll be back again next year.

Kaleb talking to his dad, Chad, between runs at Central Arkansas Karting Complex — Kaleb in Goblin #49 talking to his dad, Chad, between runs at Central Arkansas Karting Complex

Kyle, owner of Goblin #171, getting ready to hit the track at Central Arkansas Karting Complex.

Lonny on the track in one of DF Kit Car's turbocharged shop Goblins.

321 Scott at Central Arkansas Karting Complex — Scott out on track in Goblin #321 at the Central Arkansas Karting Complex.

The Poker Run

This year's poker run mixed things up a bit. Instead of listing five locations to retrieve a poker card from, we made the fifth location a riddle:

Invented after a bump to the head,
Three glowing prongs in a Y-shape spread.
Without it, 88 is just a speed —
Found where they sing “Oh, Oh, Oh!” and stock the parts you need.
Request this part by name, and your next card you’ll receive.

-

There were some weird moments when guys figured it out and ventured into O'Reilly Auto Parts to ask for a Flux Capacitor. The reward was a poker card and a mini flux capacitor.

The 3D printed flux capacitor earned by each DF Goblin owner that solved the poker run clue. — Goblin owners that solved the clue and asked for a "flux capacitor" at O'Reilly in Mountain View received this 3D printed flux capacitor.

The Food and Friends

We kept it simple and local:

Brad and Dad's for burgers and classic drive-in fare.
Los Locos for a big Mexican dinner.
Anglers Restaurant for fish and more by the water.
A feast to cap it off, smoked brisket, chicken, and sausage courtesy of Wes and Holly. Thank you both for feeding a hungry pit lane.

One group of GoblinFest 2025 attendees out for dinner at Los Locos in Mountain View, AR.

Wes and Holly, owners of Goblin #53, prepared Saturday's GoblinFest Feast.

Smoked brisket provided and smoked by Wes and Holly.

The rest of the time looked like it always does at GoblinFest. Several new faces joined the regulars. Plenty of talk about Goblins, cars, and more. Stories were traded... some true, some maybe a little too tall.

Goblin owners and their Goblins hanging out at GoblinFest 2025.

Thank You

To the track crews at Mountain View and Central Arkansas Karting Complex, to every owner who offered rides and wrench help, and to Wes and Holly for the smoked spread. Weekends like this work because the community shows up.

See you next year at GoblinFest 2026!

Written by Adam Doyle

Adam is a co-founder and co-owner of DF Kit Car. He has helped hundreds of builders go from donor car to first drive, and is hands on with design, operations, and support. Outside the shop he's into auto racing and tabletop games.