Been Too Long....

Ah, yes, it has been way too long since our last update on Hunter's karting "career". But alas, the scheduled race for October 17th has been canceled. Our track is undergoing a repaving, but Mother Nature has not cooperated with the proposed schedule. The base is too wet to pave right now, so we have to wait...and pray...for a few days of drying weather. And according to the nightly news, I don't know if we have that coming.

Funny thing about the rain, though, in my pre-school class, we've been teaching the kids about Noah and the Ark. In discussing the constant rain for 40 days and nights, I've noticed some worried four year old faces- no, don't worry kiddos, our rain does stop occasionally and God did promise not to do that again.

Anyway...North Texas Kartways will be represented at Texas Motor Speedway during the weekend of the Dickies 500- November 5-8 on the Midway. Come by and see us if you are out there. Special race day to inagurate our newly paved track is on the schedule for November 15th.

Summer 6 - Complete with Motor

I've been getting emails and phone calls, so I figured I'd better post something about the boy's run the other night.

We were able to borrow a motor for the race...two actually. Scott and Hunter took off for the track in hopes that a spare motor would be available to use for the night. Hadyn and I followed a little later to find out that yes, there was a motor to borrow and that there were TEN Kid Karters running that night. Wow!! I was told later that in the days of old (you know, a few years back) this was the norm. We've had five or max of six this year, but ten?? Awesome!! So we were even more thrilled to have such a great networks of families at the track to tap into in a time of need. Yes, needing a motor to race is a great time of need.

So, with motor one mounted, Hunter took off for practice and ran pitiful times. His first qualifying heat was pretty pathetic, too, given where he was getting up to before his engine went caput. But we all kept reminding ourselves how grateful we ALL were that he was even able to race.

Our friend Steve, who is the go-to guy for parts at the track, offered up the second motor (first being his, too). He knew the second one was a fast motor, so let's just see what Hunter could do with it. So his next two heats were a bit better - he ended up middle of the pack in 5th. However, we know that with that motor, he could've led the pack, so he still needs a lot of seat time (practice).

Today, Scott tore the motor apart and discovered ugly ruts/grooves in the piston and head - looks like we'll be pouring more money into the pit. But we have time. The track is closed for September for repaving. We'll be ready for October.

Racing...gotta love it!


Here's a pic of lil' sis "driving" the kart. I'll bet that we'll be seeing more of this in a few years.

Ah, Man! Again?

Well, I was going to post something last week about Hunter's last race and I didn't get around to it, then I was planning to post an update tonight for tomorrow's race after what I was hoping to be an awesome practice.

But, the best laid plans....

Okay, last race, we had to run on a borrowed motor. Actually, we ran on two borrowed motors. We started out with one and when another dad took pity on our horrible lap times and brought us another one, we changed out and ran a little bit better (like how I say "we" as if I'm actually in the kart myself? - It's a family activity - I can say "we"). But we were anxious to get Hunter's motor back. We did, and Scott got it put back on the kart, got the new carburetor put on, worked the motor to break in the new piston and rings, basically, did everything we were supposed to do.

So, we took off for the track tonight for a little practice and "make sure" everything was in place. I was just expecting Hunter to fly on his new stuff. And fly he did. To the first turn where a loud "POP!" ended his run for this weekend. The piston, the new piston, broke. Literally. Broke. Looks like someone carved a big chunk right off the top of it. Even I knew that didn't look good. Guys were coming over to look at it with a flash light and make "ewww", "ouch", and "wow" noises.

I'm bummed. Dad is bummed. I don't think it has sunk in for Hunter yet. It will tomorrow if we can't find a motor to borrow to race. And this is the last race of the season. The track will be closed for a month to repave.

*sigh* I know. This is racing. I don't think I'm liking this part of racing right now.

Summer 5 - Only 2 More Until Repaving!

We have two more races this Summer before the track is closed for repaving. Our Fall Series schedule has been disrupted by this, but it needs to be done and ohhhhh, won't the racers enjoy a nice, new, sleek track to race on!!

So, this Saturday, August 15th and Saturday, August 29th will round out the Summer Series races at NTK. They'll pick back up with some non-points racing in October after the paving is finished.

I heard at the club members meeting that there is a special benefit race for next Spring in the works. This race will be to benefit Kali's Cure for Paralysis. There is a lot of buzz generating on getting country stars and racing stars to come to our track for this benefit. The organizer of this benefit will be at the race this Saturday selling raffle tickets for a car giveaway. There is a Jaguar of some kind up for giveaway for Kali's Cure. Tickets are $50 each or 6 for $250. Come on out and find Jim Hickerson for your tickets to help Kali's Cure and have a chance at a baby blue Jaguar (again, can't remember what year/model/etc.).

Race starts at 6PM!

The Thrill of Victory....The Agony of Defeat

Wow!! Wow!! Wow!!

Summer 4 at North Texas Kartways started out GREAT for our Speed Racer, Hunter. Now that he is out of rookie status, he doesn't have to start at the back of the pack and try to catch up. Well, starting on the front row worked well for him during the qualifying heat. Hunter took off like a flash and stayed out in front for the entire 8 laps! He even pulled ahead of the other 4 karts and put a great deal of cushion between him and them for a fantastic finish. There was a delayed reaction when he took the checkered flag...one that almost said, "who's that for? Oh YEAH, MEEEEE!!"

However, the thrill of victory was short lived. Last night was also the last race for the Red River Regional Series race, so when we went out to qualify for that race, things did not go so well for Hunter. With no set up change from the first heat to this one, we lost on average 4 seconds a lap which put him dead last. The only thing that changed was the weather. It went from hot to cooler and cloudy. And Scott and I are not experienced or knowledgable enough to know how to change the set up according to weather.

With there being a club race and a regional race last night, Hunter ended up running a total of 6 heats last night, broke a chain, lost some set screws on the rear axel, passed some karts, got passed by others and we didn't leave until 11:30 last night. By the time the last couple of heats came up, we had made enough changes to get some of his time back, but nothing like he ran in the first heat. I guess we'll be experimenting with his fuel mixture based on weather. Anyone really good at formulaic equations for stuff like this?

We are so proud of how well he is doing with all of this. Even with the bad runs he had, he never quit, he kept running until he crossed that line. That's racing, folks.

On another note, we are so very proud of our little NTK friends who went to Kid Kart Nationals in St. Louis this past weekend. Reilly won 2nd place in nationals in the unrestricted class!!! His trophy is almost as big as he is. Our Tulsa friend Paige, placed well too, in nationals. Ryan and James placed 1st and 8th in the restricted class. Way to go kiddos!! We are so very proud of all of you!!!

Diagnosis: Heat Exhaustion

Saturday night's race did not end the way we imagined. We imagined his last rookie race to go great and then he would be awarded not only his ribbon for competing, but also his white plate to replace his orange rookie number plate. But no. Not this Saturday.

We have coached Hunter repeatedly on drinking a lot of water and have provided him with bottles of water and replenishing drinks as well as insisting he peel out of his firesuit as soon as he is off the track.

The problem with coaching is that sometimes the coach-ee does not always apply the teaching. I was working in the gatehouse (in the air-conditioning) doing registrations yesterday so I was not on hand to enforce the rules and Scott was working on the kart and had repeated the rules but apparently, they were not applied. I think Hunter was drinking, but not enough, and he and his friends were running between from trailer to trailer and goofing off inside the trailers (although they were air-conditioned). And he was only dropping his suit down to his waist - all the boys were doing the same - and not taking it completely off.

As the first heat was ready to start in the 109* heat, Hunter told me his tummy was hurting. At this time, my Mom senses were telling me it was heat, but I also knew he had not had dinner yet, so I ran back to the truck to get a cool neck wrap for him and his poweraide drink. I cooled his neck down and he wanted to go race. He completed the first heat, but when we pulled him out of his kart, I could tell, it was not good.

He was taken to an air cooled room and then Brad, our track paramedic came in to look at him. He put ice bags under Hunter arms. The child I was listening to was not our Hunter. He was sick, tired, weak, eye hurting, just wanting to lay down, and just generally, not well. After a while, Brad advised us not to have him in the heat any more today and we might want to consider taking him to the hospital for evaluation and possibly IV fluids. After getting him back to the car and watching him for a few minutes, we did take him to the hospital in Denton.

At the hospital he was given an IV for fluids and a popcicle for a treat. After getting the fluids into his little body, he was a new kid. Our sweet little boy was back and better than ever.

Lesson learned for sure - HYDRATE 3 days before an outdoor activity, keep cool, and get that suit off!!

But the good news is: since he took the green flag for one heat, he was signed out of rookie status and has his white plate!!

Last Rookie Race?

This coming Saturday is the Summer 3 race at North Texas Kartway. It could actually be Hunter's last race as a Kid Kart rookie. Possibly.

I say possibly because NTK is a member run club dependent on the club members, family, and friends to volunteer to work each race. And from what I've seen on the forum so far, we have scoring, registration, scales, and gatehouse covered - all moms/wives positions. And as great as this is, unless the corners are covered on the track with volunteers, we don't race.

The Race Director can cancel the race if he does not have enough volunteers up to 24 hours in advance of the race - which means by 6pm tomorrow night (Friday), but may allow us all to get there on Saturday, register, then beg for volunteers - the "if you want to race, you'll get out and work" tactic.

However it has to work, I just hope and pray we can race so we can finally be rid of that orange rookie plate and Hunter can start in the position he qualifies in.

Praying. Keep you informed.