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Lots of fun coming up for 2013!

Don't miss out!!

End of a Great Year 2012

 

Hadyn and her first karting awards banquet!!

Last night finished out the end of a great year for HES2 Motorsports. Since there wasn't a regional race series available to our engine package this year, we opted to just hang out, travel to race with friends, and just have fun this year. Little did we know that Hunter would bring home another championship trophy and jacket and that Hadyn would qualify in her first year of racing to do the same!

Hunter thanking God and his sponsors for his great year!

In never ceases to amaze me just how close knit the racing family really is. There is a young man racing for a championship in Italy right now that we've never raced against, but just knowing he was at the same regional races we were and having common friends, we are cheering for him like crazy right now. That's how it works. We cheer and support each other. Everyone wants the win, but as Davey Hamilton, an Indycar driver who suffered a near fatal accident while racing in Texas in 2001, said in an interview,  "Whenver you put a helmet and a firesuit on, it's probably pretty dangerous. And we accept that as racing drivers." And knowing this, we support one another rather than tearing each other down.

In 2012, Hadyn flipped her kart upside down this year and got up and raced on. Hunter tasted the disappointment of being unprepared and getting beat a few times. And Scott and I became complacent at times during the season and didn't stretch ourselves to see what could be done.

Crazy amount of awards for both kids! Awesome!!

But next year is a new year. Hunter wants to move into the Jr Shifter class and start practicing now so he can be ready when he turns 12 in June. We are going to spend more time with Hadyn so she will become a real competitor (helps to go faster when you take your foot off the brake - go figure). Hunter will race at least one more big race in his Cadet kart - the Lone Star Grand Prix in Lockhart, TX in March.

We thanks all of our friends and family who have helped us so much in all ways. Above all, though, we give thanks to the Lord above who blesses us and provides us with our wonderful sponsors (and hopefully more to come!) and keeps us all safe.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Scott, Lori, Hunter & Hadyn

Figuring Out What's Important

What is important? I guess that depends on the person and situation. Someone who is experiencing financial issues may say it's food, shelter, and clothing. Another who lost a spouse or family member may say it's spending quality time together. But what does a child think is important? Experience tells us it's whatever is usually happening in their lives right at that moment.

So, when we had an opportunity to do a little traveling to race in a fledgling regional series a the beginning of the month, Hunter opted out. Okay, we did have a club race at our track that same weekend. But he opted out of that one, too. Why? Well, he wanted to participate in his church student ministry back-to-school all day worship event. There would be fun and games, but overall, this is where he felt God wanted him to be.

And that's what was important to him.

We finished out our Summer Series with both kids running great. Hunter took a win and Hadyn came back from her short track racing at New Braunfels and Waco to show how much she had learned!! So with the break of not racing at the first of this month, we had about a month out of the seat of racing.

But with the showing from both HES2 Motorsports racers last night, you wouldn't have known it.

2 - in HES2 ready to go race!

Hadyn set a personal best time of a 58.9 second lap. She's still about 5 seconds off the leaders, but she'll be there soon - and then they'll be chasing her down! And she had her last Kid Kart rookie race last night, so she will no longer be the "rookie" out there.

We've taken some hits to Hunter's class over the Summer and lost a racer to golf (really? golf over racing? whatever.) and have about 3 more that just aren't showing up to race consistently. So lately, it's just been the Hunter and Jake show. Therefore, we've taken the last two races to do a little experimenting with set up. We run in a mixed group of classes so even though last night was just Hunter and Jake in the TAG Cadet class, we had a group of four classes together. That's always interesting - especially when there is lapped traffic involved. But the boys did great and ran a great race. We didn't think the experimental set up was working well, but Hunter kept biding his time and slowly kept creeping up on Jake. Lap after lap, Hunter would look flawless on his corners and got closer and closer. I heard someone say "white flag" and I thought they were on their last lap. Hunter came off the last turn right behind Jake and was drag racing down the back stretch toward the finish line. My racer loves to run like that - give him a photo finish and it's the best race EVER. But it wasn't the last lap - they had one more and Hunter got a run on the corner and made a beautiful pass and took off! Not what I was expecting given that we were just playing with setups. But this boy has such a drive and determination to go make things work. It might take a little bit, but he'll figure it out and go!

Hunter and Jake  - great friends and great competitors!

And he was 0.1 (one tenth) a second off the track record. Oh, so close. Well, I guess we'll keep playing with the set ups and he'll keep driving.

Overall, it was a fun night of racing. And even though there are way more important things in the world, having fun - doing something we enjoy - and spending time with family - that's what was important to us last night.


Let's go do it again next weekend!

For the Olympic Moments

Parent lectures are never fun to hear. And most parents wonder how much of the lecture actually got heard and how much was tuned out. Which leads the parent to lecture more to make sure something gets soaked in. For the most part, and depending on the personality of the child, I think it works.

When I was a teenager, my Dad, during dinner (and repeating an anti-drug commercial), shook his fork at me and said, "Don't do drugs." Thanks for the "talk", Dad, but I wasn't planning on it anyway, and unless you count beer and margaritas, I've succeeded. But, I did get the "lectures" on automobile safety: check your oil regularly, check your water levels, check the condition of your belts, keep proper air in your tires, for pete's sake, keep the car clean, and on and on. I remember those things very loudly in my head. And how long ago was it that I heard them? Let's not count.

So, when we lecture our kids on character and sportsmanship, it's not that we expect that perfect behavior right now. Oh, that'd be nice and for the most part we get it, but it's for those times we're not around. For those "Olympic" moments...where the worldwide cameras are on you and everyone can see what your character in the most upsetting moment of your life (to date) truly is.

Drivers Meeting in Waco. HES2 Drivers on the fenceline.

We drove to Waco, TX yesterday afternoon (2+hr drive from here) to race with some friends last night. Waco's kart track is smaller than ours and is nothing but corners - and very tough corners. It's a narrow track and there are not any good passing opportunities. I watched the struggles of the "big" racers and they have to make opportunities to pass - they don't come easily. So, in Hunter's 3 racing heats, the running order was decided by the draw of a number. He was last for 2 of the 3. And in those heats, that's where he ran, too. He just couldn't find the opening to get around without flat out running someone off the track and wrecking himself to boot. On the one heat where he started 2nd, he finished 1st. Yea. But when it counted, nope...no passing areas.

Grid for the TAG Cadet/Yamaha lineup. #88 in the back.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. We discovered his brakes weren't working very well when we rolled him up to the grid for the final. So, he ran a nothing-but-corners track with very bad brakes. He started off slower because of this, spun off a corner, got back on and ran down the pack and was running faster times and better corners than the rest of the pack, but he just couldn't pass. Oh, well, he did make one pass, but on this track, the gamble of making a pass means you also leave your self open for the pass-ee to pass you back, and that happened. So, when he came in...last...he was devastated. Bless his heart. But the poor attitude that flowed from this kid was nothing short of embarrassing. He was beyond mad about his brakes and almost hitting his competitors on the track because of it. Scott finally got him in the trailer, but not before the damage was done. Yes, it was lecture time. After the race and on our midnight trip home, it was lecture time. This morning, before church, a re-reminder of why we behave the way we should...for those "Olympic" moments.

Hadyn on the grid!

And I should not forget to mention our HES2 driver, Hadyn, who so impressed us with her driving last night. All trepidation was lifted as she drove full out, powering and muscling around corners, outrunning another rookie driver, and keeping lapping traffic at bay to increase her knowledge and ability behind a wheel. My Princess Warrior - 5 years old. Man, what will be in her future?

We don't expect perfection or the right attitudes from our kids at all times, but just like knowing that I need to check my oil is always in my head, I want to know that my kids will have in their heads, no matter what, have good character and show good sportsmanship!!



Who knows, if trampolining can be an olympic sport, then maybe karting will one day as well! Ha!

Some Days You Race, Some Days, You Just Hang Out with Friends!

It's been a while since my last post. It's been a while since our last race.

Hadyn and her new Kid Kart friend from HCKC! Racer Girls!

At the first of July, the Texas ProKart Challenge series ended it's 3 stop tour at North Texas Kartway. We had made the decision at the beginning of the year not to race this series. It was a painful decision, but due to circumstances around here, it was the right one to make. And Hunter was on board with that decision. For such a young boy, he shows such grace and understanding in decisions made by his parents. I love that. So, when this particular weekend rolled in, we volunteered to work. And it was great to see friends we raced with last year. But once Hunter saw those friends out there racing, I could see the longing in his eyes to be out there, too. But true to his character, he didn't fuss or whine about it. He knew this race was not his to run. This time. He put on his work shirt and helped out where needed. Well, that and playing with friends when he could.

Story Time around the Trailer!

Then we left for vacation and missed the next two club races, so again, no racing for HES2 Motorsports. Fortunately for us, one of those races was rained out, so it really wasn't like "missing" a race. Then we decided, with another family from NTK, to make the trip to New Braunfels to go race at Hill Country Karting Club and see more of our racing friends. The track at HCKC is very different from our track at NTK. It is shorter, for one, and the corners are more challenging, too. So, the kids that race at HCKC have to learn how to take advantage of passing in the corners whereas we get to take advantage of long straights at our track. It takes both to race, so it's a good learning experience for us!

Top 7 TAG Cadet Finishers

Hadyn got to race and did really well at a new track. She was racing with another rookie and actually beat him! So, she is learning something, too!! Hunter's race day at HCKC wasn't as good as usually expected, but after a poor qualifying round, I pulled him aside and we talked. It was decided between us that yes, a win or at least a really good podium run is preferable to not placing well any day, but if something new is learned and the driver has grown in knowledge and maturity by running a particular line or trying new things like braking patterns, then ultimately it really won't matter where you finish in the line up. And given that this was not a points race for us, this was the time to experiment and learn. I think he did gain some knowledge of what could be done and how, if not being careful, can get caught behind traffic and get bogged up!

It was a great weekend to hang out with friends, though. The kids were running around together just enjoying hanging out - heat and all! So, in the end, some days you race, some days, you just hang out with friends!

Goofy Kids!

Flippin' Great Racing!

Ah...yeah...the "flippin'" part.  Well, my HES2 driver, Hadyn, flipped her kart last night. To start off with, she is fine and she raced great last night. Set her new personal best time! But during the first heat, one of her competitors spun out on a corner and when Hadyn came around the corner, she didn't know what to do and just ran right up over him and flipped her kart over and landed on her shoulder and head. I was working the corner right where it happened and pretty much knew what was going to happen before it did, so I was already running that way.

She was crying, of course, and said her shoulder hurt, but the paramedic checked her over and there seemed to be nothing broken or severely injured. She has some road rash and little bruising on her shoulder, but that's it. She determined then that she was done with racing, but by the time the 2nd heat came up, she was ready to go back out. My trooper. Five years old...had her first (and hopefully last) flip in her kart...and got back in the saddle and finished the night. She'll be something to watch out for, that's for sure!

My other HES2 driver, Hunter "Blue Bolt" Stine, and his competitor friend, Jake, gave everyone at NTK a heck of a show last night!! The boys were running such fast times and running so evenly that for the final heat, it was back and forth all race long. Hunter made a very impressive and daring pass on Jake but then got caught behind lapped traffic coming out of a corner and Jake took advantage of that and took the lead back. Hunter would run him down and on and on it went until they were coming around the top of one banked corner stuck together - side by side - like glue - and went OFF the track side by side - sat OFF the track - side by side - came back ON the track - side by side - and finished the race just like that. Jake edged Hunter out in the end by one tenth of a sec, but man, that is one 2nd place finish Hunter can be proud of. Both boys came out the tech area cracking up along with all the friends and family around.

We have told our kids time and time again...there is NO win more important that showing good character and sportsmanship and they all showed that last night!!

Yeah, a flippin' great race all around!

Real Racing!

Last night was the last race in our NTK Spring series and Hunter clinched the championship with an awesome win! So far this season, our competitors really haven't been up front running with Hunter for various reasons, but last night one of our friends - who has a new kart and new confidence - really poured it on and gave Hunter a real run.

Jake consistently ran faster times than Hunter (yes, we have him on old equipment - again), but Hunter didn't let that stop him. I told him that we could put on new tires, new drive sprocket, new gear, etc and he could possibly have set the track record last night, but we didn't, so it was up to our driver to show us what he can do with what he has. And Hunter certainly stepped up to that challenge! He loved having to run down and chase another kart.  That is what fuels his fire - stiff competition. It was lapped traffic that caused Jake to stumble a bit and for Hunter to capitalize on it. Hunter just has more experience and confidence in his passing and once he got around them, it was all Blue Bolt time.

For the final heat, Hunter took off out front but Jake was on his tail. The two of them blazed a trail around the track like there were no others on it. They tore off from the pack and it became a two man race in the front. With three new racers on the track, lapped traffic might have posed a problem, but Hunter and Jake looked like they were glued to each other as they passed one kart after another. We were so thrilled to watch Jake take the corner passes with Hunter and stick with him so closely. That was exactly what Jake needed to do to gather more confidence. One last kart to pass caused a sticky bit of issue for Jake so Hunter bolted past, but Jake got hung up for a second leaving the win wide open for Hunter.

We certainly know that with that experience and now that Jake knows what he can do, there will be no more advantages for our Blue Bolt racer - it's going to be gun and run the entire race from here on out.

But that's what our racer wants - real racing!

And not to be left out, our HES"2" driver, Hadyn, got to race in Kid Karts again last night. She and I worked on her corners a little bit on Friday night and reviewed before her race on Saturday. With just a little bit of coaching from Mom, she was able to shave 7 seconds off her previous "fast" time to set her new personal best time. She's getting better every time - just imagine what she'll be like at Hunter's age if she sticks with it!!

Next weekend is the start of our NTK Summer series.
Until then!