Embrace the Examples

What a fantastic finish to a great NASCAR racing season. We watched the battle between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards come to conclusion last night and were totally impressed by both of them. With a 3 point deficit, Tony had the race of his life. Started further back in the field while Carl was on the pole, had some car issues during the race that set them further back and had to race to catch back up and for both to finish the race and season in 1st and 2nd was just icing on the cake.

Personally, I was cheering for Carl Edwards. And Hunter might not ever want to admit it again out loud, but at the end, he was too. We watched Carl do some catch up moves that took our breath away and we recognized some of those moves. When coming up on traffic, our instincts as observers are to think "slow down and be careful,", all the while yelling at the TV or race track for the slower traffic to "get out of the way!" But we have watched Hunter perform some of these moves on his own in his races, too. In Houston, while trying to catch back up to 1st place, he encountered traffic and had to thread the needle so to speak. It was risky and we were on pins and needles because that is a good (good? no, bad.) way to end your race day but apparently, when in the moment, all you see is an opening...and you take it.

When I got to race my Powder Puff heat, I saw that, too. I would come up on traffic and the desire, instinct, drive, whatever it is, to push through would be so great, I found openings. And for all of our inexperience, I probably shouldn't have taken, but I did and it worked for me. I see Hunter doing the same thing. I watched the NASCAR drivers doing it. It's just racing. It's a pretty incredible feeling, I have to admit.

But over all the racing skills, over all the excitement, over all the drive and determination, there are lessons to be learned and number one in my book is how you conduct yourself before, during and after the race. We've worked with Hunter all year long on how a true Champion is to conduct him or herself.

And to witness Carl Edwards exemplify that last night on my TV screen gave us all the credibility we might have been needing. Carl said that if he didn't win, he knew he wanted to be the best loser NASCAR has ever seen. I totally respect this guy. He has his human moments, but overall, this man is a true champion and everyone who saw him last night knows it, too.

So, thank you, Carl Edwards, for embracing the examples we have put before our racers. Keep on racing and we'll see you in Victory Lane again!!

Great Weekend to Close Out Great Year!

Hunter, Jake and Ethan - the top 3 for the Year, too!

We raced our final race of the season at NTK on Saturday. And this time, I really mean "we"!

Hunter had a great showing on Saturday and with a great pass during the final, pulled away from the field to close out his year with a win and clinching the Year End Championship at North Texas Karters! We are so proud of him - and how much he has improved throughout this year.

 Hadyn had her first race this weekend. I was just hoping for her to stay on the track, hold her line and finish the race - and she did all of that and had her best time to date! She was so excited. During the awards ceremony, she was given her medal (all Kid Karts receive 1st place awards), her 1st time driver trophy, a bag of candy, and her 1st time driver Teddy Bear from the Kid Kart sponsor, Polar Graphics. With her arms full of loot, I asked her if that was it - were we done with racing. She said "yes" and I asked if we could sell the Kid Kart now. The misunderstanding was mine, apparently, gauging by the appalled look on her face when she replied, "NO!" She meant, we were done for the day. Okay then. She really wants to do this.

Can't beat that smile!!

Then it was Mom's turn. The Chonda class allowed all of us Moms, wives, girlfriends, etc. to run a Powder Puff heat in their karts. I had a blast - too much fun, really. I think two karters in the family is enough right now. I got t-boned on the first lap and had to wait for the guys to pull our karts apart, but I was still able to catch up and finish in 3rd place (out of 10, I think).

Hunter #88, Kaleb #17, Michael #88, Riley #53 -
Photo by Stephanie Haseloff

On Sunday, we left home at 5AM and drove to New Braunfels, TX for Hill Country Karting Club's annual Enduro race. For Hunter's class, it's a 30 minute race to finish. And it was a chance for us to hang out with our SWRC friends for the afternoon. Hunter started the race in 4th position, and after our 2 friends dropped out due to engine troubles we thought that Hunter might have a good chance to finish in the top 3...until...he was penalized a lap for passing under a yellow flag. But even with that, he still finished 4th out of 12 and can now say he ran a 30 minute enduro race. And it was all fun. We'll definitely be going back there to race next year.

Throughout the entire year, we've had ups and downs and have learned valuable lessons at each turn. I love this sport and all the people we have around us have been so great to help us grow and learn. I am very excited to see what both our kids can do next year.

HES2 Motorsports will be very excited for 2012! Hope to see you all at the races!

Above All...Drive Smart

After racing hard in the Fall 5 race and falling just short of a win, we were told by some friends that Hunter's kart just didn't sound like it was pulling the power it needed. We had the top end of the engine rebuilt before the first race of 2011 - which was in January.

So, after a short conversation with our engine builder, we shipped it off to have it done inside a weeks time. The engine was delivered to us on Friday before the race with the shock and wonderment of how Hunter could have possibly done as well as he had - winning the races in SWRC as he did and the championship - with the condition that motor is in. George had replaced the piston and rings, but told us that as soon as we completed our last races, he needs it back to do the bottom end of the motor. Again, the curiosity of how Hunter did it.

Guess he's just that good.

So, going into Fall 6, Hunter was able to get his fairly typical times and captured the pole position during qualifying rather effortlessly. During the pre-final heat, Hunter got out in front of the pack, which is something he hasn't been able to do regularly, but then his main competitor, Jake, was taken out by another racer running too close on a corner. If it was someone we didn't know well, it might have been a silent cheer, but we were upset to see it happen that way.

Jake had his kart up and ready for the final heat - minimal damage, so he was good to go. However, he would start at the back of our class. But anything can happen. And happen it did.

We were running in a group of three classes - the Rotax Mini Max's were in front of our TaG Gazelles, then the Yamaha Jr 1's. Upon leaving the grid for a warm up lap, the 2 Mini's, Hunter and one other Gazelle, made it through the first two turns and then the rest of the field piled up on top of each other. There was a spin out on a corner, three karts banged into each other sending a fourth through the air upside down into the grass. Thankfully, that young one was fine - a little sore, but fine. The other karts were rendered un-raceable and Jake's rear axle was bent.

The race continued and Hunter won without any challenges to his position. He would rather really race someone for the win, but we'll take it none-the-less! This puts him one win away from the NTK Year End Championship.

It is here that these kids learn to drive smart. Something that I think some of the professional drivers must have missed. Of course, I'm writing this in the wake of Kyle Busch being parked for the entire weekend in Texas for his actions in the Camping World Truck Series with Ron Hornaday. Sad that two championship contenders in their series had to be taken out in such a way.

Accidents happen, but above all...drive smart.

Where True Champions are Made

Hunter has had a great year in karting!! He finished 2nd in the North Texas Karters Winter Polar Bear Series, he won the Spring Championship at NTK, finished 1st in the NTK Summer Sidewinder Series, he won the Southwest Regional Cup Series Championship this year, and has had many, many podium finishes! But this Fall Series at NTK has turned out to be somewhat of a challenge for him and may cost him the year-end championship at NTK.

Knowing full well that the kids Hunter raced with in the Spring would be challenging him in the Fall and with our focus being more on the SWRC races, we didn't go into the Fall Series at NTK with the full focus and great equipment we should have. Result - a couple of bad finishes for Hunter and a lot of great finishes for one of his competitors. 

Hunter raced as well as he felt he could have yesterday, and we thought we had everything set up as well as we could have. But I think we were all off target a bit. Hunter could have made some moves that would have required him to step out of his comfort zone and be more aggressive and we could have made some more set up changes that might have given him just a bit more in his engine. However, it is what it is and Hunter finished in 2nd place. Not a bad position to be in at all, but that finish did put a big dent in his possible year-end championship bid. 

Race championships are not won on who is the faster or better driver (or both), but on who has the most points. We went through this last year. Gunnr was the faster and better driver in our class last year, but he missed a couple of races and had some bad luck in a couple more - and Hunter and Reilly were able to capitalize on that. All of that pushed Gunnr from the championship spot into 2nd for year-end. But he gladly accepted that and did not seem to be a poor loser at all - a champion in heart.

Which is where champions are made - in the heart. Points may say otherwise, but if you carry yourself with dignity and let your good character shine through, others will notice the champion in you regardless of what the points say. Let your mouth run or poor attitude show and others will notice and remember that as well - sadly, more so than the former. 

Yesterday was a good lesson in that for all of us. Hunter still has a chance at the year-end championship, but overall, he has to be a champion at heart first - points won't matter if that isn't in place first.

Keep your fingers crossed and prayers lifted up for him....for all of us!!

We're Wired That Way

Dan Wheldon and family after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500

Motorsports. Racing. Danger.

Yeah, it all goes hand in hand, doesn't it. I've had so many moms ask me why in the world would I let my 10 year old son, Hunter, race a kart. They really freak out when I tell them I'm putting my almost 5 year old daughter, Hadyn, in one, too. But, it doesn't scare me.

My dad raced Stock Cars in his younger years. My family had a European style dirt enduro motocross track and held races the 2nd Sunday of every month for 13 of my growing up years.  My husband loved to ride and tinker with anything motorized as a kid.

It's in the blood. We're wired that way.

In 2001, when NASCAR suffered a tragic blow with the passing of Dale Earnhardt due to a race day crash, Scott and I were not into racing yet - Hunter was still in the womb. But we saw the impact that took on the racing community and it was not lost on us.

Yesterday, the motorsports world suffered more tragedy. Indycar driver Dan Wheldon suffered unrecoverable injuries from a horrific wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and passed away. Hunter  and I sat and watched the entire thing unfold on our TV screen. It was paralyzing. We felt as though a family member had left us. And in a way, it was family.

Not to be forgotten, but also yesterday, racing lost another driver - Toyota off road racing driver Rick Huseman, his brother Jeff and their pilot were lost in a plane accident.

Davey Hamilton, an Indycar driver who suffered his own near fatal accident while racing in Texas in 2001, said in an interview yesterday,  "Whenver you put a helmet and a firesuit on, it's probably pretty dangerous. And we accept that as racing drivers."

And we accept that as parents, friends, loved ones. Drivers have been given a gift. Our gift is our ability to accept that. It's just the way we're wired.

Rest In Peace, Dan and Rick Your racing family will miss you.

Toyota Off Road driver Rick Huseman

Slug Bug....Rainbow?

As a family, we like to have fun. So we taught the kids how to play "Slug Bug (Color)" while we are driving around. Of course, rules had to be amended when I started getting bruises on my arms from way too excited kids spotting one. So, now it is "Slug Bug (Color) - Virtual Punch".  And we've had to cancel the game a few times when attitudes started going south from not getting to call it first. 

All of which has taught the kids valuable lessons in "fun"...sometimes you lose. In racing, Hunter has had to learn the joys of winning and the agony of defeat for whatever reasons there might be. But the bottom line is always - are you having fun? 

When the fun leaves a game or sport or really anything you enjoy doing, then is it worth it to keep doing it? I'm not advocating quitting, but perhaps, re-evaluating why you are doing whatever it might be. A karting friend told me basically the same thing this weekend regarding our "fun" sport - when it becomes a tiresome job, it's time to step back from it. 

Hunter had a race this weekend, but he was the only one in his class to show up to race (other engagements, broken karts, etc). He was put in a group of two other classes, but all he had to do was take the Green Flag and then come back in - save the kart if he wanted to. But not our boy. No, he said he would race to the Checkers - because it's fun to be out there! 

So, we learn game playing in the car with Slug Bug. Sometimes you are first to call it, sometimes you lose. And if you lose, you laugh and say, I'll get the next one!! And keep playing - as long as you are having fun!!

Angels Among Us

The 2011 SWRC TAG Cadet Gazelle Boys

This is one of those blogs that I may have a hard time writing without tears in my eyes. Good tears, though. If you can't wait until the end...Hunter won the Southwest Regional Cup series championship!!!

Whether you are a believer or not, we had angels, in the form of friends blessing us this weekend. Hunter raced the last two races of the Southwest Regional Cup series in Caddo Mills, TX at the new Dallas Karting Complex.

Going into the weekend, we knew that Scott could not get off work. There is too much going on at the church right now with a current music set-up and they could not see not having Scott there.  God calls and needs him there, he's there.

Which meant, until Scott could get to the track, which was about an hour away, it was the Mom show. But I wasn't worried. We went to the track on Friday to let Hunter practice and Scott got the kart tuned in and set up for this track. At the end of our practice, we found a brand new set of tires in our pit stall with a note that said, "Win this weekend!". We couldn't believe it! Some beautiful, precious angel gifted us with new tires. Tires, in a race like this can make the difference in winning and not. So, Hunter now had no choice but to go win! Ha!

Saturday morning came and the kids and I headed out to the track. We had planned on just running two practice sessions just so Hunter could get the track under him a bit more and save the kart for the race. During the first practice session, he didn't even make it half way around the first lap when he went off the track - got bumped and broke his chain. Great. Now what? Well, buy a chain and replace it. How? How do I replace a chain??? Pray...ask and you shall receive. Again, angels came flying to my rescue in the form of my brother-in-law Scott, and the NTK Vice President Bob. Both got to work on the kart and got the new chain on. Later on, both came back and mounted Hunter's new tires, too!

The 2nd practice session ended with a kart spinning out in front of Hunter and he had no where to go but slide to avoid the kart and hit the hard plastic barriers. *Sigh* Again? Really? But, I had another angel fly to my rescue. Our main competitors dad, Randy, ran down and got Hunter started and back on the track for me. Then later, he came to the trailer and worked on the front end of the kart to make sure it wasn't damaged. Everyone was so helpful and willing to help out.

Scott got there right before the qualifying heat and discovered the front right tie rod and the steering column was bent, but got that banged out enough for Hunter to race - and he got the pole! Some more work came to the kart afterwards and even though it is still bent, it didn't seem to make a difference to the boy. Hunter raced his little heart out and won the event for the night!

After our adventures on Saturday, I figured Sunday would be a piece of cake! I knew that whatever would happen, it would be okay. And it was. Hunter raced a great race and ended up winning on Sunday, too. He was bummed later that night after he realized that it would be a while before he saw these new friends again. Thankfully, it is still about having fun for him. Which makes it fun for us. We just keep reminding each other of that.

Finally, to our NTK friends (Chris & Lisa, Tim, Steve & Maria, Scott & Kim, Bob, DJ, and everyone else from NTK who have helped us through this far) and our SWRC new found friends (Randy & Mandi, Chris & Stephanie, Tommy & Tiffany, and all the other racers around us) and our awesome engine builder, George, we are forever blessed and grateful for these friendships and hope to work with you all for a long time to come.

And Hunter, who we are so very proud of, is now the 2011 Southwest Regional Cup series TAG Cadet Gazelle Champion!!! 

Ummm...I Don't Think It's Supposed to Look Like That

After missing the NTK Fall Series race #2 a couple of weeks ago Hunter was really ready to go race yesterday for the Fall 3 event at NTK. We were ready, too. Scott had put a new rear axle on the kart - one that due to design, should've given him a little more speed.

But, since we have finally received some rain lately, all the good grippy rubber on the track had been washed away and the track was producing slower than usual times. But that was okay. Hunter felt that the kart was handling great, so we left it all in our driver's hands.

After qualifying with the fastest time in the field, we failed the "weigh-in" by .4 lbs. What?!? So, he had to start the pre-final in the back of his class. But he made passes and caught up to the leader at the checkered flag and would start 2nd for the final. We discovered later that the scales are not working correctly, but what is done is done. *sigh*

However, it wouldn't have mattered. On the final heat, as Hunter was closing in on the 1st place ready to pass and take it...

Sparks. Spin. Fish tailing all over turn one. *sigh-again*

A broken axle. The "new" one.

Hunter was okay and many people told us how impressed they were with how well he controlled the kart when that happened. Later, when Hunter could really see it, he thought it was the coolest thing ever, and wants to hang the broken axle on his wall. Boys.

We'll get to work and get the kart ready for next weekend's final round of SWRC races.

But, all is good. Don't think his tire should be facing that way, though. ;-)

Character Building - For All of Us!

Hunter's weekend has been pretty good...he had a great first week of school (what a Praise that was!) and on Friday we took him to see "Senna", the documentary movie about F1 racer Ayrton Senna. Awesome movie! That will be a DVD purchase for us when they release it in the US. He loved listening to Senna talk about his Faith and watching him race.

On Saturday, we headed out to the track with 108 degree heat to race our Fall Series race #1. It was scheduled to run on the "short track" to give the racers a change up and make them learn new things. And learn new things, we did!

Scott had made some changes to Hunter's kart. He put on a new axle, with longer wheel hubs, which set the rear tires out way further than what he usually runs. Also, in trying to keep from needing to spend more money for the next and final round of SWRC Regional races in a month, Scott had pulled off all the "new" stuff on the kart - the tires, drive sprocket, spark plug, and more that I just can't remember...it's in a box. So, without him really knowing it, Hunter was already running at a disadvantage - old stuff.

When they went out to qualify, there were 7 karts on this very short track all competing for the same space. Hunter got caught behind one of his buddies and could catch Jake in the corners, but Jake had the pull away on the small bit of straight and Hunter couldn't get around him. So we were prepared for Hunter to start in 2nd position. But somewhere back behind him, Ethan made a better lap time. And that's all it takes in qualifying - just one good lap. So, we started the pre-final in P3. Not something that I'm used to anymore. I didn't like it. And I admit...I'm spoiled to Hunter being in front. And yes, I know, that's not always going to happen, but I'm Mom and I like seeing my baby in front.

But the cool thing was...Hunter was having so much fun. He loved chasing Jake in qualifying, he loved having someone to race with. Scott made another gear change and we started the pre-final in 3P and immediately, Hunter got a bad start and dropped into 4th. With only 10 laps on the short track to catch up, he picked off one kart and moved back into 3rd. Then he went to work on Ethan and Jake. I'd like to think they knew Hunter "Blue Bolt" Stine was on their tails because those boys were racing!! At the very end, Hunter found an opening and was racing Ethan to the finish line and it was so close, but Ethan pulled out the 2nd place finish. Hunter came in laughing and high-fiving the others and just kept saying what a fun race it was!

I was blown away. Shame on me. I had been sulking over him starting in 3rd and finishing in 3rd, and here he was laughing and having fun. Oh, Mom. Lesson learned.

Starting in 3P for the final, I walked to the grid with Hunter. I leaned down to talk to him and he said, "Yeah, Mom, I know...get around them." I laughed and said, "Well, yeah, if you can, but the priority here is to have fun. I would love to see you win, but the important thing is that you have fun. I will be proud of you no matter where you finish if you get out there and have fun and do your best."

Another bad start and he was running in 5th place! One of our friends said that it was good character building. I said, "Yeah. For me!" We laughed and then watched Hunter go to work. Methodically picking his time, working the corners and then picking them off one by one. He was running faster lap times by 1/2 to 1 second than the other drivers, but with no good openings on the corners, trying to preserve his kart for the big races, and old parts, he just didn't force a pass until he was good and ready. He moved into 2nd, but the kart slid and left the door open for Ethan to pass him back, so we finished the night with a 3rd place. Still...a podium finish.

Hunter was bummed on that one. I felt horrible. Did my attitude create this in him? Did I show such poor character that he felt he had to win or nothing? But later on in his prayer time, he asked the Lord forgiveness for showing such a poor attitude after the final.

More character building...for me.

Hunter cheered for his friends as they stepped on the podium. I love this boy.

Hot for Racing

And I mean it was a HOT day for racing! We wrapped up our Southwest Regional Cup series racing this weekend with another spectaular win from Hunter.

During practice, Hunter broke track records (not officially counted, though) and was running speeds of over 56mph. However, notably absent from practice and qualifying was his main competitor, Michael. We finally heard that Michael and his parents chose to go to church this morning...message received...racing isn't as important as making sure that God takes first place in your life. I love that.

But with Michael back in the mix - starting from the back of the class, we were back in racing action for pre-final. Michael worked his way up through the pack, but just didn't have anything for Hunter, so we got the pole for the final heat. And, with the times Hunter was running, all the Dad's were scrambling to make adjustments to see if they could catch him.

Starting the final on the pole, Hunter just didn't have the pickup and ended up 4th by the first turn. But within two laps, he had picked off all 3 and was blowing the doors off the field. It was the Blue Bolt in action.  It was a weekend sweep for us and we are still trying to absorb and record all we learned this trip.

And yes, we survived the heat.  Right as we were leaving a rain storm blew in and cooled us all off! But we're still hot for racing! ;-)

The 2 in HES2 Motorsports

For almost 3 years I've been keeping this blog to follow Hunter's racing progress, but we named it HES2 because there are 2 of them...Hunter is 1 and Hadyn is 2.

Hadyn has been telling us for quite some time that Hunter's Kid Kart is HER kart. So it is. She'll be eligble to race at the end of October when she turns 5 and we've had her in the kart some, so more practice and maybe she can debut at the end of the year.

She is a trooper, though. She is at every race, every practice, just about every event we go to. She takes the heat and the cold. She has the heart of a racer. We'll see how far she wants to go.

She's my Warrior Princess!

Some Wins Are Hard to Take

We are in Katy, TX this weekend for races 7 & 8 of the Southwest Regional Cup Series. It has been HOT, too!!! All of us here this weekend are walking around looking at each other thinking, "Oh! So that's what a crazy person looks like!"

Hunter and his racing friend Michael were back at it today. Michael took the pole for the pre-final and final heats. Before the final, Scott made some set-up changes and our friend Chris gave Hunter some corner coaching.

It paid off for him in that he was running some great times. He was reeling Michael in lap after lap. Then Hunter took a great pass on turn 1 but Michael took advantage of an opening and passed him back! Two laps later, Hunter was making his move again and took the corner, but it appeared that Michael came down on him a bit and something happened to Michael's kart and he came off the track leaving Hunter in the lead.

Hunter took the checkered flag, but was not celebrating. He said Michael is one of his best friends, and it hurt to get a win that way.

I love that boy. Let's see what tomorrow holds!

Summer Heat

Proof that the kid can work on his own kart!! Under supervision, of course!

Hunter holding up his $winnings$ from Saturday night

NTK hosted the final Summer Sidewinder Series race this past Saturday night. And it was hot - 109 at some point in the afternoon/evening - and the digital read out in the truck said 100 at 10:00. Isn't it supposed to cool off when the sun goes down? Well, technically, I guess it did...a little.

We debated on the necessity of racing in this heat - and since Hunter ended up being the only one from his class in attendance, but given that he is racing in the next round of regional races this coming weekend, and Scott had just rebuilt the carburetor, he needed to get some time in on the kart. The race director coupled our class (and the Yamaha class we usually run with) with another class that have faster engines than ours. But Hunter loved it. It was unusual to see him start at the back of the pack, but even though his engine isn't as fast as the others in that class, that boy kept up pretty well! It was a good race for our Yamaha friend, Ryan, as well! Maybe they needed that extra challenge - don't get lapped!!

It was a good night to run some different set-ups and we feel ready to go to Katy and run the regional races. It will most certainly be hot there...not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to seeing what Hunter can do on his 2nd trip to Katy!

Wish us all luck and to keep cool!!

Entitlements or Privilege

This past Saturday, Hunter had another Summer race at NTK. We were hoping to have some more drivers in his class show up, but something must have happened - life - to prevent them from showing up. But that's okay...we had fun anyway! We're still trying to figure out some mechanical things with Hunter's kart, but he was still able to overcome our shortcomings and win anyway. The kid knows how to drive that kart!!

I read a blog from a Pastor friend of mine the other day regarding the spirit of entitlements that has seem to become such a cultural thing for us. In explaining this to Hunter, I asked him, "am I entitled to sleep in my nice, cushy bed each night?" And the answer is no, I am privileged to sleep in a bed, own a car, own my home, etc., but not entitled to it. Perhaps we should get back to that thinking.

In regards to our racing lives, we are not entitled to have a class full of drivers to race against, but view it as a privilege to be able to race at all. And there was a lot of great races going on Saturday night.

We'll be gearing up the rest of this month getting ready for the next round of regional racing for Hunter in August - all the while reminding ourselves of the privilege and blessing it is to have these opportunities!

Sometimes, You Serve

Hunter was supposed to race yesterday, but due to family vacations, Summer heat, and broken parts, Hunter's class wasn't in force yesterday. One of his class mates was there, but was having some really bad breaking issues, and considering that brakes may be something you'd actually need in racing (read the sarcasm), we all made the decision to roll our entries over to next week's race instead of running last night.

So, instead, we served. Everything at our track is volunteer run. If we don't have volunteers, we don't run. I usually volunteer to work in registration before the race, but since Hunter ended up not running, instead of leaving and having an early evening home, Scott volunteered to work a corner for the race...so the other karters would be able to race.

Then during our break, we both helped out with all the guests (and we had a lot of new people) trying out the club Kid Kart, Cadet, and Adult demo karts. They all had a great time and LOVED the track and the karts.

Sometimes, you race, sometimes, you serve.

Stay After It

Read in an interview with 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, regarding something 5 time Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson told him...

"He said, you've just got to stay hungry and stay after it," Bayne said. "And don't think that you don't have to work hard because you're good. Because there's somebody down the road that's working harder than you are, they might be better than you are eventually if they keep doing that. So you've got to keep working harder than the next guy, and I think he does a good job with that."

Hunter raced at NTK last Saturday night for the first of four Summer Sidewinder Series races. He decided before the race that he wanted to try to break the NTK club track record for his class. The record, as it stands, is 41.09 seconds (fastest lap time in TAG Cadet Gazelle), and in the regional series race we had at NTK, Hunter did run faster than that with a 40.5 lap time. But, since that race was not a "NTK Club" race, the time could not count for a club record.

The Sidewinder Series does not count for club records either, but that didn't stop him from wanting to try for the record. And with all the limitations put on him with his kart - worn tires, worn sprockets, no competitor on his tail pushing him or him drafting another kart, he was just 2 tenths of a second off the record.

He came out of his kart with a 1st place win, but disappointed in himself, saying "I know I can do better. I'll do better next time." We were proud of him for trying...for pushing himself with the equipment he had...for not giving up due to circumstances, but keeping on.

Because if he didn't keep trying, someone else would. Like "Mr. 5 Time" says, Stay After It!

Spring Champion!!

We just wrapped up our Spring racing series with 7 races and Hunter has won the Spring Series Championship!! We are so proud of him - he has really learned a lot this season and improved his driving so much that he is getting a lot of attention from others around us.

When other friends were moving to another engine package for this year, we made the decision to stay where we are for now and in retrospect, it was such the right decision. Hunter has become the driver that the other younger drivers look up to - want to model themselves after. I've heard so many Dads telling their young drivers, "now, watch how Hunter takes that corner," or "see how smooth Hunter is driving," etc... The kids he races with have him as a target to reach, a goal to chase down and pass...eventually. And we know, that will come - we were in their position last year and now look at him!

We will start our four race Summer series this month. This series won't be for championship points, but for cash...maybe pay for some parts! We'll restart the points series back up at the end of August with our 7 race Fall series.

We'd love to have you come visit the track and watch Hunter (and all the others, too!) race. Next up: Saturday, June 25 at 6PM. Come see the Blue Bolt in action!

It's a Hot One!

Happy 10th Birthday, Hunter!!!

So, I'm hearing that besides having a record breaking drought, the Houston area was also having record breaking heat this weekend. Great. Glad we could be here for it. But the scorching heat aside, we could not be more proud of our son! Hunter's character was really shining this weekend.

After a heartbreaking wreck to knock Hunter and Michael from the first place podium finish on Saturday, Hunter still ended up with a 2nd place trophy and points (thank you, God, for small classes this time out, right?) because during the back and forth battle with Michael, Hunter crossed the start/finish line ahead of Michael right before the wreck by .0014 of a second...or something really, really close like that.

So on Sunday, Michael's Dad was ready. He worked to find more power for Michael in that engine, changing out carburetors (said he went through 3 of them). On the other hand, we have one. One engine, one carb, one of just about everything. So I told Hunter that we had the engine as tuned as it was going to get...the rest was up to him. AND HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!

His times in the final heat were consistently faster than Michaels and he was reeling Michael in. If Hunter hadn't gotten a slow start - something going on with our clutch, we think - and if he could've gotten ahead of Michael at the start, I'm not sure M would've been able to catch him. But, it is what it is, and Hunter raced his heart out. The problem came when Michael and Hunter came upon lapped traffic of the other class of racers with us and Michael managed to get around them, but Hunter got bogged up in their traffic and lost valuable ground (the picture is the effect of close bumping and passing in that traffic). So, we joyfully took home a 2nd place finish.

Hunter told me later that he was okay with that. This was Michael's home track and just like Hunter got a win at NTK, his home track, Michael needed a win at his. The boys were all high-fiving each other and congratulating on the great racing and running off to hang out together.

When Hunter accepted his Saturday trophy, he was asked who he'd like to thank. At this time, we'd heard the obligatory "sponsor" and "team" thank you's being doled out, but Hunter thanked God. "I want to thank God for keeping us all safe out there."

I love that boy.

Tomorrow....

Tomorrow, tomorrow, how I love ya, tomorrow, you're only a day away!!

We are in Katy, TX for races #5 and #6 of the SWRC series. We practiced all day long yesterday in this hot, hot, heat trying out different setups- gearing mostly, since this is our first time at this track. As we are discovering more about our boy, he does not disappoint. He suited up and ran everything we threw at him. After practice, we ate pizza and went swimming with our racing buddies.

Today started good. Hunter had a good qualifying time and started 2nd in the pre-final. During the pre-final heat, he and his main competitor, Michael, battled it out for the lead, but with two laps to go, Hunter claimed the lead and kept it!

Starting the final heat on the pole, he got off to a bad start and Michael tool the lead. But Hunter would catch and pass him on the straight-away then Michael would get him back on the 1st corner. We thought we were in for 16 laps of this until...

Battling for the lead around that corner, neither of them were giving up space and they bumped, broke both their chains and split the track.

Hunter was okay with it...its just racin', he says, and they were racing hard, but Michael was devastated.

Of course, now, they are both hanging out together in someone's air conditioned trailer.

I wonder if they have room for Mom?

Blue Bolt

Blue is often considered to be the safest global color.

Blue symbolizes peace, tranquility, stability, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, knowledge, power, integrity, security, cleanliness, sky, water and cold.

Blue can slow the pulse rate, lower body temperature and reduce appetite. Blue is considered a business color because it reflects reliability.

• In China, blue is associated with immortality.
• For the Jewish faith, blue symbolizes holiness.
• The pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore blue for protection against evil.
• If you are "true blue" you are loyal and faithful.

Heard from our track announcer, Jim Hickerson, last night, "Listen for the thunder, because you just saw the lightning, Hunter "Blue Bolt" Stine!!"

Hunter had fun last night at our Spring 6 club race. What looked to be a light turnout due to looming stormy weather turned out to be pretty fun. Our new TAG Cadet drivers are really starting to dial in and will be challenging Hunter come this Fall, for sure. When we have light turn outs, the cadet classes might be grouped together and last night was one of those nights. We ran with our usual running buddies, the Yamaha Jr 1 class and we had a new Rotax Mini Max driver join us. Rotax is a faster engine than the TAG Gazelle or Yamaha Jr 1, but since he was new, he ran with us. However as the night wore on, he was learning that kart more and started picking drivers off one by one and was gunning for Hunter. Now, Hunter knows his Gazelle cannot out run a full speed Rotax, but he wasn't going to let this kid pass him without a fight and the newbie just couldn't keep up and ended up spinning out on a corner trying to keep up with the Blue Bolt!! So, Hunter finished 1st for his class and in front of everyone in the group of for the night!!

To top of the night, we had a Kona Ice shaved ice truck at the track.

Randy Brittain, the owner of this truck, asked Hunter how he did and in honor of Hunter's pre-final win and pending Final victory, named a snowcone after Hunter - The Blue Bolt - a mix of blue raspberry and pina-colada. Pretty cool getting a snowcone named for you!!

More than the win, I think that was the highlight of Hunter's night!

Next up is race #5 and #6 for the Southwest Regional Cup Series in Katy, TX June 3-5th. Wish him luck and good prayers for him!

Starting at the End

I'm not sure where to start, and since I'm extremely tired from this weekend and still and little stunned, I'll start at the end...

HUNTER WON!!!!

Needless to say, I'm a happy Mama. And yes, Daddy is very proud, too! And we could not have done it without the help of our NTK friends who advised, wrenched, and stood with me today while Scott was at work. I love being a part of this organization. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Usually, I'll take my readers through all 3 heats in detail, but today, all 3 heats were similar - mind blowingly "WOW!"

Hunter qualified on the pole with a time of 40.69, won the pre-final in a fight to the finish 10 lap showdown (and even faster lap times of 40.52) with last turn passes made by Hunter and his main competitor, Michael, then on to the final heat where things didn't start in our favor, but favor turned toward us and Hunter grabbed on to that and fought to take and keep that lead. I have never been so happy to see a checkered flag in my life. AND we passed post race tech inspections! *Whew*.

Next week - club race and hopefully the club record. Tonight - sleep.

Dark Day Afternoon

Yeah, I know...wrong title ("Dog" Day Afternoon), but it was in the afternoon that the darkness loomed.

Race #3 if the Southwest Regional Cup Series was today at NTK. Everything started out well for Hunter. He qualified in 2nd position with a great NTK time of 41.04 seconds. Then for his pre-final heat, the 4th place driver pushed Hunter and himself out in the lead and they stayed there! So Hunter finished 1st and was on the pole for the final. It was an awesome race and a fight to the finish!

But the RACE was during the final heat. Hunter took off like a flash and held the lead for quite a while. But he was finally passed on a turn and fought like crazy to get the lead back. The top 3 drivers were so close together they sounded like one engine. Needless to say, I was just a little stressed out! LOL! But the checkered flag flew and we finished 2nd place! GREAT RACE!!

Then the darkness fell. Tech time. Scott and I weren't concerned about passing post-race tech inspection - we had all the proper equipment and the things we might have been concerned about were good.

But. Yes, there's a but.

The clutch drum - that is the little round covering over the clutch - was .7 or .07 of some sort of measurement too wide on the inside. This means Hunter will not be awarded 2nd place awards or points and he was disqualified for this race. Disappointed does not begin to describe the feeling we had. We were crushed. How do we tell a kid that raced his heart out, raced so smoothly, running faster times than he ever had, racing with more experienced drivers and finishes that high up, "oh yeah, about that."

Lessons for Pit Crew Parents learned, and legal clutch drum borrowed for tomorrow. But in every dark day, there comes light. On our way home, Hunter said, "I can't wait until tomorrow's race. It's going to be great!"

Wow. Thank you, God. I needed that ray of sunshine.

The Good News and the Bad News

We are at NTK today practicing for race #3 and #4 for the Southwest Regional Cup Series races. Hunter has been running really great times today and his Daddy has been told to LEAVE THE KART ALONE! LOL!!

Well, the kid went out for his last practice and set a record...40.94 second laptime. The current NTK record is 41.0. That's the good news. The bad news is that since this isn't a club race, the record won't stand.

Guess he'll just have to do it again next week.

On a Rail

NTK hosted our Spring 5 race last night. This was the first race all season that Scott was able to be at the entire race - from practice to finish. He did get teased somewhat by some of the others at the track...asked if he knew what to do and did I need to go help him. Ha! We couldn't run without Dad!!

I knew Hunter was tired and a bit punchy from not going to sleep on time the night before, but this is racing and he needed to have his head in the game. The kids in this class are driving open wheel karts with a gas tank between their legs potentially reaching speeds of 60mph . You've got to be awake and focused.

His qualifying round was good, but he wasn't running as smooth as last time. After last race's "smooth" driving action from Hunter, I was expecting more of the same. He seemed to be over-driving a couple of the corners. He still was fast enough to qualify for the pole position, but he could run better. He told Scott that he was sliding a bit on those corners, so Scott made a tiny adjustment (so tiny it made me wonder if that really helped or was it just the mental aspect in Hunter's mind) and Hunter went back out for pre-final and laid out some great times and was running smooth again.

By the time the final heat rolled around, it was dark and the temp had dropped a little bit, so his times slowed up a fraction, but man, he was running smooth. Another win racked up for the "Blue Kid"'s camp!!

Another dad walked by us, smiled and simply said, "on a rail." Yeah, that's what he looked like he was running on. Let's pray he can look that way next weekend for the regional race.

Smooth

One word...smooth. Another word...flyin'! Those are the words I heard about Hunter last night at North Texas Karters Spring 4 race. And yeah, from what I was watching, I think those are accurate words.

We had a pretty good sized class to race with yesterday. We had a couple of boys that raced with

us at the end of last year that came back in yesterday. Add to that Hunter and the usual two he races with and then grouped with a couple more classes, we had a group of 9 ready to go race together. The qualifying round got red flagged right off the bat due to a wreck that, well...I'm still not sure what happened...all I know is Hunter spun off the track - he said he took a corner too fast before his tires were warmed up - but it was a corner away from others who also must've taken one too fast and piled up. Still, it put Hunter back in the pack when they red flagged the heat. When they restarted, he was in 6th position. But one by one, he picked off the karts in front of him and got the best time in the heat.

During the pre-final AND final heats, he took off from the pack and eventually started picking off lapped karts one after another. We were there last year at this time...we know how it feels to see that front runner coming up behind your kid's kart...so we don't cheer for that, but pray that he is being very cautious when he is passing traffic. And he is. He is a very smart driver. And when he would pass two at one time on a corner, we would hear "whoooo!!!" coming from around the spectator area. It does make a parent proud to hear your child being cheered. We also were told later there was a dad and his sons watching "the blue kid" because he was doing so well.

We have another club race next week and we are getting ready for the next round of the Southwest Regional Cup Series racing the following weekend at our track. We're praying that "the blue kid" can keep running as smooth as he did yesterday!

Go, Hunter, Go!

On Any Given Race Day

In the 1999 movie, Any Given Sunday, Al Pacino's character said, "On any given Sunday, you're gonna win or you're gonna lose. The point is - can you win or lose like a man?"

Change that to, "On any given race day, you're gonna win or you're gonna lose. The point is - can you keep your helmet cool and win or lose with humility?"

North Texas Kartway held it's Spring 3 race yesterday. Hunter was running great and leaving the pack behind in his qualifying and pre-final races, however, his competitors are quickly gaining speed and experience and it won't be too much longer before they are really pushing him for those wins.

The final heat started and Hunter took off from the pack and didn't look back. I even had time to take a little video of him and a couple of pictures from my phone. I was actually enjoying the stress free racing, knowing that in another month or two, the other kids will be chasing him down like crazy and then the stress starts over again in club racing.

Then it happened.

As he passed in front of me, he slowed down. Way down. His motor sounded like it ran out of gas, but he had a full tank of gas, so it wasn't that. No thrown chain sound. No broken sidepod to give us a disqualification. What in the world could it be? And to top it off, Scott (Dad) had to leave early for work and didn't get to set up the kart for the final. So, on my way down the fence line to where the kart had stopped, I'm running through my head all that I had done and did I miss anything? What did I do???? Okay, Mom, it's not your fault. It's nothing you did. You did what you were supposed to do. Oh, wait a minute. It's not about me. How is Hunter holding up with this?

Fine. Fine and dandy. According to him, he didn't know what happened, but things happen and you know, this is just how it is.

Huh. I really figured he'd be mad for a while then cool off and realize that. But this was right out of the kart. We ended up with a 3rd place. Still a podium finish!!

Yeah, on any given race day, anything can happen, but how you react to it defines the character.

The kart? Well, here's a picture - notice the chain on the sprocket? Yeah, it's not supposed to look like that. We're thinking the clutch bearing went bad and threw things off enough to shake the chain to where it didn't pop off, but caught on the sprocket and locked up the back end. It took some work to get the engine mount loose enough to get that chain back to where it belongs. On any given race day.

Wow. Just, Wow!

*Hunter on the front row to start a race on Saturday!*

Wow! What a weekend. We spent this past weekend in Norman, Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Motorsports Complex for the first two races of the Southwest Regional Cup series kart races. This being our first big regional race and first time at this track, we really didn't know what to expect.

We arrived on Friday, set up and got ready to practice. Everyone was very helpful on giving Hunter advice on how to run this track and what to expect. He went out to get a feel for the track and after two practice sessions, started feeling sick...hot, dry, headache, stomach ache. We were familiar with this. Two years ago, we had a heat exhaustion run to the hospital with Hunter during a race. So we got him in the truck under a/c, ice packs, water, and meds for the headache. He was so excited that day, he woke up super earlyin the morning, didn't eat but a couple bites for breakfast, didn't slow down much during the afternoon to eat and just snacked and boom...it hit. So, we sat out the last two practice runs. But the good news is that he perked up later and felt great.

On Saturday, we had some more friends give him some coaching on how to run this track and fortunately for Hunter, he tends to listen to the advice given to him by experienced racers and coaches and then applies what he heard. We had 6 TaG Cadet/Gazelle's register for the Saturday race and Hunter qualified 2nd for the pre-final heat. Then he ran a great pre-final and finished 2nd to set up for the final. The final on Saturday finished with another great 2nd! Our first big race and first on this track...you betcha', we'll take it with joy!!!

*Boys hanging out at the trailer watching a DVD with Hadyn*

Afterwards, we met more of the racers' families and gleaned more driving info from them. I am always amazed at how friendly and helpful our competitors are. Perhaps as we move up and Hunter gets older, it may not always be that way, but for now, it's an awesome thing to experience.

*Big class on Sunday!*

Sunday came and so did the big winds. Ah, yes, I remember these winds from growing up in the Texas Panhandle. What I used to consider a mild breeze then was now hurricane winds! Okay, not quite, but it's good that those karts are so close to the ground!! Hunter got more advice and then poured it on. We had 3 more karts racing with us on Sunday making a 9 kart group (7 in our class, 2 from another). He qualified 4th overall (3rd in our class) for the pre-final then stuck to the front row racers like glue throughout the pre-final to finish 2nd in our class!! He was driving like he was meant to do this.

*making last minute adjustments*

It was final time. I find it amusing to watch all the dads/tuners/coaches pouring over the karts on the grid trying to find any last minute adjustments they may need to make - and then wondering if they should've done this or that or what. Finding that sweet spot in racing seems to ebb and flow with the weather - is the sun out on the track, is it cloudy, is it windy, what is the humidity level, the temp, and so on. And Sunday was giving us some weird weather to deal with. But ready or not, it was time to go and go he did! Although he stayed closer to the front runner in the pre-final, he still finished 2nd place for the final bringing our SWRC weekend to close with two 2nd place finishes!!

We are so appreciative of all the help and advice we received all weekend and most of all thankful that the Lord blessed us so much with a great weekend.

We're looking forward to our Spring 3 club race on April 16th. Maybe we'll see you there!

Oklahoma Bound!

OOOOk-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain
And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet
When the wind comes right behind the rain.
Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I
Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk
Makin' lazy circles in the sky.

We are packed up and getting ready to head a short trip North for Hunter to race in his first Southwest Regional Cup Series race. We told him last year that if he showed improvement over the year and could be a real contender for this series, we would take him to these races. Well, he did. And we are. And we are praying for a really great weekend and some really good racing action.

The reigning SWRC TaG Cadet champion is racing against Hunter, but that hasn't phased him much...just learning a new track is where his focus is right now. That and the fact he isn't going to school tomorrow.

And just a note, my little prayer warrior was concerned that there wouldn't be anyone else in his class running, so he has been praying every night for at least 5 in his class. The other day, I got an email confirming a total of 5 drivers in his class for this race - and more could sign up at the track - this was just pre-registration. I just love to watch God at work!!

We'll be posting updates on Facebook and here as they happen.

New Season - Continuing Lessons

Last year when we started in the TaG Cadet class at NTK, we were the "new kids" in the class. This year, Hunter is the seasoned pro in the class...said with a slight grin.

Last year, when Hunter and Reilly started this class, Gunnr was running away from the pack, leaving everyone behind and perhaps wondering if that was going to be the way it would be the entire year. Now that Gunnr and Reilly have moved to another class, Hunter is running with the "new kids" that he leaves behind. But as we know from last year, it won't be long before the others are chasing Hunter down and giving him a run for the championship. Nope. Not long at all. But until then...

Hunter finished Spring 1 waaaaaay in front of the field. However, we have learned, the hard way, that ANYTHING (sidepod) can happen in ANY race (sidepod) on any given day (sidepod). We've seen races lost due to broken chains, spinning out on corners, getting caught up in lapped traffic and of course the dreaded...sidepod.

So, until our competition is busy chasing us down, we will continue to work on building up a humble racer that Praises God for all things at all times!!

See you for Spring 2!

New Year...New Chances

We just finished up the four race Winter Series at NTK. It was yet again a heartbreaking finish to give Hunter a 2nd place finish on the series. But, the lessons learned were invaluable.

With the fourth race being the deciding factor of 1st or 2nd place for him, we told Hunter that no matter how the race finished, we were so proud of him and what he had learned over the prior three races. His corner driving had improved beyond belief and after one race, he had many other adult drivers pull him aside to give him some coaching on drafting and passing on the corners and he had started applying that knowledge to his driving.

I read a quote to Hunter from an interview with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne:

GOING FROM WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE RELEASED FROM WALTRIP RACING AND NOT SURE IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO RACE AT KANSAS TO WINNING THE DAYTONA 500 A FEW MONTHS LATER, HOW DOES IT UNDERSCORE YOUR BELIEF THAT THIS IS BIGGER THAN RACING FOR YOU?
“You know, before this ever happened I had a meeting with some of the people that are running my business and financial stuff and my dad was involved and we sat down to figure out what was the goal of Trevor Bayne as a company, a person, anything. I told them that the goal was not to be the best race car driver or the most marketable or most popular, it is none of those things, it is to build a platform and let God use us on the platform that He is building which might require me to become the best race car driver or be the most marketable or most popular or whatever it is. I just want to stand on the platform that He is putting under me and that is our goal. If that is the goal then our highs and lows will be a lot more manageable.”

Racing is great. Winning is fantastic. Learning and growing is wonderful. But it's not the big picture. For Hunter to put God first in his life and to give Him glory no matter what - win or lose - is the highest priority. Hunter gets it. At 9 years old, the kid gets it.

Spinning out while about to make his move to pass the leader in the last race of the Winter series knocked Hunter out of the 1st place series win. Of course he was devastated. But he bounced back quickly and counted his blessings for all that he learned in this series and will learn to come.

He's ready to take on Spring 2011.

Go Hunter!