Racing « Kevin Harter

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Fifth-ish ain’t bad

30 Apr

Maybe it was the wind (I’m tall), maybe it was the weight (I’m fat), or maybe it was the terrible racing skills (I’m the one that ran out of gas in a four-cylinder Wild Thing… twice!). Whatever it was, it was good enough for fifth place in the championship race!

Team Backslash tore up the track, until I got *stuck* on the final lap of the first heat. That’s right, another driver (sorry, didn’t catch her name) and I got stuck against a guard rail. Still, I was scored in third place which earned us a solid eight points. The uneventful sixth heat, my second, ended with Team Backslash in a solid third place.

Unfortunately sixteen points weren’t enough to make it into the final race. But wait! I’ve already given you the ending… Yep, I was the third-place money raiser!

The final race didn’t start well for Team Backslash. I drew Cart #7, the same tortoise that only managed a third place finish in my second heat. And it gets worse — good ol’ Number 7 (like the Grizzly Adams reference?) was parked in the outside of row three. That’s sixth place out of six carts for those racing-challenged.

Still, I gave it my all and ended up fighting off a certain Fort Madison hardware store owner, who shall remain nameless. Let’s just call him “Crash Kempker” for the sake of the story. So anyway, Crash and I stayed at the back of the back for pretty much the entire race. And I can thank Crash for my next chiropractor bill. I think the NO BUMPING sign fell off of the back of my cart on one of the first slams to the bumper. Ouch! We had a great race going for the back of the pack.

Seriously, thanks to EVERYONE that donated (there are too many to mention by name here… our bandwidth is billed by the word). Team Backslash raised over $300 for the Fort Madison United Way and overall, over $3000 was raised tonight. Great job to all the racers, even Crash, and congratulations to Kevin Adams from Lee County Bank on his 2010 Season Championship!

By the way, I think the only real doctor bill I’ll have is to wipe the smile off my face. Thanks, it was a blast!

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Posted in Personal, Racing

Come out and cheer for Team Backslash tonight!

29 Apr

The Fort Madison United Way Celebrity Go-Cart Race is tonight! Held at Hillside Go-Carts, coincidentally placed on the side of Burlington Hill in Fort Madison, the event will feature a couple of dozen local business and community leaders… and me.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the light snacks and refreshments as you cheer on your favorite driver (hopefully Kevin from Backslash!). I’ll be trying to race my way into the finals, and eventually the Championship, but I do have another chance in case gravity and physics win. The top four fundraising drivers automatically will advance into the finals. You can still donate here or on-site at the event, too, in case you wish to take pity on me after watching my undoubtedly dismal performance. So make sure to bring a few bucks with you!

Tell your friends, bring a neighbor, and cheer for Team Backslash!

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Posted in Personal, Racing

Lapping the competition… or wrecking. Really, it’s a toss-up.

23 Apr

Backslash Technologies owner, Kevin Harter, will take on 23 other area business leaders at the Fort Madison United Way Charity Go-Cart Race. The event is going to be held at the Hill Side Go-Cart Track, at the top of Burlington Hill in Fort Madison, on Thursday, April 29th. Bring your lawn chairs, racing begins at 5:30pm and should last about two hours.

Kevin Harter is no stranger to death-defying auto racing. His legendary number 95 has worn grooves around the Lee County Speedway, a 3/8-mile dirt oval in nearby Donnellson, Iowa. While he never won any races, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. “I never tried,” admits Harter during a rare off-camera interview. “Quite frankly, I sucked at it. I was too lazy to do anything to the racecar to make it go faster and too cheap to put anything into it. Plus, it was hot in that suit and helmet. Yuck.”

Other members of Team Backslash were asked what they felt about Harter’s chances in the upcoming Celebrity Go-Cart Race.

“He’s going to embarrass us all,” commented a worried John Newkirk, Service Manager for Backslash. “I can’t believe he’s doing it.”

Backslash Service Technician, Chris Davis, seemed confused. “Race? What race?”

Luckily, even if Kevin is as terrible in a go-cart as he was in the Wild Thing four-cylinder, there’s a slight chance he could make it to the Championship Race. The top four donation collectors automatically get into the final race.

This is your chance to help support Team Backslash! Don’t squander away your riches on things like iPods and food for your family. Donate your money to a worthwhile cause instead! And don’t get tight just because you don’t live in Fort Madison… You can use the Donate button to send your money magically over the Intertubes. The United Way is awesome no matter where you’re from and the handful of cash you can spare will be put to great use!

Seriously, all of the money donated goes directly to the Fort Madison United Way. So, drop a buck in the can at Backslash Technologies, or — better yet! — click on the Donate button and send a few bucks. Any and all donations, from a handful of change to $50 or more, will be greatly appreciated!

Please donate what you can. No amount is too small or too big.

A big “Thank You!” from all at Team Backslash and the Fort Madison United Way to every person that donates and participates!

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Posted in Kevin's Thoughts, Racing

Lee County Speedway Car Show 2010

10 Apr

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via web from Kevin’s Mind Dump

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Posted in Racing

LCS Car Show and Kick-Off Party

10 Apr

After we watch Nathan’s first soccer game of the season this morning, and grab a quick bite, we’re going to Donnellson. You may be asking out loud, “Why on earth would you go there?” If you are, stop reading out loud, it’s annoying to those around you.

Well, we’re going to the Lee County Speedway Car Show and Kick-Off Party, of course! Starting at 1pm, race car owners and drivers from all around are going strut their stuff as they show off new rides for the 2010 racing season (which starts NEXT WEEK, by the way!).

If you even have a mild, passing interest in racing of any kind, you need to make the short drive to Donnellson and check this out. Heck, they even have FREE hot dogs and Pepsi products (although *I* would much rather have a Diet Coke), so you could make a lunch stop out of it!

Last year was the most fun anyone’s ever had at a car show, and it was pouring down rain at times. Dozens had to squish together under a pop-up tent during the event for a while. This year, though, God has smiled on Lee County Speedway and blessed us all with sunshine and 80 degree weather! They’re going to cram a ton of cars into the parking lot next to the Pilot Grove Savings Bank, that’s for sure.

And I haven’t even told you about the “Kick-Off Party” part of this shindig! So, right across the street from the Car Show, there’s a quaint little place called the Stumble Inn (which, seriously, has to be one of the best names for a bar that I’ve ever heard). It’ll be a shorter-than-a-Frogger-level walk to the party place, after the Show ends around 5pm, where many will close the bar early the next morning.

What are you doing today? Stop out and say “hi” if you have a few minutes. You don’t have to stay long, even though you’re welcome to. Lots of people stop by, grab a hot dog and a Pepsi (or bring your own Coke), and take a half hour to walk around, enjoy the sunshine, look at the cars, and meet the drivers. It’s an awesome experience for the kids, too, so don’t forget yours and the neighbor’s (ask first).

We’ll see you all there!

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Posted in Racing

I'm points racin' (that's what all the LOSERS say!)

02 Jun

Okay, so things didn’t go too hot this past week at Lee County Speedway for the ol’ #95. I really shouldn’t complain – the car is holding together and we’re having a bunch of fun each week. But the car needs more git up n’ go!

I think some tires might help. Anyone want to donate a few? For free. I’ll thank you in this fantastic blog that tens of people read annually….

Seriously, we could use some more horsepower. This past Friday, the track was very fast but I wasn’t. It was all I could do to come in 12th. If I had another lap – or more guts – I probably could have made it to 11th, but the guy in front of me was all over the place. Not like the cool-headed, running-on-rails style of your favorite driver here.

I’m learning that my car is pretty quick in acceleration but it doesn’t corner too well. Again, it wasn’t bad this past weekend, but I had a hard time keeping it on the bottom while trying to find the optimal shift points. It seems like I can keep it in 3rd until the middle of the turn and downshift into 2nd, but I always feel like I’m robbing myself of some speed.

Well, at least it’s holding together and we haven’t had to really do anything to it. And 12th place wasn’t too awful – I started dead last and finished in front of four others. And, because I’m showing up more than some, I’m in 9th place overall in points right now.

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Posted in Racing