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!

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!

Posted via web from Kevin’s Mind Dump

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!