Hamilton Karting

Hello!  I'm Ted Hamilton, Owner and Driver for Hamilton Karting.  It's hard to believe that as of 2008 I've been racing and engineering race vehicles for twenty years! 

My career began in 1988.  Living in rural upstate New York in a small town called Freeville, my parents noticed a classified ad for 'microd' driving.  "Microd" stands for "Micro Hot Rod", and the cars are wood or metal framed with full bodies, similar to a small stock car.  Microdding originated in New York in the 1950's and 60's, and when I started in 1988, there were 5 active race tracks (ovals).

When my parents responded to the ad, we were invited to try a car out after a local race.  Arriving at Little Wheels Speedway in Peruville, NY, I met Johhny Cogswell, driver of a gold colored microd with a woodpecker on the hood.  I borrowed his helmet and aviator-style sunglasses and went out on track for the first time -- man was I hooked!

My parents and I rented a car for the second half of that season, repainting it blue and starting my career as number 76.  With some good coaching, I was on my way, and became known for my smooth style and fast qualifying.  Once I figured out how much easier it was to pass on the inside, I became known for winning too!

1989 was the year we purchased our first car from the Enders' in Genoa, NY.  I just about froze my fingers off rebuilding it in our unheated garage over the NY winter, but I was determined to see "my" racecar done and ready for the next season.  With help from Dad, we got it done and painted in my first sponsor's colors -- Boothroyd Insurance of Ithaca, NY.  The red-and-white microd looked and felt quick, and led me to many wins in my first few years of racing.  I was New York State Champion twice in this class, but my most notable win was a lead-from-the-pole effort where I lapped all but the second place car in twenty-five laps.  On a 1/10th mile oval, that's quite an accomplishment!

Though the relationships formed in my early career continued, we transitioned to a different club in 1992, and I upgraded to a bigger engine.  I acclimated well, and stayed smooth and we picked up two more New York State Championship wins.  Building this car from scratch, my dad and I learned much about race engineering and we bacame fast friends with a fellow racing family -- the Heisler's of Lansing, NY.  Mike Heisler grew up in the Can-Am days and discovered microdding a couple years after we did.  Mike's oldest son David was formidable but friendly competition.  We spend many hours prepping, bench racing, watching racing, and soon our younger brothers were racing head-to-head as well.  From 1989 through 1993 I had won 5 consecutive Club Points Championships but in 1994, David beat me by less than 10 points.  I hate to lose, but if I had to, it couldn't have been to a nicer guy!

Open-wheel vehicles are a different challenge, and after 1994 I moved up another class to Stock Open Wheel.  The premiere class of the New York State Microdding Association, these are midget or sprint-car styled cars with full suspension and hot competition!  I purchased a car from my high school shop teacher's son, and competed as a rookie for my last eligble year (high school graduation was the cut-off).  I placed a respectable 7th in the points championship, and returned the following year as a race official.

I've always been interested in racing, whether from the driver's seat or engineering.  In the mechanical engineering program at Pitt, I entered the Formula SAE program.  I forged good friendships there with Duquesne-transfer student Steve Drabant and Paul Bobko.  As one of the few engineers with actual race experience, I was able to contribute in a unique way, and we enjoyed working a team to compete in Detroit.

This engineering education continued after meeting Sharon Bank at Marconi Systems in Cranberry, PA.  While interviewing, I brought up my interest in racing.  Sharon told me that her brother raced USAC Silver Crown cars and introduced me a couple of weeks later.  Robin Bank and I seemed to hit it off from the beginning, and I welcomed the chance to be back in a racing environment again.

Robin adopted me as part of the "crew" and I served as a gopher -- doing whatever was needed that I was capable of doing!  And it was Rob that introduced me to high-power two-cycle karting.

On off weekends, the team would drive to Columbiana, OH and test a Parilla 100cc Swiss Hutless kart.  Called "Formula A", this was the epitome of kart racing - and a new challenge.  I retained my smooth style, but the additional power meant learning to drive with my throttle foot too!  I was hooked yet again.

Since that fateful meeting in 2001, Rob and I have stayed in contact, and kart together whenever our schedules allow.  Rob invited me to be part of the RBankRacing.com team for the full-size Saab 900 "24 Hours of LeMons" event in Flat Rock, MI and again in the Thunderhill Event in Dec. 2007.

I am as committed as ever to racing and engineering race cars at the highest level.  While it's not possible to win all the time, the struggle to be your best defines who you are.  I seek to continue the journey of discovery and pass that love on to others by growing the sport of racing in the Winston-Salem, NC area.

After competing in Pittsburgh, PA for 2006, Hamilton Karting relocated to Winston-Salem, NC in mid-2007.  Now that we live and work in one of the epicenters of racing in the US, Hamilton Karting is well-positioned to compete along the Atlantic coast.

Feel free to call us or email at ted@hamiltonkarting.com for more info or to talk racing!