For nine years, Neat raced in the popular Chevette class at tracks in Junction City, Burnside and other locales, and eventually moved up to compete in the open-wheel division.
“I competed for two years in the open-wheel class, but it just got too expensive,” he explained. “I blew a couple of engines, and decided I couldn’t afford to race any more.”
Out of car racing but still wanting to compete, Neat wound up buying a go-cart, and took it to the J&M Motorsports cart track on Pike’s Ridge in Taylor County.
“I raced it a couple of times, then Cody (the oldest son) wanted to drive it around, so I let him,” he explained. “The next week, Kyle (the youngest) wanted to try it, and my driving days were over.”
Before long, Neat ended up trading his open-wheeled race car for two racing go-carts, wheels, tries, parts, etc., plus an enclosed trailer to haul them with, and the younger Neats took over.
The two boys raced from March through the end of October, competing in regular races and in a points series, and both ended up doing quite well.
Kyle, competing in the rookie class for beginners ages 6-12, wound up as the points champion in his class, taking first place by a narrow margin.
Cody, who competed in the Junior II class for ages 11-15, was leading his division going into the fourth race, but suffered some mechanical problems during the next three events - a broken spindle, a blown motor, etc. - and ended up fifth in the points chase.
When asked if they were worried about the possibility of their sons getting hurt going so fast in such small rides, Myra said that she worries a little, but noted that they have all types of safety equipment.
She also said that the racing has made quite a difference in Kyle at school too.
“Before he started racing, he wasn’t trying very hard in school, ” Myra noted. “But, we told him that if he didn’t do well in school, there would be no racing. And he’s really done well. His teacher said that there’s been tremendous improvement in his school work.”
Their six-year-old sister Gracie, has also announced her intentions to race next year.
“She’s already told me that I’m going to have to get a bigger trailer so it’ll haul three carts,” Jamey noted. “She said she’s going to get her a pink go-cart and go racing.”
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