Art Carpenter

[Corey]

It is with heavy hearts that we let everyone know of the passing yesterday of Art Carpenter. For his Tri-City Kart Club family it is especially difficult. Over the years, Art has had a hand in every phase of karting. From being a competitor when he was young, contributing to the facility by participating on the Board of Directors, opening his own kart shop to service the racers, and most importantly, being a dad/pit crew for his son. No words can express our sorrow. During this time, we ask that everyone keep his family in their prayers, especially Stubbs. It will be a difficult road ahead but we all know that if the entire kart racing family comes together (as they always do) we can help make the road a little easier. Please say a prayer…………….

We will let everyone know of the time and date for Art's services as soon as we get that information.

[rocketshoes]

I'm saddened to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[JuniorIII]

I would like to make this the start of a tribute to Art. I know Art would like to see all of us move ahead with our lives and not dwell on his passing, but he was so instrumental in what Karting is in this area, that I think it would be great to share some of our times with Art. Let's talk about the good times he shared with us and how he impacted our lives....

I first knew him as about a 9 year old kid. With me almost 6 years older, we never raced together, but he always hung with the older kids. He was "cool" enough to be a part of the group of kids that skateboarded and rode bikes around after the races on Gold Cup weekends. He was always a gutsy kid. He had diabetes in his youth and living with that he was always a fighter. He worked harder than most kids to get better at racing and with the help of his dad Gary, he succeded. Turn the clock ahead almost 30 years, and I show up at about the second practice with my son Ryan and there he is with his son Artie. It was like the years between our times together were tied back together. Ryan and Artie hit it off, big Artie and myself hooked back up and it was great! Artie had a great sense of what it was like to race in the "old" days and it's good to look back so that you can make the future better. There are fewer of these types of people left in this sport and unfortunatly we lost one last weekend.

[brett22bowen]

Thanks Bill, many of us have great memories with Art...He was such a great person, always going out of his way to make sure the people around him were taken care of. We have had the greatest times together, and when life would get tough, I could count on a call, or an invite to dinner every night. The difference with Art was he would go the extra mile out of the sheer goodness of his heart, never expecting anything in return. He was the kind of person people would have instant respect for the first time they met him.

We had a TON of fun traveling around the country with Lil' Artie to his Gold Cup and Stars races. One of the best memories is when we were in NewCastle Indiana for a Stars race. We had finished up at the track, eaten dinner, and come back to the hotel when the weather took a nasty turn...We heard sirens, and flipped on the news and saw; [glow=red,2,300]TORNADO WARNING!!![/glow] Right about then we got a call from the front desk saying everyone needed to gather in the bottom floor hallway and brace for the worst...It was unlike any weather we'd ever have in the NW. We met little Artie down there, but no Big Artie, Stubbs let us know he was still up in the room... I sprinted up to his room to see what the deal was, and he was laying on his bed, watching the news with the window WIDE open as the wind blew around 90mph outside, and there was a constant flash of lightning. He was absolutely LOVING the gnarly weather, he thought it was the coolest thing in the world! I tried to convince him to join us in the bottom floor hallway, and he replied with, "Dude, are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss this show for the world! Its going to take more than a little tornado to blow me away, when the oak tree outside fly's off, I'll meet you downstairs!" There was never a dull moment on our adventures. I learned a lot from Art that I will take with me the rest of my life, especially on how to be an amazing Dad. Art passed doing what he loved more than anything in the world, and with the peace of mind knowing that his son will carry on his namesake and legacy better than any other 14 year old on the planet could...
Godspeed buddy, see you again some day....Love ya lots.
-Brett Bowen

[brown10]

Art was a Great friend to myself and my family. There are so many things that come to mind when I think of him. The Biggest thing that I will remember is How strong of a person he was. With all the Health issues that he had you Never heard him use it as a excuse or even complain about it and as he would say "I'm not a wimp"( Now anybody that new him knows that he used another word other than Wimp but I need to keep it clean). When others were trying to make it difficult for him he would look past it and turn it into a positive to make it easier for Karters in the Tri- Cities to have a place to purchase parts or even get advise. He was a Great Roll Model for Little Man and everybody around him. Art had a Passion for every form of Racing especially Karting. When you Pull into the TCKC Pits this weekend and Park on the asphalt, plug into power, and turn on the water in your Pits you should think about him because they were his Idea's that he helped put into Motion. Although he might not have help Build the New Restroom with Showers, they were a Vision of his that the current Board put into motion. I miss my friend, and I will Look forward to helping Little Man continue to Race. Little Artie is a man in a kids body and is a perfect example of what kind of father Big Art was. Artie you made your dad so Proud and I want you to always remember that, You were his world. Gary you also need to Be Proud, you Raised a Great Man and that is a fact. When you are sad Look at Little Man and that is Proof of the Job you did as a father to Big Art. I will always Cherish our Friendship and God Speed.

Jesse, Dawn, Tiffany, and Tyler Brown

[brett22bowen]

Very Well said Jesse, we all owe Art in one way or another whether we know it or not...

As far as the Service arrangements- It will be held Monday morning after the Gold Cup race, 10am at Muellers Funeral home in Kennewick. Here is a link to the webpage, please take a minute to sign the guest book and show some support to Gary, Artie and the rest of the family.

Hope to see you all there to celebrate Art's life...

obit.muellersfuneralhomes.com/obit_display.cgi?id=777283

There is the link,

Miss you man, Godspeed.
-Brett

[mdoglaci]

We are very sad to hear about the loss of Art Carpenter. Art is a great friend to my family. Art was always ready to go the extra mile for Cole and I. Art will be greatly missed. Our prayers go out to Artie and his family.

Merle,Deonne ,Cole and Paige Laci

[Joanne]

The family has set up an account at US Bank for those wishing to help. The money will be used to defray expenses so that "Stubbs" can continue racing. Please consider helping out an awesome family that has done so much for our club and sport. Go to any US Bank and contribute to: the Donation Account of Arthur C. Carpenter III 153562947520
Your generosity will be greatly appreciated.