Ostheimer Has Won More Than 200 Trophies Racing Quarter Midget
Cars
Morgan Hill resident Devon Ostheimer looks like a typical 11-year-old. As soon as he opens his mouth, however, it becomes clear he is not an ordinary sixth grader; he is nothing short of extraordinary. Devon races light “AA” quarter midgets racecars and won first place at the 2005 Silver State Winter Nationals in Nevada earlier this month. Devon, who has been racing competitively for four years, also became the National Grand Champion at the Western Nationals last summer in Sacramento.
A quarter midget car is an open wheel racecar scaled down to kid size. The light “AA” cars are powered by alcohol and can get up to 50-55 miles per hour. Kids ages five through 16 are eligible to participate in quarter midgets racing.
A neighbor informed the Ostheimer’s about  quarter midget racing when Devon was seven after noticing how interested he was in the sport.
“I like racing because it’s really intense,” said Devon. “It’s also a chance to get closer to my family, it is a complete team sport. My dad and I really enjoy it.”
The entire Ostheimer family is part of his racing success, each doing their part to help Devon in following his dream. His parents foot the bill for this expensive sport, to the tune of more than $100,000 so far and his older sister videotapes all the races.
“It really is a full-time second job if you want to race competitively at a national level,” said Don, Devon’s father. “For 10 minutes of glory there’s 10 hours of preparation.”
When Devon talks about racing, his racecar or his many accomplishments, his speech quickens and his eyes light up. His passion for the sport is evident.
According to his parents, Don and Marinela Ostheimer, Devon has had the racing bug since he was just two years old, when he would drive around in his older sister, Lauren’s electric car.
“When he was two he confiscated his sister’s electric car and he would always be driving around the cul-de-sac seeing how close to the curb he could get,” said Don. “Then we got him a go-cart. He’s a competitor.”
In his four years of competing, Devon has won more than 200 trophies and is known around the country in quarter midgets racing circles. In fact, he quit taking some trophies because he has too many. His room is still filled with trophies more than 5-feet tall, blue ribbons and plaques.
“It feels phenomenal,” Devon said of all his accomplishments, “because all the drivers are really tough to beat, so it feels really good to beat some of them. In racing the highs are high and the lows are low. We just go for it.”
According to Don, Devon is the winningest west coast driver in the light “AA” division and as such has a huge target on his back at competitions.
“I have like 20 bullets pointed at me,” laughed Devon. “It’s fun though.”
When asked if he wanted to continue racing in the future Devon said, “Of course, it’s right here,” patting his heart. His plan for the near future is to get more experience in a bigger car class, the Micros, and then his hopes to get into the Ford Focus racing program.
“I’ve heard Miami has good schools for engineering,” said Devon, who hopes to get a degree in engineering and then possibly develop sponsors and get a chance to drive in a NASCAR Nextel Cup race.
Devon’s ultimate goal is to become a NASCAR driver and he has already set out on a solid plan to achieve that goal. A goal he doesn’t feel he can share with the other kids his age at school. Devon is probably one of very few 11-year-olds that know what they want to do with the rest of their lives.
“Nobody understands at school and it’s not really worth it to talk about it,” said Devon.
The Ostheimer family travels a lot so Devon can race in national competitions all across the country. People also come from all around the country to race against Devon.
“Some of his fiercest competitors are actually good friends,” said Don. “Of course there’s no friends when your out on the race track, but the kids keep track of each others records and accomplishments.”
Devon trains hard to prepare for each of his competitions. Two years ago he started triathlon training with Dave Wolfsmith and participated in his first triathlon over the summer coming in first in his age division.
“Dave teaches me about mental toughness,” explained Devon.
“He’s pretty humble, but he’s really accomplished a lot,” added Don, who is the crew chief for Devon’s racing team. “Dave’s pretty tough and Devon thinks that the triathlon training gives him the mental edge. He feels he has an advantage.”
Devon enjoyed in the triathlon and plans to continue competing in them when he gets the opportunity.
For now Devon is concentrating on his last year of quarter midget racing before he graduates in the Micros racing class. The Micro cars have a 600cc, four cylinder Yamaha motorcycle engine and reach speeds from 80 to 90 miles per hour. He already has a Mirco car waiting for him in his garage and he’ll being going out to practice in it for the first time during Christmas break.
After July Devon will be done racing in the quarter midgets division and is looking to compete in the Eastern Grand Nationals in New Jersey in Indianapolis.Â
