14 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

I spotted this sad news, on FB, late Friday night, and have been meaning to post.

 

I didn't know Keith super-well, but he was the guy to beat in I15, for quite a long time.

 

Him and his friend, Barney Poyner, really popularized metering arms, to find the ones with the lowest resistance.

 

I think, up until recently, he owned Front Line Products, which he would of bought from Barney.

 

May he rest in peace.

[Arne Saknussem]

Raced with Keith many times over the years.  Always a tough competitor and an all around good guy.

 

He'll be remembered by all who knew him.

[Bill from NH]

I didn't know him well, but I first met Keith at the '97 Nats & its warm-up races held here in NH. In those days Jim Bliss gave him plenty of competition in I-15. My condolences to the family.

[Half Fast]

Keith was the King of I15 in the 90's. He was a great guy, always helpful when I was running BoxStock in USRA East in that time.

 

I  saw him last year at the NASRA Nats at Port Jeff,  at first I didn't recognize him because he was bald from the Chemo. When I did, I talked to him about the good times we had. He was assisted at the race by his adult son and he still was competitive.

 

Go with God Keith!

[Modelville Guy]

Keith was a welcome addition the the Yankee USRA races at Modelville Hobby. He was there to race and have a good time with his racing buddies.

 

He will be missed.

[MSwiss]

I  saw him last year at the NASRA Nats at Port Jeff,  at first I didn't recognize him because he was bald from the Chemo. When I did I talked to him about the good times we had. He was assisted at the race by his adult son and he still was competitive.

 

When I saw Keith's name in the results( and near the top), I said to myself how great it was that he was racing again.

I was unaware of his battle with cancer.

One of the great moments in slot racing was when his son, Doug, won I-15 at the '94 Nats, at the hotel race in Atlanta, and Keith's reaction.

[NJ Racer]

Sad news. Keith always had super fast Int 15 cars for sure. Raced with Keith at Elmsford in their GP 27 events in the late 80's. 

 

RIP Keith

[MSwiss]

[Ray Lee]

Keith had been racing with us in the Yankee USRA since 2017, he was always the one to beat. I had raced with him in the '9's, he was a very competitive guy.  We will miss racing with him!!

 

RIP, Keith.

 

Ray & Brandon

[Jaz]

Wow... sad news indeed!

 

I knew him since the mid 80's. Raced I15 against him and his buddy Gary Pearse. 

 

Always a class act.

 

RIP.

[alainprost22]

I'm sad to hear this. What many people don't know, is that Keith built some real killer 27 setups. I ran Keith's .459" 27 setups for quite some time. They had a little less punch than the other 27 stuff, but, they got around the curvy stuff a lot better. I remember talking to Keith, sometimes weekly...  Always great slot conversations.  

 

He will be missed.

 

Al...

[Cheater]

Here's Keith's obituary:

 

 
Keith B. Keeler, 67 of Guilderland, passed away with his family by his side on Friday, March 20, 2020, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. 

 
Born in Albany on November 10, 1952, he grew up in Colonie and later resided in Guilderland. Keith loved boating especially on Schroon Lake and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He enjoyed racing his boat any time he could, particularly at Horsepower on the Hudson. When he wasn't boating, he was on his Harley. Keith was an international champion in slot car racing which he started at 12 years old and never gave up. He will be forever remembered at the GOAT. Keith was a true rock star playing in the band Fracture in the early to mid-'80s. He never stopped drumming. Keith enjoyed coaching baseball at both Colonie and Guilderland leagues. 
 
Keith retired from National Grid after 45 years of service.
 
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Ann M. (Cerone) Keeler; his sister Kimberly Sherwin; children, Lisa (Stephen) Larice, Douglas A. Keeler, and Daniel E. (Jordan) Keeler. He was the stepfather of Kyle F. (Katherine) Hussey. Keith was Papa to his cherished grandchildren, Korina and Gibson Larice, Landon and Audrena Keeler and Isabella, Riley and Elliana Keeler. He is also survived by many extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Jeanne Keeler; and his brother Kevin Keeler. 
 
Keith's family has chosen to follow the health guidelines in order to protect the health and well being of their family and friends and will not have any public service at this time. A celebration of Keith's life will be held in the near future and will be published in the newspaper and on the Cannon Funeral Home website. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Lustgarten Foundation in memory of Keith B. Keeler. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.CannonFuneral.com.

[Cheater]

Barney Poynor and Keith remained great friends all of Keith's life. Here's a couple of photos Barney sent me to post here.

 

The first one is of Keith and his wife Annie at the Tulip Festival in Albany, NY. The second of Keith and Annie and Barney and Annette was made in the Keeler's kitchen during that same visit in May of 2018.

 

 

[HarV Wallbanger III]

March 20th was a bad day for us... I had just talked to Keith the day before....

I think of Keith just about everyday. We have that picture on the dresser....

We used to say brothers from different mothers..

We are planning another trip to see Annie.... Soon I hope.

 

Thanks Mike for posting that picture of Doug's Nat's win....

 

Funny story.... The last heat Keith could not watch... So we went out into the hallway to listen... Keith and I were bawling like babies the last 10-15 seconds as

we knew he was going to win! 

[Weedracer]

Just seeing this and am very sad.

I dug into that crazy I15 class pretty deep and Keith was always a great friend and advisor.

Among many I have 2 distinct memories of Keith. One from ages ago and one fairly recent.

1) He offered congrats and compliments for years about a race I won a long time ago. It meant a lot to me but more so due to his memory of it.

2) On a whim I decided to race at Port Jeffs Barnburner in 2019 after not racing for15 years.

Later that weekend while he was heading to the podium (again) he stopped near where I was sitting, bent down and told me that he wished I was already standing up there.

He was a genuinely great guy and Ill miss him.