For example into your _onInit event:
this.stage.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, this.keyDownHandler);
..And then into your keyboard function..:
private function keyDownHandler(event : KeyboardEvent):void
{
switch (event.keyCode)
{
case Keyboard.UP:
trace("UP");
carHolder.moveForward(10);
upkeydown = true;
hitter();
break;
}
I haven't shown you that part before because I thought you wanted to use the hitter for other things, sorry.
PS: Wow! it sounds like I do know something! Good day to my self esteem :)