That is pretty much the way it goes I guess.... for everyone who ever gets to the top level in any sport, there will be probably 10, 000 wanna be's with visions of stardom dancing in their heads. I wasn't any different when I was a kid... my heros were AJ Foyt, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Evel Kneival... (OK so I was twisted) I even practiced jumping etc so I could be just like him... My mom and I built my first ramp.. (Ya gotta love a woman like that) and soon I was jumping the family car... (on an SL100 Honda no less). I soon graduated to the big time with my first 501 Maico at 14. Before that, I saved all my $ from mowing grass in the summer and bought my own snowmobile and started racing them at 12. I quit that after being real close to an accident that happended in Milwaukee when a machine went out of control and flew into the crowd and took some heads off a few spectators. I went back to bikes after that, and then I experienced a bad crash first hand... and figured out that I didn't much like pain.. and crashing hurts... I know what it is like to take out a hundred feet of snow fence with your face...and having my jaw wired shut for months afterwards. Ah yes, I was a wanna be through and through.

I remember the Sipolt brothers that used to travel with the Joie Chitwood thrill show in the midwest. At age 10, they were driving cars on two wheels and racing around an oval track... good skills to have on the expressways around DC.. but I'd really have to question it today...

And if you think about it.. most world class Gymnists and ice skaters start at 4... Imagine falling off a balance beam at 6.. or landing on your head when you miss a flip... even the good ones miss it once in a while.

 

Well i never intended to start my boy so early. He was a fast to develop skills such as walking and running. He was walking at 8 months. He has never been scared for my dirt bikes or four wheelers even at 4-5 months. I was working on my bike one day and he wanted on it so I put him on it and started it for him and he just loved it at the age of four months. Ever since then I have not been able to keep him away.I started giving him rides at 6 months around the yard but the thing that silled the deal was the battary powered atv for his first b-day. He rode that almost everyday till he just expected it to do to much like go off roading. So at 19 months I got him a kfx 50 which I walked behind for the first hour. He did not take long to figure it out and was riding it all over.But my biggest hurdle was to put him in a race at the tender age of just 3. He just turned 3 in Aug. I have had him on the local track and he did fine with just me and a friend riding by him so I figured why not. You talked about a dad that was all knots when it was time for the the race to start. But to my surprise he was very competitive with the others even though the others had 3-5 years on him. The viewers could not believe such a little boy was out there racing at 3 foot and 28 lbs he looks tiny on the track.So If this keeps up I maybe one busy and broke dad to keep him in the sport but as long as he wants it bad enough I will be his number one sponser and trainer along with dad. Like others said just make sure your kids are ready mentally and physically.

 

My father was against me having a motorised any thing while I was living under his roof,with the exception of his push lawn more. Had no problem with me doing that. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

I moved out at 18 and bougt my first quad. Started MX racing and was hooked.

My boy got his first 4 wheels at 6 months old , The kind you sit on and push with your feet. He loved that thing. Couldnt do much but go back in forth on it.

By 1 he had got turning it down.

By 1 1/2 he was power sliding turns and getting down on it!

By 2 the wheels were literly falling off it. He got a power wheel at 2 and I built him a small TT style track in the yard and we couldnt keep that thing charged. Thing held up pretty good thru a year of abuse. He was not allowed to free ride with it. He always road on a set corse/track. Biggest hurdle at that age was makeing him pay attention were he was going. He always was looking to see if mom and dad was watching him. He had to wear boots,helmet and gloves. That was easy he wanted to be cool like dad [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img] He looked forward to putting his gear on. He was showing some real good skill on it by 3.

He got his E-ton 50 at 3. He also got his training wheels off his 2 wheel bike and road it his first try. We also stepped up his protective gear.Chest protector,gogles etc..It was about twice as fast as the power wheels [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Made his track bigger and added a small table top jump . He could handle the gas and he picked right up on the Hydrolic rear hand break. He road it flaw less when he payed attention. I had to put it up and get pretty hard a few times to get my point across eather he pays attention 100% of the time or the bike gets parked for the day. After about 3 times of "MEAN Daddy" he got thru that stage. A month or so went by of lots of home track practice we then took his bike to the local MX tracks to ride the pee-wee MX tracks between when I was racing. He got his 1st race about 3 1/2 on a pee-wee track. By that time he was running the bike wide open the whole ride.Turns jumps and all. I cut the rev limiter wire and that about doubled its speed. Kept on the pee-wee tracks till he was 4.

At 4 I upgraded his tires and suspention and started him on the big track racing 90's on his 50. That was the only mini quad class on the big track and he had to race xr50's on the small track. He ran back of the pack but still was stoked he was riding the big track.About 2 months of riding the big tracks every weekend he was wide open begging for more. Showing awsome skill and control. Always focused. Put a pipe on it and that held him for a few more months. He was starting to suprise a few 90's and no more getting lapped! He still is not allowed to free ride in open areas. I keep him on a cource at all times.
He rides atlest once if not twice a week.

He will be 5 in December and we upgradded it to a 70 about 20 or so rides/races ago. Look out 90's better have your game on[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] His first table top jump on his track is now a double jump he clears.

So in short I think its how you plan to parent/teach/coach/watch your kid should determin what you get them. My boy knows I will put a foot you know were if he disrespects me or his bike!

It also a fact that my boy has been in way worse situations than riding his bike doing every day kids stuff putting him at harm.

Kids are a hand full in most every situation!

 

Well, it sounds like both of you are blessed with exceptional kids. For those parents that are on the fence on this, I'd like to offer an observation. First off, kids are going to find ways to push themselves. Whether it is on a bike, swimming or what ever. they will find a way. The important point here is that in both cases, it is apparent that parental supervision was there in spades... and I also beleive that because of it, they progressed at a faster rate. the point I want to make is this is a sharing and caring sport.... one you can share with your kids... not just play spectator.

Not every kid is going to progress this fast... You are the best judge of their mental and physical states... You need to be the parent and make a wise choice.

And lastly, if there are those out there that are wondering what the legal ramifications are on racing.. I think you will find in the majority of cases, that the safety guidlines do NOT apply to sanctioned racing events. It is pretty much a run what you want to deal under racing conditions.

 

Dragginbutt,
If you look at the rules set by the ATVA and AMA, I think they are MORE right than the guidlines of the manufactors. The ages for youths racing are 7-12 50cc, 8-15 up to 90cc, and there are clases for 13,14,15 year olds to run a 200cc 2stroke or a 300cc 4 stroke. (if they pass their fir reqirement) This seems alot more realistic than the guidlines on the fenders of most atv's. At the least, they realize that 13 year olds and up, may be a bit big for a 90. From all the races thats around us, these rules are set in stone. No argueing with them. If a track is a AMA track, then these rules apply!

 

That is good info to know.. thanks for the update

 

mxmike,

Your biography reminded me of an old saying of "when it's in your blood, it's in your blood". Like you, I too grew up on mini-bikes, snowmobiles, motocross and other machanical things. Some didn't even make it out of our shop. Others spent more time in our shop then having fun on. But nevertheless, each project or trail ride was a learning experience - and having fun.

In my family, we won't allow our kids to drive motocross or mini-quad until 8+. Some will immediately say this is too late of an age. And others will say age 8 is too young. Each family has their own minimum age limit. Regardless of minimum age, I can vouch that some kids have "motocross & quads" in their blood as well. Twice in the summer, my 7 year old daughter want to try driving our Pred-90. Since she isn't allowed to drive it, my older son decided to help her. They both went into our garage, took the cover off our Pred-90, my daughter sat on the driver's seat and my older son pushed our Pred-90 back and forth. From one end of the garage to the other. Since it was a little too quiet in our garage, I poked my head around the corner. As I watched them play together, I was amazed to see the excitment and "in her blood too" look on my daughter's face. Then they seen me and immediately parked our Pred-90. I encouraged them to continue (pushing back / forth in our garage) but our daughter knew she wasn't suppose to be driving it. As my daughter got off its seat, she looked at me and said, "please don't tell mommy!!". Our little secret for another 6 months.

Just wanted to emphasis that I can relate to your implied "when it's in one's blood, it's in one's blood" post.


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Acually the age for the ATVA GNC 50 stock class is 4-8 yrs old[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Is there sanctioned racing near or around the sw washington area? Seems like I only see moto x for bikes only.

 

Spike, sounds like you have a good one there, and will have your hands full.... good luck my friend...