Timing is everything (need parenting advice!)

Funny how things come together sometimes. Last night before bed I was watching Senna- The Right to Win on youtube. My 6.5 year old climbed on my lap and saw some footage of him kart racing. I was amazed when he said he wanted to do that!

This morning I saw another thread here, and the poster has younger kids that race karts. That led me to an internet search for tracks, and turns out there is a track in East Lansing with a minimum age of 5- both my boys could do that. Unfortunately it's the end of the season, so we can't go watch a race.

But, there is an indoor place not far from here (in Howell) that we are going to check out this weekend. Mrs. Android and I will drive them around in two seater carts to see how they like it.

So here is where I need advice- what are some tips to help us introduce my boys to karting and not turn them off right from the start? My boys are not daredevils, so I will need to break them easy somehow. And too, if they don't like it, that's fine- I won't push it any further. I just remember being that age wanting to drive a race car (I had a model JPS F1 car)- if my dad came to me one day and asked me if I wanted to drive a kart I would have E36 M3 my pants!

In my experience and observations the biggest thing you can do to turn them off it is to be negative. The more fun you have the more they will be inclined to continue. Just have fun and make sure they see you having fun and they'll be hooked.

Fear is learned. Would be best if neither you or your wife showed fear or scared of the situation.

I LOVE go karts, so no fear here. Mrs. Android is the negative Nelly of the crew, so we will talk before we go.

Good advice, thank you.

I'm considering indoor karting for my 7yo son, and he is also no daredevil and not especially coordinated.

I was thinking about calling around to the 3 indoor tracks in my area to see if they offer beginners programs, or atleast know when the track is usually empty, so he can get some time to just learn the feel of the kart and turn some laps at his own pace.

Indoor places rarely allow kids under 10 to race.

The outdoor real track places are usually sanctioned racing - which starts at 5. They will require a class with lead/follow and if you don't own a proper racing kart and gear they will have rentals but it would behoove you to find a buddy with one who's kids outgrew theirs and he hasn't sold it yet. Were you closer - I would be that guy :)

My oldest raced cadets from 8 to 12. I have a CRG cadet with an almost new Comer 80cc (4hrs on it). Needs a good cleaning, a new slicks... and kid small enough to fit. I really should sell that thing one of these days.

Kind sir, you read my mind. Dad is a little excited, so I started searching for a kart.

Where in the country are you? Mind you the interest could go cold by spring, but I may be willing to accommodate :)

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Indoor places rarely allow kids under 10 to race. The outdoor real track places are usually sanctioned racing - which starts at 5. They will require a class with lead/follow and if you don't own a proper racing kart and gear they will have rentals but it would behoove you to find a buddy with one who's kids outgrew theirs and he hasn't sold it yet. Were you closer - I would be that guy :) My oldest raced cadets from 8 to 12. I have a CRG cadet with an almost new Comer 80cc (4hrs on it). Needs a good cleaning, a new slicks... and kid small enough to fit. I really should sell that thing one of these days.

In reply to paranoid_android74:

NE PA. You will do well to find someone locally or semi-locally though. It's definitely a freight charge to ship one of these bastages even disassembled. But... you actually need two. Hahahahahaha!

Wait until you see what kid karting is going to cost you!

FYI. Some auto-x regions allow junior karts to run - FJA - oldest, to FJC - youngest. Some FJC drivers I've seen are pretty young.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Indoor places rarely allow kids under 10 to race.

I don't see a location in either MI or PA, but if there's a "K1 Speed" near you then they allow kids to run with a minimum height of 48 inches, which is usually 7 or 8. It's electric indoor karting, and they have a wireless power limiter on them, so they can turn the karts down if necessary. It's low key, great for just having fun without worrying about competition or proving anything.

My daughter has gone a few times and loves it. We had her birthday party (8) there last month.

Call East Lansing Kart Track and ask about the school.

I'll be there next weekend, renting a kart from them.

Minimum age is 8 / min height is 50 inches at Andretti Karting here in Atlanta. I just received a flyer for their week-long kids summer camp sessions and will be running that idea by my wife in the spring.

I know, it's expensive! I looked into kart racing for myself and decided not to pursue it due to expense.

But as of last night, my youngest said he just wanted to crew- not drive. We will see how long that lasts!

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: In reply to paranoid_android74: NE PA. You will do well to find someone locally or semi-locally though. It's definitely a freight charge to ship one of these bastages even disassembled. But... you actually need two. Hahahahahaha! Wait until you see what kid karting is going to cost you!

It looks like the closest K1 speed is in Chicago.

I will call East Lansing today!

Since you have two of the little beasts, they might have just as much fun with a pair of yard carts and courses set in the lawn.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Wait until you see what kid karting is going to cost you!

This is why my boys don't cart. They both love it, ages 9 and 6. My 6 year old is pratically obssesed with wanting to do it. He's done the indoor track several times and is actually pretty good for his age. But I've looked into the cost of running a local dirt track for kids. I can get him in a car for around $1200-$1500, but from the many people I spoke to if I want him in a competitive car (i.e. cheating) it's $2500 minimum. Then you've got the ultracompetitive parents who teach their kid winning is everything, and do whatever they have to (i.e. cheating) to win. Not saying all parents do it, but from everyone I spoke to at the local track that's just the way it goes. I don't want to get involved in that crap. So I let my boys do the local indoor kart stuff from time to time and they have fun. I have a yard kart I bought and just need to swap a new engine in it, then they can run until they're out of gas...literally and figuratively.

When I get a wild hair up my ass, we go run the electric carts.They run a league and the way the cars handle, it would be a safe way to get a younger kid involved. They really stick to the ground and handle the way a cart should. They focus on a proper apex rather than running flat out, although hitting the proper apexes can get you to a good flat out speed on that track. As usual it is not cheap. I also have had a 15 year old in on the show who runs a gas cart and often takes 1st in his class.

If there is one that that I've found the most impressive out of the racers I have covered on Turn Left, it is the 4 to 5 year old kids running moto. Those guys will plant themselves face down in the ground, get back up, and with a little help on the bike, keep on going. Unlike most sports, they aren't pulled out. They learn to just keep pushing on. An obvious life lesson.

If you've got the money, time, and want to do this, I would highly suggest it. If you get him a cart, you'll be the team owner, coach, and pit crew.

I started by buying an inexpensive Kart for my 5 year old son. I would take him to the school parking lot and set up different courses using cones to lay out a track.

He had drive for hours and had a blast. We talked about racing lines and I would time him so that he could see how different lines effected speed. He ended up going to racing karts at 10. The track tested him and let him race in a 12 year old division. He won his first race and has been hooked ever since.

Now, 19 he drives full size stock cars and will be racing a 360 Sprint Car next year as well.

For me Karts and racing has been a great way to bond with my son.

Hey Sper- I remember listening to that show! I was amazed kids at that age raced bikes.

Yeah, I'm not into pushing them to be world karting champions or anything like that. Those parents that push so hard are the same type of people that made me quit playing sports as a teenager. If they aren't having fun then there is no need for them to be doing it.

I just want them to learn to enjoy motorsports and how fun good competition can be. An inexpensive kart and a cone course may be just what they need to catch the bug!

Now the caveat here is I am not a race driver- I've never attended a school or anything like that (even though I desperately want to). So the other side of getting them into racing would be to expose them to experienced racers that can teach them about lines, apexes, etc.

N Sperlo wrote: When I get a wild hair up my ass, we go run the electric carts.They run a league and the way the cars handle, it would be a safe way to get a younger kid involved. They really stick to the ground and handle the way a cart should. They focus on a proper apex rather than running flat out, although hitting the proper apexes can get you to a good flat out speed on that track. As usual it is not cheap. I also have had a 15 year old in on the show who runs a gas cart and often takes 1st in his class. If there is one that that I've found the most impressive out of the racers I have covered on Turn Left, it is the 4 to 5 year old kids running moto. Those guys will plant themselves face down in the ground, get back up, and with a little help on the bike, keep on going. Unlike most sports, they aren't pulled out. They learn to just keep pushing on. An obvious life lesson. If you've got the money, time, and want to do this, I would highly suggest it. If you get him a cart, you'll be the team owner, coach, and pit crew.

Oddly enough, last week I was talking to a kart-wise friend about how to go about getting kids started karting and he suggested the track in Lansing. My 6 year old overheard this and was pretty gung ho. My wife hope he forgets.

But given that you're in Ann Arbor, too, I just say we start our own local kids karting/autocross series. :)

How does one find these venues? I have a 5 year old and a 4 year old who would be very curious to know.

I was a very timid 9 year old kid when I started karting. My Dad brought me to the track to practice for an entire year before actually entering a race. He knew I really needed the seat time.

If we couldn't get to the track, we used coned off parking lots at businesses that were closed on the weekends. Dad only got busted once and they were cool about it - they just told us to pack up and leave.

Hard to believe that was almost 30 years ago! I'm now a driving instructor at HPDE events.

Any hobby that your kids get into can/will be expensive. Hell, gymnastics is running me about $300/mo. Its the time & specialized training/equipment/travel associated with ALL of them.
That said, there is nothing I'd rather do then to see my offspring doing something they love.

I think WKA has a midwest regional series that goes along with their national level events. Last I checked, it was East Lansing, MRP near South Bend and possibly another place in Ohio. There is another kart track over by me in Ravenna, MI (just west of Grand Rapids): http://www.ravennamotorpark.com/

paranoid_android74 wrote: I just want them to learn to enjoy motorsports and how fun good competition can be. An inexpensive kart and a cone course may be just what they need to catch the bug! Now the caveat here is I am not a race driver- I've never attended a school or anything like that (even though I desperately want to). So the other side of getting them into racing would be to expose them to experienced racers that can teach them about lines, apexes, etc.

Certainly, you want them to have fun. It wouldn't be hard to find someone who is good at teaching them the lines. When they are old enough to see lap times improve, that will be when they will just have a blast.

Anywhere from renting a cart to going full scale on the gas track should be fun.

Maybe I'll discuss carting again soon when we talk more to the Pole Position folks.

There's a kart track in Jackson that runs kids classes too. http://www.jacksonspeedway.net/