I took my 5 yr old to I-81 Motorsports Park in Greeneville, Tn today for his first race. It wasn't pretty.
He went out for the practice round and crashed in the first turn. He got back on and made it up the big hill and down the back side. He got to the end of the back straight missed the turn and crashed again. Got him going in the right direction, cutting out half the track and he goes over the tabletop and the little whoop after it. Then the next thing I see, from across the track, is a little pair of legs flying through the air. Apparently, he went over the bars. End of practice session. :ugg:
Surprisingly, he agreed to go out for the first heat race. Remember, we are both new at this. I explained to him about how the starting gate works. We are waiting at the gate for his heat to begin. There is another class on the track, but not anywhere near the starting grid. All of a sudden, the gate drops. My son twists the throttle wide open and is off. The only problem is, they were just testing the gate. One of the track workers grabs him so that he doesn't get run over by the bigger bikes. When the guy grabs him, Jonathan goes down again. This time, he wants no more of it. We go back to the starting gate and wait for the actual start, crying. He never leaves the line.
We decide to stick around for a while so he could play. I also hoped he would give it one more try in the second heat. I was really surprised when he agreed to try again. Everything went great at the starting gate. He made it through the first set of turns and up the big hill, only laying it down one time near the top of the hill. He gets down the back side of the hill and through the back stretch. He comes to the switchback (or whatever you call a u-turn) and stops. Then he starts......crying that is, end of race.
He rides the hell out of his bike at home. Problem is, it's all grass and pretty smooth. No hills, jumps, or rough stuff. I need to get him used to the conditions he'll see on the track. He still wants to try it again but he just needs more time and practice.
Sorry this post is soooo long.
He went out for the practice round and crashed in the first turn. He got back on and made it up the big hill and down the back side. He got to the end of the back straight missed the turn and crashed again. Got him going in the right direction, cutting out half the track and he goes over the tabletop and the little whoop after it. Then the next thing I see, from across the track, is a little pair of legs flying through the air. Apparently, he went over the bars. End of practice session. :ugg:
Surprisingly, he agreed to go out for the first heat race. Remember, we are both new at this. I explained to him about how the starting gate works. We are waiting at the gate for his heat to begin. There is another class on the track, but not anywhere near the starting grid. All of a sudden, the gate drops. My son twists the throttle wide open and is off. The only problem is, they were just testing the gate. One of the track workers grabs him so that he doesn't get run over by the bigger bikes. When the guy grabs him, Jonathan goes down again. This time, he wants no more of it. We go back to the starting gate and wait for the actual start, crying. He never leaves the line.
We decide to stick around for a while so he could play. I also hoped he would give it one more try in the second heat. I was really surprised when he agreed to try again. Everything went great at the starting gate. He made it through the first set of turns and up the big hill, only laying it down one time near the top of the hill. He gets down the back side of the hill and through the back stretch. He comes to the switchback (or whatever you call a u-turn) and stops. Then he starts......crying that is, end of race.
He rides the hell out of his bike at home. Problem is, it's all grass and pretty smooth. No hills, jumps, or rough stuff. I need to get him used to the conditions he'll see on the track. He still wants to try it again but he just needs more time and practice.
Sorry this post is soooo long.
