Racing venue for a 4-year-old kid?

I understand that you can start 'racing' quarter midgets at 4.5 years, but is there any other series that starts them young like that? Looks like you have to be at least 48" tall for junior karts.

I briefly looked into quarter midgets - looks like I would have as much or more tied up in a race car for my 4-year-old as I would in my own crapcan racer. And the nearest race is 2 hours away. And he might not even like it. And I'm afraid that with that kind of money involved, that there would be constant involvement with hyper-competitive dousche bag dads who think their 4-year-old is the next big thing and want to have a screaming match with me in front of our kids because my 4-year old rubbed his kid on the inside of turn 2. Rather not deal with that guy. I just watch my kid making race car noises behind the wheel of my crapcan racer for hours while I work on the car, and telling me stories about how he's going to grow up to be a race car driver. Just wonder if there's an outlet for him any time in the near future.

there are kids about that age racing motocross... 50cc bikes with training wheels... their helmets are bigger than their bodies..

True tons of kids on dirt bikes and most tracks I have been too also have a kiddie track. A lot of the same skills/interests should carry over

Jaynen wrote: True tons of kids on dirt bikes and most tracks I have been too also have a kiddie track. A lot of the same skills/interests should carry over

...as long as you aren't one of those parents that yells at your scared kid because he's afraid to go over the big jumps.. i almost got into it a couple of years ago with a father that was just laying into his maybe 5 year old kid that refused to go over one of the big jumps because the ruts were about deep enough to completely bury his wheels. the kid just stopped on the track after a lap and sat on his bike, crying.. his dad was just yelling at the kid, saying how they wasted all that money on the bike and all his gear and how he was just going to give all the stuff away to some other kid that isn't a little scaredy cat.. i had my fists clenched and was ready to jump the fence, but the kid's mom came and rescued him right as i was gonna move in..

i've also seen similar antics in the staging lanes at NHRA tracks when they were running the jr dragsters, and heard similar stories about a kart track back in my home town.

Too young

http://vimeo.com/42375402

http://vimeo.com/41954178

sporqster wrote: I briefly looked into quarter midgets - looks like I would have as much or more tied up in a race car for my 4-year-old as I would in my own crapcan racer. And the nearest race is 2 hours away. And he might not even like it. And I'm afraid that with that kind of money involved, that there would be constant involvement with hyper-competitive dousche bag dads who think their 4-year-old is the next big thing and want to have a screaming match with me in front of our kids because my 4-year old rubbed his kid on the inside of turn 2.

These are the driving factors that have kept me from getting my boys, ages 8 and 5, involved in racing. They'd both love to try it. But in order to have a cart that wouldn't be a rolling road block, I'd have to spend a fortune. And from what I know of it, some of the parents are ultra-competitive to the point where they take all the fun out of it. I don't want to get into that, I'm only interested in letting my boys have fun, be safe, and learn some things. If they win, great, but it's just as good of a learning experience (or better) when they don't win. Damn shame too, as there are a couple of tracks not too far from me. One of them does a "drivers experience". For $20, they get a 10 minute turn behind the wheel of a quarter midget. They do it twice a year. Went in the spring, and only my 8 year old was old enough at the time. He had a blast. They have another one in a few weeks, and now both of them are old enough.

I don't think you'll find any racing venue that's not ultra-competitive, even for little kids. Maybe try a local family fun go kart place and do a few runs there. See how much he likes it, then decide what to do.

+1 for family/amusement park go karts, and maybe give him some access to sim racing so he can learn the basics cheaply and safely. Going straight from "kid likes to make noises in cars" to "actual racing" seems like jumping the gun a bit

Klayfish wrote: I don't think you'll find any racing venue that's not ultra-competitive, even for little kids. Maybe try a local family fun go kart place and do a few runs there. See how much he likes it, then decide what to do.

Our motocross club has a class for kids that age. It's all about the fun, sportsmanship, and barely competitive.

BMX - No motor but it is real racing. It teaches all the fundamental aggression, momentum, balls and endurance required to run a kart or MX bike AND it won't break your wallet anywhere near the scale of motorized forms. Less injury too - mostly stitches and bruises. Oh - and your kid can practice anywhere, all the time. For free.

This is my oldest ... he raced from 5 until he was around 9-10 and then wandered off to things with motors.

He plays Forza, though truth be known, he spends like an hour and a half picking his car and changing the color. Then races about one lap and spends another hour at picking a different car and color. He does honestly straight up beat me 2/3 of the time at 1/32 scale slot cars though.

BMX is interesting. I could see him getting into that. And I heard cheap. Too bad his old man knows nothing at all about competitive bicycling of any kind. But worth looking into it. Better act fast or his mom will have his activity money tied up in Suzuki lessons (and no, I ain't talking about motorcycles)

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: BMX - No motor but it is real racing.

Never thought of that. Great idea.

We looked into that when the kids were young, but the tracks were too far way.

Do you have a enough land to build your own dirt track? If so, get him an off-road car with remote kill switch and see if he sticks with it for a little while. If interest continues move on to a quarter midgets or cadet karts.

In reply to sachilles:

In short, no. We're urbanites. But we have friends in the country. Racing friends even. Or I could build a track right round the 150-year old house. That would please the neighbors. And the hysterical preservation commission.

B&S powered gokarts are another possibility. Very popular around here.

There is a MX track across the street from my house. My two favorite classes to watch, 1. The adult/teenagers on the bigger bikes, and 2. The kids, yes the helmets are bigger than their bodies, but watching them on the same track as the big guys is absolutely awesome! They rarely catch air, but man their hearts are into it. And there are about double the track workers out there when the kids are running than when the adults are there. Saw two of em get tangled up, both got up about the same time, the one with his bike on bottom waited about 15 seconds for the other kid to pick his bike up. When it took to long the other one reached over and helped him pick his up, then grabbed his own, kicked it like the hounds were after him, and was gone. :) was great!

back yard go karts.

I am looking into this as well. When I was 8 or so I picked up 1/24th scale slot cars and got pretty good. W e raced at a local hobby shop. I got good enough that one (adult) guy threw his car after I beat him (badly). That was fun. From there it was on to RC cars and planes and then finally to the dragstrip at 18 with a homebuilt car. I never turned corners until Lemons. I've still never ridden a motorcycle of any sort, although I love mountain biking.

My kid is 4 and I want to involve him earlier. I don't like the thought of BMX or motoX because it just seems like it would require too much skill to actually do at this point. He's on training wheels biking around the driveway and everything, but a bike with a motor? I'd much rather a go-cart. I'm watching this thread, because my two oldest seem very interested. I have four kids (incl one on the way) so in a few years I'll have my own Lemons team.

You can get him into a kid kart at age 5. Yes, there are parents that are hyper competitive and spend a ton of money on equipment, but you don't have to. AT ALL. Using the same logic, you could say, "well, I don't want to autocross my Civic because there will be some people bringing Corvettes and Porsches..."

Now, if you WANT to be competitive in it, then SOME costs will be involved, but it all depends on how far you want to take it.

My son started racing kid karts at 6. We've since traveled the country and spent a ton of money. To the point that we have to take a year off to catch up. BUT, WE chose to do that. We didn't have to. He was winning races locally and we decided to try bigger venues with more competition and he did well there. Again, to make the car example, you can autocross at your local club and not spend much money. IF you want to compete on the national level, it's your choice if you want to or not.

Oh, and I'm sorry to tell you, you're going to deal with douchebags in ANY sport you do. Are they in karting? Yes. Are they in quarter midgets? Yes. BMX? Yup. In some ways, being around those people teaches life experiences because you're going to deal with people like that in life. And, for what it's worth, there's no compliment better than when your 6 year old watches a parent chew a kid out have your child turn to you and say, "Thanks, dad, for not being like that."

Look into karting. It's a ton of fun. PM me if you want some guidance.

-Rob

From what I saw at my local tracks, it would be about $1250-$1500 at the minimum to get one of my boys on track. That's assuming I buy used equipment. Somehow it makes the $45 Barbie dreamhouse my daughter wants seem like a bargain!!

Kid karts start at age 5.

Buy a cheap kart from a Big Five brand (or Nevoso). Don't spend big bucks on an engine. Once he's up to speed, figure out how much of a speed difference there is between his engine and the other guys', then add a sufficient quantity of methanol to get him roughly even and rejet appropriately. Don't accept trophies and don't be secretive.

A little young but electric RC racing? Either cars or off road trucks. Most tracks have open practice sessions so they can get started during a low pressure time. I started mine at 6 and most of the other racers were pretty tolerant, and his learning curve was pretty decent. It even encouraged a couple of racers to bring their kids out and we started to have kids races. One of the benefits is I could also participate at the same time, unlike something like quarter midgets where it would just be wrenching and watching.

Not racing, but I purchased a used go cart that looked like a little Indy car for a couple hundred of bucks for my 5 year old. I took cones and set up different courses in our school parking lot on the weekends. We walked the courses, talked about braking zones, and the line. He practiced each course until he was smooth, fast, and consistent.

At 10 he started racing go karts. He won a lot. At 14 started racing 500cc dirt sprint cars. He was rookie of the year in a field of 24 carts. He was noticed by a gentleman that had superbike powered sprint cars. He drove for him at starting at 15 and won 3 championships driving 3 different cars at 3 different tracks.

This year he moved to full size asphalt late model cars in New England. Did very well. Now he has a couple of teams offering him rides for next year.

It's fun. It's expensive. It's addictive. He absolutely loves it and we have had a great time bonding through racing. When it has been our kart or cars I don't work on it unless he is working with me. When he drives for others I have required him to help clean, repair and set up the cars. He has had to have great grades and great citizenship to keep the privilege to race. I have taught him to respect the racers, the equipment and to manage the highs and lows.

He started college this year and is in a dual Physics/Engineering program. Enjoy the time it goes fast!

tuna55 wrote: I have four kids (incl one on the way)

I remember after your 4th was born we definitely told you about condoms and vasectomies...you can only blame yourself now

GameboyRMH wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I have four kids (incl one on the way)

I remember after your 4th was born we definitely told you about condoms and vasectomies...you can only blame yourself now

Close. My fourth will be born on the 12th. I have a vasectomy consultation schedule for the 1st.