Do you think its wrong to let your little boys race?

Question

Both my boys race snowmachines and four wheelers, one is 10a nd the other is 6 and have been riding tough since they were 3 with there dad training them..some parents give me crap about it.but they go through safety inspections with all the gear.should i take them from something they love knowing it is dangerous but knowing they could get hurt on the way to a soccer game as well ? There dad is totaly for it, and since they have god, I feel ok about it,but seeing the ambulance take racers off the track (not mine yet) makes me wonder

Answer 1

Jeff Gordon started racing when he was 5 yrs old
Erin Crocker started racing when she was 4 yrs old.
There is always a level of danger in any contact sport. Make sure your boys have
~THE BEST training in whatever they are racing.
~Make sure they learn AND understand their limits and the limits of others.
~Make sure they are mature enough to handle the responsibility and the competition.
~They need to understand that the track is the ONLY place for racing.
Good Luck! Don't let what other parents say get to you!:)

Answer 2

The parents who give you crap are probably the ones who know the least about the sport. The uninformed hear the word racing and automatically think of crashes, because that is what makes the news. You can't predict what is going to happen. You can take them out of the sport even though they may have never experienced any trauma,but you would have that peace of mind. But then what? Have them play football? I've heard of more players dying from unknown heart conditions during football practices then I have heard kids dying during four wheel racing. I also don't think this will make them drive like maniacs once they get older. If anything, this will give them more driving experience, more awareness of safety and more control over a vehicle.
This is a decision that only you and your family can make.

Answer 3

This is not easy to answer. My son began karting when he was ten. By the age of 16 he was driving karts at 80 mph here in England and had a number of accidents, some big, but with no major injuries.
He went into track racing and became British track Ford champion in touring cars. He had a number of massive accidents but again no major injuries. I raced as well and I had accidents that twisted my neck, hurt my knees but nothing serious. However we both realise that we stared serious injury or death in the face many times. I was with him all the way and worked with him on safety all the time.
The point is that we love the sport ( we ran out of money in the end ) but your decision must take into account that your kids could be killed doing what they love. It is very rare, thank goodness.

Oh, I forgot to add that I have never had an accident on the road. Racing teaches you so much .....

Answer 4

Recently around here there was a family who allowed there 6 year old daughter to ride solo around their property on a go kart. They noticed after a bit that they didn't hear the motor of the engine. They searched for about an hour having called the sheriff and found her submerged in a lake nearby upside down.

She died. The go kart went off of a bridge and flipped over and she drowned. The mom was quoted in the police report as saying to her husband "Why did you have to buy them those Go Karts?!" While she was telling her ex-husband and daughter's father that the little girl had died.

I feel horrible for the family, I don't know if I am strong enough to survive a tragedy like that. I fear for my children's safety crossing the street, I can't think of why I would put them behind the wheel at a young age.

While your children are supervised well I can't help wondering what if...? What if the ambulance or rescue personnel can't get there fast enough? What if they are injured permanently? What if...? Good luck, I think if you are asking the question you already know what you want to do. Are you looking for a consensus to move you to action with their dad?

Answer 5

As long as they are supervised and safety is emphasized, I don't see anything wrong with it. (same thing applies to hunting with bows or guns). If they grow up respecting the machinery and knowing the importance of safety, I think they are less likely to be reckless, street race, or participate in recreational activities that are far worse when they are older. Besides, with proper training and safety equipment, racing is statistically safer than riding to school in the family SUV (you are at the mercy of "the other guy").

Having their parents support will mean more to them when they are older than you can even imagine now. Watch some NASCAR races and see how many parents gave up jobs, moved, mortgaged their homes, etc. to allow their kid(s) to go racing. Some of those kids are millionaires now.

You said that you know that they have God, so you must believe that whatever happens is in God's hands. In other words, He chooses how and when we go home. Although no one wants to think or talk about it, it could happen to any one of us at any time. Wouldn't you prefer to know that your kids are doing what makes them happy now? Be thankful for your children and hopeful that they don't get involved in more dangerous activities in the next few years.

Answer 6

I've been racing motorcycles and snowmobiles and cars since I was 5 and credit my ability to drive on the road better than most to it.Now my 11 & 7 year old daughters have a passion for racing & being safe drivers on the road.
Getting children into racing when they're young is one of the best things you can do for your children(boy or girl).
The way most teenagers drive is scary at best.Like any sport or skill the younger the better.For me driving is Zen-Like and I've logged over 1,000,000 miles with no accidents.(I've had my share of boo-boos on the track but you write that off as experience.)
Good Luck to your family and don't listen to other parents,(just watch out for thier kids when they finally get thier license).

Answer 7

Well I think most contact sports have an element of danger and my son was a regular at the Emergency room.

But my real concern is the habits that your sons are developing will carry over into their teen years and one day they will be driving real cars with the capability of going 100 miles an hour. Besides being hormonal teenagers they will have a false sense of security that this type of sport can give them.

I would think they are in it already and it would be difficult to suddenly just say No, but maybe you can find another sport they like. Hey , Hockey, football, soccer, lacrosse. All of these are safer.

Answer 8

This is a tough one. Most successful race car drivers today start as young children. And most of them were supported by their parents, emotionally and financially, in their early years.

Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, and Danica Patrick are all examples.

But it is a matter of personal choice. Many parents would steer their children in another direction. I can't tell you if it's wrong or right.

Answer 9

everything in life there is danger we cant keep our kids locked in their room, if your kids want to do it go for it my son has been riding since he was 3, he now 10 and is very good at moto x . he has had a few accidents but its what to expect in a sport like this ,

Answer 10

there is always that chance that it could be your kid next .no one knows what is at the next turn . you could fall and break your neck. but do you stop walking nope as lone as you have great insurence and papa does his job in training them and you know that one day they could get killed or be in a wheel chair for the rest of there life then go for it . just don't be down on your self if something goes wrong they are doing what they love just like steve irwin did