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So for a family of 4 to attend the race driving a truck pulling a toyhauler with a golf cart will cost them $550 to drive through the gate. That doesn't include any race entry fees, transponder fees or any other fees.
How they think it's ok to charge a gate fee and charge you for a spot to pit from is crazy. Where do they expect racers to park other than the pits? I guess you could get a room at the casino and pit out of their parking lot. It's only about a mile away.
Florida winter ams and Texas ams usually have races that weekend. looks like they are trying to stick their fingers in the pot.
Sorry we like to practice, dad and son vacation. No races for us.
When does this whole amateur thing slow down? I could care less about the parents spending big money to hit all these events. They're adults so it's their choice.
But how much are these kids sacrificing and yet don't see the negative until years down the road when they have no choice? Sure I would love to turn back time and be able to ride and compete as a kid and at a local level I'm sure it's a great healthy thing to do. What scares me is giving up other opportunities that the other kids those ages get to see and experience. I don't know just seems like way too much focus on one silly little sport (I love mx but big picture) for what reward? Be 1 out of 1000's of kids trying to be the next superstar is a bad bet.
That is unless i happened to be one of the chosen ones that spawned a super fast, fearless, arrogant, entitled, child that absolutely needs every advantage given to them because they are on the fast track to the top...and no expense can be spared.
Anyways from my area I've known a handful of guys who have made it to pro hockey. All of them lived at hbme and went to school in their local area up until at least 16 and then usually played at the top amateur level and transferred to whatever school was close to the team they played for. They still all had a life outside of hockey yet your right did give up A LOT of free time. For what it's worth the ones doing best in life fizzled out early and were able to move on. Those in the middle area like a privateer are sort of in a bad spot if you were forecasting the next 5 years.
Moto, I guess the thing that gets me is the age, risk, home schooling at such a young age and the training centres. 2 week long camps or workshops are cool. Show young kids you work hard you will see results...6 month spans at a training centre not so healthy. There is to much value placed on these national events that kids at 10-12 years old are literally risking their life trying to win because of pressure of all that's invested.
Corporate sponsorship is a little sick at ages of 8-14 if you ask me. What happens to little man after he thinks he owns the world and then his 18 birthday comes around and no ones there because the results weren't.
Again I don`t disagree with your point about all sports but I love moto and it burns my balls a little how the kids are treated. I know they love it at the time but 10 years later happens for everyone not just the few that make it.
Pit Row
Been to 100 different tracks and never had someone say " that'll be X bucks to drive through the gate, and another X to park"
The sport is on the decline, and theres no denying it....add some more fees like this and its going to continue that downward spiral. No wonder people are buying razors and just hitting the desert as oppose to racing every weekend
X2
Paw Paw
With that being said, I will finance any riding he still wants to do at any level as long as it does not interfere with college, as any father would. He's pretty fast, but no where near making a living, fast. we still will probably make our annual father/son trips down south since this is now a tradition but to answer your question, he is wanting to go try for Lorettas this year and we will go full bore with all the races but next year those type races with taper off.
I started racing at a older age, road all my life, so I never really cared for the AM Nats either. But they can be fun if you have no concern for money and are not a Dad living your life through little Johnny and face the facts that without you yelling at him, if hes not running top 2 or 3 at nationals now, make sure he stays in college so when you face reality and blow up and selling everything, he till has a future
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