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9/20/2014
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Hampshire, IL
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norman151
2/6/2015 7:53pm
2/6/2015 7:53pm
Edited Date/Time
2/7/2015 1:52pm
Iv'e been riding dirt bikes since i was 6 and i have always been interested in racing, but this year it has become much more popular between me and a few friends. i am currently 14 and i don't know where to go with my parents. whenever i bring it up my dad is silent and my mom just laughs and says no. help would be useful. :D
http://vimeo.com/29701303
football.
The Shop
Can't imagine racing without my dad there all those years.
Called my dad and thanked him for all the years he took me racing. And I thabked my mom for her sacrifices too. Seeing me get hurt but still allowing me to choose to get back on the bike.
@norman151. IF you have your mom setup a PayPal account I'll donate your first entry fee and gate fee to race if they both agree to take you. and If they both agree to talk to families the day of the Race about the racing experience. With any luck Itll change your mothers laughter at the dinner table into a serious conversation.
Pm me and I'd would love the opportunity to discuss it with your mom on the phone. For what it's worth I am a nurse. I can understand both sides. You wanting to race and her wanting to protect you. Maybe that can be used as leverage in addition to the fees to convince her to try to make it happen. . I don't think I would be who I am today without racing as a kid. I also know that racing is expensive and inherently dangerous so I can empathize with your mother in relation to her being worried about your safety in addition to the cost. . .
It's a tough conversation but I'd be more than happy to assist her in making an informed decision.
Also rememeber Norman at the end of the day your parents are truly looking out for you in what they feel is in your best interest and you should respect their decisions even if you don't agree with them now. Later in life you will thank them for every decision they make when trying to raise you. Good luck.
tell them that you will buy AND wear/use all the proper safety equipment.
Unless you're a rebel. Then just do whatever they tell you not to.
There really are kind people in this world, great post.
I too as a kid had parents who had no interest in dirt bikes, especially my father who probably only watched me race one meeting.
He was football and that was that, I had to buy my own bikes and pay for everything.
My advice would be find some friends that race and tag along with them, if you really want to race don't get held back cos your folks don't want you out there, it will be expensive, you won't have all the best gear but it will all be worth it.
I had a close friend who I went to races with, his dad would help me out and sometimes buy me spares when I was short on cash.
I feel for you, as I was in that position before. Once you catch the bug there is no cure, it is such a shame that non moto parents don't understand this.
2) Tell your father if he let's you race you won't drink or smoke weed as long as you are a "mom and dad sponsored rider."
3) Do what you have to do to graduate from high school a year early. You'll be racing soon if you play your cards right with mom and dad so start training now so you can really blossom skill wise in what would have been your senior year. Other kids will be in school and you'll be practicing during the week to smoke these guys on the weekend.
4) Never ever mention to your parents anything about MX forums on the Internet. The first rule of MX forums is there are no MX forums on the Internet.
5) Take your time in approaching your parents and have your responses to their possible objections locked and loaded.
A) We don't want you to get hurt
Kids get hurt playing all types of sports in highs school. I'll wear all the right safety equipment and use my head when I race.
It's too expensive
Start on a two stroke
C) Our family is too busy to take this on
As somebody else mentioned this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build lifetme memories with your parents. I'm 58 and some of my best memories if not my best memories are camping out at the races with my family and friends all throughout the 70s. My father has passed but my mom is still friend with people we raced with 40 years ago. No sport on the planet like MX.
Good luck!
I am at the age now where when we got to a big race (like the one tomorrow) i will meet all kinds of people from back in the day , and the age i am now , we are starting to lose parents and even riders through old age.... always an awkward start to the convo for sure.
The times we had (and are still having) is what makes life living , i just dont get all these stick and ball sports guys who live off watching someone else live a dream for them.... the only thing that beats riding , is racing.
and + 1000000 on the 'no streetbike' deal. Thats just buying a ticket in the lottery of death, IMHO... i've done it , and its just not worth it.
It gives a purpose that nothing else does ... watching football just takes you to the pub.. racing takes you to a zone that nobody that who hasnt put a helmet on will ever understand.
Set it up one weekend so that pops is going to take you riding... Byron or Mt Carroll are your closest bets. When you get to the track .... Holy Shit Batman !!! it's raceday ... well gee dad we could leave and waste the whole trip out here, or we could just sign me up.....
Another thought is the GP approach, basically a MX with fewer jumps, obstacles etc.kind of a fast open trail ride. LaSalle has one in April.
http://amadistrict17.com/services/2015schedule.htm
If this doesn't work start pounding on the grand parents (hopefully yours are still with us) and especially your dad's. Ask his mom why she raised such a wimp, ask his dad what does "pussy whipped" mean.
Pit Row
school: bad good excellent?
do you have siblings that they also take care of?
relationship with parents: bad good excellent?
are your parents financially able to let you race?
do you spend a lot of time in front of the computer monitor or outside kind of kid?
All these things affect how they think. Most parents try to support their kids
if they can and if the kid is doing things to better them self.
Assuming you're doing the things to gain you parents respect by your actions
other than the bulk of kids that just act like they are entitled. the first step is
going to be to find the reason why your mom isn't supportive. You will have to
be patient in getting that answer as she will be evasive and eventually, with attentive
respectful questioning you will wear her down. Once you know what her objections are
you can work on changing them. All the while understanding that they don't have to do
this just because you are their son. but making them want to do this because you are
being a model son helping the rest of their life run smooth.
Being a parent is no easy task, the easier you make it for them, the more motivated they are
to help you do what you want.
Each week if you were good or bad, you'd move up or down a level. I was on level 0(shocker!), it took me 4 weeks of my best behavior to get to the top level and as promised my dad got me a new KX60. After my first race at Sandhill Ranch my dad was as hooked with the sport as I was and I never had to get to level 4 again...
They probably are not going to let you race, no matter what or how good you are towards them. Sorry but many many kids go through this.
Get a job, cut grass whatever, and get a used two stroke ride trails, practice days, meet friends and ride as much as you can.
When you turn 18 you can work and race without their consent. Good luck
&
Don't show them this
http://youtu.be/oieAVkfxUu8
Just sounds like you had everything handed to you, maybe thats were your bittrness comes from.
Most families that keep things fun stay in the sport for life
As a guy who raced pro and hated his dad because of it, I let any of my kids race if they wanted. Plus I could name several pros who have kids that ride and enjoy it.
If you hate it so bad, why do you post?
Post a reply to: How do I convince my parents to let me race