How do I convince my parents to let me race

Brad460
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4463
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Location
Richfield, WI, USA
Fantasy
2/7/2015 9:17am
norman151 wrote:
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...
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
They are doing you a favor, buddy...
Osaka627 wrote:
I think it's quite interesting how nearly every single if not all Ex Pro's who have been racing or riding dirtbikes their whole lives since they...
I think it's quite interesting how nearly every single if not all Ex Pro's who have been racing or riding dirtbikes their whole lives since they were 4 years old all have this same EXACT outlook. Including myself.. My father owned a Suzuki Dealership and a Multi State Family Owned Heavy Construction Company I got my first JR50 when I was 2. Was racing by 4. Had 2 District 27 Titles by 6, and had already been to Loretta Lynn's twice at 6 as well. I was burnt out on racing by the age of 12. Didn't touch a bike again until I was 16. Yet between that four year gap my Dad would still buy new bikes every year trying to get my to race. When I was 18 after HS I got the Fire, drive, & motivation back, but the edge was gone. Never was the same rider... Was able to get obtain a SX license and qualified for at Seattle in 2009, and retired immediately after the race. Haven't rode or touched a bike since. If you ever here a Pro get asked if their children are going to race every single one says NO. I think it's because we all know the giant strain it puts on most families even the wealthy. The only exception to this that I have EVER seen is CR22. It's crazy how bitter we're towards the sport that we know and love. My Dad asks me all the time if my children will race if that day comes. I'm 25 now and I tell him No every time and he doesn't understand why. I just simply answer with "My kids going to be a field goal kicker. Boy or girl, fat or skinny, athletic or not. As long as he or she can hit a 60 yard field goal 9 out of 10 times they are guaranteed a million plus a year for about 20 years straight injury free." I am serious too. Start them young with proper form and technique that's the key, but if the either party isn't fully committed it will only go so far.

norman151
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5
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9/20/2014
Location
Hampshire, IL, USA
2/7/2015 9:52am
I just wanted to thank all of you for your opinions and just wanted to clarify that i do already have everything that i do need to race it's just getting my parents to let me.
mxpappy711
Posts
258
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6/11/2009
Location
Hummelstown, PA, USA
2/7/2015 10:18am
Give them more time they are scared shitless that you will get hurt. Because you will get hurt. Sucks being a parent too!
philG
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10986
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GB
2/7/2015 10:37am
you got to balance the kid they want you to be , with the kid you want to be.

On the flip side i raced since i was 9 , had kids and never stopped , bought my lad a PW50 when he was 8 , and he didnt take to it , so i sold it, then a CR85, when he was 13 or so, restricted it , but still wasnt for him, so i carried on doing my thing , and he supported me doing that , and then when he was old enough to buy his own bike , he decided to try again with his own money , and rides for fun when we are free to do so, i still do my thing , but it works because he rides for him and not me.... no MX dad deal going on , just glad we get to spend the same kind of quality time together that me and my dad did.

The Shop

SquidBro
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281
Joined
8/16/2014
Location
MP
2/7/2015 10:52am
norman151 wrote:
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...
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
They are doing you a favor, buddy...
Osaka627 wrote:
I think it's quite interesting how nearly every single if not all Ex Pro's who have been racing or riding dirtbikes their whole lives since they...
I think it's quite interesting how nearly every single if not all Ex Pro's who have been racing or riding dirtbikes their whole lives since they were 4 years old all have this same EXACT outlook. Including myself.. My father owned a Suzuki Dealership and a Multi State Family Owned Heavy Construction Company I got my first JR50 when I was 2. Was racing by 4. Had 2 District 27 Titles by 6, and had already been to Loretta Lynn's twice at 6 as well. I was burnt out on racing by the age of 12. Didn't touch a bike again until I was 16. Yet between that four year gap my Dad would still buy new bikes every year trying to get my to race. When I was 18 after HS I got the Fire, drive, & motivation back, but the edge was gone. Never was the same rider... Was able to get obtain a SX license and qualified for at Seattle in 2009, and retired immediately after the race. Haven't rode or touched a bike since. If you ever here a Pro get asked if their children are going to race every single one says NO. I think it's because we all know the giant strain it puts on most families even the wealthy. The only exception to this that I have EVER seen is CR22. It's crazy how bitter we're towards the sport that we know and love. My Dad asks me all the time if my children will race if that day comes. I'm 25 now and I tell him No every time and he doesn't understand why. I just simply answer with "My kids going to be a field goal kicker. Boy or girl, fat or skinny, athletic or not. As long as he or she can hit a 60 yard field goal 9 out of 10 times they are guaranteed a million plus a year for about 20 years straight injury free." I am serious too. Start them young with proper form and technique that's the key, but if the either party isn't fully committed it will only go so far.
Most pro's have absolutely trashed themselves to get to pro level and know too well the finicial burden racing brings and don't wish to live it all again.

Kid, get out there and have a blast at the practice tracks, f*** racing!
40Plus_922mx
Posts
2900
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4/17/2009
Location
High Desert, CA, USA
2/7/2015 11:25am Edited Date/Time 2/7/2015 11:26am
Tell them it is either this?



Or this.



In all reality you have to respect your parents wishes no matter how many people you can get to support your efforts to race. They are only doing what they know is best for you. The love you to death and have raised you since you were pooping yourself. They cared for you and had panic attacks when you bumped your lil head as a baby. They love you.

Now you are able to walk, talk and think for yourself and you want something they do not. Do not let this difference cause a division between you and them. Nothing on earth is worth that. Not racing, not joining a punk band, nothing. Cause when you get older you are going to admire your parents for all their hard work it took to raise you. You are gonna see the effects doing that has had on them over all these years as they start to crumble before your eyes.

If I were you I would do whatever my parents asked of me and make it my goal to make them proud of me. This kind of attitude will benefit you the rest of your life vs the more popular approach we see today in our culture.

When you are 18 you can always race. I know right now it seems far far away but it is not. And trust me if it is in your blood you will never loose the desire. I am now almost 50 and still have the desire just like when I was 13.

The most important thing is that you be a blessing to your parents. This consistant mindset can determine your entire future.
Spartacus
Posts
2269
Joined
5/20/2011
Location
USA
2/7/2015 11:36am
1. Tell your father your mother really want you to race but she thinks he's so mechanically inept he couldn't keep a bicycle running let alone a motocross bike.

2. Tell you mother your father really wants you to race but but doesn't want to see her intimidated by the other mothers that are so supportive of their children and know so much more about pretty much everything than she does.

You'll have 2 new 250f in the garage in a week.
2/7/2015 1:12pm
Take them to an event!
Tradmark
Posts
90
Joined
2/22/2014
Location
Lamesa, TX, USA
2/7/2015 1:52pm Edited Date/Time 2/7/2015 1:58pm
Take this for what its worth, we have 8 kids. Our oldest who is by far our "talented rider" wanted to race as a kid. My wife was just never comfortable with it and we didnt have the money at that time. He still rode, he still rides whether its hitting a track, the desert, dualsporting colorado, or on streetbikes somewhere else. He is now getting into enduro racing and loves it. He never burnt out. He never disrespected us, especially not his mother. I still remember being so impressed when we had that talk about moms and how they worry and he took it in and said he understood, went and hugged his mama and never bitched or complained. That attitude, he has about everything, has led him to a point where my wife wants to support in racing now, hes 19. So we will. Interesting thing is not racing led him to other things. Hes a great student but likely turning pro in boxing in the coming year.

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