I am sorry for the 8 year old...but 1 AM???

DSteg222
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Edited Date/Time 1/23/2012 2:34am
My prayers go out to the family. Losing a child must be the toughest thing any parent goes through.

But is there not a deeper question? 1 am race? Is this correct??? What races are conducted at 1am?? I would never put my kid on a bike that late. No way. No race is that important, especially not at 8 years old. Has he even stayed up that late before in his life?? I know my kids probably had never stayed up past midnight until 8 or so and that was for New Years Eve, in our house and them in their PJs and even then they were asleep before the ball dropped and we had to wake them up.

What was the track thinking running any races past 10pm? The effort it takes to concentrate under race conditions is not something an 8 year old can do at 1am, and neither could nearly all of us that ride or race. Listen to the drivers and teams about the 24 hours at Le Mans and hear what they say about the early morning driving. It is the toughest.

The comments on the site were mostly stupid, except those few that were critical of the hour of the race. I myself am critical of any race at 1am for children. I dont believe under any conditions should a child be racing anything at 1am. There is no way he was not affected by the lateness of the hour.


RIP Logan .
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akmx17
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6/22/2009 1:47am
Have you ever fallen asleep riding a dirtbike?
Let alone gotten drowsy?
Hell I sometimes ride mine around the driveway to wake myself up working on stuff.
Sonny
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6/22/2009 2:54am
akmx17 wrote:
Have you ever fallen asleep riding a dirtbike? Let alone gotten drowsy? Hell I sometimes ride mine around the driveway to wake myself up working on...
Have you ever fallen asleep riding a dirtbike?
Let alone gotten drowsy?
Hell I sometimes ride mine around the driveway to wake myself up working on stuff.
Completely fuckin clueless. Sleep deprivation is a huge issue with children. The function of the brain is extremely limited without a consistent sleep pattern. The fact that his parents or organization don't get this is frightening.
kawboy388
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6/22/2009 3:14am
This happens quite often in the big night series races around here. They seem to have the little guys first to keep them from having to stay up so late. The last big night race I was in a few months ago, my second moto ended at 2:20am and we were about the middle race of the night so that would have put some mini classes at around 1:00am.

I know it's not good for them to be riding that late, but if you start a night race too early with the sun out it can be pretty dangerous with the sun setting and blinding you over jumps. A few bad crashes or waiting for the heli to come can easily get the schedule backed up pretty late too.
CamP
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6/22/2009 4:16am
What kawboy said. night racing is very popular in Texas during the summer and they routinely last until 1-2am.

When I was eight my parents owned a drive-in theater and was up until 1-2am all the time in the summer. I loved it but then I'd sleep until noon the next day.

The Shop

jtomasik
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6/22/2009 4:34am
Hindsight's wonderful, isn't it? Especially when it's combined with the minimal offering of facts from the media (which often gets it wrong because they're usually inexperienced in the issue and carry one of those wonderful general education degrees that a trained monkey could ace). Stories like this from the media are well received because it allows the reader to point the finger at someone and say, "I'm smarter than him." Which isn't the truth. Not even close.

Nobody here knows the full facts. The kid could've taken several naps prior to the race for all we know. The parents could've considered dozens of things the readers of the story haven't even envisioned.

The only fact we do know is that riding MX is dangerous. Period. Sorry to burst your bubble.
ddog558
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6/22/2009 4:46am
CamP wrote:
What kawboy said. night racing is very popular in Texas during the summer and they routinely last until 1-2am. When I was eight my parents owned...
What kawboy said. night racing is very popular in Texas during the summer and they routinely last until 1-2am.

When I was eight my parents owned a drive-in theater and was up until 1-2am all the time in the summer. I loved it but then I'd sleep until noon the next day.
Was Mosier or Ross Downs ever over before 1am?? I can remember sleeping between motos because it was so late!
CamP
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6/22/2009 4:49am
You've got that right JT. MX is dangerous although fatalities are rare. They've occurred a few times here in DFW over the years but I've never seen one first hand and I've spent a good part of the last 30 years at the track. On the other hand, I've seen two fatalities skiing and I'm lucky if I get 5 days in a season.
CamP
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6/22/2009 4:50am
ddog558 wrote:
Was Mosier or Ross Downs ever over before 1am?? I can remember sleeping between motos because it was so late!
I can't remember ever getting home from a Mosier night race before 2am.
DirtyFilter75
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6/22/2009 5:16am
We used to race an Arenacross series in the midwest that constantly had the 4-6 yr olds racing their first race at around 9 and their second race as late as 11 sometimes. I scratched my kid he was to groggy and it was pointless and dangerous. This is incompetence on the part of the track owners and or the promoter. It is also poor parenting by the parents of all the kids in the class!
CamP
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6/22/2009 5:28am Edited Date/Time 6/22/2009 5:29am
We used to race an Arenacross series in the midwest that constantly had the 4-6 yr olds racing their first race at around 9 and their...
We used to race an Arenacross series in the midwest that constantly had the 4-6 yr olds racing their first race at around 9 and their second race as late as 11 sometimes. I scratched my kid he was to groggy and it was pointless and dangerous. This is incompetence on the part of the track owners and or the promoter. It is also poor parenting by the parents of all the kids in the class!
Why blame the promoter or parents if you don't know the details. Delays are common in this sport, often for reasons beyond anyone's control. For example, what do you do if the ambulance leaves with an injured rider? You hold the races until you have another one on-site. Also, how do you know the parents didn't have their boy take naps during the day to prepare for the late evening? It's summer and they could have been letting him stay up late and sleep in during the morning. That's what my parents did when they owned the drive-in theater I mentioned previously. People that night race regularly know the drill so to say this is a case of poor parenting is incredibly judgmental. I'm so glad I grew up in the 60's/70's when Americans didn't shelter their kids and expect everyone else to do so also.
Racer92
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6/22/2009 5:42am
Ive raced various Summer Series races and been at the gate for my second moto at midnight or later. This one was about 12:30am at the old Lakeside MX track.


blair
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6/22/2009 6:38am
It seems strange to me that the races would last that long also. Are these races not AMA sactioned? I was told years ago be a rare promoter here in Ohio that he always had to have his night races completed by midnight because that is when his insurance ended and he didn't want to risk it. That was a few years ago though.
CamP
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6/22/2009 6:44am
The AMA does not have much of a presence beyond the Northeast so the majority of the amateur racing in the US is unsanctioned.
6/22/2009 6:53am
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop on an 85.
zookrider62!
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6/22/2009 6:59am
maybe it's because im not a parent, but I dont see the problem. When I raced night-races, if it got super late, id sleep before my moto.
DirtyFilter75
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6/22/2009 7:02am
We used to race an Arenacross series in the midwest that constantly had the 4-6 yr olds racing their first race at around 9 and their...
We used to race an Arenacross series in the midwest that constantly had the 4-6 yr olds racing their first race at around 9 and their second race as late as 11 sometimes. I scratched my kid he was to groggy and it was pointless and dangerous. This is incompetence on the part of the track owners and or the promoter. It is also poor parenting by the parents of all the kids in the class!
CamP wrote:
Why blame the promoter or parents if you don't know the details. Delays are common in this sport, often for reasons beyond anyone's control. For example...
Why blame the promoter or parents if you don't know the details. Delays are common in this sport, often for reasons beyond anyone's control. For example, what do you do if the ambulance leaves with an injured rider? You hold the races until you have another one on-site. Also, how do you know the parents didn't have their boy take naps during the day to prepare for the late evening? It's summer and they could have been letting him stay up late and sleep in during the morning. That's what my parents did when they owned the drive-in theater I mentioned previously. People that night race regularly know the drill so to say this is a case of poor parenting is incredibly judgmental. I'm so glad I grew up in the 60's/70's when Americans didn't shelter their kids and expect everyone else to do so also.
I agree that racing often gets delayed. That is no excuse. All you have to do is shut it down for safety reasons. Refund people's money or continue the racing the following day. I do think the parents were ultimately responsible though. I would never let my son race that late. I guess that is a personal choice.
huck
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6/22/2009 7:07am
maybe it's because im not a parent, but I dont see the problem. When I raced night-races, if it got super late, id sleep before my...
maybe it's because im not a parent, but I dont see the problem. When I raced night-races, if it got super late, id sleep before my moto.
I'm a parent of two...ultimately it's up to the parents to judge if their child is fit to race/ride. If it's too late for their child, then that's their call.

CamP
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6/22/2009 7:43am
I agree that racing often gets delayed. That is no excuse. All you have to do is shut it down for safety reasons. Refund people's money...
I agree that racing often gets delayed. That is no excuse. All you have to do is shut it down for safety reasons. Refund people's money or continue the racing the following day. I do think the parents were ultimately responsible though. I would never let my son race that late. I guess that is a personal choice.
That would do nothing but create an angry mob, even if refunds were provided. Late nights are just a part of night racing. Some people like it, some don't. You see plenty of 2nd moto DNS's on the night race results pages so ultimately, people can make that call on their own.
BUTCH
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6/22/2009 8:40am
Sad deal! In very poor taste to piont the finger at the parents!
holeshot100
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6/22/2009 9:05am
My condolences to the family.
Most 8 year olds capable of racing an 85 cc bike are also racing in the advanced 65cc class at the same time.
Be careful moving your son or daughter to the larger machine prematurely.
Not saying this is the case, but merely advice witnessed over the years with injuries.
The Rock
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6/22/2009 10:03am
SlowOldGuy wrote:
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop...
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop on an 85.
A tragic consequence to SX obstacles on outdoor courses......I understand and totally appreciate not everyone shares this opinion but for me this is another example of common sense lacking on course design.

zookrider62!
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6/22/2009 10:33am
SlowOldGuy wrote:
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop...
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop on an 85.
The Rock wrote:
A tragic consequence to SX obstacles on outdoor courses......I understand and totally appreciate not everyone shares this opinion but for me this is another example of...
A tragic consequence to SX obstacles on outdoor courses......I understand and totally appreciate not everyone shares this opinion but for me this is another example of common sense lacking on course design.

because SX is filled with 90ft tabletops?
SEEMEFIRST
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6/22/2009 10:54am
Camp wrote: That would do nothing but create an angry mob, even if refunds were provided. Late nights are just a part of night racing. Some people like it, some don't. You see plenty of 2nd moto DNS's on the night race results pages so ultimately, people can make that call on their own.


Cam speaks the truth...but what do I know?
Utrider
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6/22/2009 11:44am
This facility has ran Friday night races for years, I raced there in the early 80's and would regularly get out after midnight. The parents had Logan take a 3 hour nap earlier in the evening, knowing he would be running late in his supermini class.

The races are supposed to start at 7, but rarely do. I would like to see the mini classes moved in the race order to move the young ones up to earlier in the evening, even if they went back to back to get them done. The course is much more of a super cross style track with very safe obstacles, no do-or die doubles or triples. Flat landing off of this particular table top happens, not all the time, but it does happen.

WhipMeister
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6/22/2009 11:51am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 12:32am
SlowOldGuy wrote:
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop...
I am less concerned about the hour of the race than I am the fact that an 8 year old was jumping a 90 foot tabletop on an 85.
X2


"maybe it's because im not a parent, but I dont see the problem. When I raced night-races, if it got super late, id sleep before my moto." - zookrider62


Unless you're referring to yourself when you were 8 years old, I don't think it's really useful to equate your own choices when you race night races to an 8YO's "I think I'll take a nap" decision-making.


This is going to be unpopular around here, but at 8, I think kids are still almost completely dependent on their parents to make mature choices for them. On the face of it, I can only feel that permitting your 8YO race in the 80 class (at 1 in the morning, no less) represents very poor judgment, no matter the justification or outcome. Regardless of whether the kid was killed or it had ended up just another night at the track, I'd still have a problem with it. Sorry, but IMO, a 50-60lb, 8YO kid is simply not physically or mentally mature enough to race SX with 90ft tabletops on a 20hp bike, no matter how much he loves it nor how fast his laps are.


However, the main thing is, I feel terrible for these people. And I am sure they are second-guessing everything right now.
breck
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6/22/2009 12:07pm
We ran a night track for 15 years, it happens, every once in a while (maybe 3 or 4 times total) we'd end up that late. Either due to a huge turn out or delays in racing (people getting hurt), but it happens, nothing weird about that!
PastranaWho
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6/22/2009 4:48pm
8 year old kid racing on a 85? i hope the parents were not pushing him to fast. RIP LIL man ...you didnt know no better.
PastranaWho
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6/22/2009 4:48pm
Wolfman
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6/22/2009 5:04pm
When 59th and Douglas used to hold the Dr. Pepper Night Time Nationals in the late '80s to early 90's, you might not get out of there until 4 in the morning. Its part of night racing.


This is a huge huge tragedy, but this young boy may have done the same thing during a day event. Sometimes things just happen. I feel for the family and for the people who were on the scene and had to witness the accident.
jgmxdad251
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6/22/2009 5:17pm Edited Date/Time 6/22/2009 5:17pm
Where can I read story?

Post a reply to: I am sorry for the 8 year old...but 1 AM???

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