Posts
93
Joined
6/1/2020
Location
Rome, NY
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2021 2:02pm
I’m 15 now, parents bring me to the track but can’t make it to every race. Hoping my dad will still bring me once I get my license since we have a camper, but what age were you guys when you started going by yourself? How did you do with out your dads/moms?
I think the majority of successful pros have their parents in there corner the whole way through. The only exception I can think of is Reed, who left home (and his country) without his parents at 17. Many bagged him for being too head strong, but he never would have made it alone if he wasn’t.
The Shop
First time I headed off in my own car with the bike on the back, and the smell of the jerry cans just behind me, I thought I was the dog's bollocks lol. Good times.
If you want to, you will do fine without parents around. How bad do you want it, how independent are you, and how much do you love moto?
That is the question.
I built a track with a shovel. Yes a shovel.
I build a 30ft double, a 8ft high single where you could jump to what ever sand whoop you wanted to land in. 9 turns and all sand. I remember being so mad I was stuck on a 80 (105), I geared up one day, filled it up with gas and didn't stop motos until it blew up. 1990 KX . Below is a picture of the big single on my first 2 stroke.
Just like not having a place to ride, I got to work, I couldn't make a bike, but I could save my money and hustle to get one. So at 14, I did what I could, saved every penny. Put the stock cylinder on the 80 and sold it.
It took me years until I could be self-sufficient. I will never forget catching a ride to Birtch Creek to buy my first big bike, a used Team Green 1994 KX125. It was the hardest thing I had ever done, to work so DAMN hard to come up with 3k and to let it go. Sometimes I think that my dad did it on purpose.. Because I learned a lot.
This is me and my buddy Barry. I was on top of the world with my jeep, 125 and my 3 rail trailer at 17.
I could have just said, I was 17 when I took myself to the track. Do what you got to do my man. Sometimes it's just being patient. Sometimes the opportunity you want comes dressed in overalls and it's time to get to work to rely on nobody.
After MX I started road racing until I suffered a SCI at 26. My parents were still at every race. They’d jump on a plane or ride their Harleys out. They had just gotten off a cruise ship and drove straight to the track to watch my race the day I was injured.
I got into wheelchair rugby after my SCI and they try to attend almost every tournament I play in Florida and I’m 42 lol
Pit Row
It never really was his thing and he didn't really understand how much you have to practice to get good. So it was easier once I could take myself to practice and be on my own schedule.
The summer I was 17 was the only time my dad came to watch me race, after the first moto (I got third place) my dad says great job then starts packing all my stuff up,my mom is asking him what's he doing and he replies the race is over time to go home.He had no idea that it is a two moto format. When my informs him of this he couldn't believe it.
After Igot out of the Army I started racing again. I would always ask dad to come with me and sometimes he did. Some of my best races was when he was there. Mom never missed a race.
Yes we forged releases as minors in the 70s.
Grateful for pop getting me out to see a Trans AMA round on e a year in the early 70s.
But in your situation if they can’t come, get yourself a good crew of moto buddies. Shit happens and you need the boys there to pick you up when you wallop into the ground. Don’t go by yourself.
I did FAR more "riding" than racing.
Lexington KY, 1978:
Post a reply to: How old were you guys when your parents stopped bringing you to the track?