Good events to take kids to?

[Fatt Max]

Ok peeps, once again after advide from you lovely people.

Mini Max is keen to go and watch some bike racing. Now, I have never really been to a track other than a bucket day in Mt Wellington and a visit to Pukekohe after the MAG launch in October.

What I would like to know is, what would be the best events to take a wee fella to? Somewhere that he could watch the bikes but go for a wander at the same time (not on his own of course...!!)

As I said, I am a serious track / racing / superbike 'know-nothing' but Mini Max is taking an interest and I want to keep that going. He is 6, turns 7 this year so I suppose it is somewhere that we can find a spot, bring a picnic and have some fun.

As always, all and any suggestions welcome

Cheers guys

[MadDuck]

Paeroa next month....:yes:

[ynot slow]

Try speedway as well,either Western Springs for non contact,or Waikaraka Park for true speedway crash and bash,they usually have sidecars(awesome,no brakes) at either event.

[GSXR Trace]

Paeroa next month....:yes:

Yep second that, battle of the streets in paeroa (think its the 20th), some good grass banks to sit on and have your picnic and watch the bikes go past (and occassionally bin right into the bags in front of you (if at the bottom of the back straight), but also not too far to walk around etc. Also cool to go and look through the pits and check out all the bikes, don't know if a 6 year old would think the same, but there is always plenty going on in there if he gets a bit bored with watching the racing.

[Conquiztador]

From memory you live in the Auckland region??

If so, here (not including what has already been stated here):

- Rosebank Road for Solo Speedway and Side Cars. Best track in NZ. Sit on the grass bank and see the whole track.

- Bike Drags at Meremere

- There is a few Motocross tracks around Auckland. Here: http://www.dirt-bike-tips-and-pics.com/where-to-ride-in-new-zealand.html He can watch the Mini races on a separate smaller track for 4 - 11 year olds.

- Pit Bike Racing Mt Wellington Go-Kart track.

Get him a small MX bike and let him have a go!!

[Fatt Max]

From memory you live in the Auckland region??

If so, here (not including what has already been stated here):

- Rosebank Road for Solo Speedway and Side Cars. Best track in NZ. Sit on the grass bank and see the whole track.

- Bike Drags at Meremere

- There is a few Motocross tracks around Auckland. Here: http://www.dirt-bike-tips-and-pics.com/where-to-ride-in-new-zealand.html He can watch the Mini races on a separate smaller track for 4 - 11 year olds.

- Pit Bike Racing Mt Wellington Go-Kart track.

Get him a small MX bike and let him have a go!!

Cheers dude,

Yep, the MX is on the cards, maybe another year of him on the ouch bike to get the balance right. How do I get the dates for the Rosebank Road meets?

Thanks to you and all the othes for taking the time to help me on this one

Cheers

[Conquiztador]

Cheers dude,

Yep, the MX is on the cards, maybe another year of him on the ouch bike to get the balance right. How do I get the dates for the Rosebank Road meets?

Thanks to you and all the othes for taking the time to help me on this one

Cheers

Here: http://www.rosebankspeedway.co.nz/194239/events/calendar.html

[SMOKEU]

Street races are awesome. I had a great time watching the Methven ones last year.

[fossil]

Cheers dude,

Yep, the MX is on the cards, maybe another year of him on the ouch bike to get the balance right. How do I get the dates for the Rosebank Road meets?

Thanks to you and all the othes for taking the time to help me on this one

Cheers

Hi Max,

Take your boy to a trials club day. He will see lots of tricks(I took my grand daughters and they called them trick riders). Its normally quite quiet and the guy's and girls who ride are normally only too happy to spend time talking about what they do. My grand kids learnt their riding skills on geared down trail bikes at club trial days ( and its cheap) rather than mx.
Otherwise take him to a round of the National Road Race Champs. You can access the pits and get up close and personal (within reason) with the action and even get some autographs etc.

[GOONR]

Try speedway as well,either Western Springs for non contact,or Waikaraka Park for true speedway crash and bash,they usually have sidecars(awesome,no brakes) at either event.

+1 on that, my old girl took me to speedway when I was a littleun, stood with my face pinned to the fence and ate gravel every time the bikes came round, loved it :)

[pritch]

These guys list upcoming events: http://www.silver-bullet.co.nz/

[2wheeldrifter]

This should be fun for all.... http://www.nitrocircuslive.com/upcoming-tours/nz-tour/index.html :yes:

[Maha]

+1 on that, my old girl took me to speedway when I was a littleun, stood with my face pinned to the fence and ate gravel every time the bikes came round, loved it :)

My father took me to the speedway In Palmerston North in the 70's..one night there were four racing that, at the time were the top four in world speedway.
Ivan Mauger/Barry Briggs/Ove' Fundin and Ronnie Moore on the track at the same time.
To put that in perspective, it would be like watching Rossi/Doohan/Crosby and Sheene on the track, granted they are from different times but the you get the gist.

[Fatt Max]

My father took me to the speedway In Palmerston North in the 70's..one night there were four racing that, at the time were the top four in world speedway.
Ivan Mauger/Barry Briggs/Ove' Fundin and Ronnie Moore on the track at the same time.
To put that in perspective, it would be like watching Rossi/Doohan/Crosby and Sheene on the track, granted they are from different times but the you get the gist.

Being from Wembley, I remember the speedway at the stadium which was on a Wednesday night if I remember rightly. We lived over the back of the stadium and you could hear it.

I never went though. My dad was always working late and my mum was simply not into that kind of thing. Oh, and I was pretty much grounded most of the time anyway. People down my street tended to get the hump when I set light to a bag of dog shit on their front door step.....

And there was the 'Walls Sausage In A Johnny Through Your Letterbox' trick as well

Yeah, speedway sounds like it could be a hoot....

[Taz]

The Classic festival at pukekohe is always a winner. A bike show with rare and exotic motorcycles from all era's (that's just the car park too!!) and racing and a spitfire show this year also. Take ear muffs.

http://www.nzcmrr.com/notices/2010/classic_festival_kitty_hawk_spitfire

[Maha]

Heres how close you can get to the action at Paeroa, as you can see, its a bit like your first sexual encounter, all over pretty quick from any one advantage point, But unlike your first sexual encounter, it goes on longer than just the one round.

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[ynot slow]

My father took me to the speedway In Palmerston North in the 70's..one night there were four racing that, at the time were the top four in world speedway.
Ivan Mauger/Barry Briggs/Ove' Fundin and Ronnie Moore on the track at the same time.
To put that in perspective, it would be like watching Rossi/Doohan/Crosby and Sheene on the track, granted they are from different times but the you get the gist.

Saw them at Stratford around same time,also went to NP racecourse when Mauger did the long track meeting on trotting track,man 1000mtr the speeds whooa.
Max goto www.macgors.has.it. There is under links a list of all speedway tracks and good stuff.

[Fatt Max]

Heres how close you can get to the action at Paeroa, as you can see, its a bit like your first sexual encounter, all over pretty quick from any one advantage point, But unlike your first sexual encounter, it goes on longer than just the one round.

Funny really mate because my first sexual encounter was with the local bike, so it all makes sense

[Maha]

I think an oval track would be the better to keep a childs interest level up. At a track like Paeroa, a good part of the race is listened to rather than watched. At the speedway, its a few hours (not a whole day) and you get to see all of every race. Growing up in Palmmy I went to a few Stockcar/speedway meetings at the showgrounds. Manfeild was built while I was living in PN and dad took me there in the early days, to see the cars mainly...Leo Lenard in the PDL mustang, Jack Nazzar in the cossack victor etc...David Oxton in the open wheelers. All good memories.
You could see most if not all of the track at Manfield in the early days, dont know about today, never been back. Mini max will absolutely love a night at the speedway. Hotdag and chips is a must though to complete a perfect evening.

[Maha]

Funny really mate because my first sexual encounter was with the local bike, so it all makes sense

Needed oiling right?

[BMWST?]

just be aware that stuff like the classics at Paeroa will be L O U D and a six year old will have much better hearing than you.I dont know what you do about that tho.

[blossomsowner]

Take a trip down to Hampton Downs and watch a track day. Not actual racing but you can see heaps and talk to plenty of people if you like....

the bikes are on track all day and different groups coming and going so it is pretty interesting. I have taken two of my kids there for a look and they loved it.


and it costs nothing but some lunch or whatever.........take plenty of pies. Dates can be checked out at the hamptondowns ride days website.

[Maha]

just be aware that stuff like the classics at Paeroa will be L O U D and a six year old will have much better hearing than you.I dont know what you do about that tho.

Kids cant see squat at Paeroa, they are just as happy to be walking around with a ear plugs in an Ice-Cream....:facepalm:

[Fatt Max]

Take a trip down to Hampton Downs and watch a track day. Not actual racing but you can see heaps and talk to plenty of people if you like....

the bikes are on track all day and different groups coming and going so it is pretty interesting. I have taken two of my kids there for a look and they loved it.


and it costs nothing but some lunch or whatever.........take plenty of pies. Dates can be checked out at the hamptondowns ride days website.


Actually that could be a go, think I will do that.

The wee man is getting really excited, does make me a happy man all this'

Thanks again all

[hellokitty]

- Rosebank Road for Solo Speedway and Side Cars. Best track in NZ. Sit on the grass bank and see the whole track.


Plus you can go in the pits and get a close up look at the bikes - make sure you are wearing proper shoes or they won't let you in the pits.
It is a shame that you guys didn't go sooner, when we were racing there, we could have given him a little ride.

[Fatt Max]

Plus you can go in the pits and get a close up look at the bikes - make sure you are wearing proper shoes or they won't let you in the pits.
It is a shame that you guys didn't go sooner, when we were racing there, we could have given him a little ride.

Cheers for that Kit, maybe another time, he is keen as to get into bikes now, scary eh....!!!

[ynot slow]

Plus you can go in the pits and get a close up look at the bikes - make sure you are wearing proper shoes or they won't let you in the pits.
It is a shame that you guys didn't go sooner, when we were racing there, we could have given him a little ride.

Went there when I was at polytech years ago,underated track from what I hear.My wife thinks I'm mad wanting to have a go swinging,mind you that was after she saw the aussie crew crash at Palmy last year,and the meetings we've been to at Palmy shows how rough a track is after stockcars rip it up.

[paturoa]

+1 for the Pukekohe classics festival, 6 Feb I think.

Its excellent for little spawn.

You can walk right around the track and find all sorts of places to watch the bikes from. The hairpin is great for the side cars.

You can walk thru the pits and talk to peeps and oggle the exotica and pos's.

Take a picnic if you want, the on site fast food is crap / excellent depending on your point of view! Recommend an ice cream about mid arvo.

Make sure you take plenty of sun tan lotion, hats and drinks for the little one.

Oh and ear muffs as well.

[Taz]

Eggzachary. You can watch plastic jap 1000's and 600's any time of year if you want to. The classics (on this scale) are a once a year thing at pukekohe and has to be seen. And you get an airshow, a laid back atmosphere and even Kevin Swantz had time to talk to me and my boys.

[Dutchee]

Rosebank is on the 16th of this month and the feature of the day is sidecars. usually starts at 1pm and isn't overly expensive for spectating (we go once a year or so). There is limited food available, so would pay to bring your own (it's only a couple of people who end up with queues but nothing serious) - chips, hotdogs and maybe pies, soft drinks and I think that's the lot.

Classic festival is great. There's also a classic race weekend the week before or after at HD. Silverbullet probably has the details.

Take him along to a mini mx day and you might find he's suddenly riding his bike better so he can have a go on a motorbike ;)

[Fatt Max]

Take him along to a mini mx day and you might find he's suddenly riding his bike better so he can have a go on a motorbike ;)

Thats the taster for it mate. He is bouncing off the walls wanting to have some of this. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Cute, little bloke is going through his toybox and digging out all his bike toys....yeah...

[Conquiztador]

Thats the taster for it mate. He is bouncing off the walls wanting to have some of this. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Cute, little bloke is going through his toybox and digging out all his bike toys....yeah...

If you need some info re Mini-MX I be happy to help. My youngest has now been riding 2 years and I wish I knew in the beginning what I know now.