KIDS Minimoto racing?

[FROSTY]

Checking out the race scene in NZ one thing (to me ) thats glaringly clear is that Unlike our offroad bretheren we have NO race opertunities for those under the age of 13.
Seems pretty dumb to me when kids are out winnin MX championships at 6 or 7 years old.Or for that matter Kart racing at similar ages.
I'm wondering if we could get minimoto racing for kids going here in NZ
Run alongside or as part of Bucket meetings
Im floating this IDEA here to see what you lot think and possible objections.

[Speedsport]

Sounds like great Idea,
you already have motox
Kartsport
Speedway
Evan sports as Dangerous as Horse riding have younger grades.

We have Minimoto in Hastings at the Kart track once a month but I have not been along to see if the kids are racing.

[Romeo]

They do pocket bike racing weekly at the Christchurch GoKart place in town - lasts for about an hour and there's a couple of young fellas who do it. There's one 11 year old kid who totally dominates everyone else - he's a future champion I tell ya.


What Are They: Mini Moto's are a miniature sized GP motor cycle, with a power packed 49cc engine

The Mini Moto's race every Monday night from 8pm until 10pm.

[Tim 39]

sounds like a good idea, down here in the south Island we have the training class which goes out before the race meetings start at the big tracks, at lunchtime and after they finish. This is a class for the under 13's on 50cc bikes

[oyster]

Hi Frosty
It took nearly 3 years to get the rules through, but "young junior road race" has been in our rulebook since July 1st 2005. See Rule 15-17 etc etc.
This year we had it updated to increase the speed to 90km/hr under controlled (rider) conditions.
Here in Canterbury it's been used successfully since "day one" and we've had plenty of youngsters get onto Streetstock bikes on their 13th birthday with a lot of skills already, learned in our Young Junior RR training sessions. (We don't actually race them).
All that's needed is for clubs to "roll up their sleeves" and get on with it.
The rules, the bikes, the process and the meetings are already there.
Any questions, give me a yell!

[FROSTY]

Tim/Oyster.--Please guys do tell. Do they need race licences?
Gear wise is it standard roadrace rules--leathers boots/back protectors or does MX armour /gear work?
Im Thinkin of during a bucket track meeting having youngsters out there on these 50's -well should I say promoting the idea -seperate race class of course

[Tim 39]

Tim/Oyster.--Please guys do tell. Do they need race licences?
Gear wise is it standard roadrace rules--leathers boots/back protectors or does MX armour /gear work?
Im Thinkin of during a bucket track meeting having youngsters out there on these 50's -well should I say promoting the idea -seperate race class of course

talk to pete about the finer details but good on you for your enthusiasm. the just use RG50s etc here

[oyster]

Yup, Young Junior Road Race is a true race class, and all the requirements of Road Racing apply. The nearest equivalent of course is F5.
Down here we don't race them at all, preferring to train them only. We initially called it a "have a go" or training class, thus no licence needed. But the has been some conjecture lately re whether you can have a "have a go" (unlicenced) class running within a full Road Race meeting. Plenty of clubs still do it. The permits and insurance structures are all different and don't mix apparently. So to be sure, we now have all our Young JRR on licences, and one event licence for first timers etc. Better to be too stringent.
Riding gear and bikes are the "full treatrment".
The key is to use previously unused track time (you've paid for it) to take these little guys (and girls) out for the experience with one on one coaching/ supervision. We use "first up" dead time straight after riders breif, then lunch time, then "pack up" time. 3 sessions a meeting, it works great. And entry fee is free of course.
To get it going find a heap of RG 50's, assorted small riding gear and promote it. It'll happen.

[SimJen]

We had decent Minimoto racing a while back at www.nzmmrc.co.nz but the popularity dropped off a bit.
Still seems to be going though.