Junior Road Racing needs to be more attractive

[gixerracer]

I remember a couple of years back your old man turning up at one of our VMX meets with a trailer full of what I thought at the time was old junk for sale.
He pulled off the back of the trailer what looked like an XR framed Suzuki engined KX'd suspended rat bike that was ready for the tip.
He then proceeded to whip the arse off of all of us and then packed up early saying he had to get home before the missus found out coz he was under doctors orders not to ride.

If that's true then your mum must weild one mean fucken sewing machine.

Lets get 2 things clear. Morleys missis sure as fuck aint my mother
And I denie him being my father on days like that and also many other days aswell

[steveyb]

[merv]

And I denie him being my father on days like that and also many other days aswell

How come? Does he still whip your arse too?

[jellywrestler]

I was once made an official member of littleton in chch so I can be in there 2 ae
I like the south island better than the north

I remember it wasn't the town Lyttelton ya clown, it was another Littleton and you were invited cause of your ridiculously little cock...

[Kickaha]

Proper race bike please explain?
You are living in the 80's still man, proper race bikes have valves and cams and shit like that and dont sound like mums sewing machine

Proper factory built GP race bike not some converted four stroke diesel pile of crap street bike like you ride

I like the south island better than the north

That's probably because we're much nicer people than those cunts that live up North

[oyster]

Sorry Deano, I'm not to good on the quote stuff, hopefully you see this

Nup, it wont "paste" for me either!

In the MNZ rules, appendix "D" lists the chamipnship classes. It says pro twin has
2 age categories. In the first few years they were awarded as such (separately) but not recently for some reason. (prob not enough numbers)
Note the wee typo. Literally it means a 19 year old or younger can't compete! I tried for years to get that fixed but gave up...

My point is Pro Lite should be the same, better still with a lower age cap, say up to 16 then over 16 for the old timers. Very simple and costs nothing but would encourage the junior theme.

[Deano]

Thanks oyster.

If that rule had been applied at the last Round of the Nats this year, I would have got 1st as Johnny Small was only 19

[Moooools]

There is a nine year old who races against buckets up in Hawkes Bay.
He is racing on an NSR 50 (or maybe bored out to 80), starts off the dummy grid behind after all of the B graders have taken off, and then proceeds to whip them. Comprehensively.

Could be worth a look at him. Don't know a name but someone will. Maybe NSR143?

[cowpoos]

That's probably because we're much nicer people than those cunts that live up North

I resemble that comment!

[merv]

I resemble that comment!

Which comment, not the nicer one, you mean that other one seeing you're up North eh?

[slowpoke]

Good post Chop. I've gotta admit my mates kids over the road (8 and 10) would be pretty unimpressed with a road race meeting and the bikes a beginner is supposed to ride. After their regular Honda Kid's Club outings with Dad they'd probably think they were being punished with just 3 short races a day. They are country kids not really into the bling (yet) but still want something with a bit of fizz in a fun location. They'd be bored stupid riding a bucket type thingo around Manfeild or Hampton Downs.

Which is another reason why I reckon the SI scene is so strong: Ruapuna, next to NZ's second largest city, is a lot more challenging and fun to ride, especially compared to Manfeild.

[racefactory]

Is there any reason why there can't be more access to kart tracks for kids to motard and race their kx and cr125's when they want?

It's quite a drag and hassle to have only 1 day of the month at a kart track that they won't even get much riding time at... these kids can hit Woodhill any day of the week with their mates and be constantly on the bike ripping it up. It's a no brainer really, I know what I'd choose...

[oyster]

Sorry Slowpoke but I have to dismantle the myth (yet again)
"In the South Island it works because of... blah blah lots of irelevant matters."

It works in the South because Motorcycling Canterbury has committed to the task of junior development (as most other sports already do) No other reason.

In fact the south is quite disadvantaged in that there is very little short circuit / small bike stuff here. Outside of Motorcycling Canterbury events the only bucket racing is at BEARS meetings who are anti junior. And thats only about 5 per year max
The north in contrast has extremely well developed mini moto and bucket racing with numerous event, series and venues. What an opportunity!
Did you see a large group of school kids turned up at Manfeild for a mini moto "build and ride" project? See mylaps. I spoke to the organiser and he said it's a huge success. He also said he tried to cross connect this to the mainstream clubs in this area and they turned him down. He thought this interest could be nurtured through into club level Streetstock / Buckets.
So the kids are there, the interest is there, the bikes, rules, events and circuits are all go.
I'll say it again. What's missing is the club commitment and leadership. It's the key factor in Canterbury. That's a fact.

Now just my opinion on other things coming through in this thread. I've trained and sat down talking to heaps of 10 -13 year olds that have whizzed around big tracks on the little 50's. None of them tell me it's boring. So I'm guessing the opinions here are just an adults out of touch guess at what an 11 year old thinks is exciting or not.

[oyster]

And interesting to read of the 9 year old racing in the Hawkes Bay.
Imagine if there was a whole grid full of them and they had their own racing!
That's the good news

The bad news is that he's too young to race on tarmac via MNZ rules. If there was a serious accident whoever is organising this is in very hot water. I checked this many years ago with my solicitor when I was running junior training on kart tracks.
The answer is to comply to MNZ rules. Easy

When he's 10 they just need to add "young junior RR" to the permit and have him/her on a complying bike. Easier than easy

And if they run specific training events for juniors, all they need is a permit which is free, a grade 2 steward, and basic first aid. Easy again

What's the hold up?????

[Shorty_925]

And interesting to read of the 9 year old racing in the Hawkes Bay.

I think he's almost 13.