Starting a kids grade in Wellington

[Drogen Omen]

i see this thread was last edited in 2004 but thought i would give it a go...

I'm interested in getting my son into racing.

he's only 1 year old at the moment but would like to get all the info so i can decide if its a viable sport to get him into when he's older (6, 7 or 8).

what clubs are available?
where to race?
what are the rules?
what ages do you start from?
what bikes do you get?
how much are the bikes?

[Dutchee]

No helpy on anything you're asking about. But thread was from early this year - you're looking at the wrong side as to when a thread was started and noticing the joining date hehe
I thought I was going mad as I was sure I'd read the thread this year, but then again, time flies.

We did want to buy a bike (offroad) for Henk's god-daughter, but at age 3, she's not really interested.

[all4A50s]

i see this thread was last edited in 2004 but thought i would give it a go...

I'm interested in getting my son into racing.

he's only 1 year old at the moment but would like to get all the info so i can decide if its a viable sport to get him into when he's older (6, 7 or 8).

what clubs are available?
where to race?
what are the rules?
what ages do you start from?
what bikes do you get?
how much are the bikes?

Hi Drogan,
I started this thread earlier this year. But things went custard. PM me and I'll go through with you some options.

[Bert]

i see this thread was last edited in 2004 but thought i would give it a go...

I'm interested in getting my son into racing.

he's only 1 year old at the moment but would like to get all the info so i can decide if its a viable sport to get him into when he's older (6, 7 or 8).

what clubs are available?
where to race?
what are the rules?
what ages do you start from?
what bikes do you get?
how much are the bikes?

Drogen.
try contacting someone from the following website and see what they have to offer:
http://www.nzmmrc.co.nz

I did notice that they had wellington kart track on there list of resources so maybe they can put you in touch with other people in your neck of the woods.

it could be a suitable stepping stone??

[Drogen Omen]

lol... guess i was looking at the wrong date... hahaha

its a bit sad that there isn't much in terms of little league motorsports in wellington.

what sort of issues did you run into all4A50s?

if there is no minimoto club in wellington by the time my son is 6-7 years of age then i'll probs just join the wellington kartclub and take him to it on weekends to have a ride around the track.

think one of those Pocket Rocket bikes would be perfect.

full leathers and proper motorbike boots would be a must for safety...

they are pretty cheap.

this one's only $400
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-333422050.htm

these are a bit more expensive
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-333507352.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-335424507.htm

[Henk]

They way the MNZ rules are structured makes it a lot easier to get the really young ones into mini motocross. Not sure how that works in Wellington but they seem to be pretty active elsewhere. To race buckets I think the very youngest age is 13, could be wrong. RDJase may be able to elaborate on this.

[Str8 Jacket]

They way the MNZ rules are structured makes it a lot easier to get the really young ones into mini motocross. Not sure how that works in Wellington but they seem to be pretty active elsewhere. To race buckets I think the very youngest age is 13, could be wrong. RDJase may be able to elaborate on this.

Yeah, something like that. Pacific Club, Hastings cater for children (younger than MNZ allow). They have practice sessions with only them out there but no racing, its a good learning to race environment but they would need to know how to ride first at least....

[ellipsis]

....dirt bikes teach them the skills they need to be able to call on ....

[Bert]

....dirt bikes teach them the skills they need to be able to call on ....

very true.

[Hiflyer]

Another option is to become a member of the Kart club, buy a key for the year and take your kids up to play on the track on your time. It's way more fun, they'll learn heaps by going round and round for hours usually without having to worry about anyone else around, best time to teach them the things they need to know.

Can you do that at Mount Wellington!?

[RDjase]

They way the MNZ rules are structured makes it a lot easier to get the really young ones into mini motocross. Not sure how that works in Wellington but they seem to be pretty active elsewhere. To race buckets I think the very youngest age is 13, could be wrong. RDJase may be able to elaborate on this.

13 is the age thay can start racing properly as a Junior road racer.


There is a "Young Junior Road Racing" Its for 10 to 13 and I think it said you can use PW50 anr JR50 style bikes with road tyres from what I can make out from the very vaugly written rules. Maybe they have been changed and make more sense than when I checked them out a few years ago

I will try and find them and post a link/rules and see what what everbody thinks they mean

[RDjase]

13 is the age thay can start racing properly as a Junior road racer.


There is a "Young Junior Road Racing" Its for 10 to 13 and sounds like you can use PW50 anr JR50 style bikes with road tyres from what I can make out from the very vaugly written rules

I will try and find them and post a link/rules and see what what everbody thinks they mean

15.2.3 Junior competitors age shall be from and including the eighth birthday until the
seventeenth birthday. Young Junior Road race riders from their 10th birthday until
their 13th birthday shall be allowed to compete in the Young Junior road race class.
Junior competitors age shall be from and including the eight birthday until the
seventeenth birthday.
Junior riders that are eligible to race in Senior Road Race events may continue to race
as a Junior in Motocross events up until the date of their 17th birthday.
Junior’s 13 years and over shall be allowed to compete in miniature road racing
150cc Streetstock, Classic (23.3) and Post Classic (25.6). In special cases approval may
be granted by the Board on an individual basis for 125 GP class. The basis for this
approval will be a recommendation from a current top level rider who shall commit
to act as mentor to the junior rider until the rider is eligible for a senior licence. All
riders are to wear a high visibility vest over their leathers for the first events at which
they compete. Proof of these events will be from entries in their log book.

http://www.mnz.co.nz/download/2010_M...Mini_Sport.pdf

15.17.2 Young Junior Road race competitors are required to have competition licences.
Applications for these licences will follow the same system to that for junior licences
including using the same application form Refer rule 15-2-1.
15.17.3 Motorcycle technical specifications.
15.17.3.1 Solo motorcycles shall have the following capacities F5 2 stroke engine only (rule
24.2.1 only 8.00 hp maximum). Measured at back wheel.
15.17.3.2 Engines must be derived from a non-competition motorcycles and produce less than
8.00 HP measured at the back wheel. Machines may be impounded and checked at
the discretion of the Steward. Motocross, road racing, enduro and go-kart motors and
transmission parts are not permitted. All engines must be naturally aspirated.
15.17.3.3 All machines must be fitted with an operational tether kill switch. The tether kill
switch must not be fitted in such a way that may be over ridden and must be
attached to the rider.
15.17.3.4 Circuits – All racing for this class will be conducted on circuits with a maximum
average speed of 40 kph and a maximum speed of up to 60 kph. Circuits will
generally be those utilized by Go Karts, closed industrial type car parks. Racing for the
class is specifically prohibited from Pukekohe Raceway, Centenial Park, Manfeild,
Ruapuna, Levels and Teretonga in their normal configuration. If the above circuits
can safely be modified or altered to accommodate the 40kph average and the 60kph
maximum speed to the stewards satisfaction then these circuits may be used.
15.17.3.4a When a young junior road race competitor has completed ten events, as recorded
in their competition licence book they may apply to the steward to be allowed to race
where the maximum speed of 60kph is relaxed and a maximum of 90kph will apply.
If the steward deems that this rider requires more time at the lower speed maximum
then the rider must stay at that level until the steward is satisfied the rider may
progress.
15.18 Riders under 13yrs of age shall not be allowed to passenger or ride a sidecar.
15.18.1 Riders over 10yrs and under 13yrs can only race against riders with in this age
bracket.
15.19 There shall be no Island or New Zealand Championships at all; this age group is for
club racing and learning skills only.


I think there is more info in the MNZ rules about somewere too

[all4A50s]

lol... guess i was looking at the wrong date... hahaha

its a bit sad that there isn't much in terms of little league motorsports in wellington.

what sort of issues did you run into all4A50s?

if there is no minimoto club in wellington by the time my son is 6-7 years of age then i'll probs just join the wellington kartclub and take him to it on weekends to have a ride around the track.

think one of those Pocket Rocket bikes would be perfect.

Yes it is very sad there isn't any motorsort outside motocross for the little ones.

I got as far as talking to the Kart club about what the kids would be have to wear. Then someone must have contacted them and told them that for the kids to be on the track they had to be at least 13 years old. My understanding this is incorrect, you have to be at least 13 years old TO RACE. If the sessions that they go out in are treated as training sessions there is no minimum age (like they do in Hawkes Bay).

When there is a bucket meet at Slipway kids of pretty much any age can go out in C grade with some basic rules like no passing when cornering. These have worked well with no real problems. I am keen to have sessions at Kaitoke with kids (run separately if needed) as training sessions for kids. From what I have seen there is a small amount kids are doing motocross as there is no other option for them.

The two issues seem to be:
1; THere is a firm belief that the kids are likely to get seriously hurt if they crash. While there is a chance of this happening I think anyone is safer on riding on a track than in a motocross event. If the kids are wearing proper gear (leathers or riding gear) with good footwear, gloves, full face helmet they are well protected.

The speeds the kids could reach (if small 4-strokes were used like CRF50s) is nominal and they are in an environment which is designed for crashing while riding on a track. Against riding in a motocross event where they are riding on irregular surface with hard objects around them (like trees).

2; People don't want to give up their track time (even when no one is using the track like lunch time).

If you want to look at setting something up I more than happy to help out and even have some suitable bikes for the wee ones to use (and they can have throttle governors).

[richban]

2; People don't want to give up their track time (even when no one is using the track like lunch time)..

Bullshit. x 20

[RDjase]

Yes it is very sad there isn't any motorsort outside motocross for the little ones.

I got as far as talking to the Kart club about what the kids would be have to wear. Then someone must have contacted them and told them that for the kids to be on the track they had to be at least 13 years old. My understanding this is incorrect, you have to be at least 13 years old TO RACE. If the sessions that they go out in are treated as training sessions there is no minimum age (like they do in Hawkes Bay).

When there is a bucket meet at Slipway kids of pretty much any age can go out in C grade with some basic rules like no passing when cornering. These have worked well with no real problems. I am keen to have sessions at Kaitoke with kids (run separately if needed) as training sessions for kids. From what I have seen there is a small amount kids are doing motocross as there is no other option for them.

The two issues seem to be:
1; THere is a firm belief that the kids are likely to get seriously hurt if they crash. While there is a chance of this happening I think anyone is safer on riding on a track than in a motocross event. If the kids are wearing proper gear (leathers or riding gear) with good footwear, gloves, full face helmet they are well protected.

The speeds the kids could reach (if small 4-strokes were used like CRF50s) is nominal and they are in an environment which is designed for crashing while riding on a track. Against riding in a motocross event where they are riding on irregular surface with hard objects around them (like trees).

2; People don't want to give up their track time (even when no one is using the track like lunch time).

If you want to look at setting something up I more than happy to help out and even have some suitable bikes for the wee ones to use (and they can have throttle governors).

My son used to use his JR50 with one tooth bigger front sprocket, scooter tyres and nylon, catch can ect

Still have that bike, it has knobblys again and my mates kids are using it but it would only take 30 mins to be kart track ready again. Tyler had heaps of fun and learning on it

It would be great to see our future road racers out there at lunch times/ Training sessions