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Should I register my kids for AX race?
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Posted by: OldTimer---------------------

ArenaCross is coming to town on February 3rd, 4th & 5th.
I'd love for the boys (6 & 8 yrs old) to have a chance to mix it up at the FedEx Forum, wow!
They're not racers, and would likely roll everything, but they've been riding for about a year now and are comfortable on their bikes.
ArenaCross has online registration and I'm thinking about getting them in on the first race on Sunday(amateur day).
Has anyone done this before?
Are there practice sessions?
Do you get pit admission for prior races, you know, to get in the pit area and learn the ropes from the other guys?

Posted by: oldguy---------------------

first and foremost Do they want to do it?????????????? Or are you pushing them for yourself.
As a first race it is very tight confines and could be very intimidating for young kids. There will be kids in their age group jumping most everything. Practice is very limited usually just enough time for the fast kids to get in 4 maybe 5 laps- first timers on a track may only get in 1 or 2.
No you will not get any access to the pits on Friday or Saturday because they are enterred and depending on the size of the facility you may be pitted outside the building.
If they want to do it and their riding ability is there by all means go for it but don't push them if they are not commited but by all means take them to watch the pros or even the amateurs on Sunday. That exposure may be enough to decide if they want to race this summer and be ready by next year for the AX

Posted by: OldTimer---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldguy

If they want to do it and their riding ability is there by all means go for it but don't push them if they are not commited but by all means take them to watch the pros or even the amateurs on Sunday. That exposure may be enough to decide if they want to race this summer and be ready by next year for the AX

Well, that was last year, and this is next year. They've been bugging me all year about when they're gonna get to do ArenaCross(after going to a Sunday show last year).
They have raced in a couple of informal hare scrambles where they just put the kids in a big field and let 'em run some "bunny" laps. We usually showed up at the last minute and just sorta pushed up to the line and said... "GO!"
They've ridden at the local MX track several times and are aware of how much more advanced some of the competition is.
As far as being intimidated, I'm probably worse off than they are, and that's why I posted this thread. I want to be sure I can put them in an environment where they can run, not necessarily competitively, for exposure, so they can decide whether or not this is what they want to do. I don't want to show up half cocked for the "big time" race like we have for the harescrambles.
I told them before the first harescramble that they were not there to compete, they were there to see what the race is like, and that they'd better come in last place "or else!" (they were both "middle of the pack", and everybody got trophies). They'll go to the AX race (if they go) with the same instructions.
BTW... The little guys we watched on Sunday at the last AX race were pretty much rolling everything too. I don't think there were very many "Loretta Lynn" hopefuls running that day.

Posted by: oldguy---------------------

If they are wanting to do it then I say let them and you seem to have a pretty good handle on what they should expect.
When I see posts like yours more often then not it is dad who is pushing for thekids to enter and then has a big let down when they either get scared and pull off or just dont win. As my signature says it is about the kids having fun whether they win lose or draw.
Hope all 3 of you have a great day there will be many stories that come out of the day. If they do it be sure to let us know how they did

Posted by: OldTimer---------------------

Well, as it turns out, there was a somewhat smaller venue AX race here last weekend. I took the boys down there to get a look at the thing and brought the bikes "just in case". Next thing you know they're registered and lined up for the practice session!
Clay, the 65'er qualified for the main. He qualified sorta by default because the two fastest riders came together, resulting in a broken wrist for one and a broken femur for the other (talk about a reality check!). Both of the boys are Clay's friends from the local MX track. That mishap slowed everybody down including Nolan, my CRF50 guy. He and I were on the starting gate when the wreck occurred right in front of us. It took a good 15-30 minutes for the EMT's to get the kid with the broken leg packed up and on his way to the hospital. As kids do, my boys seemed to take it in stride and were eager to get back to racing (albeit more cautiously). Anyhow, Clay ended up taking seventh overall, out of nineteen, and Nolan also took seventh overall, out of... well, seven. In fact the next race was held up for a short time while Nolan finished putting around the track.

I think sitting there watching that poor kid with the broken leg slowed Nolan down considerably. After his race I noticed he was kinda kicking the dirt around and looking a little sullen, so I said, "Hey, check out the huge crowd that got to see you race!". He says, "Yeah, they got to see me come in last". I said, "Heck, you were a whole lot faster than any of those people sitting up there watching!". He smiled and nodded and seemed to perk up a bit. The trophy awarded to all the 50cc riders also helped his mood. I think celebrity status at school Monday will really make both the boys proud of their efforts.

They are both buzzing about the next AX at the FED EX Forum on Feb. 3rd, 4th and 5th. Clay wants to practice his starts, which cost him 4 or 5 places, using info we downloaded from this site.

To be continued (in February)...

Posted by: oldguy---------------------

Glad they did it and enjoyed it BTW tell him he was alot faster then me also

Posted by: OldTimer---------------------

Two quick questions:

1. Will my six year old be allowed to race a CRF50 on the National Arenacross
amature 50cc class on Sunday, or are they required to run "single speed" automatics?
(I already modified the trans. on his JR50)
2. Do they need AMA licences and can they be purchased at the event?

Posted by: nikki---------------------

Yes, you will need AMA cards for both of the boys. You can buy now, or purchase at the track for $39 each. If you buy at the AX race, have patience as the line for registration/sign-up at most AX races on Sunday is a nightmare.

More info here: http://www.arenacross.com/generalInfo

Not sure on the CRF50, I think the AMA rule is no shifters. I think you might be able to remove the shifter, or sometimes (if he's going to be back of the pack) they will just let him run anyways.

Posted by: zhillsrm250---------------------

Practice ,Practice, Practice.....get them on a track and practice.

Posted by: mx547---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki

Yes, you will need AMA cards for both of the boys. You can buy now, or purchase at the track for $39 each. If you buy at the AX race, have patience as the line for registration/sign-up at most AX races on Sunday is a nightmare.

you can now buy your ama membership online and print out a temporary membership card. it will have your name and ama member number on it. you can use the card until your permanent card arrives in the mail. the kids will think it looks cool too.

www.AMADirectlink.com

Posted by: OldTimer---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx547

Wish I could do that, but I don't know whether or not they'll even let little CRF50 dude run. I guess I could pack up the JR50 just in case. I don't think he'll place high enough to cause them to inspect his transmission. Those JR's, however, are worse pigs than the CRF's ever thought about being. Maybe he could use a skateboard!

Posted by: mischi_punk---------------------

Okay, I'm gonna just jump in here...
ArenaCross is going to be in my town March 13-ish. I was wondering if I should enter. Do they have "begginer" 125 or excuse me "Lites"? Or would it be like schoolboy? IDK, I think it would be fun to enter, but not if it won't be easier. Anyways, I hope I can atleast go and watch!
Mike

Posted by: F150Motocrosser---------------------

If you've never been to an arenacross race.. the track is pretty gnarly. The whoops are straight up and straight down.. the finishing line kicker jump is like a straight up wall. I ride begginner 125, and I was intimidated by the track. I cant even imagien what junior would think...

Posted by: mx547---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldTimer

Wish I could do that, but I don't know whether or not they'll even let little CRF50 dude run.

you should join anyway even if you never race.

Posted by: mischi_punk---------------------

Does anyone have experience racing in the arenacross series??

Posted by: Jeff Gilbert---------------------

I did my 1st AX in 03, after about 1&1/2 years of racing. I had already moved to novice riding MX, but at the suggestion of everyone I knew, I signed up for beginner in arenacross. At first I felt guilty about it until practice but I soon realized that these were no beginners on the track. In fact I got lapped at the finish line. I spent most of my time trying to pass a guy that seemed more hell-bent on blocking me than racing. I'm not an overly aggressive rider so I avoided contact untill the last lap. After trying everything I knew to get around the guy in front of me safely I began to tap the rear whell at every corner. I finaly got him at the finish line / catapult. I railed the outside and pounded up the face of the jump not expecting to get near the air I did. I made the pass but the huge flat landing I got off that jump folded both ankles the wrong way. That hurt.

The next year I eneterd the over 30 class. That was fun. pulled the hole-shot both nights and came home with a 4th as well. The funnest part was the 1st turn on the 2nd lap as I hammered the 1st double and jumped over a rider. I think he messed his britches

For those that only go to watch arenacross from the stands, let me tell you. When you are up there looking down at the track, it doesn't look all that bad. When you are on the track blazing at a jump, it looks and feels like hitting a 4 foot high curb.

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Should I register my kids for AX race?

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