Why Racing is Great for Kids

As a parent, I know this isn't the most easy decision....

As a lover of motorcycles and an on and off rider over the past 35 years, I have a love hate relationship with motorcycles. This is coming from the street rider in me. When my kids were born I wanted to share my world with them and all the things I had a passion for..... motorcycles was one of them. I struggled with planting that seed and later dealing with the risk and worry that comes along with introducing them to this wonderful machine.

I caved.

So far it's been a wonderful time with a few bumps (flipping over the firepit), bruises (hitting a mailbox), and exhaust burns. MX and mini-motorcycle road racing has really been a blessing, spending time, having fun, and learning. I ran across a great article by Andrew John on Moto Magazine, the gist is as follows:

I struggled with planting that seed and later dealing with the risk and worry that comes along with introducing them to this wonderful machine.

First off, Motorcycle Racing is without a doubt a family sport.

Going to a local race you will see Mom in the motorhome, Dad working on the bike, and the siblings running around with their friends cheering on their brothers and sisters. As a parent, you will spend more time with your child than you can imagine. This isn’t something that usually ends quickly. Most of the kids involved in the sport start young and continue well into their teens. Some continue riding in their adult lives. You will have countless memories of spending time with your children.

Second, there are many life lessons that can be learned from motorcycle racing.

One of those lessons is “Nothing worth having ever comes easy.” This will become clearly evident to your child if they want to ride. It’s so deceiving. Those who are good at it make it look so easy. No one who participates in this sport will ever tell you it’s easy. You have to work at it to just compete. It’s a whole new level of dedication if you want to be good at it.

Third is the thinking part of the game.

Your child will learn to ride within their limits. They will learn how to take care of mechanical things, they will also learn how to make quick decisions and think on their feet. All these things will help them in their day to day lives.

Lastly, the lifestyle is a good one.

You must be in good shape to ride. The heroes of the sport represent a solid, clean lifestyle. Staying in shape, eating healthy and staying drug free are common place here, unlike the rest of the world we live in. Being ready to race is what is cool here.

Yes it is expensive, but consider the benefits.

There are much worse things your kids can be doing with their time, and more than likely, they will be doing them without you being around. Consider it an investment in your child’s life. It’s worth every penny!