Thread: Bribing your kids and enjoying it just as much as they do! (Karting and car related)

My son struggled in school this year. All his life he was an A student, and with COVID and remote learning, he found himself behind and failing almost every class. We clamped down hard on him and it was miserable for all of us. He became hopeless and was literally failing everything.

Towards the end of the year they announced they would resume in-person learning. We told him if he could pull it out of the bag and get back on track we would get him into Karting. (he loves cars and driving).

So the kid did it. 80's and even a 90 finishing out the year where it looked like he was going to be in summer school. So....last week we picked up his kart and today was the first opportunity for a track day.

We spent about 1/2 the day there and he put in a lot of laps. Just have to get that seat time now before he can make the transition to racing. Have a buddy that coaches and he said get him out a few times, keep times and then we will start to refine. So much fun and a great excuse to skip work today!

Careful, it started with RC cars with my son! Actually my son started me on this entire car thing.

I would have said a six months ago, that there is no way I would buy a kart. Then for his 14th bday we did a 'drivers experience' and a 1/2 day with a coach knowing it would only be an experience and not planning on getting into it. He was so over the top for it. Like I said, school was a challenge and I needed a BIG carrot! He was either going to spend the summer in summer school or karting. It worked BIG time!

I have had him into dirt bikes and I have(had) a nice quad. I told him if he wanted to do karting, we would have to sell the other toys since they would just be sitting. No objections there and we have already sold the 4-wheeler and have to clean up his 125 bike next and sell.

For the karts, my buddy who is a coach and consultant recommended the Briggs Lo206 kart series. I bought one from him which was one of his former clients who moved up to shifter karts.
Engines are sealed and you cant modify. Karts have minimum weights so it is a drivers class where skill rather than budget will make you succeed.

I dont know where this will take us, but he is 14 now and my last child. I am going to make memories while I still have him.

On the 'I went off the deep end' side....I take my car in tomorrow for a track prep! We are doing an event on the 9th at a 2.3 mile road course. A private group that I know is renting out the track for the day. I am going to let my son drive my car. I know it is crazy....but heck, what an experience to share with him. I mean how many 14 year olds get to drive, let alone take a car out on a race track. I know he will be careful and not be comfortable pushing it. I am a little nervous for me since my car is so far beyond my ability to drive, but I will be there with some very good drivers and they have said they will help me out. I am not going to push it too much. I am likely to have to back off since my car gets there too quickly. I have never also tested out the brakes on the car, but I know the car can brake a lot harder than I am used to.

Never 'tracked' a car before. But the group I am going with are all enthusiasts and supportive. I dont want to 'bend' anything since insurance does not cover you on a track....so besides physical safety, no one wants a bent car.

Originally Posted by ChazWood

ID Dude, that's super awesome on all levels!

Say, you aren't looking to adopt any old looking, but young at heart French Canadians?

But seriously, plz keep us updated on his racing progress.

Thanks Chaz. Love to have a few beers someday. (If you ever make it out of lockdown in the great white north).

Life is good my friend. I feel very lucky. I had a cheap (fake) gopro which crapped out on us at the track. So I ordered one for our car track day. I am going to mount it on the side of my helmets. (we have to wear helmets on the track). Should be able to get some cool footage.

Definitely dont want to get footage of me crashing, so I will have to take it easy and stay within my limits.

Dont want to be like this guy in the ZO6. Even though there is a lot of run off room, if you go in the grass at 100+ you are going to bend some things! You can bet you a$$ I will pay special attention to the 'kink" as it is called!