I have avoided this thread to make sure I wasnt replying out of reaction instead of being calm. I cant believe the drama involved in the PW50 class. I have been to about 10 races with Austin and my daughter Ayla has raced a few of those also. Of those only 1 or 2 have I not witnessed parents acting irrationally and many times down right wrong. I have gotten into 3 arguments before this race over the drama. All 3 of those were because I cant hold back when parents are yelling obscenities at their PW50 kid for not riding fast enough or beating some other kid. Ive heard the stories but never witnessed it before my kids started.
This will be easier if I just answer below.
This was my issue. Anyone who ever raced a pw or is a dad of one should understand. I don't see how pushing him off the starting line is teaching him anything.
First off Mr Ballinger, thank you very much for the compliment on my sons riding. When we have spare time at home I teach him technique, I can teach him everything about riding I know at home. He is doing very well only having logged about 50 hours on a bike now.
However, I can not teach him about starts under pressure with a drop gate at home so I can only work on that at the track. He has about 20 gate drops under his belt now. At EVERY SINGLE race I have done exactly what you see in this video at least 1 moto of his day. And even the parents Ive argued with havent complained about it, no officials have.....no one has. We have been to Red Bud, OMA events, CRA events and even SOMX, not one complaint. The way I see it this is the beginner racer class for 4-8 year old kids some of who cant even tie their own shoes yet. And if Im hearing a couple of you correctly Im supposed to just throw him out there on the starting line without teaching him how to watch the gate, when to look at the gate, where to look at the gate, when to hold the gas on , when to let go of the brakes, when to leave the line and when to give it full throttle ? So kids who are just in their first week of kindergarten are expected to do all that on their own with no coaching? Isnt the point of the PW50 class to teach young kids about racing and how to do it correctly and safely? ITs not about winning, cheating or losing. Its about learning, the technique AND the emotional/ mental side of racing. Im trying to teach my son the best I know how in a manner consistent with the rules.
From a referee stand point, no, neither father should have had hands on the bike.
However, im a realist as well. From a real world stand point as a racer who once was kinda serious but now does it purely for fun... Did that make one bit of difference or make any sort of clear advantage? Was it worth bitching about? Uh. No. As someone said, did the kids have fun? That's all that really matters. Takes a real special person to make a big deal on the starting line of a pw50 race.
From a referee stand point then Jerad, show me the rule book page saying Im not allowed to do what we all saw in the video please. I clearly didnt forcefully push him, I coached him off the line as did the father next to me and many others I have seen. Since this is an AMA event pages 25 and 26. of the AMA rule book state
12. Starts
a. A mechanical device is used to start a motocross event. A rubber band, gate, or, when facilities permit and with the referee’s approval, electronically controlled starting lights. b. At the starting line, the course must allow 1-meter (3.2-feet) of starting space for each motorcycle.
MOTOCROSS 1.3
26
c. Rubber band Starts (1) An elastic restraint is stretched from either end of the starting area to a center post. (2) Three feet behind and parallel to this restraint is a ditch approximately 9 inches deep and 18 inches wide where the motorcycles' front wheels are placed. (3) A penalty line, marked with lime, is 2 feet behind the restraint. (4) Any rider crossing the penalty line before the restraint is released will be penalized one lap. (5) A two-minute warning is given, followed by a one-minute signal. If necessary, the starter may stop the countdown and then restart the count at one minute. At the end of the one-minute period, the restraint is released and the race begun. d. When a rider chooses their location on the starting line, they may not change that position. e. A rider must start in the middle of the starting gate. f. No tools may be used to groom a rider's starting area, only hands and feet may be used. Only dirt from within the starting area may be used, no liquid may be added to the rider's starting area. Grooming in front of the gate is prohibited except when cement extends beyond the front of the gate, in which case, a broom may be used on the cement portion in front of the gate.
Nowhere in there do I see where Im not allowed to stand next to him or touch his bike during a start. And if we are going to call it rider assistance then again lets look at page 25 that clearly states
"11. ....... The referee may allow for outside assistance for 0-51cc class riders. For other minicycle class riders, the referee may allow for outside assistance when adversely muddy conditions exist. In all cases this must be done without interfering with competition. Furthermore when a rider is trapped or unable to get a motorcycle off them, it will be allowed to assist with removal of the motorcycle without penalty. An attempt to help under any other situation will result in the rider’s disqualification."
And since we were allowed on the track during motos I clearly have the right to assist.
If it doesn't matter then why do it to start with? And Hershey is the one who came up to me and did the big chest bump intimidation move and I kept my cool.
He's also the one who yelled at me and asked if I was mad because his kid was going to beat mine? I wasnt willing to touch that because I wasn't going to roll around in the mud belittling little kids.
Like I said, his kid is a good rider and he doesn't need daddys help leaving the starting line.
It's no wonder that the guys at the races talk about pitracer like it is a bunch of crazies. Bunch of guys on here saying I'm taking it too serious. My kid went dnf and 7th, so we're obviously not there to prove anything. I had my days racing at Loretta's......we don't go racing unless my son says he wants to go. If he doesn't we find something else to do.
In my opinion, this guys history speaks for itself. Same guy who tried to make Dungey out to be a villain.
As you can see in your video I still have my helmet on. I literally pulled off the track 30 seconds before this video was taken. You then walk up to me and basically accuse me of cheating. Then kept mouthing off as you walked away. Im pumped with adrenaline and dont like being called a cheater. I NEVER touched you, but when you turn and face me calling me a cheater I dont have a problem in those conditions getting in your face. Of course I assume you are worried your boy is going to get beaten by mine if you are calling me out. You were the one saying you could still kick my ass on the track any time you wanted, you went so far as to tell me to look you up on The Vault. I did, didnt see your name. My history is about standing up for what I believe is right. I dont get on here and call people names or bad mouth them just to bring them down. I certainly have fun with members on here I know or have a history with. Yet you want to bash me about Dungey and say Im mad because you brought it up. I couldnt care less about Dungey. He is a person who in the media spot light does the right thing and out of it doesnt. Not an ideal role model IMO. But its MY opinion, not yours or any one elses. That doesnt make you, me or anyone else wrong. If I were the stalker you and others made me out to be then I wuold agree with you about that situation. You sir are the one acting immature, purposefully taking a video of me and posting it? Calling me a cheater? Bragging about Pro points you never received ? Not acknowledging the fact that I specifically came up to you and apologized for acting the way I did after the first start?
If you can't do everything by yourself the kid has no business on the track. This goes back to whole my kid deserves a participation trophy generation. I bet dungys dad didn't help him start when he was on 50's.
Then where does a 5 year old kid LEARN to be out there? Why does the AMA rule specifically allow 0-51cc bike riders OUTSIDE assistance ?
Guy in Orange had hand on fender too. Nobody freaked on that guy.
Exactly
I don't know either of you so I'm not picking sides but I guess my question is did the kids have fun? If so just squash it and be happy you got to spend time with your families doing what you love. All good!
Ask either one of my kids the FIRST rule of riding dirt bikes in our house. I will let them answer it.
I didn't complain to an official. Didn't plan on bringing it up on here until Hershey mentioned it.
And like I said, I didn't start this thread. It was created by a moderator and appears that I did.
I didnt bring it up on here. And I believe this thread was started by moving hijacking posts from another thread that was positive.