If you’ve been thinking about getting your child into motor racing, you may wonder when the best time to start is. Motor racing can be expensive, so it’s essential to know when your child is ready for kids’ motorbikes, karting or if they would prefer another type of race car.
Kids should begin their training when they are 5
According to USAC, kids should begin training when they are five years old or older, but certainly no older than 10. The reasoning behind this is that there is a physical maturity issue. Children under ten cannot operate a kart, which requires strength and coordination. Additionally, children aged 12 to 13 have the best chance of success when it comes to winning races because their bodies are fully developed for racing at this point.
Young children lack the strength and coordination to operate a kart.
First, you should make sure that your child has the physical ability to operate a kart. To do this, you’ll want to test their abilities in a few areas:
- Can they pedal a two-wheel bike comfortably at about 15 mph? If not, they’ll unlikely be able to ride in any motorized vehicle, like kids’ motorbikes, before age 10.
- Do they have enough strength and coordination to control the steering wheel and foot pedals?
If not, it may be too early for them to take up racing.
Children should also be able to pedal faster (about 15 mph).
Kids have been pedalling at a rhythmic pace and maintaining the same speed on their bikes for miles. They are not going fast enough to be considered quickly, but it’s still impressive for a kid.
Here’s how you can help your child pedal faster:
- Measure their top speed in mph with a bicycle computer (available at any bike shop). If you don’t have one handy, use a stopwatch and count how many seconds it takes to go from 0 mph to 15 mph and then from 15 mph back down again.
- Once you know your child’s current top speed, aim for that number or slightly higher when you’re doing training rides outside.
Moving up to more powerful karts
Your child’s age is the main factor in determining when they’ll be ready to move up to a more powerful kart. Typically, kids start learning at around age 5 or 6, but it’s not uncommon for some young racers to begin as early as three years old. While weight is a significant consideration, this factor is often less important than experience and maturity. Even if they’re on the lighter side, many racers can make up for their lack of bulk by becoming masters behind the wheel.
It’s not just about getting older; there comes the point where you need enough experience driving the kart to know what it can handle and how much speed or force can be applied without causing damage or injury to yourself or others around you. This can take time, often years, but once you’ve got your driver’s license under control from behind the wheel of a car (or motorcycle), you may have already developed some skills required for racing success!
It’s important to remember that motor racing is a sport and should be treated as such. Your child’s safety should be your number one priority, so always make sure they are adequately trained and supervised before allowing them to drive a go-kart. It’s also important not to push them too hard too soon because this could lead to injury or burnout.
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