I've been around Off-Road.com a long time - like since I invented the internet.  There are some things that never change.

One of the top five most-asked questions I see is "how can my kid get into racing?"  Doesn't really matter if it ATVs, dirtbikes, off-road trucks, go-karts or pogo sticks - I think the most over-looked advice is GET GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE!

We seem to surround ourselves with dangerous "toys" - on purpose or otherwise.  Never mind trying to chase a professional ATV racing career (two year tally for our teenager – one punctured lung, three broken ribs, dislocated hip, sprained elbow, concussion, uncounted contusions, bumps and bruises - 7 hospital visits, tens of thousands in medical bills) but even just hanging out it seems inevitable for those of us with off-road inclinations.

When our son was about 5 years old, we went four wheeling.  Pretty common for us – we were in the Sierras with CA4WDC most every weekend.  He wasn't driving, he wasn't even walking along side accidentally falling under the wheels. Remained safe and sound all day.  Until campfire time, when he ran around the Land Cruiser to play tag or hide-and-seek or something really dangerous - and ran his head smack into the corner of the steel Rubicon Rack on the back.  Roughly 12 hours away from civilization, with 6 miles of Panamint Valley Trail and two waterfalls to winch down between us and a hospital.  So you wrap his head up tightly with a bandana like a pirate, and you hope chicks really do dig scars. (Man, did you know head wounds can really bleed?  And if you have white-blonde hair, it’s like something out of “Saw!”)

So if your kid wants to race – make sure you are ready for them INTENTIONALLY doing stuff that is bound to be dangerous.  Don’t run around looking for someone to sue when they do. Keep your insurance card handy, not your lawyer’s.

And as a side note, please don't be a “fence jumper”.  You know - the mom that runs over to see if her baby is okay, getting to his side before the first scream can even echo across the track. That just embarrasses the kid and all the rest of us too.

That's all I'm saying...

-ptw