So this is how it starts

[1 old racer]

My grandsons wanted to play in Papa's car. So I put them some of my old retired helmets. Buckled them up and let them play. They had a blast. It's the simple things of life that I really appreciate. My daughter said "so this is how it starts"

 

[blacksheep-1]

Exceptional parenting

 

[302BOB]

I remember one Christmas when I was 4 or 5............Santa brought me a purple pedal car.........I thought I could rule the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have an orange car with different kind of pedals that brings me to that same plateau.....

 

[Scootsmcgreggor]

Keep it up!

 

[byronj]

Future STIGS

 

[Dave_W]

Always good to start 'em young. I was helping my Dad change between street & race tires on his Austin-Healey Sprite at autocrosses ("gymkhanas" back then) when I was 6. Can't remember if I was holding the trouble (work) light for him before then, but that was a regular job of mine growing up whenever he worked on our cars.

 

[JeffV8]

I’m hoping my grandson keeps his interest in my passion .

 

[o-man]

love it!

 

[blacksheep-1]

I became a car guy on Christmas eve around 1970, I always loved cars before but that was the night. Everyone in the neighborhood used to come over Christmas eve, an older kid had a 57 chevy. I went for a ride in it and he launched it and made the 1 -2 power shift at about 7K.
Done..

 

[67GTA]

Love this thread! Really hits home how much impact cars can have on a kid. My son turned 10 this year and started coming with me to track days. I always acknowledge him as my crew chief, and I can say he takes his job very seriously! The last few months he asks every time we’re rolling into the track - what’s the age limit for passengers this weekend? Well his Christmas dreams came true last Friday, as he was allowed to ride with me on Buttonwillow. I wasn’t sure how well he would like it, so we started out very slow and had a prearranged hand signal system set up. He kept giving the thumbs up, so we kept lapping and picking up the pace. I knew we were good when he would throw his hands up cresting Phil Hill and let out a woo hoo!! We brought the car in for a debrief and some fuel, and he couldn’t wait to go back out again. Same strategy for the 2nd stint, where we just kept picking up pace as he was comfortable. When we were rolling back into the paddock I was laughing when I glanced at the lap timer - we went 1:59.09 on one of the laps without even knowing it! I pointed at the timer on the dash and he shouted “what, we went Sub 2??!!” I didn’t even realize he knew what Sub 2 was, but he was over the moon! I know for sure I’ve created a monster, as he’s scouting for a good Miata now, prepping for the Age 13 drivers limit!

 

[TMSBOSS]

Our daughter started tracking her car at 17. She had a 2013 Mustang MCA V-6. Now she runs a Focus RS. Good times!!

 

[blacksheep-1]

They'll never remember the time you got 35mpg

 

[Dave_W]

Even at a very young age, I knew that Little British Cars leak oil. Probably learned from the "Bugeye" Sprite he had before this one.


Another class win, no doubt due to the work of the trusty crew chief (in coveralls).

 

[blacksheep-1]

First race car I built from bumper to bumper was a spridget

 

[1 old racer]

I am a 3rd generation track whore. My grandpa and dad ran ovals and I broke tradition and went open wheel. First track car was a 72 or 73 chevron formula Ford. God that was a long time ago