I have sort of duct this issue mainly due to liability and insurance.
Got to be honest the thought of 8 year old's running at 50 + MPH kind of
bothers me. On the other side I would like to see more kids involved in LSR.
Maybe 12 and up?
Putting bikes aside for the moment. A Lakester type vehicle would be the
most representative. Unfortunately Jr. Dragsters are a little to narrow in
the tread width area, but I guess could be converted. Would like to leave
some room for Greg's dual purpose car too.
What course distance would be appropriate, 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile?
How many cc's are the 5HP Briggs engines used in the typical Jr.
Dragster?
John Beckett, LSR #79
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wester S Potter" <wspotter@jps.net>
To: "Hyatt Engineering Ltd." <Hyatt-Engineering-Ltd@fuse.net>
Cc: "land-speed list" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 4:38 PM
Subject: Re: Youngsters
> While not thinking along the exact same lines as you are, the Utah Salt
> Flats Racing Association has a Jr. Racers program with the kids racing on
> the same clocks we use for the 130 Club and the barstools. Check out our
> web site at www.saltflats.com or check with Rick Vesco in Brigham City, UT
> for additional information. We have an active Jr. Dragster group in Utah
> and they have been generous in helping set up the classes and giving the
> kids a chance to feel their way on the salt. We think this is the safest
> way to expose them to land-speed racing before they are legal to drive on
> the highway.
> Wes Potter Secretary, USFRA
> ----------
> > From: "Hyatt Engineering Ltd." <Hyatt-Engineering-Ltd@fuse.net>
> > To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> > Subject: Re: Youngsters
> > Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 15:35:32 -0500
> >
> >I have enjoyed the threads regarding youngsters. It is good to observe
> >people sharing what they love with kids.
> >It seams that a logical extension of that would be to define a class for
> >"Junior Land Speed Racers", something parallel to what NHRA has done with
> >Jr. Dragsters. But it should be distinct from the Jr. Dragsters and
> >tailored around the things that make LSR special, the innovation, the
> >absence of handicaps (bracket racing), the attention to safety, etc.
> >
> >Anyone interested? I have four kids who would sign up in a heartbeat!
> >
> >I roughed out what I had in mind below. I am sure that there will be
> other,
> >and probably better approaches. But I thought it might stimulate
> discussion
> >if there were some specifics to react to.
> >
> >
> >Jr. LSR Class Proposal
> >
> >Goal
> >Provide an opportunity for youngsters to safely get involved in LSR with
a
> >direct migration path to adult racing.
> >
> >Rules
> >The existing rules would be applied to the cars. The only difference
> between
> >Adult and Jr. cars would be the displacement of the engine, with the Jr.s
> >limited in size to limit the maximum velocity attainable to a level
> suitable
> >for the age group. Therefore the child could drive the parents car with
an
> >engine swap down to a K or L engine?(L=250cc?, M=125cc?). Or a car built
> >from scratch for the child could transition to adult racing with an
engine
> >swap up in displacement.
> >The rules regarding the engine should support the innovation associated
> with
> >special construction categories, with classes for various engine types
> >(flat-head, OHV, electric, etc.) as well as displacements.
> >
> >Ages
> >This approach could not be applied to the entire 8-16 age group that NHRA
> >has defined without limitations. Eight year olds clearly cannot drive
> heavy
> >door-slammers with sticks, chutes, etc., no matter how small the engine
and
> >how slow the car. Perhaps the age allowed should be dependent on the
> weight
> >and complexity of the car. For example:
> >
> >Age Max. Vehicle Transmission Maximum
> Max,
> > Weight Engine Class
> >Velocity
> >10 1000 lbs. centrif. M (L if side valve?)
> >50 mph
> >13 1800 lbs. centrif. or Auto. L (M if fuel?)
> >75 mph
> >15 2500 lbs any K (J for heavy cars?)
> >100 mph
> >
> >Records
> >Records could be listed per age group, for example a class might be. age
> 12,
> >GL/M
> >
> >Track
> >If it caught on and there were too many of them to share the short track,
> >how much trouble would it be to give them their own small circle track (1
> >mile?) with a single clock?
> >Or they could run late in the week, after their parents have all blown
> >engines and there is more track time!
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "DOUG ODOM" <popms@thegrid.net>
> >To: "JAMES CANNON" <dr.piston@worldnet.att.net>
> >Cc: "LAND-SPEED" <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> >Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 11:09 AM
> >Subject: Re: Youngsters
> >
> >
> >> Jim, I have three daughters all in their twenties now. Went racing with
> >> me from before they where born. We tried to always take an extra day on
> >> the long race trips and find something that was of real interest to the
> >> girls. One day at school I asked the teacher if missing a few school
> >> days a year was bad. She told me my daughters were the envy of the
other
> >> kids because they got to go places and see things their parents never
> >> took them to see. She also said that she did not hear other kids brag
> >> about their dad (even when we didn't do good). So take her every chance
> >> you get and some day when she tells you that some of the best times she
> >> had growing up was going racing you will know how I feel.
> >> Doug Odom in sunny cal.
> >>
> >> JAMES CANNON wrote:
> >> >
> >> > You guys sure hit me at home with this discussion, after 1 trip to
> >Maxton
> >> > last Oct my 8 year old daughter has now dubbed herself land speed
mama,
> >at
> >> > least has written it all over her school books.
> >> > p.s. dads a little tickled by this but mom may need a little work
> >> >
> >> > Jim from Salem VA
> >> >
> >> > no snow, no heat, no sun
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: Louise Ann Noeth <lanspeed@west.net>
> >> > To: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>; dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>; DOUG
> >ODOM
> >> > <popms@thegrid.net>
> >> > Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.net <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
> >> > Date: Saturday, January 29, 2000 3:22 AM
> >> > Subject: Re: Youngsters
> >> >
> >> > >Because I have been 50% deaf since childhood, the melodic sounds of
a
> >> > finely
> >> > >tuned exhaust note were not only heard, but felt by this young girl.
> >Many
> >> > of
> >> > >my tactile encounters are partnered with sound. Quite different than
> >the
> >> > way
> >> > >most people "hear," my "listening" is a more involved process of
> >sensing,
> >> > >interpreting and analyzing. It has driven people crazy over the
years
> >> > trying
> >> > >to figure out how I understand so much about ICE's, rockets, jets
and
> >other
> >> > >propulsion energy devices.
> >> > >
> >> > >If my life depended on it, I could not translate my level of spatial
> >> > >comprehension to the satisfaction of an empirically trained
engineer,
> >but I
> >> > >can talk their language with relative ease. Always have, always
will,
> >no
> >> > >book learning required. I understand people like Preston Tucker,
Red
> >> > Adair,
> >> > >Amelia Airheart, Madame Curie, et al. It is my opinion that these
> folks
> >> > >immersed themselves in the process and the process revealed itself
to
> >them.
> >> > >
> >> > >At age 7, when I first recollect becoming aware of engines, that
> >> > >"ruppety-rup-rupp-pup pup" that leaked out from the warped wooden
> >boards of
> >> > >the garage across the street, it was as if the Pied Piper had taken
up
> >his
> >> > >flute, as if the moth detected the blazing bright bulb and I have
been
> >> > >following the tune ever since.
> >> > >
> >> > >Crazy as hell, but it is a journey loaded with tales of many
splendid
> >> > >trips -- fast trips usually, but even the ones that crawl along have
> >given
> >> > >me cause to pause throughout my life.
> >> > >
> >> > >Best of all, the sounds that have given me the greatest joy have
> always
> >> > been
> >> > >brought to life by the most amazing people I have had the good
fortune
> >to
> >> > >know. When I stand in the pre-dawn quiet, all alone in the middle
of
> >the
> >> > >salt flats, I smile to myself thanking God for his gifts to me as
the
> >sun
> >> > >spills out over the Newfoundland mountain range and ignites the
> >crystalline
> >> > >surface with colors galore.
> >> > >
> >> > >It is a great time to be alive.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >LandSpeed Louise
> >> > >
> >> > >-----Original Message-----
> >> > >From: Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
> >> > >To: dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>; DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
> >> > >Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.net <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
> >> > >Date: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:57 AM
> >> > >Subject: Re: Youngsters
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >My High school shop teacher was a guy Named Gary Densham..... I
think
> >he
> >> > >races funny cars now.....
> >> > >
> >> > >Not that I don't remember polishing aluminum on his car in auto shop
> >and
> >> > >going to the next class with the smells of Nitro.... and yes that
was
> >an
> >> > >impetus to racing for a young kid.
> >> > >
> >> > >This thread is exactly what I was trying to start with my constant
> >> > harassing
> >> > >folks to do the Intro's... wanted to hear how we all got into cars
in
> >the
> >> > >first place.... for some reason I enjoy hearing the tales.... Keith
> >> > >----- Original Message -----
> >> > >From: dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>
> >> > >To: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
> >> > >Cc: <Land-speed@autox.team.net>
> >> > >Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 5:23 AM
> >> > >Subject: Re: Youngsters
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >> Real nice thought even if they never race a car in their
life..Kinda
> >> > >> what is all about in the big picture..I remember working on Nascar
> >> > >> Modifieds as a very young boy and will never forget the 'chances'
to
> >get
> >> > >> a ride while they pulled it up on the trailer.. My neighbor had
one
> >that
> >> > >> Carl 'Buggsy' Stevens drove before he was famous. An injected SBC,
> at
> >12
> >> > >> I could do the air density stuff and come up with the right pill
> size
> >> > >> while my buddies were struggling with their 'hill buggies' LOL..
> >Those
> >> > >> sounds and smells are what got me in the racing business for life.
> >All
> >> > >> started at the tender age of 8. Later in high school as a senior
we
> >had
> >> > >> a substitute auto shop teacher that claimed to drive a TF car. He
> had
> >> > >> pics and brought in the fire suit and we talked a lot about racing
> >and
> >> > >> safety but all thought he was BS'ing us all. He finally brought it
> in
> >> > >> and fired it and did a short couple of burnouts in the parking
lot.
> I
> >> > >> got the honor of priming the blower with alky to fire it while two
> >> > >> buddies wrestled with the starter.. A real hoot if there ever was
> >one. I
> >> > >> thought we were going to break every window in the building.. Oh
> well
> >> > >> sorry to ramble but this thread reminded me of some nice days gone
> by
> >> > >> now..
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Dave Dahlgren
> >> > >>
> >> > >> DOUG ODOM wrote:
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > Dick, Your message about your crew member in school made me
think.
> >I
> >> > >> > take our car down to the local high school auto shop once a
year.
> >The
> >> > >> > shop teacher makes arrangements with the other shops and even
the
> >math
> >> > >> > teachers to have a small assembly. The kids ask a lot of
questions
> >and
> >> > >> > are interested. We try and explain how much math and
calculations
> >it
> >> > >> > takes to run fast or for a record. The fact that an attractive
> >woman on
> >> > >> > the team drives the car with the E motor in it and is in the
> 200mph
> >> > club
> >> > >> > brings extra interest from the girls. At lunch time the word has
> >spread
> >> > >> > and a lot of non shop kids come down and take a look also. I
think
> >if
> >> > we
> >> > >> > can get some of the younger people interested more people will
> >enjoy
> >> > the
> >> > >> > sport.
> >> > >> > The shop teacher will have one or two kids that are the
> top
> >of
> >> > >his
> >> > >> > class and I'll let them come over to the shop on a weekend and
> help
> >> > with
> >> > >> > some little thing on the car. I'm no teacher, but if you show
some
> >kid
> >> > >> > how to make a fender brace with the shrinker - stretcher and you
> >put
> >> > the
> >> > >> > part on the car that he made, you will see their eyes light up.
> >> > >> > Just a thought, Doug
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >
> >
>
>
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