How To Get Started In Quarter Midget Racing
By Fred McNeill
Looks Interesting? Think your son or daughter would
enjoy this sport? Then the next thing to do is look on the
clubs page If the club closest to you has its
own home page click on it to get further information on that club. Most will
have a description of the track and a race schedule. If they do not have their
own home page then call the number listed with the club. Usually the phone
number will be the club president's number. He/she will give you further
information on how to proceed.
Many clubs have a training car or cars. This car
generally serves two purposes-it is used so your child can try it to see if they
will like it BEFORE you buy a car. The other use of the training car is to give
your child lessons on the proper driving technique on the track.
Once your child has been through driver training it will be necessary for you to purchase your own car. Members of the club will
help you to find a car suitable for your child. You may want to check the
Online Classified for used Cars or the Quarter
Midget
Drive-Thru for New Car
Dealers. It is not necessary to purchase a new car but it is important that the
car you do buy is fully operational. It is very difficult to start racing with
your child and have to rebuild the car at the same time. You should be able to
find a decent car for approximately $1700 with a motor. And, with the
introduction of the new Honda motor for novice and stock classes, the cost of
racing for a year will be minimal.
The most important part of your child's racing
education is practice, practice, practice. There is no substitute for practice.
Your child must become so comfortable in the car and with their pattern on the
track that the pattern and position of the car relative to the race track and
wall becomes second nature . Only when they become very comfortable with this
will they be able to start concentrating on competitive racing. Most clubs will
give you a key to the track when you join so you can go out whenever you want to
practice.
What Else will I Need Besides a Car
To start with, you will need a way to transport your race car to the track. Some people use a station wagon, others put it in the bed of a pick-up and many racers have trailers ranging from small converted utility
trailers to 40 ft. gooseneck trailers. There even was one ingenious dad who put
the race car in the bay of the bus he had converted to a motor home. It depends
on how serious you are and your financial capabilities. Again, if you are
looking for a trailer ask the club members or check the
classified, they usually know where to find
them.
| 
