“Would she like to sit in it?” an older gentleman asks me as I approach an R34 Skyline race car.
I look down at my 4-year-old daughter, and she looks back at me with a cheery face. It’s a face only a small child with zero responsibilities could have, so blissfully unaware of what’s being asked thanks to the large (in comparison to her head, anyway) earmuffs she has on–hearing protection that’s adorned with astronaut dinosaurs, no less.
I’m barely able to nod my head yes before she’s swept up and plopped right in the driver’s seat. While my daughter may not totally understand what’s going on, the wide grin on her face gives me all the confirmation I need to know she’s having a good time.
And, boy, that smile is one of the most addictive substances on earth.
I’ve been spectating motorsports for most of my life, but virtually every event I’ve ever been to pales in comparison to the day I brought my kid to the race track for the very first time.
That event? HSR’s Classic 24 Hour at Daytona, a celebration of vintage racing that offers an experience very similar to the Rolex 24 but with smaller crowds, a more relaxed vibe, and entry fees low enough that I’m not worried if I only spend an hour or two at the track.
Admittedly, we did only spend a maximum of about 2 hours at the track, but the memories will last a lifetime.
That day, my daughter ended up sitting in several race cars, many more than most fans will in their entire lives. In fact, she sat in so many race cars at the event that I had to explain to her that she can’t just hop into any of the cars. She has to ask first.
And I didn’t even ask if she could sit in any of the cars. Rather, it felt more like the owners were asking me if my kid could sit in their cars–like they had some kind of quota to fill.
In the end, I didn’t think that watching race cars could get any more fun than it already was, but somehow, someway, having a kid made it even more fun.
And my kiddo napped well on drive home.
Comments
I brought my nephew to a drift day at the local track - he was probably about 6. Not a pro event, just some locals hooning around and ripping their bumpers off. He wanted to go sit in the stands right on the outside of ones of the fastest turns...until the first car went through and we got pelted with rubber and grit.
Then we had to go home.
Funny that Colin picked the RX-7 GTO car for the lead photo.
My wife and I recently attended a camera event up in St. Augustine. We were both chatting with different people.
Eventually, she introduces me to the dude she’s been chatting with.
I know who you are, he says. You’re the editor of Grassroots Motorsports.
Then he pulls out his phone and shows me a photo of him at age 7 or so sitting in that very RX-7 GTO. He’s hoping to give his kid the same experience as the car lives here in Daytona.
I took my whole family to the indycar race at mid-ohio twice now. Unfortunately it competes with my wifes second cousins party. Kids are free until 12 years old, so really is a great opportunity to bring kids to a race. I might check out the speedtour this year at Mid-O, however it's a bit steap on price for adults.
BErdman
New Reader
2/7/25 2:01 p.m.
My son loved to watch me race at the local dirt track. On the weeknights he always wanted to help work on the car, he was around 5 at he that time.
As my job changed (crew chief), I would take him with me to Texas World Speedway and VIR for the old Viper Days Events.
Now in his free time (Navy) he takes his kids to the local oval track races in the upper north west to watch the races there, and meet some of the drivers.
It all about making memories.
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