“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 …
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.
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.
Over the years my son and I went to NHRA, Indy cars, vintage races and some Karting events as spectators.
As for cars he's sat in: Hakkinen's F1 McClaren, Cruz's Top Fuel car, a Formula Super Vee and several Porsche 934s............racer's love kids.
While he's not as passionate about racing as I am (he's 30) we still enjoy some events together.
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