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Topic: Chili Bowl Age Requirements Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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BMcLain21
MyWebsite
November 21, 2021 at 11:04:57 PM
Joined: 04/14/2007
Posts: 562
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This message was edited on November 21, 2021 at 11:09:56 PM by BMcLain21

What does everyone think of the new standards?  You can be younger than 16 but approved by the committee?  

What are the standards set by the committee?  I'm not a parent, but I could see how some parents might get pissed if a 14 year old was allowed to race, but my 15 year old wasn't.  

I really can't comment on the competitiveness of any age or gender.  I've been beaten by 13 year old kids and 60 year old grandmas.  Its very humbling to have a cute girl you've had a crush on come up and tell you their grandma whipped your ass tonight.  I'm not proud of it, but its happened.  

We've been told in our series that we are going to start allowing younger drivers to compete, and I absolutely dont mind one bit.  We need more cars and more money in our series in the Southeast.  The few we have... have been great.  

But at the same time, non-accidental accidents happen on the track all the time.  Your only car is a pile of junk because someone has been told they are the next Kyle or Jeff or Tony and they need to go to the front no matter what. 

I'm a big guy and a lot of our guys in the series are big guys and believe it or not, we have to stand up for ourselves every once in a while.  If we feel wronged on the track and feel the need to take some type of action, who do we go confront in a physical manner? 

This is an extremely important question because its going to be running through the minds of a lot of racers while they are waiting for the wrecker to turn them over so they can hop out and fight someone.  Do I run right pass the 12 year old who destoryed all my hopes and dreams and whip his dad's butt.  Am I ready to suffer the humiliation of beating up an 80 year old who feels he's still in his fifties.  

Sorry for the rambling.  But in all honesty, I can't be the only one that has wondered this.  Fortunately, the conflicts I've been in at the track have been against worthy adversaries.  But one day........it might happen.  

FYI, that whole fighting on the front stretch and getting a $500 bonus is total BS.  Been there twice, never seen a dime of profit.


Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's


digs
November 22, 2021 at 06:40:48 AM
Joined: 12/03/2004
Posts: 298
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Me thinks they did it to support drivers like this; Mr. Timms may not be 16 in Jan '22

Results: At just 15 years, 3 months and 12 days old, Ryan Timms made history Thursday on night one of the Elk Grove Ford Hangtown 100 at California’s Placerville Speedway by becoming the youngest feature winner in the history of the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native rewrote the record books just a mere five months after Corey Day’s triumph during Indiana Midget Week at Circle City Raceway, which he accomplished at 15 years, 6 months and 12 days old.

 

Chili Bowl rule: 

Starting with the 2022 event, the requirement of a driver being 16 years old will no longer be enforced but will instead be modified to accommodate the increasingly youthful field.

All entries received by drivers under 16 years of age will go before an advisory committee. Only after being approved by the committee will a driver under 16 years of age be allowed to compete. Copy of a Birth Certificate will still be required to confirm a driver's age.



Sprinter44
November 22, 2021 at 11:11:07 AM
Joined: 07/03/2013
Posts: 136
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Nobody, and I dont care how big the dads checkbook or who the family is, belongs in a full scale race car under the age of 16, competitively. You cant play in the NFL, NHL or any other major league event at that age, why would racing be an exception, especially when the threat to injury or death to an undeveloped child is as good or greater. I realize there are alot of rich fathers out there trying to live vicariously through their children.. but they can wait. Yea the Larsons and Bell's are an exception, but just look at the lack of talent making junk in numerous series from kids that have no respect for their equipment or those around them, all over the country. 16 should be the rule, no exceptions. 




JPPatterson
November 22, 2021 at 11:40:54 AM
Joined: 11/13/2018
Posts: 12
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Reply to:
Posted By: Sprinter44 on November 22 2021 at 11:11:07 AM

Nobody, and I dont care how big the dads checkbook or who the family is, belongs in a full scale race car under the age of 16, competitively. You cant play in the NFL, NHL or any other major league event at that age, why would racing be an exception, especially when the threat to injury or death to an undeveloped child is as good or greater. I realize there are alot of rich fathers out there trying to live vicariously through their children.. but they can wait. Yea the Larsons and Bell's are an exception, but just look at the lack of talent making junk in numerous series from kids that have no respect for their equipment or those around them, all over the country. 16 should be the rule, no exceptions. 



I hear you but we have kids that have 7 years of experience by the time they're 13. I have my nephew racing quarter midgets and we're tall people, at 9 he's already over 5 ft tall. by 14, at the oldest,  I don't think he'll fit in one and we'll be going full size racing and he'll have 8 years experience. its still probably a better bet than throwing someone into a 360 sprint at 18 with no experience. Hell, I think PA is allowing a 9 year old to race asphalt  modifieds - not that I condone that. But no promoter is going to kill back gate dollars if they don't have to. 

As for the $$$ factor, it is what it is. I don't have kids but I have money and I'd be just as happy if my nephew quit and we surfed and skated instead of going racing. Not everyone is trying to live vicariously through the kids. Some of us just want to give them the opportunities we didn't have because we do make good money. 

And one other angle to consider is if a kid has to stop racing at 14 and wait until they're 16, they have a much higher propensity to find a new sport/hobby and never get back into racing. 

I don't have the answers but I don't see the genie being put back in that bottle...

JP



dsc1600
November 22, 2021 at 12:32:19 PM
Joined: 05/31/2007
Posts: 4373
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I think it's super, just what midget racing needs, more young kids in grown up race cars driving like it's IRacing and driving into each other causing wrecks every other lap. It's quite a product.



Sprinter44
November 22, 2021 at 01:01:45 PM
Joined: 07/03/2013
Posts: 136
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Reply to:
Posted By: JPPatterson on November 22 2021 at 11:40:54 AM

I hear you but we have kids that have 7 years of experience by the time they're 13. I have my nephew racing quarter midgets and we're tall people, at 9 he's already over 5 ft tall. by 14, at the oldest,  I don't think he'll fit in one and we'll be going full size racing and he'll have 8 years experience. its still probably a better bet than throwing someone into a 360 sprint at 18 with no experience. Hell, I think PA is allowing a 9 year old to race asphalt  modifieds - not that I condone that. But no promoter is going to kill back gate dollars if they don't have to. 

As for the $$$ factor, it is what it is. I don't have kids but I have money and I'd be just as happy if my nephew quit and we surfed and skated instead of going racing. Not everyone is trying to live vicariously through the kids. Some of us just want to give them the opportunities we didn't have because we do make good money. 

And one other angle to consider is if a kid has to stop racing at 14 and wait until they're 16, they have a much higher propensity to find a new sport/hobby and never get back into racing. 

I don't have the answers but I don't see the genie being put back in that bottle...

JP



All valid points, but we live in a lawyer driven world and its only a matter of time until a 12 or 13 year old is severly injured or worse, and the state takes issue with child endangerment and goes after parents, sponsors, promotors, manufacturers, team owners and tracks for contributing to negliegence. At 18, a person is developed, mentally and physically, and able to consent legally. Everytime the news plays a "feel good" story about an 11 year old winning at the local level, snowflake parents are watching at home saying "thats stupid and dangerous, those parents should be held liable if something happens".  Why even draw that attention to the sport? Can you send a 12 yr old kid out of a plane on a solo jump just because they can? All extreme examples, but same priciples. They can wait until they are 16, or the legal driving age, prior to competing. These kids brains and bodies arent fully developed yet to handle some of the trauma that is present in this sport. Look at what they did to Pop Warner football already... wait til they target motorsports. 




JPPatterson
November 22, 2021 at 01:21:57 PM
Joined: 11/13/2018
Posts: 12
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Reply to:
Posted By: Sprinter44 on November 22 2021 at 01:01:45 PM

All valid points, but we live in a lawyer driven world and its only a matter of time until a 12 or 13 year old is severly injured or worse, and the state takes issue with child endangerment and goes after parents, sponsors, promotors, manufacturers, team owners and tracks for contributing to negliegence. At 18, a person is developed, mentally and physically, and able to consent legally. Everytime the news plays a "feel good" story about an 11 year old winning at the local level, snowflake parents are watching at home saying "thats stupid and dangerous, those parents should be held liable if something happens".  Why even draw that attention to the sport? Can you send a 12 yr old kid out of a plane on a solo jump just because they can? All extreme examples, but same priciples. They can wait until they are 16, or the legal driving age, prior to competing. These kids brains and bodies arent fully developed yet to handle some of the trauma that is present in this sport. Look at what they did to Pop Warner football already... wait til they target motorsports. 



I hear you and don't disagree with you. I'm in a state where racing is supervised by our state police and while typically I'd cringe, they do a fantastic job in keeping racers safe, oftentimes from themselves. This includes age related decisions. Kids are going outside of the state until they're 16 to race here outside of the small car stuff.

Id rather see him in a race car than playing football. TBH, I'd do my best not to involve my kids, if I had any, in football. That seems far more dangerous than quarter midgets which maybe is the life long racer in me talking... But it sure would be a lot cheaper!

I'd be fine waiting until he's older (this all predicated on if he wants to continue) to put him in a full size car but during those four years what are the chances he stays involved and doesn't move to another sport or hobby? Again, I don't have all the answers but I certainly cringe when you see how young some of these kids are in states that don't really have rules/laws around all this. And regardless, You and I aren't changing this.



Jake B.
November 22, 2021 at 04:45:11 PM
Joined: 10/21/2005
Posts: 526
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This message was edited on November 22, 2021 at 04:47:13 PM by Jake B.

This may be one of those arguments that won't ever be properly solved.  Both sides have valid points to use, and I for one do NOT want to have another discussion that ends in, "You can't tell me what to do!"  Personally, I would argue that 18 year olds aren't necessarily mentally developed much more than 16 year olds, even if they are considered adults everywhere in the United States.  Of course, you could say that about some 25 year olds...some 33 year olds...even some 50 year olds.

While additional oversight isn't a great answer, a national motorsports council would be a benefit in a situation like this.  Young kids in full size cars isn't just a sprint car/midget issue (as others have mentioned), and a national group with a dedicated safety arm could certify each driver like the Chili Bowl council will.  Might also be a good way to control all of the legal issues that underage racers might create.  Could also lead to safety certifications for officials, tracks, etc. which might lower insurance costs...yeah, I'm about to get way off topic.  Anyhow, another pipe dream for someone when they win a massive lottery.


Signature here.

StanM
MyResults MyPressRelease
November 23, 2021 at 11:41:16 AM
Joined: 11/07/2006
Posts: 5548
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Reply to:
Posted By: Jake B. on November 22 2021 at 04:45:11 PM

This may be one of those arguments that won't ever be properly solved.  Both sides have valid points to use, and I for one do NOT want to have another discussion that ends in, "You can't tell me what to do!"  Personally, I would argue that 18 year olds aren't necessarily mentally developed much more than 16 year olds, even if they are considered adults everywhere in the United States.  Of course, you could say that about some 25 year olds...some 33 year olds...even some 50 year olds.

While additional oversight isn't a great answer, a national motorsports council would be a benefit in a situation like this.  Young kids in full size cars isn't just a sprint car/midget issue (as others have mentioned), and a national group with a dedicated safety arm could certify each driver like the Chili Bowl council will.  Might also be a good way to control all of the legal issues that underage racers might create.  Could also lead to safety certifications for officials, tracks, etc. which might lower insurance costs...yeah, I'm about to get way off topic.  Anyhow, another pipe dream for someone when they win a massive lottery.



Everything else aside at 70 I have a hard time convincing myself to watch kids in any sport.  If I went to see any other sport and the players were 7th graders I'd probably lose interest in that as well.  Keeping in mind that when I went to my first races in 1960 the drivers were some pretty tough characters.  I just don't look at 13 year olds in full size cars the same.  It's hard to square this sports past that is full of names like Foyt, Opperman and Kinser with what's out there today.  The cars are still fun to watch and I have a young neighbor driving a limited Sprint so I have lightened up on this whole phenomenon of kids driving.  Nevertheless, I'm not standing in the autograph line for someone the same age as the grandkid I bring to the races.  Mine can barely find their ass with both hands at 13 let alone drive a Sprint Car. 


Stan Meissner



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