General Auto`s at schoolboy.

[slimer#38]

We`ve been doing schoolboy mainly this year and my youngest Harry has wanted to try it out .

so with much pleading to his mum we bought a 500 quid aircooled ktm and let him ride at the same club as me and his older brother who rides in the A group.

I have never really taken much interest in them as my older lad started in the 80cc`s,but fuggin` hell some of those dads want counselling!

up to 4000 spent on the bike,manipulate the rules for their age(some are 9 to 9 and a half!)

they spend ages prepping the start gates shouting advice at their kids(some of them have never even ridden a bike)some of the kids are even crying.

i had one lad fall off near me so i rushed over to pick him up and help him,he was crying and had hurt himself so i said are you okay?before i realised it his dad was there shouting abuse at me because i was holding him up!

i said "it`s only meant to be fun for the little `uns"and he swore a bit more and threatened to give me a slap??

his lad,no disrespect to the kid was 24th all weekend ffs!!

the club have decided to drop the auto class because of constant problems.is this the same anywhere else?

[slimer#38]

Oh i nearly forgot-Unbelieved!!

[Lee]

Unbelieved!

I remember racing at Milton Malsor with NSMXC back in about 2000(ish?) and watching the Auto class. One rider really stood out to me that day, even though he was way back in the pack. He was riding a little Husky 50cc, and his style was great - in the attack position and stood up everywhere. Even though he was much slower than the front runners, you could just tell that he'd develop into a much better rider. When I checked the programme that lad was Max Anstie, who's not doing too badly for himself now is he?

So yes - at that age it's all about having a bit of fun. I can fully understand why some clubs have ditched the Auto class, but unfortunately the parents don't get any better as the kid moves through the various classes. I've offered the loan of my bike to a schoolboy parent before who was berating his son for not clearing a pretty big jump at Armthorpe - if it's that easy fatty, you can ride my bike in the next Expert race.

Sadly it doesn't make a jot of difference to them - set of fucking idiots, the lot of em.

[Beeby]

ha ha, its the same in any sport be it football, motocross, horse riding, karting.

parents getting carried away and living their dreams through their children.

the funny thing is that they don't realise the damage shouting at the child does. leave the child to do their thing in a relaxed way and watch their performance improve.

I witnessed a parent charge over the paddock at a karting race and headbutt another parent just because his child lost out in a race.

to stop running an auto class is a shameful way for a club to address the issue though. these children are the future of the sport and clubs should encurage their participation

[Rowlmyster]

The Schoolboy "dads" are a rare breed.

Some of the things we saw in those days are amazing

Shouting at the kids, ive seen them run the entire race along side the kids shouting all the way round.

[Lee]

Paul Malin's dad was a nightmare too. Paul's older brother (Darren) used to race with our Nige (and possibly Rowley too) - at Unstone once either Paul or Darren locked themselves in the van and daren't come out cos they were scared of what their dad would do - just because he'd had a bad race!

I guess the flip side is if you have a dad like that and you are good enough, then it gives you the attitude that you daren't fail which then enables you to go on to become a world star.

I still think they're complete f*cking idiots mind.

[motoxxx]

im glad i missed out on the whole 'schoolboy motocross scene'.

iv only done 1 schoolboy meeting,and that was northampton at tonymoto....cant say i'd be running back to do another...nothing about the club at all,i just cant take the dad's shouting at their kids when they prob cant ride themselves....

[slimer#38]

I suppose it`s down to what you want out of it.

i`ve got 4 kids and i do alot of different things with them.

my 16 year old likes his fishing and army cadets(which i was in as a lad),and has never been interested in racing(he`s got a quad we play about on)
i go fishing and enjoy it,my girl has other interests which i get involved in .

my oldest lad as you know pats7446,is mad about his racing and he`s a good rider but i`ve never pushed him,all i say is try and be a good club rider is all i`d expect,and he`s very hard working at it and never quits which is why i support him.

putting fear of yourself into your kids for "failing"is bordering on bullying and i wouldn`t want my kids to fear me,you are supposed to be there to support them.

[andyyam]

I stay away from the schoolboy scene , I thought bringing inter juniors into the AMCA was a bad move , I prefer the old ways , when you were a kid you rode schoolboys at 16 you became an adult rider .

[dtroyt]

Originally Posted by Beeby

ha ha, its the same in any sport be it football, motocross, horse riding, karting.

parents getting carried away and living their dreams through their children.

the funny thing is that they don't realise the damage shouting at the child does. leave the child to do their thing in a relaxed way and watch their performance improve.

I witnessed a parent charge over the paddock at a karting race and headbutt another parent just because his child lost out in a race.

to stop running an auto class is a shameful way for a club to address the issue though. these children are the future of the sport and clubs should encurage their participation

As most here know i get stressed on the odd ocasion and have even been known to shout and even swear but the last time my boy cried at race meeting was when some officials theatend to ban me(infront of him) from ACU BSMA etc for swearing using the child abuse angle

personaly 'living dreams thro kids' comments.......think thats for the rich and stupid ...i was skint but got to euro level at supermoto, my eldest daughter got to world level MX thro hard work not cash, my youngest is on auto doing alright at mo but is also awsome soccer player so who knows.....but whatever route he takes i will support/push him 100 % think i might be secretly quite happy if he chose soccer as iv'e seen how MX treats people from club level to world level........ sadly i personaly think MX is killing itself and wont be around in few years