Heffner Performance Report post Posted December 7, 2010 A few months ago I started my four year old son in go kart racing. Since you are supposed to be five years old I figured that we would get almost a year of practice in before we had him compete. The problem was that after a few thousand laps by himself he began to get bored with it. We found a local race series in Ocala, Florida which always seemed to have a good field of kid karts and a very nice facility so we decided to head over there and see if they would allow him to race. The race director was a little hesitant but agreed to let him out on the track by himself for observation to determine whether or not he appeared to understand the rules and to make sure he wouldn't be a danger to himself or any other drivers. After a ten minute session he said that they would be happy to have him in the series. He was a bit intimidated by the fact that there were eight other karts out there on a regular basis and came in sixth out of eight in his first race. During one of the practice sessions before his second race another kart spun in front of him. He clipped the front of that kart which caused his kart to flip over. When it came to a stop he pushed the kart off of himself and was up and about before the medic could even get over to him. Thanks to proper safety equipment he didn't have a scratch on him. He said he wanted to still do the race that day so we checked him out and made sure his kart was in good shape and sent him out fort the final race that day in which he finished fifth out of eight but it was obvious that his confidence as shaken as he was very apprehensive to get near other karts. The third race went similarly. He actually got into third place but when the second place kart had a mechanical issue causing him to slow, he just wasn't comfortable going around him and eventually fell back to fifth. Nevertheless he was still out there driving and having a good time. This past weekend something just clicked. It may have been the promise of ice cream for dinner but it's hard to say.:lol He just decided that he wanted to give it everything he had. He qualified second then fell into fourth in the heat race. In the final race he started out in fourth, fell to fifth and carefully made his way to second to take his first podium finish. I don't know that I've ever seen my little boy so happy and so proud of himself. It was definitely one of my proudest Dad moments. To see my four year old son out there driving against kids that are as old as eight years old and doing so well gives me a feeling that is indescribable. We will have to be in this class until he is seven years old so I have a feeling that there will be many wins to come. I'll let you know how it goes. I have attached the video of the final race below. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SV-N-IT Report post Posted December 7, 2010 congrats, father like son! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soup Report post Posted December 7, 2010 You gonna TT his kart ? lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob Burgundy Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Thats awesome Jason! Its great seeing a very proud dad and a very happy son! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprite Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congrats Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboGallardo Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Remember, Michael Schumacher got his start racing go karts at the tender age of four. Can I be his manager? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57udl3y Report post Posted December 7, 2010 awesome congrats! and if hes only 4 now seems like he could become a very talented driver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBGallardo Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congrats Jason! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basstones Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congratulations to both of you, definitely something to be proud of I would have loved to have done something like that at his age, plus the power to weight would be unreal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRG x Lambo Report post Posted December 7, 2010 congrats!!! i wish my PARENTS let me kart race as a kid.... i had to play the violin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ris629 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Very cool! Congrats Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kisco Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilligan740 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congrats! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPPERTT Report post Posted December 7, 2010 VERY Cool !!! Congrats... Very Proud Moments there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_chaos Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Great stuff, all the best to him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpegs13 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congratulations. Hopefully the start of proud pappa occasions, many more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin2772 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Awesome story Jason. Congrats. I too wish I had started doing something like this at his age.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CL6 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 As a father of a 4yr old my self , that is awesome! Congrats! My boy is in training to be a MLB player lol, I already have him hitting left handed and throwing right handed so far. I have been working with him since about 3 yr or so. Best feeling in the world seeing them get better at things like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ts640 Report post Posted December 7, 2010 Congrats Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topcabron Report post Posted December 7, 2010 thats awesome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipster Report post Posted December 8, 2010 That is incredibly cool!!! Some good father/son bonding i'm sure! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GARY JAVO Report post Posted December 8, 2010 I still can't believe that a 4 y/o can process information like that. Great times! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnN Report post Posted December 8, 2010 Do they have rules on the cart engines??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ag02M5 Report post Posted December 8, 2010 Awesomeness. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHershey Report post Posted December 8, 2010 :icon_super: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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