Photo courtesy of Unity Historical Society


Kids Korner
Kids doin's in Maine dirt track racing!

Thoughts on Youth Racing
Ed Kennedy
Decenber 21, 2005

        As I have browsed the pages of  WickedGoodRacing for the last few months, I have yet, to not feel the excitement that must be felt by the younger generation who are participating in the vintage racing. It has been years since there has been any evidence of young people getting behind the wheel of real cars and learning how to do it in the dirt. Memories of my bombing around the back fields and tote roads on our property starting at about 9 years old, always come flashing back.

    I had my own bullet riddled 1948 Austin A40 I had salvaged off a stone wall. I had the glass removed, doors jammed and belted shut, the exhaust pipe hack sawed off, a number 7 painted on the doors, an old leather helmet and a pair of WWII flying googles. Those things were prized treasures to keep a young boys imagination pumping. It's a wonder that the poor vision through those old googles were not the cause of an early death.

    The old Austin got passed down to my younger brother a few years later. This was when I got my hands on a great running 1952 Merc with a flathead V8, 3 speed manual with overdrive tranny, and the much greater odds of doing some serious injury to myself. Funny how that thought never occurs to you at the time of it, in spite of many close calls. My brother and I had figured out the flat tracking methods of maximizing the rides with counter steering, full power broad slideing turns, right foot toe and heel gas and brake jamming, fast clutching and down shifting to keep the revs up and the dirt flying. 

    The excitment was even greater when Rosey Gerry, myself, and on occasion, any other young Hell Driver lucky enough to have his own jalopy would get together. Once again, our chances of injury had to be climbing whenever more cars were factored into our fun. We did bend up some sheet metal but extreme laughter and adrenaline overdose was about our worst pain. I was never able to comprehend how any kid could ever live anywhere except out in the open country where this jalopy running was possible.

    My oldest daughter, Samantha who is age 14, has been my right hand helper, building and fixing cars since she was about 2 years old. She has been driving anything and everything on 4 wheels longer then I can remember.  Suggestions that she just join the fun and drive the 33 Chevy next summer has not quite passed her final approval as of yet. I'm just proud that she has been there to do these things with me. 

    My hat is off to the young people helping to bring back and make real vintage racing better then ever. I also admire those who are making it possible by recognizing the ability that young teens and even pre-teen are capable of. I am looking forward to meeting and enjoying this sport along side these young drivers next summer.     

    Think Spring---   Ed

     
Vintage stock car racing, being a family fun time, means everyone involved deserves to be heard.   (I'm going to be very sorry I said that!)

Summer 2005
 Rob's 13 year old daughter Desi (my niece), with the firm backing of my own 14 year old (Erica) has advised me in no uncertain terms that I had better be putting up a page for the previously unheralded wielders of the paint brushes, wire brushes, flashlights, etc. and the very ones without which we would never get a race car on the track, because we would have to mount the tires ourselves, and fetch the wrenches ourselves, etc. either of which would take forever IF we could eventually manage to get up off the floor after squeezing out from under the race car that we had just exhaled a full breath just to get under!
 
Whew, how does one fight THAT from two cousins standing tall at under 5 feet with their hands firmly planted on their hips!  I might have tried, except there is just too much truth in it for me to win.  And it just so happens that both of these kids are starting to handle a race car with some expertise, and will be worthy adversaries not too far down the road. Heaven forbid if Ryan, Desi's 16 year old brother, decided to join forces with them.  They might get together and "help" us through a few turns in the future.  So, in a frantic effort at self preservation, I present them with THEIR page, WITH STRINGS ATTACHED - which means properly monitored by the adult population in the family.

Wish the adults the best of luck.


Well, the "youth" division at Bullwinkle's Raceway is very much alive and well, and turning some HOT times on the dirt.  It is getting difficult to tell the "youths" from the "seniors" !   The youths racing with the vintage cars have joined with the other 10 or 11 cars, and the field puts on a good show.  It just goes to prove that we can all be replaced; which MAY BE much sooner than any of us would have believed.  GO KIDS !!!


Realigning the kids after a couple of spins



Youth Division Driver Erica sure seems to be enjoying herself !

Summer 2006
 

   It took a little while to take that first step, but Samantha, now 15, climbed behind the wheel of the the car she helped rebuild, and got in some track time at Beech Ridge. The smile on her face hinted that she just may be getting ready to join Erica in the fun of the Youth Division. 


Sept. 16, 2006  Unity Dirt Track- Erica (#33) and Samantha (#22) enjoying themselves on the dirt track. These two 15 year old girls do a great job with these cars. The "Youth Division" title is gone for them. These girls now run with everyone else.

     Watching these younger drivers is a great thing to see. They learn so quickly and get very involved in what they are doing. It's very clear that they enjoy it. However. until you watch your own son or daughter take one of these vintage race cars out, and do such a fine job with it, you can not describe the pride and and excitement you feel deep inside yourself. It's hard to say who is actually enjoying it the most!
    I am inclined to believe, that what we have been doing to preserve the great memories from our younger years is very safe in their hands. 
 Thanks Kids!