Kids get early start in motocross
Some young enough to still ride in a car seat
By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, June 23, 2008
Tyler Smith, 6, Hinton, rides a dirt bike Tuesday at Joe Dirt Speedway. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
HINTON -- There are very few things that rev up Tyler Smith more than peelin' a li'l rubber and tearing up the terra firma on his dirtbike.
What sets him apart from the other racers lining up at Joe Dirt Motocross Raceway is his age.
The Hinton boy has just turned 6.
"Tyler's been riding motocross for the past two summers," said his dad, Derek, "and he loves it."
Motocross is a form of motorcycle racing held on enclosed, off-road circuits. Its tracks, often more than a mile long, incorporate natural terrain features and include various manmade jumps and hills.
Tyler, who's dressed head to toe in motocross gear, said the noise from his motorcycle sometimes scares him but the adrenaline rush he feels when he's on the track helps to calm his nerves.
"I can't wait to come out!" Tyler said as he gunned his 50 cc motorbike. "It's so much fun!"
If he were in a car, he'd be in a safety seat.
Iowa law says children up to age 6 must be secured in either a safety seat or booster seat when a passenger in a car. Children ages 6 to 11 who are up to 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds must be secured in a booster seat. Noncompliance with the laws can bring a misdemeanor charge and a fine.
According to Joe Kunkel, who, along with younger brother D.J., built the race track in back of his family's farmstead, said it's not unusual for children as young as Tyler to start riding motocross.
"The prime age for motocross riders is between 16 and 25," he said, "but we've had kids much younger than that interested in the sport."
Zach Campbell is already a seven-year veteran of motocross.
Which is pretty impressive since the Le Mars boy has just celebrated his 12th birthday.
"I got started when I was 5," Zach said. "My dad used to do it, so that's why he taught me to ride a motorbike."
What does he like best about motocross?
"The dirt, the excitement, everything, I guess," the laconic boy said.
What Bob Fletcher likes best about the sport is the quality time the Kingsley man gets to spend with his 15-year-old son, Matt.
"Matt rides the entire (Midwest Motocross Association) circuit," he explained. "If he's not racing here, he's in Sheldon or Yankton, S.D., or Homer, Neb."
According to Fletcher, the entire family makes the trip with Matt.
"We're chauffeuring him," Fletcher said, "but we're also cheering him on in the sidelines."
Bill Cougill also likes cheering on his 10-year-old son, Ryan (nicknamed Tigger).
"My wife would be here, too," Cougill, an Early, Iowa, man, mentioned, "but she's at home with our 2-week-old son."
Cougill described his son as someone who likes to ride hard but does so in a safe and responsible way. Yet he acknowledges his son recently broke his collarbone, taking a spill from his bike.
"Ryan's an athlete," Cougill said, "and athletes want to be the best. I coach Ryan's baseball team, and he's my star pitcher. But there are times when I think motocross is actually safer than baseball."
Which might make Trudy Huisman feel a little better.
The Sioux City woman's 15-year-old son, Jesse, has just taken up motocross racing.
"Jesse's been riding for the past eight years," Huisman said with hesitation in her voice, "so he knows his way around a bike. But I hope he doesn't get hurt."
"I'll be careful, Mom," Jesse said as he put on his helmet.
The teen knows he'll soon face competition from some new blood: namely, his 11-year-old brother, Austin.
"Jesse's been showing me the ropes," Austin said. "How to make turns and stuff like that."
But both of the Huisman brothers look up to experienced racers such as 18-year-old Joey Hofmeyer.
The Orange City teen said he's dislocated his shoulder twice in his four years of racing.
"All worth it!" Hofmeyer said. "Man, when you're coming off that hill, you're airborne! When you're flying, you feel like a superhero!"
What does Hofmeyer think of kids, some as young as 5, sharing that track with him?
"It's cool," he said. "More power to 'em! Wish I started racing when I was younger."
Which is exactly how Kunkel feels.
"I didn't start motocross racing until I was 23 years old," he said as looked over the track he started more than three years ago. "If I had something like this growing up, I would have started a heckuva lot earlier."
Reflecting for a moment, he said people sometimes get the wrong impression of motocross.
"They think it's all about a bunch of kids who want to joyride around," Kunkel said. "But motocross is a sport that requires training and safety and being able to think on your feet."
Kunkel smiled.
"Motocross allows you to go fast, play in the dirt and have fun all at the same time," he said. "What kid wouldn't like that?"
What sets him apart from the other racers lining up at Joe Dirt Motocross Raceway is his age.
The Hinton boy has just turned 6.
"Tyler's been riding motocross for the past two summers," said his dad, Derek, "and he loves it."
Motocross is a form of motorcycle racing held on enclosed, off-road circuits. Its tracks, often more than a mile long, incorporate natural terrain features and include various manmade jumps and hills.
Tyler, who's dressed head to toe in motocross gear, said the noise from his motorcycle sometimes scares him but the adrenaline rush he feels when he's on the track helps to calm his nerves.
"I can't wait to come out!" Tyler said as he gunned his 50 cc motorbike. "It's so much fun!"
If he were in a car, he'd be in a safety seat.
Iowa law says children up to age 6 must be secured in either a safety seat or booster seat when a passenger in a car. Children ages 6 to 11 who are up to 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds must be secured in a booster seat. Noncompliance with the laws can bring a misdemeanor charge and a fine.
According to Joe Kunkel, who, along with younger brother D.J., built the race track in back of his family's farmstead, said it's not unusual for children as young as Tyler to start riding motocross.
"The prime age for motocross riders is between 16 and 25," he said, "but we've had kids much younger than that interested in the sport."
Zach Campbell is already a seven-year veteran of motocross.
Which is pretty impressive since the Le Mars boy has just celebrated his 12th birthday.
"I got started when I was 5," Zach said. "My dad used to do it, so that's why he taught me to ride a motorbike."
What does he like best about motocross?
"The dirt, the excitement, everything, I guess," the laconic boy said.
What Bob Fletcher likes best about the sport is the quality time the Kingsley man gets to spend with his 15-year-old son, Matt.
"Matt rides the entire (Midwest Motocross Association) circuit," he explained. "If he's not racing here, he's in Sheldon or Yankton, S.D., or Homer, Neb."
According to Fletcher, the entire family makes the trip with Matt.
"We're chauffeuring him," Fletcher said, "but we're also cheering him on in the sidelines."
Bill Cougill also likes cheering on his 10-year-old son, Ryan (nicknamed Tigger).
"My wife would be here, too," Cougill, an Early, Iowa, man, mentioned, "but she's at home with our 2-week-old son."
Cougill described his son as someone who likes to ride hard but does so in a safe and responsible way. Yet he acknowledges his son recently broke his collarbone, taking a spill from his bike.
"Ryan's an athlete," Cougill said, "and athletes want to be the best. I coach Ryan's baseball team, and he's my star pitcher. But there are times when I think motocross is actually safer than baseball."
Which might make Trudy Huisman feel a little better.
The Sioux City woman's 15-year-old son, Jesse, has just taken up motocross racing.
"Jesse's been riding for the past eight years," Huisman said with hesitation in her voice, "so he knows his way around a bike. But I hope he doesn't get hurt."
"I'll be careful, Mom," Jesse said as he put on his helmet.
The teen knows he'll soon face competition from some new blood: namely, his 11-year-old brother, Austin.
"Jesse's been showing me the ropes," Austin said. "How to make turns and stuff like that."
But both of the Huisman brothers look up to experienced racers such as 18-year-old Joey Hofmeyer.
The Orange City teen said he's dislocated his shoulder twice in his four years of racing.
"All worth it!" Hofmeyer said. "Man, when you're coming off that hill, you're airborne! When you're flying, you feel like a superhero!"
What does Hofmeyer think of kids, some as young as 5, sharing that track with him?
"It's cool," he said. "More power to 'em! Wish I started racing when I was younger."
Which is exactly how Kunkel feels.
"I didn't start motocross racing until I was 23 years old," he said as looked over the track he started more than three years ago. "If I had something like this growing up, I would have started a heckuva lot earlier."
Reflecting for a moment, he said people sometimes get the wrong impression of motocross.
"They think it's all about a bunch of kids who want to joyride around," Kunkel said. "But motocross is a sport that requires training and safety and being able to think on your feet."
Kunkel smiled.
"Motocross allows you to go fast, play in the dirt and have fun all at the same time," he said. "What kid wouldn't like that?"
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lewis wrote on Jun 30, 2008 4:59 PM: