Mini Tracks for Kids

[Bluerider]

Well, this subject started out in the RV track watering post, so I thought I'd start it off on it's own.

My 10 year old rides. He's not fast, he doesn't race, but he's not a beginner either. I like to ride and I like him to ride too. Our options to ride at the same location are limited though. Village Creek pretty much has the monopoly with a separate, interesting and somewhat challenging track for him and the day track for me. Of course, on Sundays he gets to ride the day track as well.

I really like to ride at Nocona, but the mini track there is boring and hence gets little use (at least the few times when I've been there) so he doesn't like it, and I definitely won't put him on the big bike track as there's too many hidden areas if he falls.

I really like to ride at River Valley, but the mini track is for beginner level. I let him ride the big bike track yesterday because though not ideal, I felt there's good visibility around the whole track. But he was nervous and didn't enjoy it too much. He (and hence we) probably won't be back.

As neyhart98dad put it, the mini's are paying their $15 too and I wonder if the other tracks realise the potential additional business if they either build a decent mini track or initiate organized practice, both of which will encourage the younger riders.

[Zero]

uhhhh. Not to be obvious guy here. But maybe you should request that RV and others do what Village Creek does on open practice days. They take a 15 minute break every 45 minutes to let the small bikes have the track to themselves.

(Village doesn't bog practice down unless there are actually little ones out there, if they don't come when its there turn, its back to the big dawgs)

[PU300]

Everyone of these track owners near a metro area needs to go to Lake Elsinore MX in Cali and check out their set-up.

They have a Main track, Vet Track, Mini Track, and Beginner track. They can accomodate so many freakin riders its unreal. The only time they shut down the main track is to re-prep it!

[CamP]

My 10 year old rides. He's not fast, he doesn't race, but he's not a beginner either.

He sounds similar to my wife. She rides well enough that she gets around the track with no problem but she's not fast and she doesn't jump anything. When it's crowded, one of us will run interference behind her to keep the yahoos (ie teenage heroes) from jumping over her head on the jumps without bypasses. She also keeps an eye on the track so that when the crowd settles down she can jump on the track and ride solo. This approach works well for her and she rides every weekend.

[dirtburner]

We are in the same boat there also. My daughter thats 10 feels the exact same way and we have been to RV a few times and she gets bored with it really quick. We ride the big track when theres not many on it because she gets so nervous. Most people are great to watch out for the little ones, but we have had really fast guys fly in between us when I'm right behind her running interference. That makes us both really nervous and ol dad a little pissed, but what can you do?

I wished there was a place the little ones could ride for 50's and 65's. Your right, they are paying customers too. I have asked this question on many forums and nobody seems to know any good places other than Village and I don't know that place very well. We have only been there 1 time during the TORN race and that was it. With all the bad news that has came out of that place recently, the wife puts here foot down on that one, so RV is the closest we have.

I know having one track is hard enough to keep up with rather than having 2. I wished there were some cross country tracks around too.

[MXschedule]

Everyone of these track owners near a metro area needs to go to Lake Elsinore MX in Cali and check out their set-up.

They have a Main track, Vet Track, Mini Track, and Beginner track. They can accomodate so many freakin riders its unreal. The only time they shut down the main track is to re-prep it!


Hey PU300 I agree, I have been to elsinore that kinda setup would be awesome to have around here. The main track at elsinore was narly it had some options I couldn't even put a name too.

[motocoach]

elsinore has the worst dirt ever though...lots of tracks but horrible dirt..its a trend out there ...comp edge has 6 tracks as well

[PU300]

exactly... they have concrete mix for dirt and still you can barely find a gap big enough on any of the tracks to pull in and moto.

3 palms has it in a way with the GP track (you could call it the VET track), River Track, and Main Track. I am sure none of them are too crowded.

I would like to see VCMX take their 2 tracks a step further and offer up a beginner track when the water is in abundance.

Think about it... THATS what made mosier great in its hayday. Along with being easy to get to for most of DFW they had 2 tracks going full time. You could get in your night track practice then go burn laps on the day track while the other groups got their turn. Both tracks were fun. They would put some water down on the day track or maybe do some minor prep but not the full effort and it was fine because people got their moneys worth.

[CamP]

I don't know what David's specific plans are for additional tracks. The facility is only a year old and it's being built with sweat equity. His primary focus has been getting the main track sorted out and that's still a work in progress. He knows the mini track needs work but he can't work on it without the main track suffering. He's a one man show with a real job running a large company so it's going to take time.

[Neyhart198dad]

With all the bad news that has came out of that place recently, the wife puts here foot down on that one, so RV is the closest we have.

Man read some other posts about VCMX(instead of the bad ones) with in the last 2 or 3 months they have really tamed it down,many riders are very happy with the new track layout(which is shocking)they have slowed the big track down alot it now brings out the true riders its full of corners it still has some jumps but the track itself is waaay slowed down which is good for all.I think if you gave village a try you would really like it and your daughter would probably really enjoy their 50 track,its alittle challenging but nothing overwhelming.

Like I said in the RV post Village and Buffalo probably have the best 50 tracks around here,I hear TMX and NTMX both have 50 tracks to but havent been there to check them out.

You should give VC a try you would like the big track and if you go on sunday its organized practice and I bet your daughter would even feel comfortable on the day track.
Also depending on how much of a beginner she is she could possible even ride the day track with the 50's,Ive noticed alot of girls lately riding with the 50' on their bigger bikes,of course you would need to talk to Karl for shure,but if she's a beginner I really dont think he would mind.

[spanky]

NTMX will also have a second mini track done as soon as our lights for the night track are done(aprox 1 month or less), next step will be to then light the kids track.
unfortunatly with all the work i have been doing(building a new day track), the kids track has been neglected, but that will change,just running short on time. we have also cut off the back side of our day track, and that will be called our Quad Track. that was a fun section that a lot of people liked, but the dirt back there sucks!

[zookrider62]

NTMX will also have a second mini track done as soon as our lights for the night track are done(aprox 1 month or less), next step will be to then light the kids track.
unfortunatly with all the work i have been doing(building a new day track), the kids track has been neglected, but that will change,just running short on time. we have also cut off the back side of our day track, and that will be called our Quad Track. that was a fun section that a lot of people liked, but the dirt back there sucks!
I went to your track yesterday and when i was pulling up i was wondering what happened to that half of the track. I liked the changes a lot, its a pretty tough track now, and the new sections are a lot better then the old sections, to me personally. Sorry for getting this off-topic.

[Uncle Boogie]

Have you checked it Greenville MX yet? They have the BEST track in the whole area for the little ones. They have a beginner track with tables, step ups, whoops, doubles, you name they got it. It is never crowded neither. Along with there main track and beginner track, they have a pit bike track, arena cross trtack, supercross, and two AWESOME corner tracks that get DEEEEP!!! No racing but you can spend the day with the young'uns and they can ride so much they will sleep all the way home.

[11kphotos]

Have you checked it Greenville MX yet? They have the BEST track in the whole area for the little ones. They have a beginner track with tables, step ups, whoops, doubles, you name they got it. It is never crowded neither. Along with there main track and beginner track, they have a pit bike track, arena cross trtack, supercross, and two AWESOME corner tracks that get DEEEEP!!! No racing but you can spend the day with the young'uns and they can ride so much they will sleep all the way home.

thanks for reminding us. note to txmotocross.com photo guy... go hit greenville for pix.

[spanky]

NTMX will also have a second mini track done as soon as our lights for the night track are done(aprox 1 month or less), next step will be to then light the kids track.
unfortunatly with all the work i have been doing(building a new day track), the kids track has been neglected, but that will change,just running short on time. we have also cut off the back side of our day track, and that will be called our Quad Track. that was a fun section that a lot of people liked, but the dirt back there sucks!
I went to your track yesterday and when i was pulling up i was wondering what happened to that half of the track. I liked the changes a lot, its a pretty tough track now, and the new sections are a lot better then the old sections, to me personally. Sorry for getting this off-topic.

thanks, im working on it
and to uncle boogie, its too bad they dont have races there anymore, i had a blast out there with your neighbor billy don! i use to run the gates for billly and drew, hardly ever missed a race.

[dirtburner]

With all the bad news that has came out of that place recently, the wife puts here foot down on that one, so RV is the closest we have.

Man read some other posts about VCMX(instead of the bad ones) with in the last 2 or 3 months they have really tamed it down,many riders are very happy with the new track layout(which is shocking)they have slowed the big track down alot it now brings out the true riders its full of corners it still has some jumps but the track itself is waaay slowed down which is good for all.I think if you gave village a try you would really like it and your daughter would probably really enjoy their 50 track,its alittle challenging but nothing overwhelming.

Like I said in the RV post Village and Buffalo probably have the best 50 tracks around here,I hear TMX and NTMX both have 50 tracks to but havent been there to check them out.

You should give VC a try you would like the big track and if you go on sunday its organized practice and I bet your daughter would even feel comfortable on the day track.
Also depending on how much of a beginner she is she could possible even ride the day track with the 50's,Ive noticed alot of girls lately riding with the 50' on their bigger bikes,of course you would need to talk to Karl for shure,but if she's a beginner I really dont think he would mind.

Thanks for the info. Thats good to know stuff. We will have to check it out some time. She is not really a 65 beginner, just a step up from it though. I just don't know the routine of it all or anyone there. After I have been it would clear alot up, I'm sure.
Thanks.

[DPW]

Just wondering how does the mini track at Nocona compare to the rest?

[dirtburner]

Just wondering how does the mini track at Nocona compare to the rest?

I have been wondering that also. I know several years ago it was horrible and not taking care of at all.

[DPW]

Just wondering how does the mini track at Nocona compare to the rest?

I have been wondering that also. I know several years ago it was horrible and not taking care of at all.


I go there quite often and I look at the track and think that would be fun for a kid, but usually it's empty. I have never looked at the mini tracks at other places so I have nothing to compare it to.

[Zero]

Just wondering how does the mini track at Nocona compare to the rest?

I have been wondering that also. I know several years ago it was horrible and not taking care of at all.


I go there quite often and I look at the track and think that would be fun for a kid, but usually it's empty. I have never looked at the mini tracks at other places so I have nothing to compare it to.

dang. was wondering if you were gonna either:

a) get a pit bike
b) have a baby
c) change tracks, thinking Nocona main track might be too tough for you? :D

[DPW]

dang. was wondering if you were gonna either:

a) get a pit bike
b) have a baby
c) change tracks, thinking Nocona main track might be too tough for you? :D

no
no
and no


Regards DPW

[Zero]

dang. was wondering if you were gonna either:

a) get a pit bike
b) have a baby
c) change tracks, thinking Nocona main track might be too tough for you? :D

no
no
and no


Regards DPW

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[SMF]

Thanks for the info. Thats good to know stuff. We will have to check it out some time. She is not really a 65 beginner, just a step up from it though. I just don't know the routine of it all or anyone there. After I have been it would clear alot up, I'm sure.
Thanks.

Bring her out to VC some Sunday and put her in the 50cc practice (it's for new 65 riders too). If she's comfortable,and is passing folks, move her to the 65/85 practice (mostly if you're comfortable).

[Neyhart198dad]

Thanks for the info. Thats good to know stuff. We will have to check it out some time. She is not really a 65 beginner, just a step up from it though. I just don't know the routine of it all or anyone there. After I have been it would clear alot up, I'm sure.
Thanks.

Bring her out to VC some Sunday and put her in the 50cc practice (it's for new 65 riders too). If she's comfortable,and is passing folks, move her to the 65/85 practice (mostly if you're comfortable).

See I told you Karl was a good guy,all you gotta do is give him a good wwwooooooooooo over the finish line,he loves it.

[SMF]

See I told you Karl was a good guy,all you gotta do is give him a good wwwooooooooooo over the finish line,he loves it.

Thanks Kenny, as long as the WWWOOOOOOO doesn't turn into a WOAH!!! It's all good. Sometimes Y'all frighten the inmates. :lol:

[Neyhart198dad]

See I told you Karl was a good guy,all you gotta do is give him a good wwwooooooooooo over the finish line,he loves it.

Thanks Kenny, as long as the WWWOOOOOOO doesn't turn into a WOAH!!! It's all good. Sometimes Y'all frighten the inmates. :lol:

I know thats right,I've had a couple of WOAHS!!! lately

[dirtburner]

See I told you Karl was a good guy,all you gotta do is give him a good wwwooooooooooo over the finish line,he loves it.

Thanks Kenny, as long as the WWWOOOOOOO doesn't turn into a WOAH!!! It's all good. Sometimes Y'all frighten the inmates. :lol:

I know thats right,I've had a couple of WOAHS!!! lately

I don't want any WHOAS for awhile. Still trying to recover from one of them.

Thanks for all the info guys, I really appreciate it. We will have to check it out sometime when I get back 100%.

I just hate going to new places especially when my daughter isn't old enough to drive me out of there in case something happened. I will never push myself either because of this, thus never getting the practice I really need. Hate to ask the wife to set and watch too. Oh, well I'll just start giong for the daughter and I'll just take it easy. Thats easier on the body anyway.

[Jack Rhodes]

I can recall at least one time when a wwwooooooo turned into a WHAM and SMF disappeared from the stand like he was part of a magic act. One second he was there and the next instant the stand was totally empty.

SMF had to go see Dr. Feel Good after that one.

[PU300]

SMF had to go see Dr. Feel Good after that one.

IS that behind the concession stand? How much ??

[SMF]

I can recall at least one time when a wwwooooooo turned into a WHAM and SMF disappeared from the stand like he was part of a magic act. One second he was there and the next instant the stand was totally empty.

SMF had to go see Dr. Feel Good after that one.

As bad as my memory is, that one plays in my head like a high def DVD. I still pucker when someone gets sidways at the bottom of the jump.



S that behind the concession stand? How much ??

Unfortuneately it wasn't that Dr. the one I saw was pretty cute though, and pretty handy with a needle, and thread.
With the cracked ribs, there was no shenanigans for quite a while.

[PU300]

OUCH!! :shock: