yoda
Nitro Member
Like 90% of the big cars do?And put in launch with a clutch and hit shift points. Then you'll see how difficult driving would be.
Have you ever raced in a stick car or just stab it and steer it?

Like 90% of the big cars do?And put in launch with a clutch and hit shift points. Then you'll see how difficult driving would be.
Have you ever raced in a stick car or just stab it and steer it?
Like Eric Gumm posted, gotta get 'em hooked first, and I think Jrs do a great job of that. Are they the most challenging type of race car/bike a kid can compete in? No. But, kids certainly learn plenty of skills that are important in any form of racing. Think about how many current competitors, from TF all the way down, might not be here if it weren't for Jr dragsters that started over 30 years ago.It's obvious that I stepped on some Daddy toes when I made my 1st comment about JR Dragster. After learning the tree how much is done until the strip is coming up and they have to work on that?
I've never seen a car spin a tire, the shift is in the CVT. So what's left for the driver to mess up on?
Just wondering how many have ever driven a shifter kart or seen one run.
And how about the kids in MX on 65-85 dirt bike. That all have to deal with clutch and shifts these are small kids.
Yes Automatic transmission is the way to go in big cars, for consistency. But I'll take a manual shifter for the fun of it.
Sorry I pissed off a few dad's. Just giving my prospective and experience.
Harry- the premise behind juniors, IMO, has always been to get kids to A) love the sport, and B) learn how to do the sport correctly.Alan, I understand what you are saying. As a teen I raced a door car, after that a job at a very well know Speed shop in NW Ohio, crewed in TF, then in BB/FC, went on to own and Drive a Drag Boat, settled down to raise a family. My sons raced QT,Midgets doing very good at it. My Daughter raced Womans MX all over the US, she's now a DR. Grandson raced Karts won Daytona got Luckey on that one but also did good.
Doing all this myself and kids created many strong lasting friendships.
So, I haven't lived behind a keyboard.
I understand a kid has to start somewhere; my thoughts were to mix things up at say 12 & up have a class that required a little more to hone their skills at.
The sad thing is, I suppose, depending on perspective, that there are so few "stick shift" cars anymore, and the only main alternative to automatics are paddle shifters, which to me don't count. I don't have hard numbers or evidence but based on years of experience in used cars, I'd wager a bottle of pop that the percentage of drivers under 40 that have ever driven a manual is less than 10%.
Shoot as goofy the political climate is anymore, it's probably "discriminating" against disabled people to have a manual since it takes 2 arms and 2 legs to drive one, ha ha.