Drivers School

Drivers schools are run for fun and learning. There are no 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place awards because all kids are treated as winners and presented with equal recognition or awards. The key is that everyone is a winner with Kidracers, and a Kidracers Driver's school is the first place, and best place to teach them that.

ABC's of Race Car Driving:

• Always
• Be
• Careful

Driving Schools can take place in a parking lot, recreational park, or even your own driveway. Because Kidracers can turn in as little as 12 feet, even a garage can become a Kidracer Driving School!

Helmets are not required, but are highly recommended. Safety is an important lesson and teaching kids at a young age that helmets save lives is an important lesson. No need to buy a high dollar racing helmet, a lighweight bicycle style helmet works the best, and are rather inexpensive.

Flag School

Flag school lasts about five minutes. New racers learn the five basic flags and their meanings. Instructors should explain the flags slowly, and check for understanding. The five basic flags that new drivers will learn are:

• Green means "Go"
• Red means "Stop"
• Black means "No Bumping"
• Yellow means "Caution" or "Be Careful"
• Checkered Flag means "Race is Over"

Qualifying

Unlike the big league racers, Kidracers qualifying means teaching the kids how to drive the cars. This usually takes about 3 minutes each. Instructors will teach the kids how to drive and drive the racing line on the race track. As the other drivers watch, the student driver will start in first gear and learn to obey the flags. By doing, and observing, students will learn to drive and race, and catch the checkered flag out of the starters hand at five miles per hour! Kids that qualify together race together in the practice race.

Starters operate the five flags at the start/finish line. The starter is in charge of the race. Intentional bumping is a black flag no-no. Students who bump repeatedly are removed from the track and allowed to stand and watch and try again later.

Four corner workers assist drivers in need. They also operate the red flag when the track is blocked or when the race is over when everyone is to stop. Red means track is closed. All cars stop where they are at!

GREEN FLAG! Four or five students race for 10 to 20 laps or more. The instructor must give the drivers time to learn to race together well. The checkered flag signals the end of the race and everyone is to stop. All drivers stay in their cars as the starter presents the checkered flag to each of them to take around the track in a parade lap. Everyone is a winner with Kidracers.

Small classes of four to five students can be completed in about 30 minutes.

Portable Energy Absorbing Safety Track

Safety tracks can be made from PVC 4" or smaller drain pipe. PVC pipe moves when struck by wheels, reducing G-forces and impact on cars and drivers.

The best track size is a 30' X 40' oval or larger on a hard level surface. The track should be set up inside portable crowd control fences, or tires, hay bales, or other movable barriers may be used. Cars should never be allowed to bump into concrete curbs or damage to the cars may take place, or possible injure a child due to sudden stops. Never operate a Kidracer where the car and driver could fit under overhangs or vehicles.

To read an article about driver training at the Indy 500 by John Dinkel, CLICK HERE.