Oh, if I had a nickel for everytime something like this came across my desk..."My 11 year son won his first race a year ago in September and we asked (Travis) to do a write up on it. At the time we were pretty sure he was the youngest to win a feature race in the state. (Travis') response was that he couldn't because of too many other sports going on and there wasn't enough room, but it was funny that not long after this more racing news made the paper. (Travis) also said that he would be sure to do one on him in the spring. We're still waiting for spring to come."
Buckle up, folks, because most of you aren't going to like what follows here.
An 11-year-old winning a race is not in and of itself newsworthy. The fact that the boy in question here (and I'm not going to name names, even though I know exactly who made the above post on MaineRacing.com) won that race at Unity Raceway wasn't newsworthy, either. Yes, he may in fact have been the youngest feature winner ever at Unity, but there's far more to that story.
And it's that story that, at one point, was weighed on the news desk at the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. The boy in question won a race in the "Teen" division, which, at Unity, is open to anybody ages 10-17. In essence, the boy won a race that equated to a Little League baseball game.
Our papers don't cover Little League baseball, and our policy is fairly firm on that. As the boy's mother was told, if he won the championship, the family was more than welcome to send a picture of him with his car/trophy to the paper -- and that photo would run on our community sports page. It was the decision that the sports editor came to -- with input from me -- and that's where it ended. It was strictly a policy decision, not a slight to a certain family having "the wrong last name."
Unfortunately, most people are under the assumption that newspaper hacks are free to write about whatever they want, whenever they want. I'm given a lot of free reign -- and I understand that. But I also need to discuss every story that I'm planning on in full detail with my editor.
Yes, the hacks have bosses, too.
I'm particularly fond of the above criticism that after I declined to write a feature story on our 11-year-old "future Jeff Gordon" there was still other racing news reported in our papers. Yes, there was. It was called "news."
It becomes incredibly hard to sell racing stories to sports editors once football season rolls around and baseball playoffs get underway. It is the same way at every newspaper across New England -- feel free to ask around. The feature stories, the human interest pieces, are gone -- and we are forced to stick to straight news. We cover individual races and pay attention to championships, and that's about all there's room for.
It's just how it is. Yes, as a racing writer and fan, I become as frustrated as all of you about this. I'm sure the people in our sports department could bore you to death with the stories of the arguments I've had with them in the past over why we start ignoring racing just when championships are starting to be decided and extra-distance races are being scheduled.
It's one of the reasons I started blogging -- to have an outlet for all the stuff that couldn't find its way into the newspaper out of space constraints or a general lack of interest.
"(Travis) didn't seem to have a problem writing about another kid."
And to that jab, I say show me. I've never written a single feature story about kids racing cars. Not a one.
As a parent, I want my kids to get their fair share of praise, too. But I work for a company that has a certain policy about youth sports, and there's nothing I can do to change that. Period.
8 comments:
When will people realize that while Unity Raceway may be in the “beat” of your coverage you do not NEED to be there. You're there because you wants to be. You wants people to get coverage. It's not personal on who does or doesn't get covered. You have to fight for what coverage you are able to give. They’ve probably never noticed but in the press section of the stands there is usually only one person there. That’s you. So next time they want to judge someone on his or her job they should stop and think what they'd be getting if you weren’t there. Kind of like the old adage “If a tree fell in the woods and no one was around to hear it would it make a sound?”
Anyone who puts their 11-year-old kid in a race car is nuts. Period. The minimum age for competing on a race track should be the same as obtaining a drivers' license.
Notice how fast Beech Ridge dropped their Rug Rat division when one of the kids got hurt?
The only reason these classes exist is because it's good for the back gate. The promoters don't have to pay them anything, yet they collect the same fee as they do for a super street or late model.
Your kid wants to race at age 10 or 11? Tell 'em to be patient. They'll grow up soon enough.
Its the same reason they let Babies in the back gate. MONEY No children should be allowed in the operating pits. Maybe into a fenced of area that allows them acess to the stands but not in the Operating Pit Area. How could and owner live the burden that one of those little darlins got injured or worse. DO NOT ALLOW CHIDREN IN THE PITS
sorry Mike I gotta disagree..If 11 is too young to race 4-cylinders, then is 15 too young to be driving a super late model? (i.e. the Ramstrom kid) Not if you want to be the next NASCAR superstar...gotta start 'em somewhere...and gotta start 'em young. 4 cylinders "stock" cars are the way to go...too bad about Jordan Emerson...but racecar drivers get hurt .....even those drivers with years and years of experience...and for the record...some people with drivers licenses shouldn't be allowed to race....I'd rather take on 10 year old Ben Niles then some of those older racers!
Penny P
Penny... My son Matt raced at Unity in a Pro-4 just before his 15th birthday....but he had raced Go-Karts competitively for six years and he knew how to race....I surely wouldn't have put him in a stockcar of any kind at age eleven though....
Young Ramstrom also went a simular route...racing quarter midgets if memory serves me right...
Theres a big difference between a boy starting out at age ten in a stockcar and having a kid in Karts for a half dozen years...
If I had it to do over again, I would have kept him in Karts another year or two but it was too easy to move up....
I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with Mike in alot of ways... eleven is just too young!...15-16 is much better IMO...
I think Ben already had a few years in karts...
I can see both sides of the story...but what I see at Unity is some pretty good teen/pre-teen drivers...whose sportsmanship, skills and attitudes are excellent...
AS far as age....back when I was a kid I used to propel a 1200# horse around a show jumping course...I think that was more dangerous :)
I think you do a wonderful job with coverage. I don't know how many times we have talked your ear off. I know that everyone would like Unity to get more coverage(we are working on that for 2008). My husband won his first championship in the Monsta Mini division in a Purple Pinto Station Wagon with a sprint car wing. How unusual is that. We never saw a picture anywhere but the Racin Paper. Most of his wins this year were not even noted. I guess that is one of the reasons I don't get the newspaper anymore. Mike, I do miss your witty columns. As far as Teens racing, I think that is a subject that will never have everyone on the same page. I would put Stephanie in a race car today if she wanted and they would allow it. I am sure that her father would build her a car that was so safe. If you could see her on the four wheeler. I know the race car would be safer. Norm, I think Matt would be racing today if he would have given it some time. Those guys in class have MONEY and alot of experience.
Penny...I'm glad Matt stopped racing...he went to UMO for five years and he now has an eduction and a good job now to show for it...
That was certainly more important to him than racing was.... and I was done doing any mechanical work because of my health... so when we got done, it was a two-fold deal...
Honestly, I was glad to see the race car leave the barn... those sport -fours were miserable to try to keep going mechanicaly IMO... but thats another whole thread in itself...
Somewhere along the line, some of these young drivers will make their name in racing while others, like my son, will go off and do something else very well...
The important thing here is that the kid gets to choose his or her path...and is happy doing what he or she is doing... best of luck!
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