How old were you when you went to your first race?

[Harperfan00H]

1953 I was 3 years old at Elkins Speedway. It was a race included Lee Petty and other traveling races. I just have memories in flashes. Not enough to discuss the event. I remember the board fence all the way around

[TerryM]

Around 1967 or 1968 — I was 4 or 5. Bluestone Speedway in Morehead, Kentucky. That’s my dad’s hometown and grandma lived just down the road from the track. Dad had just come home from his last tour in Vietnam and we were still living in Fort Hood, Texas, but he got some leave time and wanted to go back home for a few days. He wanted to meet up with his friends somewhere and they decided on the racetrack. I don’t have any real recollection of that night, but I know I was there. Have heard many stories about it over the years.

His military service ended a few months later and he took a job in Dayton, Ohio. Eldora quickly became our home track for a couple years before we moved back home to Kentucky in 1970. I was hooked by then, and Bluestone, Florence, Frankfort, Richmond, Clay City, Ponderosa, Glasgow, Taylor County, etc … all became my home tracks lol. Those were awesome times for a kid hooked on racing. Every single night at the track was a thrill.

[pierceFAN]

have to go back to 1968 at Kankakee speedway, i was 4. My neighbor Billy Wasnea took me my first race. I remember the race because a driver named Bill Bohnam (sp) broke an axle and his wheel went flying thru the air...i think thats all i talked about for about 2 weeks lol...he was a huge izzo fan and i a huge oconner fan...those were the good ol days

[ZERO25]

The year was 1966, I was 4, at New Smyrna Speedway. My uncle had won the race by disqualification as my dad was the flagman. Im pretty sure it was one of the Reutimans from Tampa and wanted to fight my dad. He handed me to my mom and of course they backed down.lol

I had been to many races before that, Cup and dirt, but that was the first one i remember!

[obamaracing#1]

4 years old probably, 1982 Kankakee Speedway with mom and uncles.

[obamaracing#1]

have to go back to 1968 at Kankakee speedway, i was 4. My neighbor Billy Wasnea took me my first race. I remember the race because a driver named Bill Bohnam (sp) broke an axle and his wheel went flying thru the air...i think thats all i talked about for about 2 weeks lol...he was a huge izzo fan and i a huge oconner fan...those were the good ol days

My aunt was a huge Izzo fan in the pink 66 at Kankakee. Potts, Shafer, O’Connor, Pierce, Weaver, Reints, Long, Kroll, Gardner, Davis, Friend and the rest, the good ole days. Kankakee should be the most celebrated track in Illinois with its rich history. Darn shame the fair board has screwed it all up over the years.

[jlacey]

1st race ever I was maybe 8 or 9 so I dont remember very well. Cup race at Martinsville and all I can remember from the race was Rusty Wallace won in the Allugaurd #27. 1st dirt race was Potomac when I was maybe 10-12 years old, however old I was it became a weekly thing after that. I remember seeing Booper Bare, Les Hare and Ronnie Miles run weekly with the locals. Rodney Franklin, Jim McBee, Jim Bernhiesel, Ernie Davis, Stuhler and Eckert would come down a few times a year. Only had 3 classes back then with full fields and sometimes consi's for the LM's and Streets. Semi lates usually had around 20 or so. Good times..

[kzach]

I was about 16 months or so when my dad took me. I obviously have no recollection of it, but my dad tells the story that I just sat there and was mesmerized by watching the cars go by and didn't fuss or get irritable. He then began taking me weekly so my actual memories go back as far as I can actually remember. Getting to go became my whole world, always checking the weather forecast and being totally crushed if they rained out. Some of my best childhood memories!

[Morgs153]

Age 5 or 6, Golden Sands Speedway (pavement). Became a life long fan of D!ck Trickle from that moment on.

[TerryM]

These threads are so cool. I googled Bluestone Speedway. It’s so funny to look at the somewhat “specific” details, compared to my memories. Track ran from 1965 to 1974. Seems about right. Someone else said 1980. I don’t believe that. Another pic had Charlie Swartz winning a big show at Bluestone in 1970. The crowd was packed. Dad only went to the big ones, so I’m sure I was there. My first World 100, a decade later, Charlie won. I had no idea at the time, I’d seen him win, or even race, before.

[Dlmfan123]

Don't remember when my first time was, but I remember watching lynn giesler at pittsburgh from a young child to probably 8 years old. Then I Went away when I was doing my own dirtbike racing. Then got back into it after highschool

[foxfire2dirtracing]

FWIW: this in one of the better threads on 4m in a long time. Only a couple of sidetrack post.
Thanks to everyone who has posted! This is a great example of what 4m should be!

[txl9t]

I was at least 6 or 7 months old, Stateline Speedway in Busti New York. Been going there every Saturday since. Finally got the opportunity to race there too, that started 5 years ago!

[Jim11h]

2 months, Mansfield speedway when dirt and the original home of Johnny appleseed classic

[i-pod]

Summer of 1997 watching my Dad race endures at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mi. That would have made me three when I attended my first race.