Lots of excellent thoughts. I for one think no youngster should be competing against adults in a sport such as ours. The liability issues and negative PR potential when something bad happens are enormous. Also, our sport is not like tennis, golf, etc.. I would compromise and let them compete at age 16 since they qualify for a driver's license. Often overlooked is the child's development mentally and physically at a time when they should be celebrating their youth, not how am I going to beat this 25 year old. Lastly, it is this kind of thing (12 year olds, etc.) which leave the general public and media with the impression our sport is a kind of circus/ carnival show.