I responded to a post similiar to this last year if I recall. I feel the same now as then. 16 years old for full midgets, 18 years old for sprints. Midgets and sprints have killed far older and far more experienced champion drivers than the kids running today. (Vogler, Kevin Doty, and on and on). It's gonna happen and we all know it.

Now, it isn't a question of IF they can drive. Sure, most have some degree of talent, as we've witnessed. And then there's the argument of "you can be killed and injured in a go kart too". Yes, that is true. However, in the world of "odds" and "likelyhoods", the odds and likelyhood of a child dying in sprinter are far greater than a go kart.

To me, none of those arguments or debates matter. As I stated earlier last year, here is what matters. These parents who put there children (13-14-15 yrs old) in midgets and sprint cars can justify it up one side and down the other. But when they are standing in front of their coffin, looking down at them, how will they justify that? Think hard about that. Picture that in your mind. Ask yourself, are you sure they can't wait until they are 18? The sport will probably still be there.

Most on this board have witnessed a driver killed in a race car. It is tragic, it is horrible. But they were responsible adults who FULLY understood the risk. I'm not sure a 13-15 year old does. Now with the trend of child drivers getting more popular by the year, it is going to happen eventually. You know it and I know it. And it will be horrifying to watch a 14 year old die.

It's as though most people have their heads buried in the sand just "hoping" it never happens. It will, and the repercussions will be severe. Aside from the obvious tragedy of a child dying, Danny mentioned in his article about lawyers.
My sister is a very successfull lawyer in Boston. At one time she was a staff lawyer for the mayor of Boston. She, as I, grew up in Indiana and was around auto racing her entire childhood. She understands the sport. The good parts and the bad.

We have talked about this subject in the past and her opinions are just scary. She claims the legal fallout of a child dying in a sprint car would reach far and wide. It would absolutely change the sport. The racing community would not have to change the rules, age limits, etc... the non racing public outcry would do it for them.

Personally, I vote we make some changes before any of these highly avoidable situations occur. 16 for a midget, 18 for a sprinter. (maybe 18 for both). At the very least a valid state drivers license before a racing license.
Just my humble opinion and not meaning to offend parents of kid racers. I would just hate to see anyone lose a child, and that is exactly what they are, children.
David.