Club Arnage

SONS! who has has or had a son who was who is 14?

WOW - Kevin from Harry Enfield era had it correct, but my son is driving me mad.................................

MY SON HAS SPENT THE WEEKEND DRIVING ME AROUND THE BEND.

At least he IS the excuse to for me drinking..............

Any suggestions would be grateful be welcomed!!!!!!

 :-* :-* :-*

My son is 17 - he was at Le Mans for the first time last year and we had a hoot.

Don't let them drive you mad - remember what you were like at their age!

My son is having fun - just as much as I did - and I wouldn't deny him that.

All you can do is offer advice and worry like mad but other than that............!?

As your name suggests - NoPanic!

 :-* :-*

That sentence alone sums up your frustration! He has removed your ability to be coherent  :o

I am too young to have children (I'm sure that helps  ;)) but can't you lock him in a box or cupboard for a while? I'm sure the government won't mind. What they don't know eh?

I think this question requires an answer, but I might be the wrong person.

Yes, when I suddenly became a single parent, I took my boys to Le Mans. (OK My fault) That got them interested in motorsport

Yes, I bought a kart for my youngest son (My fault, again)

Yes, I got the older one (then 14) a test in a Junior Rotax in March 2005 (Again, my fault)

The fact that he was signed by a team 2 hours later, won his first race, three months later went to Valencia to test for Formula BMW, has just finished his first season in FBMW, and (hopefully) at the end of this month takes part in the World Finals TOTALLY HIS FAULT!!!!! (OK maybe I, and a couple of very good mates helped with making it happen, but its his talent at the end of the day)

Not that I would change a single second of the past few years, since the "ex" left us, but "a 14 year old being a pain" would be a nice distraction from trying to work out how were are likely to raise the £12k needed for the World Finals, or the £250k needed for next season.

Believe me, make the most of the Kevin and Perry bits, they're easy!!

Or, send them to me for a weekend, but you might live to regret it!!!!!

My son is also 14 :angel:.Knows every freaking thing  there is to know!


Damn, I just sounded just like my DAD!

I'll be saved from all this for now. He's only 6 :)

My boy is about to turn 3 and has mastered the art of taking the piss out of me.  He mocks my English accent e.g. "banana" vs. "bannaayyna".  Smart arsed little American.

Mine too.  And if he's tremendously lucky and stays on the straight and narrow, he might eventually turn 14.  ;D

The daughter's the one that watches racing with me.  ::)

Now that's what I like to hear, chop!  But beware, you never know how she might turn out (hint, my Dad got me started too.)
Kids, never worked out where they came from myself but I'm sure I was a total pain when I was 14 - weren't we all, girls and boys.  Most of us turn out (fairly) normal in the end.  I guess it's part of the price you pay for being a parent.  And just to quote my dear old dad who said to me when I was in my early twenties "It was worth all the pain and expense of having kids now you're grown up"!!

They do go through it and generally come out the other end as productive citizens with a fairly healthy sense of right and wrong ;D.  It's just maddening whilst they discover themselves, despite your best efforts to direct, assist, advise and generally be a good parent.   There is hope - our lads are all now in full time employment, in careers which they chose and found themselves, with choices depending on which way they want to head in the future.  And this is against a backdrop of us being on first name terms with half of the local nick for a few years with one or other of them.   And they have all been to Le Mans at least once, the elder ones with their own cars now tagging along every year.

They need their "space", although not to the exclusion of everything else, and as a parent, you are just a total embarassment to him.   Aside from whatever else you do, the most valuable thing is to be there when it all goes horribly wrong.   Most of the time, "going out" and "doing nothing" equate to just that.   

And finallly, remember one frightening thing - your children are the ones who will choose "Shady Pines" as your nursing home.........

MG Mark

The eldest is 11, and the youngest will turn 10 in December.

Looking forward to the time they're round 15/16.  ::)

Marius, why did you name your son Will Turn, spooky he is 10 this year and you're off to sebring soon as well ;D

Now that is spookey. Well spotted

At the sheer moment I was typing it, I just knew someone was going to make a remark about it. ;D

FYI: Sons ar called Antonie and Martijn. ;)

I made the mistake of teaching my 11 year old son to shoot. Now he out shoots me somtimes, oh! to have eyes like a sh-t house rat again. oh hum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Speaking of sons and Sebring.My sons birthday is March 25th.One week after the race.

So picture this.My wife is ready to drop a kid any minute.I being Amazing Randy"The All Knowing",just knew the doctors had no idea when this kid was coming.So I headed off to Sebring with a cell phone the size of a large brick.I told my wife if anything happens I can be there 2 1/2 hrs.

So I was was blessed in two ways.
I had a beautiful son.[looks a lot like his dad]
I would not  have to miss Sebring for his birthday.

Cherish your sons and daughters.

I'm off to the hospital in a few minutes to see how the little chap is doing. Another severe asthma attack last night has put him back in there.

Despite being only 2 and a half and in a fair bit of distress, we weren't allowed to leave for the hospital until he had his sword and hammer (plastic thankfully).

I think I will have my hands full when he's of a Le Mansable age.

My lad had bad asthma when he was small, but he grew out of it.  Keep your fingers crossed.

I think it may have put him off Le Mans though

She didn't have much of a choice.  I got her early, and started with proper cars.  ;D

Picture Link (http://home.wi.rr.com/chop456/DSCN0002(1).JPG)

Blimey Robspot,
Do you mean you haven't reached puberty yet? I'm sure when I bumped into you in June you had a bit of a stubble, -although to be fair, it's bad form (but not unheard of, I admit) to ask for a look at someones tackle when you've only just met them.
I was reading the other day that some geneticist in San Diego has grown a teenager on the head of a mouse!! Now how much trouble is he going to be?
H

My thoughts and prayers are with him.Hope this is short bout,and you have him back at home soon.

I also had severe Asthma is a kid,spent alot time in the hospital with bouts of pneumonia.

Somewhere in the dungeons I have a pic of David Piper at Oulton park leaning against the -then new - 250 LM which he had just bought.  It is one of my treasures (taken on my old Instamatic).  Imagine your daughter posting your pic on the web in 40-odd years' time!

Wipe your feet!

Amazing1,

  That "all knowing" condition must be prevelant amongst fans of endurance race fans. My first daughter was due in early November of 1998 and I was sure that the doctors threw in a week just to be safe. I attended the inaugural Petit Lemans on Oct. 10 feeling confident. The baby came 10 days later on Oct. 20. That's cutting it close.

 The better part of the story is that I am quite certain that my first was conceived immediately upon my return from the 24hrs of Daytona that year.

As if to restoree balance to the universe, my second Daughter was born Feb. 2. 2001. The Thursday prior to the 24 hours of Daytona, thus preventing me from attending that once great event for the next five years. Paybacks are hell.

No Panic,

 At 14 they are too strong to fight, too smart to trick, but you can always embarass the sh@t out of him at evry turn. You have the advantage!

Nobby:

Hope your little fella's fine and soon back to defending the neighborhood with his weapons of choice (plastic of course)!

This puts me in mind of a race meeting (of the four-legged, hayburner variety) at, if I remember rightly, Sandown Park, when a pregnant woman gave birth in the car park.  John Framcombe remarked "lots of kids have been conceived there but I think that's the first birth!)

That's the last thing on my mind when I get back from Le Mans, I need sleep.

Don't worry, it DOES get better.  My son is now 26 and great company.  He is a good friend and we get on really well.  Ten years ago we would probably have set fire to each other given the chance.  There is light at the end of the tunnel if you are lucky.

I agree with that Paul. My son is almost 22 and has just about returned from the dark side, he even managed to buy me a pint without being prompted a couple of weeks ago. He is coming to Le Mans with us next year (last time was when he was 13) I am really looking forward to that.

I know that you are probably all thinking, "Bob dosn't look old enough to have a 22 year old son" but, yes I have ;D

Good luck with your son, my other half and my son both suffer with this. So I know it can be a problem.

I'm just back from the dentist, a nice big filling!.
So now I know my son can be a pain but not at times, but these are things are growing pains. - Oh well when he's grown up he can buy be a pint.

I did tell he I prefer the old victorian values -
Children should be seen and not heard!
now shut up and get up that chimney.

Oh yea, he has just discovered lighters and how to made your own flame thrower!
(wheres my insurance policy)

Actually its not a big worry, just when he does it with his odd/strange/stupid friends. Responsabilty is a big question!

thanks all for the advice so far.  By the records, I was perfect  :angel: when I was growing up,
just from a mad family - brother who blew up a swimming pool and things like that.

Perfect candidate for a HA camper has he had his arson training from the master yet, Bob ;D

No need Peter, he has been at Uni for the last 3 years. He most likely knows more about drunken debauchery and living in squalor than I ever will.

Reminds me of my days at nautical college  ;D

Hmmm, have all this to look forward to..  have son/daughter due in next few days..

As you do

Blarry'ell! You lot're all making me feel truly ancient. Only 22 Bob?  Coo...

My son is 40 next year, but he is my best mate though (after Garyfrogeye that is!) ;D ;D ;D

Half a chance I might get him to LM one year but I'm not sure he'd want to do all that drunken debauchery though!


(No not Gary!...)

 :laugh:

;D ;D OK Bob... ;D ;D ;D
"Young Brad" is 25 in 10 days, Bloody hell, where did the time go, I'm only 21 in my mind, still we have had some great times and are good mates (now were through the kevin stage that lasts about 5 years).
Nobby, spent a few nights sleeping on Hospital pull out beds with my daughter and asthma, all fine now thankfully, all the best.

Thanks for the kind wishes folks - little Nobby is now home and quite well.

Good news indeed Nigel.

Yes Indeed. :)

I took my Dad to LM this year, but he was quite well behaved. Neither of us had been before, and we will be going again.

He's 61, and more of a hooligan than I could ever wish to be.

My daughter's just turned 2 and always asks to 'watch racing cars with Daddy' - Channel 4 usually have something on when she wakes up on Saturday so we watch it together.

The other week she threw a massive strop, and only behaved when I did what she wanted;- got the scalextric out of the cupboard.
I know there will be many more massive strops to come. I'll keep the scalextric handy just in case

Hi Nopanic

You think you have problems.......try 16 and aspergers!!!!

One small comment is  thrown out of all proprtion and upto bedroom and throw toys out of pram.....really stressfull.But  he has now decided when college is over he is going to do motor racing engineering at Uni.......Honest....no influence from me!!!!

snap!!  got my lad the LM version...it does wonders ;D

Potentially very expensive, Fagey.  My kid (Mr Termite) now owns the first 10 cars on the grid for the 1970 race, and counting.  Still, it has its compensations, I got back from Canada to find the no 58 Green Lola T70 Mk 3B, signed by David Piper himself waiting for me. ;D