I’m reminded of the days when I was a kid and riding a billycart down the hill was an exciting prospect. Brakes were what your shoes were for.
We never gave such things as risk assessments a thought. There was too much at stake beating the kids from the neighbourhood as we vied for supremacy.
There was much love went into the construction. Some of us were better at it than others.
Ours was an assembly of bits of timber we found around the yard, a few wheels we sourced from the dump and piece of rope as the steering apparatus.
Strategy consisted of determining how much lean was required to take the bend at the bottom of our driveway and at the same time stay on the seat. No seat belts, no helmets, no one even had bike helmets in those days.
So our cart would be oiled up, made as ship shape as we could manage and the fun would begin. Corners would be taken at breath-taking speeds and shoes controlled the pace of the cart braking thankfully before anyone seriously hurt themselves.
Not only did you want the fastest cart you also wanted to know the ins and outs of the neighbours carts as any one else’s idea was always worth stealing.
To this day I recall the scraps and cuts, bruises and spills as we competed on what we considered the great racetracks of the world even if it was down my driveway.
Written for: https://lindaghill.com/2016/05/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-2116/
Morpethroad 
Great story!
Thank you Stella. Lovely you could stop by.
You’re welcome–I like your reminiscences; it’s so easy to visualize your adventures…and I’m seeing many pairs of ruined shoes, er “brakes”!
And irate mums..
Oh yeah, that too 😦
Oh yes I remember those wild and woolly days of go-cart racing…you brought back a wonderful memory I had forgotten all about, thank you…fun story!! 🙂
Hi Deb, thanks for stopping by, they were exciting times.
They really were…such simple things kept us happy and occupied for hours! 🙂
And often covered in band aids
Lol…if only we had owned stock!! 🙂
It is memories like these that carry with them some strong bonds and lessons!
Very much so Deb, thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful recount. The simplicity and the joys of young life. I enjoyed this.
Thank you so much.
There’s too much ‘elf n’ safety these days, I feel like it stifles children (and adults!). The thing is, as a species we are natural risk takers. Cars are bigger and safer and we drive at higher speeds to compensate, because we know we can. I’m not advocating a return to no safety rules, but maybe just a touch more common sense, and less hiding behind the rules to CYA. I constantly had cuts and bruises as a little girl. I’d have loved a billycart!
Your tie into the prompt was great. It is amazing to me how we kids risked life and limb in the pursuit of fun. We had a park that had a paved hill and we would go there and shred the skin off anything left outside the cart. A little iodine and off we’d go again.
Yes exactly, injury was an occupational hazard. Thanks John hope you are keeping well.
Yes and you as well.
Ah, to be a kid again. 😀