RMQMA - Rocky Mountain Quarter Midget Association

Our club is The Rocky Mountain Quarter Midget Association or "RMQMA". For 50 years the RMQMA has been part of children's sports in Colorado, providing a fun, safe, motorsport experience for families in the greater Denver area. This year we are celebrating our 50th anniversary! RMQMA is part of Region 8, which includes Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Montana. Check our schedule - you are welcome to visit our track, meet the members, racers, and watch some great racing.

From Denver, go north on I-25 to the Erie exit (Exit 232) and go east approx 1 mile. The road turns to gravel; you will proceed about 1/2 mile and make a right turn into the IMI Motorsports Complex. Our track is located in the southwest corner of the complex.

There are many Quarter Midget racetracks in North America. Beginning in the Los Angeles area back in 1937, Quarter Midget racing has grown significantly. The carts have improved from the metal platforms on wheels that carried a Maytag washing-machine engine to the highly specified (and very safe) engines available from a dozen manufacturers. Races are held in virtually every region of the continental United States and Canada. One of the QMA clubs in (1966), was headed up by none other than Robert LaBonte in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr. LaBonte is the father of Terry and Bobby LaBonte of NASCAR fame. Today, QMA has over 2,500 families with over 3,500 drivers that race on oval tracks, comprised of asphalt, concrete or dirt surfaces.

Quarter Midget racing is motorsport racing for kids. A Quarter Midget is a small racecar designed for children to drive on small oval racetracks. In fact, it is a scaled-down version of a Midget-style racecar. It's only about 1/4 (one-fourth) the size of a Midget racecar, hence the term "Quarter Midget". The cars race on an oval racetrack about 1/20th of a mile in size, approximately 1/4th the size that the full-scale Midgets run on. Quarter Midgets can attain speeds of about 20 to 40 miles per hour, which is about 1/4th the speed of a full-scale Midget.

The cars feature full suspension systems, disc brakes and full roll cages. Seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, approved helmets and suits are also mandatory because safety is the prime consideration in this sport. Power is supplied by a 4 cycle engine, with specifications closely set by the national governing body and enforced at each local club by race officials.

Racecars vary in price but it is good to shop around. Many second-hand carts in good condition can be found and are perfect for starter cars. The cost can run from $700 for an older used car, to nearly $4,500 for a top-of-the-line model with all the bells and whistles. Motor costs also also vary greatly. A brand new Honda motor (the most popular classes) is readily available for around $450. Local clubs can often put a shopper in touch with a member offering a package deal of a used car, motor and gear.

Racing classes are divided by age, weight and motor type. In addition, drivers are divided between those with experience and those who are new to the sport (Novices). The Novices are further divided by age - young drivers (Juniors) and older drivers (Seniors). The minimum age for a Novice is 5 years old. The Junior and Senior Novice Divisions of the Novice Class are both non-competitive racing classes. They exist as a learning class only for new drivers.

Junior and Senior Novices are moved up to a competitive class after several races (usually somewhere between 3 and 20 races). They are moved to either the Honda Class or the Stock Class or both. The Honda Classes both have Junior, Senior and Heavy Divisions. The Heavy Divisions of these two Classes are for drivers that weigh more than 100 pounds. After a driver completes at least three races in the stock class he or she may move to the Modified, Modified B or Alcohol AA class. Each of these three classes has Light and Heavy Divisions. Drivers 14 to 18 years old may race in the Junior Division of the 1/2 Midget Class. Drivers 19 years and older may race in the Senior Division of the 1/2 Midget Class.

Quarter Midget racing provides competitive motorsports for children ages 5-16; however, the whole family is invited to get involved, with Dad as crew-chief and head-mechanic, Mom working in the tower scoring races, and big brothers and sisters working in the snack bar. Lots of little brothers and sisters can be found playing all day in the racecar trailers and motorhomes.

This is entry-level (auto) racing and no experience is necessary. Quarter Midget racing is the only form of auto racing where a child can start racing on the track at age 5. Auto racing is the fastest growing sport in America and Quarter Midgets of America is the best (and only) place to start at such a young age. However, the purpose of this organization is to create and maintain a clean, safe healthy sport to be enjoyed by the family in close relationship with better sportsmanship.