ATC 70 - from dump to daughter's 1st ride!

[pismorat]

So here's the story. Found this ATC 70 being thrown away at a local mountain dump and talked the guy into letting me have it instead of the dozer. This was it in 2005:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/270744/fullsize/mini_red_1.jpg

I rebuilt it and made it a runner for the past 8-9 years and have had a blast. I learned how to ride on one, so my plan was to have my child learn to ride on it. This was it minus seat:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/297193/fullsize/mini_red_9.jpg

I was married in '07, and my daughter born in '11. She and I have ridden this around our backyard (1 acre) for the past three years, but now it's her turn. I tore it down for a full refresh and took it out to the desert this past weekend. She rode it with my wife or I on the back...until Sunday when I "had to get off to help it go up the incline" and voila! She rode it solo for a solid hour and loved it! Talk about a proud papa!!
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1052098/fullsize/img_1527.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/1052099/fullsize/img_1525.jpg

I met a couple other ATC enthusiasts out there too (are you on here?). Raced an old Baja race trike with my '85R up Sanddam (and won) and talked with them for a while. It was an awesome trip!

[Flyingw]

ALRIGHT!!! That's good clean family fun right there. Now introduce her to MUD!!!!!!!!

[briano]

Nice. I'm building a 70 for my 3 year old daughter also. Haven't done much with it yet besides get the China motor in it and running. I will take pics as I go and start a thread later.

[coolpool]

Nice work pismo! You gotta love the success stories when you can relife a machine AND make a youngster happy.

[pismorat]

It's an amazing feeling to see my own kid riding on the same kindof bike I learned to ride on. I only want the best for her and for her to be able to have as much fun as I have. I'm already getting ready to make her a small "circle track" in our back yard so she can keep on riding throughout the year.

If anyone is in Jamul, CA - I have a small "50" track in my back yard that's a fun place for beginners to have fun and learn to handle their machines.

Raising our youngsters on the "proper" machines is a major part of our society that is sadly missing.

[onformula1]

Great job, Great build, Great Dad!

I started on a 1977 ATC70 when I was 4 years old and I turn out just fine! :lol:

Nothing beats riding 3 wheelers with family.

Soon it will be paddles & Glamis.

[SteveCZ28]

awesome. i love reading threads like this. im doing the exact same for my daughter, and now son (born in december '14) i already have had a pair of 70s for over a year now, and been doing tinkering here and there with them. my daughters is a 79. that im rebuilding/restoring into a pink/white and chrome theme. already have pink fender set, had a custom set of pink/silver decals made. and the boys 70 is a 1985. itll just be a stock rebuild/resotre. and i have a complete set of new red maiers for it as well. im more tickled about building these little wheelers for my kids, than i am about riding my own stuff. cant wait till we can go as a family