Andrew Kinder began racing at 13.

Photos courtesy of Jay Kinder

Andrew Kinder on the track in February. For more photos of Andrew Kinder, visit The Notebook on swo-co.com. &

Andrew Kinder, 18 and a senior at Cave Spring High School, isn't your typical athlete. Not to say that he doesn't enjoy sports offered at the school, but he'd rather be riding his bike.

That's right -- and his bike weighs 250 pounds and is louder than a Harley-Davidson.

"My neighbor had a dirt bike and he got me into riding," Kinder said. "My parents weren't happy about it, but I like doing everything that's dangerous."

Kinder raced for the first time at 13. Much to everyone's surprise he won first place at the Arena Cross at the Salem Civic Center. He competed with an 85, a smaller bike for beginners.

Up until a few years ago he still raced the 85 but then he got hurt and wanted to play soccer -- until recently when he and his father, Jay, made a bet that if he kept his grades up, he could start racing again.

Kinder is only 140 pounds 'soaking wet' according to his mother, Jackie, but said motocross is no joke and he's good at it.

"People think it's an easy sport, but it's not," Kinder said. "You can't just go out there and ride. You have to practice because you can really get hurt. I can ride six hours a day. By the end of the day I can't close my hands from gripping the handlebars."

And motocross is expensive too, Kinder said, and takes a lot of time. With the help of Todd Burrow -- his sister's husband, his uncle -- Joe Lewis, and his dad, they make it happen. Every weekend they travel to one of several places to so that Kinder can practice.

Kinder travels to Lake Sugartree in Axton and Burch Creek in Danville and gets in about 12 hours during the school week. When school lets out, he'll push that to 20 hours. "I hate to say this, but if you don't get hurt you don't learn," Kinder said. "I don't go out there full throttle. I ride the track a couple times. You have to commit to every move. You can't lose focus. You have to focus on every move. It's serious because people do get hurt every week at the track."

But still his mother and father stand by him and encourage him, but that's not to say they weren't a bit skeptical at first. "My husband and I, at first, were against this. But when you see his potential you have to let him. It's what he loves," Kinder's mom said.

Kinder says he has spent over $1,000 in gear to protect him while he rides and always wears his helmet. "Safety is first when it comes to riding," he said. "I wear more protection than I have to."

It's not always been easy for Kinder, who says he once broke all his toes and his foot.

"You have to understand that I'm doing about 40 miles per hour before a jump, which is a 110-foot gap. When I first got out on the track, I was scared to death because you don't know how people are judging you."

Kinder feels that often people don't respect him for riding and just don't understand all the work that must be put into racing motocross. "I have to take my bike apart each week and do maintenance too," Kinder added. "And people look at motocross as only a girls' sport, but boys get out there and race hard."

All in all, it may be dangerous and a serious sport, but Kinder finds it fun and entertaining.

"I'm not the best yet but I'd like to be." As he moved into race season this March Kinder planned to catch up and learn how to ride harder and faster. "My favorite part is meeting new people and seeing other people's riding styles."

Kinder's race season started at the end of March. Before the season he must qualify to race in a division. This year he qualified in a 250C class and finished 15th in his heat. His ultimate goal is to go pro with the biggest bike possible and make some money by winning races. "I have to prove what I can do and place. To compare with the top guys you have to get a sponsor and to do that you take them photos, videos, and win."

He's even gained important life skills through his motorcross experience.

"He's self taught on how to take apart his bike and put it back together. He does everything by just looking at it," his mom said. "People don't understand. People have to believe in the sport and in Andy."

After he graduates this year, Kinder hopes to continue racing. He is also considering going into the Marines or going to a car school in Pheonix, Ariz.

"The thing I'm most proud of is not what I win, but being with my dad and my sister's husband."