ARDS test - advice please

[High flier]

Hi all,

I'm looking at doing my ARDS test over the winter.
I was wondering if there is a particular location which is best to go to for the ARDS test, or are they all largely the same (which I'm pretty much expecting given the structure of the test). For the record, I'm based in the South West, so its the Southern England/Midland circuits which I'm looking at.

Thanks in advance!

[eastlmark]

heard Silverstone are a bit tougher on the drive around test than others.....

[Racingben]

All largely the same. Given your location, Thruxton makes the most sense.

[Trev450]

Pembrey do it if you fancy a trip over the bridge.

[Oilchange]

Yet to see any statistics to back up the 'one place is harder than another' argument but I did mine at Silverstone and it wasn't an easy ride.
I felt a bit of animosity, basically because I wasn't the next lewis Hamilton...

[High flier]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was thinking about Thruxton, so I'll have a look at the their website

[eastlmark]

Oilchange said:

Yet to see any statistics to back up the 'one place is harder than another' argument but I did mine at Silverstone and it wasn't an easy ride.
I felt a bit of animosity, basically because I wasn't the next lewis Hamilton...

kind of backs up what I have heard, the driving part for me (at Brands) seemed just a formality, no pressure to go fast at all, just hit your apexes etc.

[spyderman8]

Did mine at Bedford having heard stories that Siverstone have a quota. Didn't do very well in the practical - couldn't get used to the massively over-servo'd brakes - and the instructor gave me extra coaching over the lunch break.

Chris.

[pete21]

Try Mallory park www.mallorypark.co.uk very relaxed ,excellent service to clients ,calming & understanding Instructors.

High flier said:

Hi all,

I'm looking at doing my ARDS test over the winter.
I was wondering if there is a particular location which is best to go to for the ARDS test, or are they all largely the same (which I'm pretty much expecting given the structure of the test). For the record, I'm based in the South West, so its the Southern England/Midland circuits which I'm looking at.

Thanks in advance!

[teamHOLDENracing]

I did my ARDS at Silverstone, admittedly 11 years ago. There were only 2 of us doing the test and we had both opted for extra tuition / track time prior to the test itself. After the practical bit the two of us chatted about how we'd got on - the other guy said 'terrible'. He'd he really struggled to remember the track and entered corners not knowing which way they went. His instructor gave him a really hard time and told him he wouldn't want to be on track with him in a race if he drove like that.

I remember thinking if he couldn't remember a circuit after an hour driving round what chance was he going to have in a 15-20 min qually in club racing? Ok it was the GP circuit, but really?!

They passed him anyway....

[CDP]

My wife took her test at Silverstone and failed, they seemed much tougher than 3 Sisters (where I took mine). Don't know if Cadwell (where she passed) were any easier as she had extra tuition and practice in between.

[BertBert]

I did mine on the Stowe circuit at Silverstone. I think a lot depends on the instructor/tester. I did a morning's instruction and struggled. I didn't know the circuit and the instructor was truly terrible. He knew what to do clearly, but completely failed to find a way to impart the knowledge. I passed, but didn't enjoy the experience! Been blundering about ever since

[andy97]

I was going to recommend Mallory, too. I didn't do my test there but I do know some of the instructors and have had instruction from one of them. The key point is that you will receive Instruction at Mallory, and not just Assessment.

[andy97]

I was going to recommend Mallory, too. I didn't do my test there but I do know some of the instructors and have had instruction from one of them. The key point is that you will receive Instruction at Mallory, and not just Assessment.

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 4th November 15:23

[BertBert]

was going to add that Miss Bert took her ARDS at Silverstone - had a blast and passed to boot.

[JeremyH5]

I took mine at Cadwell. Enjoyed it. Had tuition from examiner first. Good chap knew his stuff and imparted it well. Bonus is you use your own car so no need to drive a strange vehicle.

[terenceb]

BertBert said:

I did mine on the Stowe circuit at Silverstone. I think a lot depends on the instructor/tester. I did a morning's instruction and struggled. I didn't know the circuit and the instructor was truly terrible. He knew what to do clearly, but completely failed to find a way to impart the knowledge. I passed, but didn't enjoy the experience! Been blundering about ever since

So how come this wannabe instructor got his license? More than likely his father was a BRDC member! They have kids working there with under ten races to thier names ffs.
Go to Mallory, they WILL look after you as they see you as a customer who wants to race, not just a name with money in your pocket.
Over here (Nurburgring) we have heard quite a few complaints about The Home of British motorracing instruction levels.Sorry to say it but a lot of instructors there believe they are driving gods, its the image you get told to project to clients when applying for instruction work.More like bloody arrogance! (Rant over.lol)

[BertBert]

I guess simplistically, the problem is that instruction comes in two parts. One is the instructor knowing what the instructee should be doing. The other is knowing what to say to the instructee to get them to change their behavior.

Being a bit average, I've had plenty of instruction over the years so have seen this in action a lot. I don't think it's that rare a skill and perhaps in part it's a relationship thing, but I have experienced both good and bad. Certainly I've had instruction from people who others have raved about and I've not got on at all with it, so maybe it's not that simple after all!

It's certainly not to do with how much success you've had as a racer that makes you a great driving coach.

A couple of great examples for me... Andy Wallace is in a class of his own and clearly has had a superbly successful career. Ryan Hooker is also excellent and I hope he doesn't mind me noting that he hasn't won LeMans.

Bert

[terenceb]

In short you have to have teaching capability in the first place-without it you will only be talking to the person in the driver s seat.
Over here , it is essential to assess your pupils drivi g ability in the first few hundred metres.Drivi g style, used stick shift before (you would be surprised!)
etcetceram Race instruction in my book means race craft asll if the pupil has the intention of racing.Under these circumstances it pays to have been activly racing for a fair while as the craft is not learnt from books

[Spot performance]

Both myself and my daughter completed our course about 3 months ago at Pembrey.There were three students on the course,with one examiner/ instructor.He was more than fair, offered excellent advice and guidance above and beyond what we were expecting...more of a days instruction than a course you can pass or fail.Pembrey is a great circuit and easy to get to.