Palmersport Instructor Assessment Day
Discussion
Hi, I have been invited on Palmersport's instructor assessment day for which I applied by writing a letter to the Group Chief instructor some time ago. I made it clear I'm not currently a racing driver nor ever raced or even hold any kind of race licence but have still had the invite. I am a reasonably regular track day attendee though.
Could there have been a mistake because I've since read to complete your ARDS instructor course you must have competed in a number of races in a recognised championship?
Has anyone been on one of these days? What can I expect?
thanks.
Could there have been a mistake because I've since read to complete your ARDS instructor course you must have competed in a number of races in a recognised championship?
Has anyone been on one of these days? What can I expect?
thanks.
I've had an assessment for a track instructor job somewhere else. Lots of track based driving tasks, a bit of an interview, a bit of "what would you do if a customer drove like this" role playing.
I don't have an ARDS qualification and didn't need one.
Be honest with the interviewers about the level of driving you've done so you manage their expectations before you go out on track. You don't need to be god-like, merely better than the average punter, consistent and calm under stress. Take it easy on your first lap, even better ask them what sort of pace they are expecting. I also describe everthing I'm doing while I'm doing it - not sure if it helps mind, but it makes me focus.
Good luck, and don't let the competition intimidate you - I had BTCC drivers at the same assessment day as me, but I still did well enough to be offered a job - they pick instructors from a pool of available drivers for each event, and the racers are often racing.
Remember - they want to give you the job, you just have to avoid giving them a reason not to.
I don't have an ARDS qualification and didn't need one.
Be honest with the interviewers about the level of driving you've done so you manage their expectations before you go out on track. You don't need to be god-like, merely better than the average punter, consistent and calm under stress. Take it easy on your first lap, even better ask them what sort of pace they are expecting. I also describe everthing I'm doing while I'm doing it - not sure if it helps mind, but it makes me focus.
Good luck, and don't let the competition intimidate you - I had BTCC drivers at the same assessment day as me, but I still did well enough to be offered a job - they pick instructors from a pool of available drivers for each event, and the racers are often racing.
Remember - they want to give you the job, you just have to avoid giving them a reason not to.
Captain Muppet said:
screwloose said:
What is the typical pay like for a role like this?
My data is a few years old, but it was about £140ish for a day. Not a lot given the potential risks.I do admire their courage going out with a load of randoms, who may or may not be able to drive, but I assumed they'd usually be able to rein in the overly-ambitious ones before it all went wrong.
Captain Muppet said:
I've had an assessment for a track instructor job somewhere else. Lots of track based driving tasks, a bit of an interview, a bit of "what would you do if a customer drove like this" role playing.
I don't have an ARDS qualification and didn't need one.
Be honest with the interviewers about the level of driving you've done so you manage their expectations before you go out on track. You don't need to be god-like, merely better than the average punter , consistent and calm under stress. Take it easy on your first lap, even better ask them what sort of pace they are expecting. I also describe everthing I'm doing while I'm doing it - not sure if it helps mind, but it makes me focus.
Good luck, and don't let the competition intimidate you - I had BTCC drivers at the same assessment day as me, but I still did well enough to be offered a job - they pick instructors from a pool of available drivers for each event, and the racers are often racing.
Remember - they want to give you the job, you just have to avoid giving them a reason not to.
And this is what annoys me with TD instruction. I always booked a session when I did TDs as I found it's useful to learn the track and have your mistakes pointed out to you with respect to line, braking points, etc.I don't have an ARDS qualification and didn't need one.
Be honest with the interviewers about the level of driving you've done so you manage their expectations before you go out on track. You don't need to be god-like, merely better than the average punter , consistent and calm under stress. Take it easy on your first lap, even better ask them what sort of pace they are expecting. I also describe everthing I'm doing while I'm doing it - not sure if it helps mind, but it makes me focus.
Good luck, and don't let the competition intimidate you - I had BTCC drivers at the same assessment day as me, but I still did well enough to be offered a job - they pick instructors from a pool of available drivers for each event, and the racers are often racing.
Remember - they want to give you the job, you just have to avoid giving them a reason not to.
On two occasions now I've had some terrible advice from 'instructors'. First, was on my first ever TD when I queried the excessive tyre wear I was suffering on my westy. The advice that the tyre pressures were too low (it was actually too high) and that it needed increasing - cost me a set of tyres as I destroyed them in an afternoon session.
Second, was asking some advice about which line to take, to which the instructor tried to blag it by suggesting I take the two different lines I was suggesting and to see what I think. He was clueless.
I'm certainly in the average driver category, but I expect the instructors I've paid money to, to be a lot better and more knowledgeable than I am. I'd certainly expect them to know which line to take, and the basics about car maintenance WRT to track use.
Don't get me wrong, I've had some great instructors too, but the percentage of poor ones is too high IMO.
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