Racing virgin; getting from B license to an A license....

[toppstuff]

Having a chat with a friend in the pub later this week.

He got his B license now after getting past the ARDS test ( Silverstone, i think.... ) and he is suitably excited.

So, what is the experience of people around here who have been down the same road? He's a chap in his late 30's and has a bit of money for an old race car and would love to progress and get some experience.

He's thinking of a 924/ 944, maybe an old Alfa, etc..

I confess to not having a clue about the wide range of race series out there, so to help me sound wise and enlightened when we plot his future success as the next Chris Harris at Goodwood , does anyone here have the lowdown on what is good and what is not in novice motorsport ? What IS the best way to earn your stripes and progress over next season for a keen amateur?

[AWRacing]

924/944 is probably a good choice to get experience in, not overly powerful so a good learning car and he'll have fun.

Unless the championship dictates he needs a national A licence there is no need to get one for club racing in the UK. He'll need to run with a novice cross until he obtains 6 signatures on his licence. At that point he can remove the cross and if he so wishes can apply for an 'A' licence (again, really not needed unless regs state so or he wants to race on the continent)

[DanglerDoo]

toppstuff said:

Having a chat with a friend in the pub later this week.

He got his B license now after getting past the ARDS test ( Silverstone, i think.... ) and he is suitably excited.

So, what is the experience of people around here who have been down the same road? He's a chap in his late 30's and has a bit of money for an old race car and would love to progress and get some experience.

He's thinking of a 924/ 944, maybe an old Alfa, etc..

I confess to not having a clue about the wide range of race series out there, so to help me sound wise and enlightened when we plot his future success as the next Chris Harris at Goodwood , does anyone here have the lowdown on what is good and what is not in novice motorsport ? What IS the best way to earn your stripes and progress over next season for a keen amateur?

Will be keeping a close eye on this thread as it's always confused me about the A & B thing; think the second poster got it spot on though. May I ask what it cost, all in, to get his B licence? Ta

Edited by DanglerDoo on Tuesday 17th September 09:06

[thunderbelmont]

AWRacing said:

924/944 is probably a good choice to get experience in, not overly powerful so a good learning car and he'll have fun.

Unless the championship dictates he needs a national A licence there is no need to get one for club racing in the UK. He'll need to run with a novice cross until he obtains 6 signatures on his licence. At that point he can remove the cross and if he so wishes can apply for an 'A' licence (again, really not needed unless regs state so or he wants to race on the continent)

Exactly - unless you *need* a higher grade licence, it's just more cost. There are very few National-A grade championships in the UK (IIRC - Britcar requires it), and even fewer where you'd need a International-C (British GT etc..).

First things first, get a car to learn in, and get some learning done - find a good instructor to help on the road to the front of the grid.

One test day with a good instructor is worth a dozen or more without.

[bqf]

A licence is really only either:

1. Necessary because your UK based series has a Euro round. We raced in Zandvoort this year and everyone needed to upgrade to Nat 'A'; or
2. You want to progress to International racing proper - e.g. VLN, VdeV, etc etc. You can't go from a Nat 'b' to an International 'C' without upgrading to National 'A'.

Basically, forget about an 'A' licence unless you want to race internationally. Or you have your sights on F1

[woof]

The MSA "dumbed down" a lot of the champs to a National B to increase grid sizes a few years back.
Seems madness (I've mentioned it before) that you can go straight into Britcar as a novice.

[e36er]

DanglerDoo said:

May I ask what it cost, all in, to get his B licence? Ta

Edited by DanglerDoo on Tuesday 17th September 09:06

Roughly £370.

[ginettajoe]

e36er said:

DanglerDoo said:

May I ask what it cost, all in, to get his B licence? Ta

Edited by DanglerDoo on Tuesday 17th September 09:06

Roughly £370.

......... plus medical at somewhere between £75 & £125, and the cost of the licence at £52. The £320 will only cover the cost of "The novice driver training course" (ARDS test) and the "Go Racing Pack". A realistic figure start to finish is £450!!!!

[BaronVonVaderham]

£57 for Go Racing Pack
£250 for half-day ARDS at Bransd Hatch
£30 Medical with GP
£58 for the licence itself.

£395 total paid a few months ago to get mine.