ARDS

[brucie286]

I'm thinking about doing my ARDS test to hopefully go racing next year. I've done track days for about a year, and was looking at who offers the test and how difficult it is?

Any comments, thoughts welcome...

[andye30m3]

I did mine last year a goodwood, The written part was fairly straight forward. The practical part wasn't to bad but for an additional charge they will give you some pratise laps before the 3 test laps. As i han't ever driven goodwood before i feel i'd have done a better job if i'd done the additional laps, still passed though, which is the main thing

As for were its done i think you can do it at Goodwood, malloy park, silverstone and loads more. i think theres a list in the go racing pack

[JP_Midget]

It's no problem.

You need a go racing pack from the MSA, which has the form you need in it, along with the blue book and DVDs. It's about 50 quid. These run like the licences from 1st Jan - 31st Dec, so it may be better to phone them up on the 3rd 2nd Jan '08 to get one? You will be able to use this year's form for a licence next year (I did with last year's).

The practical part of ARDS is looking that you can be safe on track, so you have to drive fast and 'well', but you don't have to push it!

The written test was too easy when I did it, but it's been redone I think. I do think this will make it more worth while, and the old one was so silly it was very easy not to concentrate!!!!!

Oh, and once you get out racing you'll see just how limiting track days are!

Edited by JP_Midget on Friday 16th November 16:24

[SuperKartRacer]

brucie286 said:

I'm thinking about doing my ARDS test to hopefully go racing next year. I've done track days for about a year, and was looking at who offers the test and how difficult it is?

Any comments, thoughts welcome...

If it's close do it at Mallory, flags you need to get 100% right, driving is safe and awareness! they take you out for a few laps then you take over and its'
up to you if you overtake etc, I was told to talk my way around track and mention who was in mirrors etc

Was driving a M3 with single seaters and SR3's flying around the track.... great fun doing the test with them up your arse.....

Not flat out driving, spin and you fail..

[Kevp]

Do you use your own "race car" or a circuit based one?

[JP_Midget]

I've only every heard of circuit based cars being used. I was in a Mazda 6 I think it was at Thruxton, did about 6 laps.

[Graham]

If your at all interested in competing I'd say go straight out and get your licence done and out of the way. then its done...

I've never heard of it being done in anything other than the instructors vehicle.

for lots of people ( me included) their ards is the first time on a circuit... I'd advise taking a package with some instruction then the ards test.

ANother option if you can afford it ( couple of K or so) is to do the week long course at silverstone, that gets you your ards lots of trg and a couple of real races...

G

[Redmax]

They use Exiges at Silverstone, although they have a reputation there for being tough (which isn't necessarily a bad thing of course)

[5mudge]

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/php/ma_ultimateRace.php 
(Hoped that worked!!)^^^^^^^^

Done mine here when I was 16. I would recommend it. Its worth every penny. Granted, 1 or 2 of the instructors were abit hard on me, but that put the fear of god in me and made me determined to work harder and improve.

[Kevp]

Another question.
What if you do the ARDS but then dont go racing for another season? Are you still eligable or do you go back to square 1 and take the ards again? ie pass in Dec 07 but dont/cant race until 09 season.

Also can you get a car checked out before the season starts by a scrutiner, for eligability or do you just follow the blue book & hope at the 1st event all is OK?

Thanks

[LamboAndy]

Did Mine at Silverstone three years ago. It isn't as easy as everyone made out to be. The written test is fairly straight forward. However the instructors at Silverstone are really strict and unless you can show totally consistency lap after lap you've no chance. There was 24 of us on our course and only 8 of us passed. Thankfully I was one of the eight.
They've tightened up everywhere recently beacuse of the no of rookies being injured/killed on their first outings, so i was told.

Andy.

[bennyboy1]

I went to Brands Hatch and did mine as part of a trackday. Took my own car to do the trackday and get some instruction but the test was in theire renault meganes. Now i've just got to decide what to enter!!!

[Cuzza]

Kevp said:

Another question.
What if you do the ARDS but then dont go racing for another season? Are you still eligable or do you go back to square 1 and take the ards again? ie pass in Dec 07 but dont/cant race until 09 season.

Also can you get a car checked out before the season starts by a scrutiner, for eligability or do you just follow the blue book & hope at the 1st event all is OK?

Thanks

If you don't actually apply for the license you'll need to do the test again I think, if you get your license but don't use it, you can just renew it every year AFAIK. You'll have to carry a novice cross (yellow sticker witha black cross) until you've done 6 races.

You will be scrutineered at every event, but you would prep your car by reading your series regs and the blue book where applicable (your series regs can override the blue book if approved by the MSA) - normally the relevant sections are referenced in your regs. Best bet is to buy a car that's already raced in the series you're interested in as it's cheaper and easier.

Before you book your ARDS test, get you medical done. If you have some deadly condituion that means you can't race then you don't want to have already paid for your test.

Hope that helps.

[ant911]

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

[SuperKartRacer]

ant911 said:

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

before, or you can't drive! :-)

HTH

SKR
Racing Driver

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Sunday 10th February 22:58

[custardtart]

Kevp said:

Another question.
What if you do the ARDS but then dont go racing for another season? Are you still eligable or do you go back to square 1 and take the ards again? ie pass in Dec 07 but dont/cant race until 09 season.

Also can you get a car checked out before the season starts by a scrutiner, for eligability or do you just follow the blue book & hope at the 1st event all is OK?

Thanks

You can get it checked by a scrut. Phone up the series rep for the series you want to rave in and ask them who your nearest scrut is, then give em a call and arrange to get your car checked.

[JP_Midget]

SuperKartRacer said:

ant911 said:

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

before, or you can't drive! :-)

HTH

SKR
Racing Driver

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Sunday 10th February 22:58

Not any more you don't. You can do it either way around (unless they've changed it again since last spring).

[SuperKartRacer]

JP_Midget said:

SuperKartRacer said:

ant911 said:

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

before, or you can't drive! :-)

HTH

SKR
Racing Driver

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Sunday 10th February 22:58

Not any more you don't. You can do it either way around (unless they've changed it again since last spring).

So if you are blind or have a knacked heart you could take test?

[SuperKartRacer]

JP_Midget said:

SuperKartRacer said:

ant911 said:

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

before, or you can't drive! :-)

HTH

SKR
Racing Driver

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Sunday 10th February 22:58

Not any more you don't. You can do it either way around (unless they've changed it again since last spring).

So if you are blind or have a knacked heart you could take test?

[JP_Midget]

SuperKartRacer said:

JP_Midget said:

SuperKartRacer said:

ant911 said:

Do you have to have taken your medical before sitting your ARDS test, or can you do it afterwards?

before, or you can't drive! :-)

HTH

SKR
Racing Driver

Edited by SuperKartRacer on Sunday 10th February 22:58

Not any more you don't. You can do it either way around (unless they've changed it again since last spring).

So if you are blind or have a knacked heart you could take test?

I did mine before I got my medical bit done after I phoned to enquire when the venue I wanted to do it at were running ARDS, and was told that the requirement for the medical to be done prior to the test was no longer a requirement.

I'd hope that they'd stop a blind person before they were out on track, and anyone that knows they have a medical condition ought to really ask their doctor first in case it would prevent them racing, if only so that they don't pay out for the test and then fail the medical.

Obviously I'm new to racing, but I'd doubt that there are an awful lot of conditions that would prevent someone who felt able from taking up the sport?