ARDS Test final check?
Discussion
untruth said:
Alright, so thanks for everyones wonderful advice and help - I don't think I could have done it without all this! I did my ARDS test today at Thruxton and passed! Read on, slightly nicked from another forum post I made!
As you know, it was my first time I've ever been on track, and it was an odd one as I was advised both to NOT GO WITHOUT LESSONS and also to NOT WORRY ABOUT LESSONS from here and elsewhere! I spoke to Thruxton about all this and they assured me I'd likely be fine, especially as the day we did today was specially arranged due to weather and so there was only ONE other car out on track and plenty of time to work on stuff if there was any problems. Less traffic made it much easier to concentrate on the task at hand, and I only had one over take and one overtaking of someone else.
I was driving the Mazda3 MPS, which is some ungoldly powerhouse of 2.3 litres and turbo. Pretty awesome little beast though.
The guy took us for a ride round the track, and I sat in the front passenger seat clinging to it for my dear life, quietly wetting myself. I'm sure someone who's been in a modern round a track at speed would laugh, but as someone who drives an MG Midget and a 20 year old Golf, as well as a very fast motorbike (but generally quite gingerly!), never seen 120-130 in ANY vehicle - never mind as passenger on a track - it was somewhat of an experience for me!
(did the theory bit, yadda, yadda, easy)
Took the car out myself with him and got myself up to quite a pace, probably 'too much' for my comfort with the track and car but it was very hard to gauge what was appropriate as the car felt invincible to drive and was very much a 'false sense of security'. Was slowly weened off my 'sawing' of the steering wheel ("do you ride a bike mate? yeah I can tell!"), when I finally realised that it didn't fight with me every split second like a Midget would on a corner, or a bike for that matter. Turns out, no need to do countersteering on a car! Just let it glide.
Anyway, he complimented me on my eye for racing line and brake points etc, pointed out that I was in 5th not 3 (what is with these newer gearboxes where you don't have to STIR the porridge to find a gear? disappointingly simple!) and said I was tense. Yes, I certainly was!
Much more 'prepped' for what it's like on course now and understand it better. We'll be taking the Sprite out on track in March time so we can get a better idea of how that handles on track, get as much practice in of track time.........
Yours, dearly, a very novice 'racer' with a brand new license!
Congratulations, & well done!! Can you remember who your instructor was?? HAs you know, it was my first time I've ever been on track, and it was an odd one as I was advised both to NOT GO WITHOUT LESSONS and also to NOT WORRY ABOUT LESSONS from here and elsewhere! I spoke to Thruxton about all this and they assured me I'd likely be fine, especially as the day we did today was specially arranged due to weather and so there was only ONE other car out on track and plenty of time to work on stuff if there was any problems. Less traffic made it much easier to concentrate on the task at hand, and I only had one over take and one overtaking of someone else.
I was driving the Mazda3 MPS, which is some ungoldly powerhouse of 2.3 litres and turbo. Pretty awesome little beast though.
The guy took us for a ride round the track, and I sat in the front passenger seat clinging to it for my dear life, quietly wetting myself. I'm sure someone who's been in a modern round a track at speed would laugh, but as someone who drives an MG Midget and a 20 year old Golf, as well as a very fast motorbike (but generally quite gingerly!), never seen 120-130 in ANY vehicle - never mind as passenger on a track - it was somewhat of an experience for me!
(did the theory bit, yadda, yadda, easy)
Took the car out myself with him and got myself up to quite a pace, probably 'too much' for my comfort with the track and car but it was very hard to gauge what was appropriate as the car felt invincible to drive and was very much a 'false sense of security'. Was slowly weened off my 'sawing' of the steering wheel ("do you ride a bike mate? yeah I can tell!"), when I finally realised that it didn't fight with me every split second like a Midget would on a corner, or a bike for that matter. Turns out, no need to do countersteering on a car! Just let it glide.
Anyway, he complimented me on my eye for racing line and brake points etc, pointed out that I was in 5th not 3 (what is with these newer gearboxes where you don't have to STIR the porridge to find a gear? disappointingly simple!) and said I was tense. Yes, I certainly was!
Much more 'prepped' for what it's like on course now and understand it better. We'll be taking the Sprite out on track in March time so we can get a better idea of how that handles on track, get as much practice in of track time.........
Yours, dearly, a very novice 'racer' with a brand new license!
Edited by untruth on Friday 13th February 18:03
I want my midget back!untruth said:
ginettajoe said:
Can you remember who your instructor was?? H
I can't quite remember the name, tried to read the script on his jacket as he left but failed. Alan Grenthrowe? 
, .... just start printing money, lots of it!!!
Hi Untruth - long time since I logged in but I too have my ARDS this Friday at Thruxton and have trawled PH for advice. Am getting a little "sweaty palm" moment the closer Friday gets! I did have a competition license in 1990 but i only ever did a couple of sprints and it turned out that I dod not need a license anyway. I plan to race a 1965 MGB built to FIA spec. any hints as to what comes up in the written/what to do/not to do which has not already been said. There seems to be very little on the net other than common sense such as not driving like an idiot and sticking to the lines. Incidentally I have never driven at Thruxton before - is it a difficult track to learn?
untruth said:
Is that the one that had the frontend hanging off at Mallory last year? Bloody fantastic car and totally in the spirit of it all. Was great to watch he race in that.
that’s the one, thanks for the complements 
the damage looked worse than it was. It was just the fiberglass front end scrunched up a bit. But that was in qualifying so we spent quite some time patching it together for the race and didn’t have time for the usual thorough check over. We were still trying to make sure it all stayed together for the race when we were called up. So unfortunately we missed a plug lead that had become dislodged in the shunt, the car ran fine in the paddock but as soon as she was back out on track the engine was coughing and spluttering all the way round. Its almost back in shape again now, I’ve been a bit lazy, I keep telling myself its too cold for body repairs, but it should be ready to go again by next weekend, as long as I don’t spend to long at the Race Retro show.
Oh and just to keep it on topic Sandie had to her ARDS written test last year because her previous licence had expired quite a few years ago, ARDS didn’t exist when we first had our licenses so she was really worried about doing it without any revision material (you don’t get the 'go racing pack' if you are re applying for a license).
All was well in the end, she passed with 100%.
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