ARDS test and getting started
Discussion
I passed ok and had a fair bit of fun on the Silverstone GP circuit. My instructor was very good and had me going much smoother after a few laps and encouraged me to keep building the speed. After a while I was flat out in fourth, and was allowed to use second through the slower corners. I went a lot quicker than I had intended, but because we built it up steadily I was never in danger of falling off the track - which I would have done if I had tried to go quickly to start with.
The written test is pretty easy once you know your flags. Although even that was fairly easy. 'Which flag is displayed with an orange disc blah blah?' Err, possibly the only flag with and orange disc, the black one?
To be honest I thought the test devalued the whole thing - it had numerous typos in it and some of the multiple choice options were so daft it made it seem a bit noddy.
I also didn't like the attitude of the main instructor. It was as if he was trying to say 'I'm the racing driver around here, and don't you forget it'. He came across as being very arrogant - his style was to ask open questions and tease answers out of the two of us, then disagree with every single answer we gave. He also got very technical very early on. Yes, in our racing careers we will need to develop the ability to analyse sectors of laps and understand where time savings come from. But I'm not sure we needed to spend 10 minutes being lectured on 'knowing where that half second came from' as part of the ARDS test preparation? It was almost as if he was trying to discourage us.
The final bit was after we had both passed and he asked us if we wanted to ask him anything. We didn't, so he offered again, adding that he was very good at pulling women, if we wanted any tips on that!!! We declined!
I got my first signature marshalling at Croft and hope to get out in a Caterham soon.
The written test is pretty easy once you know your flags. Although even that was fairly easy. 'Which flag is displayed with an orange disc blah blah?' Err, possibly the only flag with and orange disc, the black one?
To be honest I thought the test devalued the whole thing - it had numerous typos in it and some of the multiple choice options were so daft it made it seem a bit noddy.
I also didn't like the attitude of the main instructor. It was as if he was trying to say 'I'm the racing driver around here, and don't you forget it'. He came across as being very arrogant - his style was to ask open questions and tease answers out of the two of us, then disagree with every single answer we gave. He also got very technical very early on. Yes, in our racing careers we will need to develop the ability to analyse sectors of laps and understand where time savings come from. But I'm not sure we needed to spend 10 minutes being lectured on 'knowing where that half second came from' as part of the ARDS test preparation? It was almost as if he was trying to discourage us.
The final bit was after we had both passed and he asked us if we wanted to ask him anything. We didn't, so he offered again, adding that he was very good at pulling women, if we wanted any tips on that!!! We declined!
I got my first signature marshalling at Croft and hope to get out in a Caterham soon.
Welcome to the world of the ever decreasing Bank balance...
Well done have fun,
the following two lines come in handy
1)
q) how do you make a small fortune in motor racing
a) Start with a very large one
2)
q) how do you tell if there is a racing driver in the room
a)dont worry He'll tell you...
G
Well done have fun,
the following two lines come in handy
1)
q) how do you make a small fortune in motor racing
a) Start with a very large one
2)
q) how do you tell if there is a racing driver in the room
a)dont worry He'll tell you...
G
29 
DanH said:
Andy, how are the costs on racing a Tuscan if you don't mind me asking?
Have a look at the 'costs' thread on the Tuscan Challenge forum.
It is sodding expensive by normal standards, but whether this is expensive by motorracing standards, I don't know.
I have spent over £1,500 in parts alone in 3 races - main items being a pair of front discs, £500, a steering rack, £300 and a load of odds and sods that all mount up....
MMM even the tasmin race in france came to a few quid
Entry fee's 250
ferry 150
fuel(van +taz) 150
test session 100
hotel ( 2 peeps 3 nights) 180
food 60
engine fix after siezed lifter 1300
then again mallory the other week was
test session 80
entry fee 145
fuel 50
so it varies a bit
p.s. the year before when i went to mallory was a little more expensive, after a trip into the tyres the rebuild cost 4k, just glad that wasnt a Tuscan!!!!!
Entry fee's 250
ferry 150
fuel(van +taz) 150
test session 100
hotel ( 2 peeps 3 nights) 180
food 60
engine fix after siezed lifter 1300
then again mallory the other week was
test session 80
entry fee 145
fuel 50
so it varies a bit
p.s. the year before when i went to mallory was a little more expensive, after a trip into the tyres the rebuild cost 4k, just glad that wasnt a Tuscan!!!!!
Well done for the top ten finish.
I have just come off the 5 day course at Silverstone and can't recommend it enough. Even though you are clearly quick, I guarantee that the instructors there will make you quicker.
Also a top group of people and a fun learning experience. And as for costs - just over £3k for the amount of track time and instruction you receive is, for motorsport - for nothing.
Rich
I have just come off the 5 day course at Silverstone and can't recommend it enough. Even though you are clearly quick, I guarantee that the instructors there will make you quicker.
Also a top group of people and a fun learning experience. And as for costs - just over £3k for the amount of track time and instruction you receive is, for motorsport - for nothing.
Rich
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