Becoming an instructor
Discussion
lots of experience i would imagine!
general skills I would assume to be customer-focused and an ability to articulate which might be better than all out speed and ability. best bet would be to phone places like brands and find out what basis they employ their instructors on but also hunt down a few "private" instrcutors or those who work in conjunction with the trackday organisers if such people exist and see what they say.
general skills I would assume to be customer-focused and an ability to articulate which might be better than all out speed and ability. best bet would be to phone places like brands and find out what basis they employ their instructors on but also hunt down a few "private" instrcutors or those who work in conjunction with the trackday organisers if such people exist and see what they say.
If you have sufficient racing experience (i.e at least a couple of years at National A or International C) then you will probably have enough on your CV to contact one of the school's directly.
I say experience, because, from a personal point of view I would not be willing to pay for instruction from somebody who only passed their ARDS test recently, no matter how quick they claim to be, or how quick they claim to make you!
There are a few posters here on PH who are professional instructors. I can't speak for all of them, but can vouch for Simon Mason (www.simonmason.com). He posts here under the user name of... Simon Mason !!! If he doesn't reply to this post you might try contacting him. He's very helpful, and won't give you any BS.
I say experience, because, from a personal point of view I would not be willing to pay for instruction from somebody who only passed their ARDS test recently, no matter how quick they claim to be, or how quick they claim to make you!
There are a few posters here on PH who are professional instructors. I can't speak for all of them, but can vouch for Simon Mason (www.simonmason.com). He posts here under the user name of... Simon Mason !!! If he doesn't reply to this post you might try contacting him. He's very helpful, and won't give you any BS.
Assuming you have good racing experience (as above) and preferably have taken some instruction yourself. You will need the ARDS test; it is not the "be all" but it gives you credibility both from an employment and from the customers point of view. However, I don't think you would get far with this alone.
Are you a talented teacher?
I have done some instructing, and, received some instruction(many good instructors take training from each other on a regular basis) and I find some parts of the job can be extremely tedious. If you are very patient and are good at explaining concepts it could be for you. There are a lot of instructors out there; so if you want to do it you need to be "a bit special".
You may not be immediately welcomed as you will be seen as a potential threat the existing instructors livelihood.
Are you a talented teacher?
I have done some instructing, and, received some instruction(many good instructors take training from each other on a regular basis) and I find some parts of the job can be extremely tedious. If you are very patient and are good at explaining concepts it could be for you. There are a lot of instructors out there; so if you want to do it you need to be "a bit special".
You may not be immediately welcomed as you will be seen as a potential threat the existing instructors livelihood.
ARDS instructors also come in grades, C to A.
The bare minimum you need on your CV is the national A licence - although I think it may now be changing to an international C - however they are looking for the number of signitures on your race licence not if you have purchased that type - So you can have sufficent signitures on your national B to get an internation C you still qualify to attempt to become a licenced instructor.
You will be assesed over 1 or 2 days at a racing school - these is where the cheif instructor will asses you (along with some of the other instructors) to make sure you can teach. A terrifically important part of that is too make sure you stay in control of the student and know when they are gettign out of their depth. Expect the unexpected also - I've had to instruct a guy who was obviously deaf after removing his hearing aid to get the helmet on.
As said, the job can be tedious in parts, but it is very good for making you think about your own racing driving and analysing your own performances.
The bare minimum you need on your CV is the national A licence - although I think it may now be changing to an international C - however they are looking for the number of signitures on your race licence not if you have purchased that type - So you can have sufficent signitures on your national B to get an internation C you still qualify to attempt to become a licenced instructor.
You will be assesed over 1 or 2 days at a racing school - these is where the cheif instructor will asses you (along with some of the other instructors) to make sure you can teach. A terrifically important part of that is too make sure you stay in control of the student and know when they are gettign out of their depth. Expect the unexpected also - I've had to instruct a guy who was obviously deaf after removing his hearing aid to get the helmet on.
As said, the job can be tedious in parts, but it is very good for making you think about your own racing driving and analysing your own performances.
So, you've got an Intl C, good proven experience with wins, better still a championship under your belt, and you can keep your head when presented with the lead singer of Simple Mind's brother Wayne, as your punter....
It's a case of getting a school to sponsor you - the process of that is where they supply you with an application form for an ARDS licence, following an assessment where they'll put you with one of their senior instructors who will test your ability to instruct, and know what you're talking about. He or she will also probably test you "under pressure" where they will be the worst pupil in the world, either be that they have no idea, or they are just complete b*st*rds who just do not listen!
Pass that, get your ARDS Licence, and then expect to learn from the bottom. That'll include being the strapping-in boy, then moving up to ace pace-car pilot on single seater instruction, which usually includes being a flag waver when you unleash the billies out on their own. Progress to in-car instruction in tin-tops, then further on to sportscars, and upwards. Then there's team leader duties, and above that would be briefing instructor who does the classroom stuff for the punters.... and much much more...
It's rewarding, it's hard work too. The money isn't brilliant, but it's one of the ways that the young up-and-coming pro driver's survive.
Not sure where you are in the country, but you'll probably find Mallory Park more helpful than some of the others when it comes to being a new instructor. Silverstone are more likely to take you if you're in one of the big championships like the National FF, Seat Leon Cupra's, British GT's, F3, or the like.
Thruxton is quite difficult to get into from memory, though I used to be "Thruxton Approved" - they have a close band of instructors who do most of their work.
Not sure about Castle Combe.
Then there's the MSV brigade - who, if they follow on from Palmersport - are not ARDS. They are employed on a different type of contract. You're a freelance at most circuits, but MSV employ you on a part time contract.
Not sure about the Rock - Steve - are you hiding out there?
That's as I understand it these days. I haven't instructed for a couple of years due to being too busy with my "proper job", though I'd love to do it a bit more when time allows.
Rob.
It's a case of getting a school to sponsor you - the process of that is where they supply you with an application form for an ARDS licence, following an assessment where they'll put you with one of their senior instructors who will test your ability to instruct, and know what you're talking about. He or she will also probably test you "under pressure" where they will be the worst pupil in the world, either be that they have no idea, or they are just complete b*st*rds who just do not listen!
Pass that, get your ARDS Licence, and then expect to learn from the bottom. That'll include being the strapping-in boy, then moving up to ace pace-car pilot on single seater instruction, which usually includes being a flag waver when you unleash the billies out on their own. Progress to in-car instruction in tin-tops, then further on to sportscars, and upwards. Then there's team leader duties, and above that would be briefing instructor who does the classroom stuff for the punters.... and much much more...
It's rewarding, it's hard work too. The money isn't brilliant, but it's one of the ways that the young up-and-coming pro driver's survive.
Not sure where you are in the country, but you'll probably find Mallory Park more helpful than some of the others when it comes to being a new instructor. Silverstone are more likely to take you if you're in one of the big championships like the National FF, Seat Leon Cupra's, British GT's, F3, or the like.
Thruxton is quite difficult to get into from memory, though I used to be "Thruxton Approved" - they have a close band of instructors who do most of their work.
Not sure about Castle Combe.
Then there's the MSV brigade - who, if they follow on from Palmersport - are not ARDS. They are employed on a different type of contract. You're a freelance at most circuits, but MSV employ you on a part time contract.
Not sure about the Rock - Steve - are you hiding out there?
That's as I understand it these days. I haven't instructed for a couple of years due to being too busy with my "proper job", though I'd love to do it a bit more when time allows.
Rob.
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