Discussion
Doing the academy this year but havn't even read any of the msa blue book yet. To you guys who have done the test how easy was it? and is the blue book really helpful?
To the guys doing the academy this year have you got a DVD to help you through the ARDS? We were told that there would be a DVD with all the info you need on it but I seem to have a Silverstone Academy promo DVD, do you rekon this is what they are going on about, if so it doesn't help at all.
Terry no77 group 1
To the guys doing the academy this year have you got a DVD to help you through the ARDS? We were told that there would be a DVD with all the info you need on it but I seem to have a Silverstone Academy promo DVD, do you rekon this is what they are going on about, if so it doesn't help at all.
Terry no77 group 1
Did you not get a video with your blue book ?
Its a while ago since I did my ards but its not difficult, just common sense, you must get 100% on the flags too pass.
The driving part, don't try too show your instructor your the potential next drifting world champion and you should be ok, he is looking for safe car control rather than out and out speed, what mine said too me was, I will pass you if I would be happy too share a race track with you.
Good luck and enjoy.
Its a while ago since I did my ards but its not difficult, just common sense, you must get 100% on the flags too pass.
The driving part, don't try too show your instructor your the potential next drifting world champion and you should be ok, he is looking for safe car control rather than out and out speed, what mine said too me was, I will pass you if I would be happy too share a race track with you.
Good luck and enjoy.
Did the Academy and the ards in 2004, don't worry it's easy! You really need the DVD as it covers everything you will be asked about. Will need to know all the flags and then there will be several multiple choice common sense questions such as 'what should you do if your helmet gets chipped?', 'what should you do if your brakes fail in the course of a race?'. Don't bother learning too much of the boring stuff in the blue book.
Thanks for all the replies it seems that flag knowledge, common sense and safe controlled driving will really be the things that get you through. Not trawling through the blue book reading every paragraph about Racing.
I don't have the DVD in my MSA pack but from what you are saying to me I can probably get by without it.
Cheers Terry
ps keep any further info comming which might help.
I don't have the DVD in my MSA pack but from what you are saying to me I can probably get by without it.
Cheers Terry
ps keep any further info comming which might help.
as others have said - flags, flags, flags (especially the difference between waved and stationary)
also worth a look in the blue book about medical requirements just to be sure. also, don't go to the loo just before your medical as you'll need to provide a pee sample.
seem to remember on our academy ards day it was very wet so driving needed to be done gently but swiftly - 'if you spin you will fail' is what i was told.
si
also worth a look in the blue book about medical requirements just to be sure. also, don't go to the loo just before your medical as you'll need to provide a pee sample.
seem to remember on our academy ards day it was very wet so driving needed to be done gently but swiftly - 'if you spin you will fail' is what i was told.
si
Thanks to all of you that gave advise on the ARDS test.
Passed yesterday along with all of group 1.
As time is in short supply at the moment I only started to read the blue book on Monday night but I took your advise and learnt the flags mainly and a bit of safety stuff as well. I found that common knowledge of safety and motor racing got me through the rest of the paper.
Thanks again and good luck to group 2
ps remember stay on the track
Passed yesterday along with all of group 1.
As time is in short supply at the moment I only started to read the blue book on Monday night but I took your advise and learnt the flags mainly and a bit of safety stuff as well. I found that common knowledge of safety and motor racing got me through the rest of the paper.
Thanks again and good luck to group 2
ps remember stay on the track
It may be worth getting someone to help you through your first race, to make sure you have all the right bits of paper and are in the right place at the right time. There's a lot to take in when your nerves are going mad as well!
Also don't try and move out of the way for the faster guys, but just stick to your line, unless the blue flagss start waving madly in front of you! If you're constnatly off line, this can be very disconcerting for faster cars that are trying to pass you...
good luck!
Also don't try and move out of the way for the faster guys, but just stick to your line, unless the blue flagss start waving madly in front of you! If you're constnatly off line, this can be very disconcerting for faster cars that are trying to pass you...
good luck!
fergus said:
"It may be worth getting someone to help you through your first race, to make sure you have all the right bits of paper and are in the right place at the right time. There's a lot to take in when your nerves are going mad as well!
She's called Kim and that's what the Academy is all about! Better hope there's nobody that can lap you in the same car in a fifteen minute race...
Edited by SimonY on Friday 23 February 09:57
SimonY said:
She's called Kim and that's what the Academy is all about! Better hope there's nobody that can lap you in the same car in a fifteen minute race...
apologies, I was referring to mixed class racing!
Where you can get a caterham racing against something like a 520hp, 600kr, full downforce Jade, etc! try approx 120mph versus approaching 180 at the same place on the circuit. this makes things truly
! The advice here looks pretty sound - generally I'd adopt a test day not trackday mentality when it comes to passing, the license is to race after all. That means that it's the overtaker's responsibility to get past safely. If you want to pull over to help them then do so in a way that doesn't cause them grief and indicate with your hand the side you'd like them to pass. Otherwise stay on line - if you are cocking about letting people past all the time the instructor is going to have a hard time assessing your driving.
Oh, and people do get lapped in the Academy in 15 minute races - even with the cars being the same. And it does become a PITA if they suddenly pull across into your path to "let you by" when you'd already committed to the other side! I lapped a few people in most of my races, in the wet, a lot of people.
When it comes to speed differentials, there is little more nutty than the 750 Motor Club Birkett relay race. I remember overtaking some kind of MGB racer which was overtaking a classic racer, meanshile I was being overtaken by an RGB car and a Radical was taking the whole lot of us - all at the same time into Stowe. Bonkers!!!
I gave my wife the ARDS-style advice of quickish but DO NOT SPIN when she went for Formula Woman, the first year. She came blatting past the pits so quickly on her first two laps I thought it was an instructor, then, on her third lap (the assessment one), you've guessed it, she got into a mighty tank slapper and made the instructor need clean underwear. And failed. It pays to keep a few % in reserve and just demonstrate good lines and technique in a car you don't know well!
Oh, and people do get lapped in the Academy in 15 minute races - even with the cars being the same. And it does become a PITA if they suddenly pull across into your path to "let you by" when you'd already committed to the other side! I lapped a few people in most of my races, in the wet, a lot of people.
When it comes to speed differentials, there is little more nutty than the 750 Motor Club Birkett relay race. I remember overtaking some kind of MGB racer which was overtaking a classic racer, meanshile I was being overtaken by an RGB car and a Radical was taking the whole lot of us - all at the same time into Stowe. Bonkers!!!
I gave my wife the ARDS-style advice of quickish but DO NOT SPIN when she went for Formula Woman, the first year. She came blatting past the pits so quickly on her first two laps I thought it was an instructor, then, on her third lap (the assessment one), you've guessed it, she got into a mighty tank slapper and made the instructor need clean underwear. And failed. It pays to keep a few % in reserve and just demonstrate good lines and technique in a car you don't know well!
Edited by jwyatt on Friday 23 February 14:47
_tc said:
Well done Tel. bet you cant wait for the first race now.
You bet, had been so busy this year with work that I really hadn't realised how close it was. The ARDS day really came as a shock as it made me realise that I need to start concentrating on the race season. I will probably only find time to have a track day at Snetterton before the season starts so hope that I'm not going to be to far off the pace.
So thats
no track days ever before
only one between now and the 1st outing at Aintree
only driven a caterham twice (none really in anger)
Drive an iveco van as daily transport
and havn't driven a rear wheel driven car for about 6 years
but keen as mustard
What do rekon my chances of a decent finish are?
Tel
_tc said:
tel777. said:
_tc said:
Well done Tel. bet you cant wait for the first race now.
Drive an iveco van as daily transport
Tel
Well to coin a stereotype, your daily white van man skill should see you jostling for position ok.
(no offence meant).
Good luck.
no offence taken, I know the sterio type but as I have my company name and number blasted all over them in 2ft letters I have to be conciouse not to upset to many potential customers (after all they are the ones who paid for the Caterham). But when it comes to spotty boy racers (who still live with mummy and daddy and are not likely to buy a kitchen from me) I turn into a typical white van man and just have to hassle them. Mirrors full of my grill.
suppose we all have our faults
tel
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