Teaching the Daughter to Race?

[anonymous-user]

Sorry not UK but maybe someone has experience or advice that may be helpful, my race days are drawing to an end, and my daughter wants to take over my car, so the plan is for here to start in my locost and take over the Sylva in a few years, she is 15 so minimum age to get a race licence, she’s been karting so can steer get the racing line, etc, but has never driven a car with gears, she can ride a full size moped, (we live in Asia all the kids can ride a moped by 12 however hard you try to stop it). The series I race in have agreed to accept her and help her, everyone is keen help her get started.
So I have 5 months to teach here to drive a geared car, but how and where is the question, she cannot go on track days until she is 17 as it is a requirement for track days to have a road licence, there is no formal practical driving requirement here for a race licence, only a theory test, the Locost will be set up to fit here, new seats, pedel box moved as required.
My thoughts are to take here to the big empty car parks at Sepang Circuit these are completely empty except for the F1 and Moto Gp days and I’ve used them to test before no problem, get here to change gear and brake/accelerate with the same foot, which will be a change from karting, then to try and book a track day experience for her, then I can take here round in the passenger seat so she can see the lines, If possible I may book the track for here as a private session, ( can get Sepang for about 60 pound an hour) and then drop here into a race weekend at the deep end.
There is no formal training available here.
I appreciate this is a bit fast track, but I can’t see any other way, I’m sure on safety as I have the support of the full grid to help here and the locost isn’t fast enough to cary the gravel traps at Sepang even at full speed.
Any one done anything similar? Is there any formal training available in the UK?

[Graham]

In the uk you have to take a track test before you can get your licence, so everyone is checked for a basic level of competence before they can go out. Once you have a race licene you can do test days from the age of 16.

We've had 3 16 yo lads compete with us in the TVR series over the years with no problems and I gave Alex Gassman a test in my v8 Tuscan and he behaved better than some adults!!!

If I were you I'd want to be totally happy her basic car control was perfect before she went on the track, so thats going to mean lots of time on private ground or a hired circuit in the locost and even your road car.

some cart tracks if they are big enough can be hired, and they are usefull as the speeds are low but very technical ina road car as narrow.

Best of luck

[refoman2]

do you not have any race schools in Malaysia with instructors that can be hired privately?

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies, no here there is no practical test fro a rece licence, and no race schools, trackdays are 17, so I think I'm down to long hours on the car park, then I'll have to hire a circuit either Sepang or Jahor for a morning, Problem is aUK race schooll will cost me, plus hotels and air tickets, and I can hire arack for 50 pound an hour, so I get 3 days pf private track for the cost of the air ticket.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Other option is to use a simulator, just to get used to braking with the same foot, and changing gear, plus no damage if she crashes, also useful for leaning the basics of a new track.
Then hire a track so she can get used to the car, I'm sure at her age she will pick it up very quick esp with her kart skills.

[anonymous-user]

Good idea on the simulator, any one recommed one? I have aPC and mac, but happy to buy an xbox or what ever I need.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Rfactor is very good for the PC, as it has lots of downloadable tracks and cars.
The G25 and G27 wheel's come with a gear stick and work well with the above, and work on a PS3, but not on the Xbox.
It's helped me learn the general layout of a track before racing there, you still need to take your time once there though to get to know the track in real life, but helps you learn the basic's

[carl_w]

Do they not have any U17 driving days? Here in the UK several people organize days where kids under the age of 17 can learn to drive on a track or airfield (not in a racing car, in a road car) to get used to the controls, etc. MSV do one and Andy Walsh does one. As long as the candidates can reach the pedals they'll take anyone.

Something like this would be ideal http://www.carlimits.com/shop/product.php?p=94

Edited by carl_w on Friday 17th December 10:04

[1]

Berw said:

( can get Sepang for about 60 pound an hour)

You can hire Sepang circuit for £60 per hour?

That sounds too good to be true.