ARDS Advice

[Ian Wallace]

Hi,
I'm new to racing, I done many track days over the years. Just bought a Talbot Sunbeam and have entered for CSCC group 1 - class D. (This weekend). I'm booked in for my ARDS at Goodwood next week and looking for advice on what sections of the blue book I need to know.Many thanks, Ian

[Adam43]

Hello Ian. I started racing a year ago. The ARDS test is nothing to worry about. The written test is all about safety and race etiquette. Flags and start procedures etc...
Watch that video you got with the MSS pack. It's all in there. The version I got missed out the black/yellow quartered flag so check that. Reading the blue book sections that are covered in the video.

I enjoyed the ARDS test (which was at Mallory). Listen to your instructor in the driving part and you'll be surprised by the improvements that easily come to your driving.

Good luck.

[Ian Wallace]

Thanks, what are you racing?

[Adam43]

I race a Jaguar XJS. We have our first test of the year at Mallory in a couple of weeks and there will be some ARDS tests going on while we are there. I race with my Dad in a couple of Jaguar Enthusiasts Club championships. This year we are also going to enter some longer 100K races organised by the Jaguar Car Club. This should include driver changes!

You can have a look how we got on in our first year (you never know there might be some tips there!) on www.adamashmore.co.uk/racing.

There is information on the ARDS, preparing the car and how we did in out first few races.

Keep us posted on how you get on. When is your first race?

[Ian Wallace]

First race is at Thruxton on the 24th March.

[josvandeperre]

no real advcice - just don't worry

see you at Thruxton

welcoim aboard - hope you enjoy yourself

Scirocco 78

[Ian Wallace]

I've got Sean Cockrell's old car.... I'll still be running his old '73' number, hope to see you out there. Why the change from the Golf?

[Lola]

Dont worry. Heres a sample question.

You see a union jack flag waved at the side of the track, is it:
a) A british car is winning the race
b) Start of the race
c) A british supporter has got to close to the sction
d) a british driver is about to overtake you

Honest , that question was in my exam. I also took mine at mallory. Good instructors and if you pass they give you 6 laps in a single seater. Or 7 if you miss the flag

[josvandeperre]

"Why the change from the Golf?"

Well there was this tree at Cadwell and it jumped out at me.......

[Slowcoach]

Hi Ian - welcome , should also see you at Thruxton - though not at close quarters as I'm not a Group One boy. A question people seem to get caught out on occasionally is the 'what flag might you see to start a race ?' So many people say green when infact it is the Union Jack or National flag - green ones just show the course is clear and are also waved on the warm up laps.
Adam , good luck this year with the XJS - have you considered Group One and pre-90 (CSCC) if you want to get some extra racing in - there is an XJS racing there already. I think he might have done some of the JCC races too , Brian Stevens is his name.

[Adam43]

Originally posted by Slowcoach
Adam , good luck this year with the XJS - have you considered Group One and pre-90 (CSCC) if you want to get some extra racing in - there is an XJS racing there already. I think he might have done some of the JCC races too , Brian Stevens is his name.

Cheers.

I know Brian Stevens, although we tend to be at other ends of the grid (My car is the standard and his modified - quiet a few seconds slower!). He won his class last year.

What are the regs like? Could you give me more info.

[Adam43]

Found the CSCC website.

I was wondering about the eligability of a 1987 3.6 XJS. Brian could well be in pre83. I had a look at rule 5.2.1

"All entrants must produce HVIF / Homologation papers stamped by the ASN, where issued for that vehicle. The onus shall be on the entrant to establish eligibility. Where no such paperwork is available, the entrant must produce written confirmation from the CSCC Committee as to the permitted specification of the vehicle in question. Decisions as to the eligibility and the implementation thereof shall be taken by the CSCC Committee in conjunction with the Championship Eligibility Scrutineer."

Excuse my naivety, but what does this mean!

I should probably start a thread about this, but you're all hear now so.

Thanks

[Chris Y]

Welcome to the forum Ian, and good luck in your ARDS test! Basically, watch that video you got in your Go Racing pack over and over, until you can do a passable impression of Steve Deeks After that, you should know what situations relate to which flags, and basic circuit procedure.

The questions will give hints to the answers in the way they're worded. One or maybe two answers will look right, but the rest will obviously wrong, for example: If the Clerk of the Course calls you to his office after the race, what should you do?

a) punch him on the nose
b) Go and see him promptly as soon as possible
c) see him at the end of the day
d) ignore it, he won't mind

As you can see, most of the wrong answers are worded in an off-hand manner, but the correct answer (you should know which) is worded like it was straight out of a text book!

Hope we haven't given you too many clues. I hope they don't changed the style of the tests now

[Red Dog]

Hi Ian
I did my test at Silverstone just over two years ago and our main instructor lecturer was....Steve Deeks.
As everyone says, don't worry, but our written test was split into two parts - flags and safety/general. On the flags part, we had to get every question right. One wrong and you fail (although it may be more lenient at Goodwood.) So learn the flags. The safety/general questions are straightforward and it doesn't matter if you get a couple wrong. The driving part is all about smoothness and confidence. Don't be too timid, don't be too agressive and listen carefully to the instructor. They get nervous when you miss the braking points!

Good luck.

[candfracing]

Originally posted by Chris Y
....... One or maybe two answers will look right, but the rest will obviously wrong, for example: If the Clerk of the Course calls you to his office after the race, what should you do?

a) punch him on the nose
b) Go and see him promptly as soon as possible
c) see him at the end of the day
d) ignore it, he won't mind
.......

As we all know, the correct answer is a) but it don't do much good! :-)