Looking to pass ARDS test

[7UpJordan]

Good evening

I'm taking my ARDS test and a 1-to-1 driver course at Croft Circuit on October 1st with a view to obtaining a National B Licence and looking to go racing in 2008.

Anyone know what to expect or any tips? I've been watching the DVD that came with my go starter pack and reading the Competitors Yearbook and also plan to get a medical done in the meantime.

Once obtained, I'm looking to race a few races in 2008 in Formula Ford. I don't have the money to fund a full season, but I want to gradually and gently ease my way into Motor Racing and eventually compete in a full season in Formula Ford. Do most teams in Formula Ford allow drivers who aren't able to do full seasons to drive for them every so often? I believe you can do this in Formula Renault (I was also considering that but you need an A Licence) but is it the same for Formula Ford?

Thank you for any help in advance. And if any of you are Formula Ford competitors, I look forward to racing against you on the track some day.

[GORDON STREETER]

HI Although I never had to take the test I have seen a few taken over the years and they are pretty straightforward. As long as you listen to the instructor and drive sensibly, and don't try to race you should be fine. Renting a drive race by race should be no problem either even for a beginner. Best of luck !

[Rikki Cann]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

HI Although I never had to take the test I have seen a few taken over the years and they are pretty straightforward. As long as you listen to the instructor and drive sensibly, and don't try to race you should be fine. Renting a drive race by race should be no problem either even for a beginner. Best of luck !

Gordon started with a Horse and Cart ..............

Re the test, when i took mine i found that really the instructors are mainly interested in the fact that you will not be a danger to anyone else, so if you read the book watch the video and do as the insructors say you will be ok, as Gordon said dont try to race, be very safe and aware of whats going on around you.

[Chris Y]

It's also worth searching for other threads on the matter. Have a read of these 3:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=ards
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=ards
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=ards

[graeme]

Welcome to 10/10ths!

When I did my ARDS test, they said "we can't make it too hard as FFord drivers have to be able to pass!" But it isn't that difficult - watch the DVD, and with some common sense, the multiple choice test is fairly easy. Don't try and drive too fast on track - as others say, they are just looking for an appreciation of the racing line and awareness of any other cars out there. If you haven't driven the track before, it might be worth getting a cheap trackday or looking at the Croft Circuit Guide, so you know where it's going - not essential though. Even a walk 'round the track the evening before is a help.

My 2p worth on renting drives - might it not be cheaper to buy a race cars (if not FFord, FVee or - even to promote my own - a Caterham) and run it yourself? I've always seen renta drives as an expensive way to go racing - pick the right class, don't bin it and it's just entry fees & petrol to pay for...

[JamesH]

Ditto what other have said - also, I was questioned on starting procedure (2min, 1min, 30s, 5s boards non-one had told me they never wait for the specified periods!!)

Not trying to put you off, but FRenault is a hell of a starting point! As is FF I guess - both very very expensive. Why not try one of the slower classes (as Graeme said you could buy your own car) to learn in then move up. Of course, FF is very competitive but then so are these other classes, and perhaps more fun as the bills are not so high!

I would recomend looking at Caterhams, Locost, Stock Hatch - I think there is stuff in the Wiki about all of them. Perhaps Jedi if you are really in to open wheels, but again they are expensive.

What it comes down to is that any form of motorracing is great fun!!!

James

[tristancliffe]

If you want single seaters on a budget, there are various options depending on your exact definition of budget.

750MC run the F4 championship - 750MC has a reputation for being cheap and cheerful (but they know who they are working, the racers, and don't treat you like crap ala BRSCC)

The Monoposto Racing Club has many classes, from bike engined home builts to 2001 Formula 3 cars (albeit with standard road engines at the moment).

ClubF3, although no longer a championship from next year, will probably continue to run. Being a BRSCC club you do tend to get preferential treatment.

BRSCC also run a Formula Ford championship with good grids.

There are more, but outside of Mono the world tends to get a bit blurry for me.

[terence]

[quote=Rikki

Re the test, when i took mine i found that really the instructors are mainly interested in the fact that you will not be a danger to anyone else,


The Instructor needs to know you will not be a danger to yourself first of all,if you are not ,then you will not be to others.Try to be yourself,listen to what you are told and show that you are reacting to the instruction given.Learn ALL of the Flags and what they mean.As has already been said,do not try to over reach your own limits,that would not go down too well with any instructor,just go along and enjoy it!!!

[Suze]

re the test, I believe out of 5 of us that took ours at Snett two were either not passed or told they needed a reassessment because of a lack of awareness of other vehicles....

I hadn't been to Snett before I took my test but I watched a few youtube videos to get an idea of the track. The instructor did two / three laps to show the lines etc and then just had to show could get turn in points / apexes / braking points etc etc, not just speed.

The theory test is pretty straightforward too - as everyone says, learn your flags and the rest is pretty much common sense [eg what would you do if your throttle stuck open etc].

[graeme]

Originally Posted by Suze

re the test, I believe out of 5 of us that took ours at Snett two were either not passed or told they needed a reassessment because of a lack of awareness of other vehicles....

Wow - when I did mine as part of the Caterham Scholarship at Silverstone Stowe all 30 passed - even the one who hadn't driven a roadcar for year (although he did have some reassessment before he was passed)

[touringlegend]

I'm surprised at the awareness part, my instructor told me not to worry as the mirrors were adjusted for the passenger to see what was behind.

[Suze]

We were in VX220s so not greatest visibility anyway, there were five inc me....the other four guys were from trackdays. It was a busy session [and some pretty appalling driving and lines!!] but I was surprised too, but never saw what they did.

[7UpJordan]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. Apart from the flag signals (which I've been concentrating on a lot and tried self testing on them) is there anything else that might crop up in the exam that might catch me out? What sections of the blue book are the most helpful to look at that will be covered in the exam?

What kind of car is used? Does it vary from circuit to circuit? The DVD shows someone doing it in some kind of road car or is it some kind of single seater? Anybody on here done the ARDS thing at Croft Circuit?

Also I've downloaded the Croft Circuit for one of my F1 games in order to try and get a feel for the track and know which lines will be most likely taken and what corners are where so I can settle in quickly during the tuition. Although I wont be taking them in an F1 car mind.

[touringlegend]

At Knockhill I sat mine in a new SEAT Leon Cupra. Generally they will be road cars with a fair bit of power to boot. Might be worth checking out Croft's site, as their experience days will most likely use the same cars.

[graeme]

Originally Posted by 7UpJordan

Apart from the flag signals (which I've been concentrating on a lot and tried self testing on them) is there anything else that might crop up in the exam that might catch me out? What sections of the blue book are the most helpful to look at that will be covered in the exam?

The safety stuff - fire extinguishers, helmets, etc. - but most of these questions are fairly obvious, along the lines of "what should you do if you drop your helmet? a) sell it to another competitor b) buy a new one c)...". IIRC you've got to get 100% of the safety questions correct.

[Suze]

Like I said I did mine in a VX220 but I think Combe uses Focuses or at least they used to....it really can vary circuit to circuit.

I read the "common regulations for car competitors" or whatever it's called bit of the blue book, I can't remember if it was useful for the test itself but I thought it might have been. Like I said earlier, a lot of it is about common sense. You have to get 100% on the flag signals bit [it's basically describing a flag and you have to say what colour it is and where applicable if it's waved stationary]. There are then a further 10 or 12 questions, I can't remember which, where you can get a maximum of two wrong but they really are common sense.

[Suze]

apologies didn't see Graeme's post but I'm absolutely positive it's 100% of the flag questions need to be correct and only two of the other 10 0r 12 questions can be incorrect.

[Bob Pearson]

I've only just read this thread, so I am a bit late with this info. You mentioned Formula Renault which was not possible for because of the license requirements. Formula Renault BARC operates on a National B licence and several people each year do their first car races in that formula. Actually I think that UK Renault is also Nat B licence, but that is hardly the place for your first tentative steps as someone pointed out in an earlier reply.
Nothing to offer on the test I am afraid, I've been around so long that they weren't invented when I started, you just got in it and drove out of the pit lane, just how it still should be !!

[7UpJordan]

Originally Posted by Suze

You have to get 100% on the flag signals bit [it's basically describing a flag and you have to say what colour it is and where applicable if it's waved stationary]

Is it still multiple choice or do you have to write out exactly what it means?

[Suze]

The flag ones are not multiple choice......but they really are straight forward. The other common sense / safety questions are multiple choice.

The flag questions will be pretty much the definition in the blue book [eg do not overtake, be prepared to stop or move from the normal racing line etc], you then have to write yellow [waved] / red / blue [stationary] etc as applicable. Apologies as the above is not a quote from the blue book it's from memory but hopefully you get the idea.

I would just say remember to write waved or stationary though - you can't afford to get one wrong and would presume you may fail if you do not put waved / failed so not worth the risk!

[GORDON STREETER]

Remember one thing when you pass your driving test for the road it doesn't mean that you are a competent driver. Likewise with the ARDS test it doesn't mean you are a competent racer !

[terence]

Exactly right Gordon,one thing for new drivers to do is to have a look at the back of the car they have just got out of,that cross is there for a reason.

[Bob Pearson]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Exactly right Gordon,one thing for new drivers to do is to have a look at the back of the car they have just got out of,that cross is there for a reason.

I wish that was true. There are lads coming from karting who spend a winter testing then get in a quick single seater and win from the first race. As they have only got their car licence that winter they have to carry the cross on the car for most of the season. The result is that the novice cross becomes de-valued, and so ignored.

[tristancliffe]

I wish the novice cross, which I still have the 'wear', was based on speed not experience. The most dangerous people I've come across as the people who aren't in it for the competition, and are quite happy to cruise around at the back checking their mirrors every 20 minutes.

Maybe there should be a novice cross and a granny cross?

[Bob Pearson]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

I wish the novice cross, which I still have the 'wear', was based on speed not experience. The most dangerous people I've come across as the people who aren't in it for the competition, and are quite happy to cruise around at the back checking their mirrors every 20 minutes.

Maybe there should be a novice cross and a granny cross?

Yes,
It would make a lot more sense, maybe the "novice" should put the cross on for his first race and, if the C of C or the MSA officials are satisfied with his speed/driving he can remove it as early as straight after the first race.
In reality, there are some drivers who should never take it off, even after many years of competition.