Race National B Licence

[TerryC]

Just out of curiosity, how much does it cost to get a race national b licence? Also, is it difficult to obtain?

[Adam43]

Well you have to pass your ARDS test first, but the cost of the licence is £43.

To pass your ARDS you need to buy a pack from the MSA for about £30 and then pay for your ARDS (I can't remember how much this is, but mine came with a full track day too, for about £150 I think). That was about four years ago now.

All these details are on www.msauk.org

[Andrew Gunnell]

It costs around £300-400 depending on how much the medical is (mine was £90) and where you take the test (I used Mallory Park, but I can't remember the cost).

It helps if you have some karting experience to do the driving, but the written test is common sense and general knowledge.

[Walshy]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gunnell

It costs around £300-400 depending on how much the medical is (mine was £90) and where you take the test (I used Mallory Park, but I can't remember the cost).

It helps if you have some karting experience to do the driving, but the written test is common sense and general knowledge.

Not really.

There are many people that start car racing that have never Karted. Don't worry the guy unneccessarily.

At the end pf the day, the Instructors are not looking at how quick you are, but more at how confident you are and how conscious you are of the enviroment you are in. They are also looking for good use of the controls, but they are definitely not looking for speed.

Karting knowledge only translates in a race scenario when you know how to handle yourself in a pack. At the end of the day, a kart is nothing like a car. There are no gears or rear view mirrors for a kick off.........

[ss_collins]

£300 - 400 is a bit on the steep side - It can be done cheaper

[Andrew Gunnell]

Walshy - I am sorry if it came out wrong, but the only reason I said that some kart experience is useful is that it took me two goes to get my licence, because of my lack of experience on track.

ss_collins - the £300-400 broken down to £40 for the 'go racing pack', £90 for the medical, around £140 for the RDS test and £75 for the licence. So adding that lot up the total price was around £340. But as I said prices do vary

[R59]

When I was a boy, before ARDS, that 300-400 included the cost of your s/h F.Vee!

Eeeeee ya don't know what's 'it ya' these days!

It's not surprising then that people choose to stick with playing track days and not take out proper licenses.

Rob.

[Adam43]

I forgot about the medical. Although I didn't pay £90, it was loads cheaper than that. About £20 IIRC? Also a national B is £43. The go racing pack is £46.

[Alan Cherry]

The only price not fixed is the medical _ I got a hefty discount this year ( old bugger Medical every year ) by supplying two tickets for my GP and his son for the first round of the champioship at Brands Hatch - worth a try !

[Walshy]

At the end of the day, if £400 pound for the Licence seems a lot, it might be better looking at doing something else!!!!!!!

It gets a lot more bl00dy expensive from then on!!!!!!!!!!!

[zefarelly]

getting my lisence was £60 medical, £180 ards, £40 starter pack then £40 to the MSA. . .or there abouts.

now thats the cheap bit . . . going racing on the other hand . . .

I'm still trying to think of a suitable phrase, something akin to the one about yatchting ' like standing in a cold shower tearing up £50 notes'

[Adam43]

Blummin' good point Walshy. At least most of those are one off costs (depending on age!).

[Ntrprise]

What about the intensive course at Silverstone for £2k or however much it is? I was thinking of doing that.... granted, a lot of money ... but I hear that the experience you gain in that is equivilent to a whole seasons racing in a club league.

Anyone done it and wants to comment????

[ste_dot]

The Silverstone intensive course was £2,350 last season. May have gone up by now. You do get a race suit, helmet, gloves and boots thrown in too though.

Well out of my budget.

I paid:

MSA 'Go Racing' Pack: 45.00
Medical: 13.50
ARDS test (including 1 hour tuition): 245.00
National B Race Licence: 43.00
Total: £346.50

[Al Weyman]

£13.50 for a medical you did well, it just cost me £85!

[R59]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

£13.50 for a medical you did well, it just cost me £85!

Mine was £30, and my doc is a bit of a motorsport nut of the vintage/historic type.

It used to be more, based on the price of a normal driver's (HGV/PSV) then adjusted downwards as it takes half the time to complete. That was over £100 at one point, but last see at around £60.

I don't think I've paid the same price twice!!

Rob.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Resurrecting a slightly vintage thread, but I thought people might find it interesting to know that MSV don't currently offer the ARDs test at any of their circuits. I was a little surprised to find that out when I called up to book mine.

[leonidas]

Its worth making the point that if you want to get some experience of racing before doing an ARDS test you can go rallycrossing with a non-race national B (ie no test required). You might even find you prefer it!

[R59]

Originally Posted by teej

Resurrecting a slightly vintage thread, but I thought people might find it interesting to know that MSV don't currently offer the ARDs test at any of their circuits. I was a little surprised to find that out when I called up to book mine.

When I was instructing last, Dr Palmer's outfit were not members of ARDS, which probably explains it. He didn't agree with it, so wasn't part of it, or something like that.

You'd be best calling Silverstone or Mallory or Castle Combe or Thruxton then.....

Rob.

[Al Weyman]

Dr Palmer was right yet again then because that ARDS thing is a joke.

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Dr Palmer was right yet again then because that ARDS thing is a joke.

Al, really can't agree; it may be simplistic to some, but people DO fail it, it helps to keep the complete plonkers out.
ARDS with style can be done at Goodwood...

[Tim Wilkinson]

Is that the reason Palmer doesn't agree with it, then? He feels there shouldn't be a test?

I'll probably end up at Thruxton, as we might be able to save a bit of time and fly in there. I'll have to do it on a circuit i've never driven before, as apart from Croft (which is 250 miles away) they're all MSV. I might end up Rallycrossing whether I intend to or not!

[Al Weyman]

I have no problem taking a test I just question the course thing I mean where is it obligatory that you have driving lessons for the driving test, it is optional, advisable maybe but optional. To me it is just another 'fee' that stops people taking up the sport.

[Edstar]

I'm looking around for somewhere to book my medical and my local GP wants to charge £95.50.

That's 30 minutes with the nurse and 30 minutes with the doctor. For that price I'd want a REALLY good 30 minutes with the nurse.

[Tim Falce]

30 minutes! My doctor takes 7 minutes for my HGV medical and that is two or three pages to fill in. I had my race licence medical on Sunday and it cost me a bunch of flowers and took about five minutes.