The Annual Competition Licence Debate, or Debacle. 2015/16

[Lancsbreaker]

OOOOH - we must have been straying OT, Mike - as I see this discussion has been split from the original thread

Yes, I renewed my licence this year having not had one since 2010 - if I'd left it another year I'd have had to redo the written bit of the ARDS.......

And in respect of the medical, I still think its confusing as if you read the red print at the bottom of section 3 on the form it definitely says licence must be issued within 3 months of medical, whereas in smaller print at the top of the same page it does of course say there is 12-month validity...... Don't think I'd actually read the form, as opposed to the accompanying noted, which stress the 3-months rather than the 12......Never mind, I'm happy not to have to pay for another medical so soon

And I've just received notification that having become a pensioner, I'm now being given £100 towards my heating........or Race licence as its otherwise known

[Normal Bloke]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Now that question was asked last year by Richard. Assume you have Nat A, in which case you have five years before retaking ARDS. (Licence notes, 8.2.3.)

Nat B is less, see 8.2.2

If you can provide enough proof (copies of race result finishes), there is no statute of limitation on numbers of years away from the sport.
My mate and I returned to racing in 2008 after us retiring in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Luckily for us, we had raced in the same series' and I had kept all my qualifying and result sheets since 1989. They were perfectly happy with this and no ARDS test was required, except for the theory test, which we undertook (FoC) over a coffee in the Stowe circuit café at Silverstone.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Normal Bloke

If you can provide enough proof (copies of race result finishes), there is no statute of limitation on numbers of years away from the sport.
My mate and I returned to racing in 2008 after us retiring in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Luckily for us, we had raced in the same series' and I had kept all my qualifying and result sheets since 1989. They were perfectly happy with this and no ARDS test was required, except for the theory test, which we undertook (FoC) over a coffee in the Stowe circuit café at Silverstone.

Strewth, common sense operating within the halls of power?

[delta]

FWIW I'm waiting untill Jan so as to get my 3 years out of stressed EC G . I sometimes wonder if I would start racing if I was 17 today . Loads of hassel . Hey ho happy days back in the 70's .

[Alan Morgan]

...although in those days we still had to have a medical every year even though we were in our early twenties.

[andy97]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I'm considering doing my rally licence, for which I need a medical. I also want to renew my race licence and I'm in date for that as long as I renew before 20 Jan 2016.

Anyone any idea whether I need to have a new medical for my rally licence or will the existing medical suffice?

[Mike Bell]

Mmm, licence notes very vague on the subject. Can't even see where it says you need an annual medical for Rally licence. I guess the 'Go Rallying' pack has more info on that, but sounds like a phone call to MSA may be easiest way of getting an answer!

[Lancsbreaker]

Can't see any requirement for a medical, unless you are applying for an International Stage Rally licence.

If you are a first time applicant for a stage rally licence, then a BARS course is needed......no mention on their webpage of medical requirements.

Of course they didn't have such things when I was rallying, even when I got my International licence no medical required - it was a while ago, I admit

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

....."Good news! Your Competition Licence has been sent for printing today, and the printed Licence will be dispatched from our printers within the next 3 working days"

Just received the same e mail.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Can't see any requirement for a medical, unless you are applying for an International Stage Rally licence.

If you are a first time applicant for a stage rally licence, then a BARS course is needed......no mention on their webpage of medical requirements.

I need to look again more carefully. I had assumed that because I had to have a medical for my ARDS then I would for my BARS. Strange to have different rules!

[Rikki Cann]

latest price from my doctors is £95.50P, gone are the days of taking in a bottle of something????

[davspeed]

Originally Posted by Rikki Cann

latest price from my doctors is £95.50P, gone are the days of taking in a bottle of something????

Ouch not much help to folks down South but £25 at Brigg in North Lincolnshire
http://www.barnetby-medical-centre.co.uk/
I had mine done there last season, nice chap.

[MGDavid]

my GP charges £120 - and now my wife has retired from working at the surgery I'm going to have to pay it!

[Tim Falce]

I think I paid £40 for my medical last year at my GP surgery. I got it a bit cheaper because he'd done my HGV medical a few months earlier and charged me £100 as my company was paying.

[midgetman]

I haggled with my doc and ended up paying 35 a couple of years ago. This really is a very brief (pointless? ) medical.

Note it's already been junked for karting. Keep pushing. There is now a precedent.

[Paul D]

Surprisingly, when I had mine done earlier this year, my GP didn't charge me anything!

Over the years, he's charged anything from £30 to £60, and there never seems to be any scientific way of reaching a figure. But this time, when I asked how much I owed him, he just shrugged and said something along the lines of "Oh, it's only took a few minutes, don't worry about it."

I wasn't about to complain, of course, as racing's expensive enough as it is, so any savings are much appreciated!

I will be renewing for next year before this one expires, so it'll be 2017 before I find out if the next one will be free...

[Mike Bell]

Seems very much a lottery with GPs and medicals. I haven't asked at the surgery am registered with now, but where I previously lived, you'd have thought I had requested a medical to become an astronaut or something! Not only was the suggested fee over £100, but it also required an advance booking of many weeks.

I guess the independent facility I use for my annual HGV med nowadays would do a race one as well, and for less dosh- it is after all far less comprehensive. But as I need a SECG, and they can't do them, likely to be heading for the one specialist near Gatwick than can do both at same time.....

[terence]

I always used to go the Dr Rod Longton a few years back, stress related used to be getting wired up, ttake the "at rest"readout.Then run up his beautiful staircase three times before getting plugged in again.Medical, application form filled in and signed.
Then coffee and cake.=£25.Many happy memories from those days.
Now its the Bike, Medical =€80. €140 for the Int License, not so bad.

[Heightswitch]

Originally Posted by terence

I always used to go the Dr Rod Longton a few years back, stress related used to be getting wired up, ttake the "at rest"readout.Then run up his beautiful staircase three times before getting plugged in again.Medical, application form filled in and signed.
Then coffee and cake.=£25.Many happy memories from those days.
Now its the Bike, Medical =€80. €140 for the Int License, not so bad.

Is that the same Rod Longton that used to race this….

[Cliff Ryan]

Yes it is the same Dr Rod Longton, who moved on to racing an MGB & with whom I did the Spa Six Hour many times, plus other events. Rod sadly passed away last year, a real gentleman racer imho.

I tried to renew my licence online only to be told I wasn't eligible according to their records?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

Yes it is the same Dr Rod Longton, who moved on to racing an MGB & with whom I did the Spa Six Hour many times, plus other events. Rod sadly passed away last year, a real gentleman racer imho.

Yes a real gentleman. Very sorry to read that he has passed.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

Yes it is the same Dr Rod Longton, who moved on to racing an MGB & with whom I did the Spa Six Hour many times, plus other events. Rod sadly passed away last year, a real gentleman racer imho.

I tried to renew my licence online only to be told I wasn't eligible according to their records?

If you need a medical and or an ECG you can't renew on line, or if under 18...

[Normal Bloke]

Originally Posted by Rikki Cann

latest price from my doctors is £95.50P, gone are the days of taking in a bottle of something????

My last medical "cost" me a loin of pork and about 6lb of assorted bacon and sausage cuts.

[gary396]

Don't know if the following is of any use re the medical discussion - maybe only for VSCC members though?

http://www.vscc.co.uk/page/news?newsItemID=646

I've attend a lot of VSCC meetings this year both races & trials - all great fun, great bunch of people.

[andy97]

I have just had a work place medical, to meet Network Rail requirements for their sub contractors. IT took about 50 mins and was more comprehensive than that required by the MSA, but included all the MSA required elements. I asked the lady taking the test if she would sign off my MSA medical on my race licence renewal at the same time , but she couldn't because she was a nurse and not a GP. So, Network Rail require far more stringent medical than the MSA and are happy for a Nurse to sign it off, and I don't need a medical at all for rallying.
Bizarre.