| ARDS Test Revision |
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| Tuesday, 24 October 2006 | |
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ARDS Test Preparation Notes These notes were prepared by Matt Cave from the MSA “Go Racing” Starter Pack video and accompanying notes. Feel free to use these notes and pass them on to others if you find them useful, but only as a supplement to watching the video and reading the notes yourself.
The ARDS Test Don’t forget to take your race license form with you, with the medical section completed by your GP. The pass mark for the driving and written test is 65%. You must pass both sections to pass the course. Administration The worldwide body for motor sport is the FIA (Federation Internationale d’Automobiles). They delegate responsibility for motor sport in the UK to the Motor Sports Association, aka the MSA. Racewear A helmet and fireproof suit carrying the correct labels are mandatory for circuit racing (but not for most track days or the ARDS test itself). Fireproof gloves, boots, balaclava and underwear are all thoroughly recommended. Driving Position The correct driving position is sitting upright, with your shoulders supported, and your hands at quarter to three, or ten to two. Your arms should cross during tight corners, and you should not move your hands on the wheel. The Pit Lane You should indicate when entering the pits with your hand or indicator. Bear in mind the extra risk of fire in the pit lane, and control your speed carefully. When leaving the pits, race control will communicate with you via lights at pit exit or via a safety marshal with flags. It is still your responsibility to ensure it is safe to merge with racing traffic. Racing Line You should use progressive braking to control entry speed, using heel and toe to avoid driveline snatch. You should brake in a straight line. Don’t lock the brakes up on entry. This causes instability and running wide. Your turn-in should be smooth, and you should just clip the apex of the corner. You should look well through the corner “aka sighting” to avoid hazards and to help you follow the correct line more effectively. Handling traits Understeer – front end running wide. To correct it use less steering input and less power. Oversteer – rear end loses grip – Use opposite lock and adjust power depending on whether power or lift-off caused the slide. Look where you want to go, not where the car is pointing! Overtaking Be decisive, and complete your manoeuvre before you reach the next corner. Running out of track If you run off the track and onto the grass for any reason, back off but don’t brake. Hold the steering wheel gently with your thumbs outside the rim. Steer very gently and nudge the car back onto the track. High Speed Rhythm Be smooth with all inputs – steering, brakes and gears. Maintain the balance of the car. Components of Speed The key components of speed are smoothness, accuracy, consistency. Concentrate on these, and speed will follow. Weight transfer and balance Weight over front increases front-end grip, and promotes oversteer. Weight over rear increases rear-end grip and contributes to understeer. Wet weather In poor weather, the principle hazards are poor visibility, and loss of grip/traction. The track is most treacherous when it is drying. The Spin If you spin, concentrate on damage limitation! Brake and de-clutch to keep engine running. Remember that the car still steers when you’re going backwards. Select first gear as you come to a halt and re-join the track carefully. Flags National flag – Start of race in event of light failure. Blue flag – Another competitor close behind. Blue flag waved – Faster competitor trying to overtake, check your mirrors. White flag – Slow moving vehicle on-track (e.g. ambulance). White flag waved – Slow moving vehicle on-track, near your current position. Yellow flag – Danger, slow down, no overtaking. Yellow flag waved – Great danger, be prepared to take evasive action, no overtaking. (Yellow flags may be supplemented by yellow flashing lights and/or hazard boards.) Yellow flag with red stripes – Slippery surface on track. Yellow flag with red stripes waved – Slippery surface imminent. Green flag – Start of formation lap, or all-clear at end of hazard. Red flag – Serious incident, slow down, no overtaking, cease racing. Yellow and black quartered – Lead car becomes pace car, 50mph, racing neutralised. Black flag with orange disk and number – Driver has mechanical problem. Black and white diagonal flag and number – Warning, your driving is suspect and is being monitored. Black flag and number – Stop at pit within one lap and report to the Clerk of the Course. Chequered flag – End of session/race. Waved for winner, held stationary for everyone else. Behind the Scenes All circuits are licensed by MSA. The organising club (i.e. BRSCC) are responsible for publishing regulations, accepting entries, publishing the race program, operating the circuit on the day and publishing results at the end of the meet. Most officials are volunteers. Your car will be examined by safety scrutineers before going on track – fire extinguisher, belts, helmet, overalls, brake fluid etc. Staff at the Course Secretary – accepts entry form etc. Clerk of the Course – Overall control of the day, timetable, supervising safety. Eligibility Scrutineers – Technical compliance with the regulations. 3 stewards – MSA race steward x1, Club stewards x2. Timekeepers appointed by club from MSA-approved list. Flag marshals around the track. First Race The entry list, final instructions and circuit passes will be sent to you before race day. Check the timetable, including signing-on time, when you arrive at the circuit. At signing-on they will check your license and club membership card. Take your car to scrutineering at the correct time. Novices must display a black cross on a yellow background on the back of the car until they have 10 signatures on their license. Go to assembly area a few minutes before practice. Keep an eye on more experienced racers. Practice is for familiarisation with car and circuit, not racing other competitors. Take time to warm the car up then steadily build up speed. Practice times determine grid position. At end of session, head back to the paddock. Check the practice times to find out your grid position. Start line marshalls will show you to your grid position in preparation for the race. A green flag signals the start of the formation lap. Have a practice start off the line on the formation lap, but don’t stop and practice any more during the formation lap. Select first gear as you approach the grid. The start sequence is a 5 second board, then a red light, then the green light 4-10 seconds later – Green means GO! Watch the track when accelerating away, NOT the gearstick! If you stall your engine or cannot pull away for any reason, raise your arm. Try to restart. If you can’t, wait in the car for the marshals and follow their instructions If you have incident during the race and the car CANNOT move, get out of the car and get clear, behind a barrier. If you have incident and the car CAN move, get it and yourself as far off the track as possible. If you have a fire, use the built-in fire extinguisher. Park near marshals if you can as they have additional fire extinguishers. |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 01 April 2007 ) |
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