WhackyWill Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 whacky will that sounds amazing! I want to do that now please! . Not all its cracked up to be, spending hours in a open top sports car in the piddling down rain at Brands is not fun. OK in the Summer.it gets a bit boaring doing lap after lap on the same bit of tarmac. I also did a bit for Driving Ambition at Millbrook with their Porsches, that was fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 whacky will that sounds amazing! I want to do that now please! . Not all its cracked up to be, spending hours in a open top sports car in the piddling down rain at Brands is not fun. OK in the Summer.it gets a bit boaring doing lap after lap on the same bit of tarmac. I also did a bit for Driving Ambition at Millbrook with their Porsches, that was fun We've got an Ariel Atom where I work and I know what you mean about the wet days, its just not the same. I'm calling MB world in a bit, see what they say! Thanks for all the positive comments guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 whacky will that sounds amazing! I want to do that now please! . Not all its cracked up to be, spending hours in a open top sports car in the piddling down rain at Brands is not fun. OK in the Summer.it gets a bit boaring doing lap after lap on the same bit of tarmac. I also did a bit for Driving Ambition at Millbrook with their Porsches, that was fun We've got an Ariel Atom where I work and I know what you mean about the wet days, its just not the same. I'm calling MB world in a bit, see what they say! Thanks for all the positive comments guys. . Good Luck with MB World. I saw the first race for the Atom at Brands, they don't hang about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 You want to try and get through to track control the normal help desk are pretty useless, it used to be someone called Jodie you'd need to speak to, but that may well have changed as I haven't worked there for a few years. The track and driving experiences are actually done by a company called Brooklands Driving Experiences who are owned by a company called Brandscape. It's so that Mercedes-Benz have no accountability for it at all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) The ARDs test seems like a good idea. When I got my National B a few years ago, I think it was just a few simple health questions and no tests of any type (you still got the pack and the blue book etc). I do recall, however, that a nice man from the RAC MSA examined my helmet (ooh er missus). The bigger deal for me was getting the car signed off - which somehow I managed in one hit. Edited November 6, 2013 by NeilMH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longsh07 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 The ARDs test seems like a good idea I really enjoyed it when I did mine. I hadn't had any track experience (except an experience day in a 370Z and a GTR) so decided to do the full day ARDS course Silverstone offer. Similar to Joe we had the day explained and watched a DVD but then we were split into two groups, half went and did car control in a Renault on one of those skid trolley things, the other went and did some track tuition. Swapped over after about an hour and a half before stopping for lunch which was included in the price After lunch we had the written test which is pretty much just flags, some safety, and what happens at an actual race event questions. Everything could be answered if you watched the DVD in your Go Racing pack (same one they play on the ARDS course). More car control, this time RWD control in a caterham (which is possibly one of the most ludicrously fun cars I have ever driven!) on cheap tyres pumped up to their limit followed by more track tuition however during this session we had 6 assessed laps which the instructors said nothing. 3 of the laps had to be clean consistent laps to pass. No doubt this was one of the best things I've ever done no only for the license but for the tuition you get. Their instructors are fantastic and really know their stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 Longsh07 - I was looking to do that course as it sounded quite fun glad it was what it said on the tin. Dedman - Thats random Mercedes not even using their own company. What do you do now if you don't mind me asking? Its just im questioning if instructing is a viable career choice, I currently work for 3 schools and im struggling to get work, I have three more in the pipeline so fingers crossed, but im not sure if I should have a real job and use my degree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Longsh07 - I was looking to do that course as it sounded quite fun glad it was what it said on the tin. Dedman - Thats random Mercedes not even using their own company. What do you do now if you don't mind me asking? Its just im questioning if instructing is a viable career choice, I currently work for 3 schools and im struggling to get work, I have three more in the pipeline so fingers crossed, but im not sure if I should have a real job and use my degree? Working at MBW was the best job I've ever had, if the track was empty we got sent out in AMG's to make it look in use as if it's empty people think its closed. I used to to love it when the new models came in a few days early so we could learn everything about them, however as you say, it's a job not a career. I'd have worked there forever if it was reliable enough. You'd get to work every day of the month through the summer, and only work weekends in the winter. I now work in expatriate income tax for a private firm, If I ever won the lottery, I'd be knocking on their door straight away asking for a job again, best thing I've ever done, it's just not a career and not something I could rely on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 ^ Well im sold, ill stick with this a bit longer then, see what I can make of it. Sounds amazing to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 ^ Well im sold, ill stick with this a bit longer then, see what I can make of it. Sounds amazing to me. Smokeyjoe. Get todays Autosport and read page 37 "The Secret Driver" its about racing instructors. I can tell you every bit is true..Well worth a read before you make up your mind.. :thumbs: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Il go out and get it now.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 I expected it to be a little longer than that, but good read. I'm still umming and ahhing about it. Ive applied to some graduate schemes in unrelated fields and ive got 3/4 schools that I may get into to do some more teaching. At a bit of a junction at the moment career wise, it could go either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I expected it to be a little longer than that, but good read. I'm still umming and ahhing about it. Ive applied to some graduate schemes in unrelated fields and ive got 3/4 schools that I may get into to do some more teaching. At a bit of a junction at the moment career wise, it could go either way. That's why I only did it part time, I have been in the gravel trap a few times with a pupil and only once we made it to the barriers. I had a job at the same time, still don't know how I fitted it all in, work, racing and working at the School at Brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ive luckily only had one in a fence but the stuff we do is a little lower speed. And the higher speed stuff we do at airfields with lots of run off. I cant say its the most fun when someone looses it in the atom at 60mph, youre just along for the ride! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ive luckily only had one in a fence but the stuff we do is a little lower speed. And the higher speed stuff we do at airfields with lots of run off. I cant say its the most fun when someone looses it in the atom at 60mph, youre just along for the ride! What's really good fun but hard work is doing rides around the slalom course in the Caterhams. (burning rubber and been a hooligan.!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyjoe Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ive luckily only had one in a fence but the stuff we do is a little lower speed. And the higher speed stuff we do at airfields with lots of run off. I cant say its the most fun when someone looses it in the atom at 60mph, youre just along for the ride! What's really good fun but hard work is doing rides around the slalom course in the Caterhams. (burning rubber and been a hooligan.!!) I'm speaking to the manager at the caterham events at the moment. Just waiting for him to get back to me with a driving interveiw date. Excited to get behind the wheel of one of them. Ive always wanted to be the guys doing it at Autosport lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ive luckily only had one in a fence but the stuff we do is a little lower speed. And the higher speed stuff we do at airfields with lots of run off. I cant say its the most fun when someone looses it in the atom at 60mph, youre just along for the ride! What's really good fun but hard work is doing rides around the slalom course in the Caterhams. (burning rubber and been a hooligan.!!) I'm speaking to the manager at the caterham events at the moment. Just waiting for him to get back to me with a driving interveiw date. Excited to get behind the wheel of one of them. Ive always wanted to be the guys doing it at Autosport lol. My mate Dino Zamparelli does the Autosport one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Ive luckily only had one in a fence but the stuff we do is a little lower speed. And the higher speed stuff we do at airfields with lots of run off. I cant say its the most fun when someone looses it in the atom at 60mph, youre just along for the ride! What's really good fun but hard work is doing rides around the slalom course in the Caterhams. (burning rubber and been a hooligan.!!) I'm speaking to the manager at the caterham events at the moment. Just waiting for him to get back to me with a driving interveiw date. Excited to get behind the wheel of one of them. Ive always wanted to be the guys doing it at Autosport lol. My mate Dino Zamparelli does the Autosport one. Mercedes Benz world did driving experiences at autosport a few years ago too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bergwerk06 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Horley, near Gatwick.. Try Mercedes benz world, I used to work there as a track host, if you have a race license you can work on the track as a "driving specialist" to make some money and get some track instructing under your belt. You don't need to have an instructing license just experience with cars and track driving I think I'll sign up for an ARDS test in Spring on this basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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