Racer types -

I had been planning to get a helmet for Karting / Track days.

Last week, a friend of mine said he wanted to enter the compact cup in 2014, and spend 2013 getting a car sorted out - and would I be interested in helping him at testing events.

Two questions -

Would I need an ARDS for Testing events, or is it only for racing that a licence is required?

second

Does the personal kit (suit, helmet etc) have to conform for testing as it would for racing?

I presume any closed face car-racing helmet would be suitable for karting and track days?

Input welcomed!

 

You'll need the licence and all the MSA approved gear for testing. You may not be racing but people will be going at racing pace.

I've never had my gear checked on a test day but I wouldn't want to be without the proper stuff.

I'm not sure what the grids are like these days but the Compact cup looks to be a great series to start in, the spec of the cars looks spot on

 

You need to be very competent to attend a test day - one I went on was being shared by Porsche Carrera Cup cars and those guys do not give a f@#k if you are in the way or not! Need eyes in the back of your head and it's very very far removed from being a track day.

I've never had gear / car scrutineering on a test day either, but as Graham says, you should have this anyway.

Note you have to be in a scrutineered race car for a test day.

 

OK Thanks gents, that pretty much confirms what I was expecting!

I said I'd give it some thought as its obviously quite an outlay for something I won't actually be racing in!

 

You need to get something you can go racing in so I can come help you test it :-P

 

Haha I'll let you know but don't hold your breath!

 

I take it there weren't any blue flags then?

 

There are blue flags but massive speed differentials coupled with no overtaking rules make for interesting times if you're new to it.

The organisers will try to group cars according to their performance but it doesn't always work out.

 

Exactly as above, you need to have your wits about you. Test days are interesting as you may well have some very quick / experienced drivers out there, and they will expect certain levels of competence from other drivers on the track, if your new this can be daunting.

Even in the racing I did, the cars had large speed / competency variables and you had to have that extra bit about you to keep an eye back aswell as trying to move forward in the field. Was brilliant!

Keith I think you should just buy the kit, its expensive but barring you getting fat! it will last and you will get value from it, I think you will end up in a race series at some point.

 

Agree Graham / Adrian.

On one lap at Oulton I came through T1, with a Cup car a loooong way back, coming down the hill and was about to go through T2 to the left and the bugger was on my inside next to my passenger door I've never seen anything as quick as those things on track, outside open wheel stuff. And as said, they expect you to know they are there. And test days are quite often just sessiond between open / closed wheel and therefore you gould be on track against a GT spec car.

Blue flags are a waste of time when the speed differential is that much.