Patron Sir Jackie Stewart OBE

Patron Sir Jackie Stewart OBE Scottish Motor Racing Club President Allan McNish

SMRC Competition Secretary : Graham Brunton Unit 22, Knockhill Racing Circuit, Saline, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 9TF Tel / Fax 01383 720046 email [email protected]

New Driver Briefing Notes 2013

1) So you want to be a racing driver. The Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association (MSA) authorise racing in the UK. A competitor must be a member of a recognised club such as the SMRC to race at any MSA sanctioned event in the UK, and have a race licence which are only issued by MSA . The Association of Race Drivers Schools (ARDS) run these race licence courses, which are held at a variety of circuits across the UK. Contact the MSA ( tel: Licensing Department 01753 681736) to obtain your ARDS starter pack, which includes the information you will need to allow you to take the test. This is a test not only of driving ability but also observation skills, and of the few rules and regulations that apply to racing. There are dates available to take the test each month. Knockhill racing circuit near Dunfermline run these tests, and you can get tuition there as well. Contact the circuit direct tel: 01383 723337 for more details.

2) Once you pass the test you can now apply for your race licence. You start with a National B licence. Clubs run races for drivers with various categories of race licence. Most cater for drivers with National B licences which is the most popular licence. You can apply for a higher level of licence by obtaining signatures from race officials ( Clerks of the Course) after successfully completing races. On your first application you will need to obtain a medical from your doctor, and if you are over 45 you will need a medical every year you apply. The medical form is in your licence pack. When your race licence arrives with it will be the MSA rule book, more commonly known as “The Blue Book”. This book contains all the rules and regulations that commonly apply to race events.

3) You will want to choose a car to race, and there are several Championships with a variety of classes to race it in. Make sure you choose a car that is eligible so download current Championship regulations from the SMRC web site ( www.smrc-uk.com) .

SMRC New Driver 2013 4) By far the best thing to do is speak to an expert within the class that interests you, go to a race meeting and watch the action, chat to the drivers themselves and take advice on which car to buy, build or hire.

5) Contacts for information are:

Graham SMRC Competition Secretary 01383 720046 Brunton all Championships [email protected]

Graham Formula Ford single seaters 07778 169512 g.brunton@smrc- Brunton uk.com

Aly Hunter Legends cars 07884 441700 [email protected]

Gerard Legends Cars 01899 220410 McCosh [email protected]

07969 738988 Craig Noble Mini Cooper craig@minimaxmotorsport

Charlie Mini Cooper 07969 497234 [email protected] Falconer [email protected] Dave Colville Fiesta XR2 / ST 07768 581843 Iain Cowie Fiesta XR2 / ST & MX5s [email protected]

Nic Boyes Classic Sports and Saloons 07974 214323 [email protected]

David Saloons and Sportscars 07904 060364 Headen [email protected],

SMRC Regulations – Kevin Pick 0131 332 8287 [email protected] All Championships

6) Eligibility Scrutineers – These are appointed to each Championship and can give you invaluable advice on your car. They are listed in each Championship’s regulations.

SMRC New Driver 2013 7) If you want to buy a car look round a race meeting’s paddock some are advertised there, or check the racing press such as Autosport or Motorsport News.

You may want to hire from one of the teams such as Legends Racing, ICR ( Fiestas) , Willy Toye (Classics) , Graham Brunton Racing (FF), David Sleigh Motorsport (Minis), Minimax , etc, the SMRC Competition Secretary may know of others. Some teams also run cars for several drivers, look round the paddock you will should see them.

8) You must join an MSA recognised club like the Scottish Motor Racing Club to be allowed to race. In 2013 SMRC annual membership fee is £50 for a racing member. Details and an application form are on www.smrc-uk.com.

9) As well as a car you must purchase a crash helmet and a fire resistant race suit that are both suitable for racing. Fire resistant Race Gloves and boots are also mandatory www.grandprixracewear.com give a 10% discount to SMRC members. Demon Tweeks also sell approved race wear. Make sure you buy the correct approved items these are checked by officials before every race meeting. It is also advisable to wear flame resistant balaclava, socks and underwear.

10) Championships have MSA approved regulations, and to enter a race you must complete a race entry form. These are available on the SMRC club website. You enter for the event by downloading the form and sending it to the Competition Secretary along with a cheque for the entry fee, or on line then you follow web site instructions. The fee will be listed in the regulations. It must arrive by the closing date on each form.

11) The regulations for each Championship include details of eligibility for cars and drivers, and any restrictions on car modifications. You must pay attention to these as they form the basis of the championship. When you enter your first SMRC race meeting you are automatically registered for some championships, though others require a registration fee, check the regulations carefully.

12) The Competition Secretary will allocate you a race number when he receives your entry form. This remains with your car for that season.

SMRC New Driver 2013 13) Once you have entered for the meeting you will receive your final instructions and tickets to allow you access to the circuit on race day, usually in the week prior to the meeting. Final instructions usually have a map of the paddock layout. This should help you to park up with the other cars in your Championship, and also to know where the key points in the paddock are. More importantly it will also include a timetable of the race day, so you will know where to be and when. There will also be a list of all competitors and the race officials in attendance on Race day

14) The Race weekend. At Knockhill you will usually have the opportunity to test on the Saturday afternoon for a Sunday Race meeting, or on the Friday prior to the event for a Saturday / Sunday two day meeting. Testing at Knockhill is provided by the circuit, and you must present yourself to the circuit office with your race licence for “sign-on” and pay a testing fee of around £70 (If you book in advance this is cheaper). It is usually run in sessions of 15-20 minutes. Typically Saloons or Sportscars are split into two sessions depending on type, and single seaters in another. You will be given a coloured disc to display on your car to show you are signed on.

15) Testing can be an important part of your race weekend preparation. It allows you to check that your car is going to be reliable on the race weekend and allows you to get used to driving your car. It may help identify problems, after all you don’t want to spend the race day trying to sort out a problem on the car, and possibly wasting your entry fee if the car breaks down.

16) You will bring your car to the circuit and park in the paddock. Scrutineers are the first of the Race officials you will meet on a race weekend. Their job is to check that your car is both eligible and mechanically safe to race. They also check that your crash helmet and race suit/ gloves/ boots are also eligible and safe for you to race. Scrutineers are based in the scrutineer building in the paddock. There will be a scrutineer assigned to your Championship, and they are usually available on the Saturday afternoon during testing, and always on the Sunday morning before the race meeting begins. It’s a good idea to go on Saturday as this may give you time to rectify any items scrutineers find. You are not allowed to race unless your car passes its scrutineering.

17) As a new driver you are classed as a novice and you are required to attach a small yellow square (7” x 7”) with a black cross to your car. The Novice cross is so that other drivers, race officials and marshals will be aware that you are a new driver. You have to

SMRC New Driver 2013 carry this cross until you have achieved six signatures from the Clerk of the Course on your race licence upgrade card. These Clerks are based in Race Control, which is also situated in the paddock ( next to the SMRC building).

18) On Race day the first thing is the Driver Sign-On. You must present yourself at Race Control (check the timetable to see when you must sign-on by). Take your race licence and race licence upgrade card (in the MSA blue book), and motor club membership card to Race Control. You will be given a scrutineering ticket which you should take to the Scrutineers with your car, race suit and helmet/ boots/gloves. At this point if your car has been previously scrutineered on the Saturday you can just take the ticket along they will sign it if the car has passed. This ticket is important, you must display it on the car or you will not be allowed to race.

19) The officials will keep your race licence upgrade card for the day if you are looking to obtain upgrade signatures. When you collect it at the end of the day make sure you have it signed by a Clerk of the Course for any races you have completed. This will allow you to remove your novice plate once 6 signatures have been obtained (one per race completed). You may also apply for an upgrade to your licence to a National A , check the MSA blue book for the upgrade procedure and signatures required.

20) As a new driver you will also be required to attend a new drivers briefing. This will be before your Qualifying session. These are usually held close to Race control and details will be in your final instructions. At this briefing the Clerk of the Course will explain any issues, eg wet race or draw your attention to any practices that are relevant to novice drivers and drivers who are new to this circuit. The Clerk of the Course will talk about how the circuit is run together with a brief description of the planned procedures for qualifying, racing starts, the Safety Car etc. The Clerk will also answer any questions you might have.

21) There is no testing available on Race day so it’s straight into Qualifying. The Championships have varying formats and time limits so you should pay close attention to which format applies to you. Often you get 8 to 10 minutes and must complete at least 3 laps. You will be called to the holding paddock area in the paddock by a tannoy announcement. This area is by the circuit office. The Marshals in the holding area will check each car against its number, and check for the scrutineer’s tickets.

SMRC New Driver 2013 22) From the holding paddock the cars enter the pit lane slowly and form a single file to the track. They are allowed on circuit when the pit lane traffic lights turn green, and you start the first lap. Timing of the session begins as soon as the pit lane marshals signal the cars onto the track. Timing of your first qualifying lap begins when you cross the finish line which is opposite the Timekeepers Building, this is situated on the main straight leading up from the hairpin at Knockhill.

23) The qualifying session will cease when the chequered flag is shown at the finish line. You complete a slowing down lap and will exit the track via the pit lane. Following qualifying you should go and park your car in the paddock, then go to Race Control to collect your timing sheet. This will indicate your lap time relative to others, and give your grid position. This is for all Scottish Championships except Legends Cars who have a unique procedure for their 3 races that make up a Championship round. Their 1st grid is drawn at random by a nominated person and then given to race control, the 2nd heat grid is a reverse of the 1st and the 3rd race or final is based on the points scored during heats 1 & 2. In Legends Cars rookies start at the back of the grid until they have completed 6 races.

24) Check your race day timetable to see when racing begins, and it should follow that if you were in Qualifying Session 1 your first race will be Race 1, and if in Qualifying Session 2 your first race will be Race 2 and so on. It is vital to keep an eye on the timetable and listen to any tannoy announcements.

25) You will be called to the Holding Paddock area for your race. Marshals will meet you at the holding area and may check for noise levels from your car, you will then form a queue in the holding area according to your grid position.

26) In the Holding Paddock cars racing in Championships using the one way radio system called Receiver are checked. Raceivers allow officials to warn drivers of on circuit hazards such as a crash or slow moving car. In 2013 they are mandatory for Scottish Legends, Scottish Fiestas and Scottish Saloons & Sportscar Championships.

27) You enter the pit lane as for qualifying, complete a slow lap of the circuit and form up on the grid. Start line procedure is different for each class so you should check with your final instructions as to your race format. Marshals will be there to make sure you are in the correct place on the grid. If you are racing Legends there is a rolling start

SMRC New Driver 2013 controlled by officials, where cars start side by side driving at a reasonable speed, and a pace car controls the speed until it pulls off the circuit just before the start.

28) The Race – in most championships you sit on the grid and watch marshals who leave once officials are satisfied all is in order. There is a count down and start time boards are shown eg 30 seconds, then the red lights go out and the race begins. Don’t try and win it on the first lap, be aware of what you have learnt at your ARDS course.

Look out for marshals flags as the race progresses, and enjoy it.

29) At the end of the race the chequered flag is shown at the finish line and you do a slowing down lap then re-enter the pit lane. Marshals will guide you from here. To the Podium if you have finished in the top 3 or been a class winner, it differs for some Championships. Otherwise all cars will be guided to a fenced off area before the Scrutineers building which is known as Parc Ferme. A few cars will be selected and taken to the Scrutineering bay they may be checked for weight and other eligibility issues.

30) You are then free to go back to your parking area in the paddock and reflect on the race, and look forward to the next one.

31) There are usually at least two races each day for Championships in SMRC events. The full calendar of race dates is in each Championship’s regulations, and on the club web site. You can read about the days racing a few weeks later in the club’s magazine Wheelspin which is published on the club web site up to 6 times a year.

32) Most Championships also have rounds at other circuits, giving drivers a chance to try something different. Check the regulations for dates. Entry forms will be on the club web site. Race day procedures will be similar, but make sure you read each meetings final instructions.

Copyright SMRC 2012. These notes must not be reproduced without approval from SMRC.

Ref: KP / GB ND3

SMRC New Driver 2013