Qualified driver coach

[mf1982]

Does anyone know of any driver coaches who are actually qualified to coach, i.e. Have a coaching qualification,
i.e. Have a child protection certificate, training and clearance.

Just so i've got my facts right

[speedy king]

I'm guessing somewhere like Protrain would have all that?

[Nigel Wilson]

I believe Mark Fell has.
Hang on! Mark Fell / mf1982. One and the same?
Have I blown your cover?

[mf1982]

no secret thats its me, just conducting some more studies for my book

[Alex Hodgkinson]

I'm afraid I don't, other than possibly Steve Ogden and/or Terry Fullerton?



Any Long Circuit karting tips I can get out of you Mark? I'm going to do a few meetings at Darley, Mallory, Cadwell, and Donnington this year. I'm running James Rolley's ex-Gold CRS.

[mf1982]

best tip - buy my book when its published! although its a book on driver coaching not how to drive fast - that'd make it too easy!

What tips do you want? i'll give you one, your on the wrong gear, to be competitive at long circuit you need to be on a long circuit kart, i.e F1 or anderson.

[Alex Hodgkinson]

Well I'll look into getting it when it's published

Yup I can see that I'm compromised before I start because of that, but I'm using this year as an introduction to long circuit karting. The short circuit stuff is what I'm serious about in 2005.

There are a couple;

Could you tell me roughly where external gearing should be at? Obviously all engines are different but could you still tell me the general area to be in?

Setup: When I got the kart it was setup very soft at the back end. Softest axle, no torsion bars, very flexible seat and so on. Approached it with an open mind but I couldn't get it to work on short circuits, so went stiffer.
Why was it setup like that? Is it because you can't get the wheel to lift with the small steering inputs you give it on a long circuit, so you have to enable it to flex and let g-forces do the work? Or is it just poor setup?

Is a particular driving style adopted on long circuits? I imagion everything has to be smooth as possible because being sideways will have more of a negitive effect on laptimes. True?

[mf1982]

gearing - no idea, not my department so cant help with that.

About the set-up, i wouldnt go with it that soft, maybe to try manufacter some grip in the cold, i'd be temted to stick the bar in etc, worth testing it at least.

Sideways is no good for long circuit, ideally no good for any circuit! be smooth, think exit speed at the time and make stuff flow, especially on the superfast tracks such as snett.

[speedy king]

Have you tried this thread Alex: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...0&page=1&pp=15

Was pretty popular last year and probably the biggest thread we've ever had, all 12 pages!! All about Superkarts, it may not have what your looking for but thought it may come in handy for you as a lot of racers were on there

[ukkartace]

hey,

i've done a bit of driver coaching before, mainly just teaching drivers little things that can make a big difference, i.e braking in a straight line - then you dont wear back tyres out and you dont get unnecesary sliding. showing them the best lines around the circuit etc. what sort of coaching are you looking for?
i dont have any real qualifications except my exeperience and the fact that i'm a driver all ready, i'm pretty sure the only people that do have qualifications today is protain, however i wouldnt advise getting driver coaching there:
1. because its expensive
2. they themselves dont actually know alot
3. have they ever won anything worth noting?
nothing against protrain though they do a great job with beginners learning the basics.

[mf1982]

i have to totally disagree with your points there.

I am to my knowledge, the only fully qualified, child protection certificated, police cleared driver coach in the country, (i may be wrong but from what i have found out its true).

Driver coaches do can make a big difference - why else would top FRenault/ F3/ Ascar drivers use them??

Expensive? no not really

and what have they won? well i've won 3 british kart championships, 1 long circuit british championship, been top british driver in a european 125 grid and race wins in cars.

People driver coaching children without the required qualifications are in fact breaking the law!!

[DSM]

Just what are your qualifications in terms of driving?

[mf1982]

there is no formal driving qualification. i have a degree in sports coaching, and am qualified in child protection. Thats the question i was asking, is anyone actually qualified to driver coach, i.e. a coaching qualification backed up by experience at highest level

[Mackmot]

I know plenty of fantastic driver coaches who arent. Many of whom would not get a chld protection certificate because smacking them or throwing stuff at them is sometimes the only way to get things into their thick skulls. The sort of people I know make young karters into world and european champs. I think that is the best qualification for making winners.

The qualifications you speak of maybe good for working in a little karting school and showing 8 years olds which pedal does what. You may have made some karting champs but I dont think its the qualifications that make the difference.

[Mackmot]

Also I would like to add that driver coaches can only help with attitude and the path to the gates of stardom but an engineer can give you the keys to the castle.

[ukkartace]

i totally agree with mackmot here. the best driver coaches are in fact those that dont have any qualifications. its a great acheivement to be top britsih 125 grid starter etc but have you actually won the euro champs? thats the difference between good and great!

your right that some of the top renault and f3 drivers have driver coaches however most of there coaches are f3000 drivers or retired drivers that actually dont have any qualifications!

some of the most talented people dont qualifications but because they are a waste of time, reputation is what proceeds you not a piece of paper.

[superbird]

You may have made some karting champs but I dont think its the qualifications that make the difference.

Made? He won them himself...

Mark, I would love to get your book, when do you think it will be finished?

[mf1982]

hi mary-ann,

book is complete, being proof read etc etc, i'll send you down an electronic copy to have a look at if you like,

With reference to ukkartace and Mackmot, you are both absolutely right with regard to experience counting, however in the world of litigation we live in, in all other sports it is illegal for coaches to coach without a qualification, how long till motorsport has a recognised driver coaching award and this becomes the case - not long i wouldnt of thought from my dialogue with the MSA, cause they dont want to get stung if a case of coach - driver abuse comes up, especially one involving a minor!

[Mackmot]

You mean you cant throw spanners at kids when they do something dim?????

[mf1982]

not unless you want banging up

[ukkartace]

just out of Curiosity how much do you charge for a day of driver coaching and what would it include?

[speedy king]

Their normally about or around £200 or in that region from what i've read and heard in the past. That includes going to a circuit and using a teams equipment, full day including kart set up and driving techniques

[mf1982]

give me a call or drop me an email and i'll let you know

[Andrew Hornsey]

Isn't the child protection thing a bit of a grey area. Having been involved with Junior Karting before this is something I briefly looked at. I am not questioning your knowledge, but the information I obtained was quite grey, and depended on many things, the main point being are the parents with the children.

More a passing interest than anything.

[speedy king]

Downloaded an interesting E-book off the net froma driver coach covering various details, it's really more of a promotion and dosen't go in to huge detail but i picked up one or two interesting things. Will try and find the link, it's ment to be online for a limited amount of time only