Anybody on here with an MSA rally license?

kitty55

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Hi all,

not too sure if that's the right topic where I'm posting but here's my potential problem:

I am wondering if there is anyone on this forum here being a type 1 diabetic who is holding an MSA competition license? I took part in a rally co-drivers' course in August and after completing it very successfully I was offered two seats in rally cars for events in October/November this year and the whole next season. I am aware that race/rally licenses if you're a diabetic driver are tricky to get but I wasn't aware that the MSA would make exactly the same fuss about someone like me who would basically just it in the passenger seat shouting directions.

So can anyone help? I am desperately waiting for my specialist report to come back from my consultant as that's what the MSA wants and they then send it on to their external consultant who then (I assume) depending on what my consultant reports decides whether I can have the co-driver license or not. Does anyone know what criteria they use to decide such a thing? I do have a driving license so I find it a bit odd that I am allowed to drive a car every day/night for 3 years but still need some extra report for the competition license.

Any advice massively appreciated! :)
 
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I've been type 1 since 1983 and had an MSA race license until a couple of years ago. I think all I did to start with was get a letter from my GP and went to see the MSA medical expert (Dr Dorrington Ward) in London for a chat.

At renewal I had a medical each year but, once you have the license, renewal is much easier. Good luck.
 

kitty55

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Thanks both. I just hope it all doesn't take too long as I originally wanted to do my first event on 12th October. That obviously won't happen now. So fingers crossed for 22nd November and that I have my license for that one :)

Can I ask Chris_Cousins_ what happened to your license? Did you not fancy racing anymore? I wish I had discovered the whole rallying thing years ago already;)
 
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I started my own business in 2010 so the racing money had to go elsewhere

I enjoyed what I did immensely though, still use the skills I learned regularly and have very fond memories of the Nurburgring. :) :)
 

kitty55

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Oh I see. Yeah racing/rallying doesn't come cheap. Did you race at Nurburgring? I LOVE Nurburgring:) it's the most amazing track I've ever been on. I went last in summer 2011 in my classic mini. It was great fun:D
 

kitty55

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Chris_Cousins_ and Dibbles1 - can I ask? I am still sitting here waiting for approval of my license (with my first entry in for a rally, entry fee paid for and all equipment ready to go!) and had an appt with my consultant today. She told me the MSA external consultant got back to her enquiring about my hypos. I don't have loads but I do have them here and there (cos I think you can't completely avoid them being diabetic and well controlled) so I am wondering - did you have any hypos??? Or none at all? My consultant thinks the MSA will invite me to one of their medical assessors or whatever you call them to check me out and then they'll say no potentially due to me having hypos.

I don't get it, I can either be well controlled and have hypos from time to time or I can be ****** controlled and have BGs of 15-20 all the time. So what's better I'm wondering?! I know where they come from a safety point of view but I always know when I'm going low and I never need help. It's driving me nuts :(
 

moz1

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Maybe get a CGM which warns of dropping bg and gives an alarm, that may give you a bit more leverage? It does annoy me when things like this get in our (t1) way! Hope you get it sorted - jealous did a couple of rally experience days and loved it :)