SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
sam NOVEMBER 2012
The IAM Aims To Improve the Standard of Driving and Riding The Advancement of Road Safety The Administration of an Advanced Test
MAKING
SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS November 2012
progress INSIDE P6 Essential kit!
P7 It’s official, Peter admits he’s potty.
McLaren motor show 2012, Page 9.
P4 Are women better drivers than men?
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Registered Charity 1097558
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Chairman’s chat, November 2012 When I was elected Chairman of a committee (not SAM) for the very first time, my predecessor told me that the Chairman has 2 main responsibilities; firstly to remain up-beat about everything and secondly never to task yourself. So, being as up-beat as I can, we still are without a PR Officer and we still have no Vice-Chairman. In the meantime, Ian Kennard and Vince Hall have both had, for personal reasons, to stand down. Ian & Vince, thank you most sincerely, for the huge amount of work you have both put in for the Group: we look forward to still seeing you at Club Nights. I am, naturally, delighted to report that we have, filled both vacancies seamlessly. Gary Elston has taken on the role of Merchandise Manager and Nigel Sullivan-Tailyour with Graham Marsden have stepped up to the plate to take over Group Rides. Both have already been helping Vince and you will all have seen the Ride questionnaire that they produced. Did I mention that we still need a PR Officer? Just contact me and I’ll tell you what’s involved! I hinted in August’s Making Progress that things were happening at IAM Regional & National level and I attended a Region 2 briefing on 16th September. This is not the place for detail, but the agenda includes a new Master Rider qualification, read/ write access to Group membership details on the IAM HQ database and a Region 2 Forum - to name but three. Delivery of the detail is clearly a PR Officer matter that we’ll address as soon as we have one. Just contact me and I’ll tell you what the role involves! In my last “chat” I focused on the new MDU and our “public eye” activities. This time, the spotlight falls on the Observer Team and we should remind ourselves that SAM exists solely to enable them to deliver Green Badge holders into the biker community. As the Chief Observer wrote in his August report, we
now have almost 40 Observers – well over 10% of SAM membership and that’s as good, or better than any other Group. Our test results are equally impressive and the philosophy remains one of continuous improvement – so watch this space. It is often not fully appreciated by the membership that not only do the Observers prepare Associate members for test, but they also front up on every SAM Sunday to carry out free assessed rides with members of the public, and they man up the MDU to deliver the same service at public venues and events. Without them, there would be no SAM. Now for something completely different. By the time you read this, our now annual event alongside another SAM – the Severn Advanced Motorcyclists – will have come and gone, leaving behind a few sore heads and a raft of tales to tell. This lively crew (like us, they are winners of the IAM award for “best Motorcycle Group”) have taken to spending a long week-end in Hamble once a year and this includes a joint SAM SAM ride out – probably the biggest all year and great fun (if that’s the right word!). If you’ve not yet got yourself involved, keep an eye on the programme for 2013, watch out for the SAM Announces, and give it a go – I guarantee you’ll not regret it. I’m going to round off on a familiar note. SAM is your Group, it’s there to get you that coveted Green Badge and then to provide you with opportunities to help other riders follow in your footsteps. That’s what Ride outs, Club Nights and SAM Sundays are all about and it’s also what Advanced Plus and Observer Training are all about. I would ask you, therefore, always to see SAM in that light and if you think there are ways we could do better, then let us know and we’ll do our best to oblige. Oh, and we still need a PR Officer. Stay safe and keep the rubber on the road. David
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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Chief Observer’s Report – Nov 2012 The Observers have just had their annual training weekend away to Tiverton. I think we've all come back on a "high". And, that's got nothing to do with it being just a fun ride down and back with a stay overnight at the Best Western in Tiverton! OK, they've looked after us well for the last four years. And, we're grateful that your Committee subsidises the training weekend too. Originally, this was in recognition of all that the Observers do for SAM. They deserve to be recognised for their patience and perseverance in getting Associates ready for test but, as became apparent from all the feedback received after this year's Tiverton, it's much more than that. 30 Observers attended the weekend, more than ever before. Dave Bruguier, Senior Observer and leader of the Lymington & Beaulieu Observer Cell does all the organising, for which we are all very grateful. He carefully arranges Seniors or experienced Observers as ride leaders for small groups of two or three Observers on the Saturday, then again with different Observers on the Sunday to ride there and back. Each group of riders chooses or are led by their leader down and back on a route that is designed to get the most out of their riding. All types of roads are used, but there are some perennial favourites, particularly "the loop" of great 'B' roads around Tiverton. Some are more adventurous still and include the North Devon Coast or parts of Exmoor in their route; others concentrate on the best biking roads in Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset in between. The whole concept works well on so many levels. It's a refresher for those who've been observing for longer than they care to remember. It's developmental for Observers who've been observing for one or two years and, it's an absolute eye-opener for new Trainee Observers who have begged to be included in the weekend. We always said that we wanted the weekend to be about raising riding standards with the logic that if standards improve across the board at Observer level, the effects will trickle down and benefit all Associates who are under training. This works and is a large part of the fun. However, this
year we added in some extra pressure. We included opportunities for stooged riding and briefings and debriefings at a level commensurate with the requirements of the new IAM/IMI accredited National Observer qualification. This year is a milestone for SAM. We have achieved the two goals that I set us when I took over as Chief Observer three years ago. (1) To clear the backlog of Associates under training or waiting for training and, (2) To train and develop enough Observers such that we could always comfortably cope with the number of Associates who join SAM with a Skills for Life package. But this is no time to relax as the IAM as recently offered us the National Observer qualification. National Observer qualification unlike the old Senior Observer's test, will be available to any Observer. It will be recognition of the standard they have reached and will be accredited externally by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). It is recognisable across the country and, once achieved, must be accepted in any IAM Group, if the Observer were to move to a new area. We will still have Senior Observer appointments in SAM, but these will be in recognition of a role carried out by those who lead Cells or help to train new Observers. So, having completed our two goals (above) I am hoping and planning for about 90% of SAM Observers to become nationally qualified, i.e. National Observers. This will involve some considerable dedication and hard work, leadership, training and preparation. But, it will be worth it. We will be recognised for the quality of training that we provide and Associates will be even better prepared to pass the IAM Advanced Motorcycle test first time than they are now. Fortunately, SAM is well supported and monitored by IAM Head Office at Chiswick. We work closely with motorcycle Staff Examiner, Jon Taylor, who will be at the November Observers' Meeting elaborating on the National Observer's test. SAM can and will lead the way as a Group. That we have volunteers who give of their time and enthusiasm in promotion of such goals is something I and, indeed, the whole of SAM, can be ever grateful for.
Motorcycle Track Day insurance There is no doubt that track days can be great fun as well as a fantastic learning experience. But would your enjoyment be spoiled by the knowledge that your road insurance will not cover you on the track? If it would; here is a list of companies that provide track day insurance, you will need to read the terms and conditions to ensure that they cover you for what you want.
• • • • •
MCE: http://www.mceinsurance.com/bikes/trackday-bike-insurance/ Four Counties: http://www.4counties.co.uk/motorcycle-trackday-insurance.aspx Track Days: http://www.trackdays.co.uk/bike_track_day_insurance/ MotorBikeInsurance: http://www.motorbikeinsurance.org.uk/motorcycle-track-day-insurance.html Moris: https://secure.moris.co.uk/Bike-Motor-Sport-Insurance
The majority will only offer personal injury and repatriation expenses, some may cover you for third party liability check first before you buy. The MCE option appears attractive if you already have your bike insurance with them, the cost is an additional £99 but check the excess charge. The decision is yours, you will not be able to ride on the track without first signing a waiver removing the Track Day company and Race Circuit from any liability should you have an accident. Page 3
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat… Yep another year is almost over and what a year it has been, I can sum it up in one word: WET! The promises made by a warm dry spring were just that, empty promises. So I hope that you managed to get away to somewhere dry and warm to ride your motorcycles. If not then let’s hope next year is better and that the jet stream buggers off to where it should be. Thinking of the jet stream and its effect on motorcycling in the UK and Northern Europe gives a simple correlation of ‘cause and effect’. For example the weather in the northern hemisphere is driven by the ice caps of the North Pole and Greenland. Global warming (the argument whether this due to the impact of human activity is unproven) is resulting in a dramatic shrinking of those ice caps during the summer months, which in return results in a warmer North Atlantic Ocean. The heat from the ocean rises and moves the jet stream from its normal path from the Caribbean to Greenland to be further west so that this year its path was over the Outer Hebrides. As either side of the jet stream there is normally a path of low pressure regions, those lows and the resulting storms are now over the UK and Northern Europe, the end results are hungry polar bears and wet bikers.
ed sed
There are several hazards to watch out for at this time of year, when it’s damp the roads are greasy and you have to pick your line with care and when it is wet the rain and spray reduces visibility enforcing you to be even more vigilant. Even when it is dry and sunny the low sun can cause the problem of being blinded. On the 4th of October it took me 2 hours to get to work a journey that normally takes me 15 minutes, because I decided not to take the bike and went in the car instead. That morning there was a clear sky and low sun, whether that caused the trucks to crash just after Junction 9 west bound on the M27, I am not sure as the accident happened just after 06:00, but it certainly was an issue when I started my journey and I witnessed several near misses as drivers jockeyed for position on the motorway unable to see the vehicles coming up behind them due to the sun. So me deciding to be lazy as I could not be bothered to spend 5 minutes getting togged up and pushing my bike out of the garage resulted in a 2 hour crawl to work. Cause and effect again.
The following is my final example of cause and effect, I promise. During my lunch break at work I was scanning the BBC news web site when I came across the headline ‘Biker found in ditch after three days’. As you can imagine this intrigued me, and, after reading the scant information on the BBC, decided that there was something in it for making Progress. The resultant article is on page 6 of this edition. After reading it maybe you will agree with me that we should change the acronym ‘POWDER’ to ‘M-POWERD’. The link, oh yes, being bored at work to re-writing the IAM literature.
Recently I have taken to reading the Motorcycle News again. No this is not an advert for MCN. Again: yes I used to be a regular reader way back when. The reason for taking it up ‘again’ was as a result of my wife deciding to treat me one day when I was sitting looking bored doing my duty while visiting the in-laws. I found, on opening the ‘newspaper’, that a great deal of the content was very interesting, not only to the motorcycle race fan but to the motorcyclist in general and in particular to a group such as ours. Of particular interest are the legal questions and a regular named ‘My Accident, What I Learned’ where those having motorcycling accidents reflected on what caused their accident and how they could avoid it in future. So next time you are out shopping and pass the news section, pick up the MCN and browse the content to see if you agree with me. In this edition there is a long and winding (I refer to the route not the article) contribution by Peter Gooch about his participation in the ACU national rally, it is worth reading and may whet your appetite and inspire you to have a go. Pictures from the McLaren motor show also grace our production. Julian’s full article is on the web site. As ever, should you have a contribution for ‘Making Progress’ forward it to me by email. Comments and opinions are also welcome, and will be actioned accordingly.
Rod
When it comes to driving, are men the better drivers or are they just a bunch of crash test dummies? What follows is a press release by the IAM (release 11th September 2012) on the organisation findings regarding new drivers. The subsequent article was released by “The Car Expert” (http://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/women-drivers/) addressing the issue directly “Are women better drivers than men?”. The findings are interesting, and hopefully will raise awareness among the motorcycling community. My personal observation as a motorcyclist, is that neither (men nor women drivers) are to be trusted, if the vehicle has 4 or more wheels, you should assume it is being driven by a blind and deaf idiot. ed
Crash Test Dummies
in Bradford, 22 young male drivers were killed or seriously injured in car accidents,
IAM News Release, 11 Sept 2012 Men are 6.4 per cent more likely than women to pass their practical driving test, according to road safety charity the IAM. But while young men are more likely to pass their driving test, they are also three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured (KSI) behind the wheel. The findings are a result of analysing pass rates statistics from the Department for transport published in August for the financial year 2011-2012. For example, the pass rate for men in Bradford (Heaton) is 39 per cent, compared to 26 per cent for women. In 2010
involved in KSI crashes. In Birmingham (South Yardley) men are 12.6 per cent more likely to pass their test, while there were 38 young male drivers from Birmingham in KSI incidents in 2010 and six young female drivers.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “As men make up the majority of drivers, a slight variation in figures can be expected. However, these figures suggest something is going wrong with the way we teach new drivers to cope with risk on the road. Unwhile just four young female drivers were. less we can crack the gender problem in road safety young men will continue to die Other areas which reported a significantly in higher numbers. high gender gap for test passes were Wol- "These findings must be used to inform verhampton, where men are 12.6 per cent research to find out why pass rates and more likely to pass their test. In 2010, 13 causes of fatal car accidents vary so much between men and women." young male drivers and one woman were Page 4
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
Are Women Drivers Better Than Men? It’s a typical slow-news-day kind of story - are men or women drivers better? There have been numerous ‘reports’ that suggest one way or the other, based on various (usually questionable) criteria. In fact, since contemplating this blog in the last week, I’ve already read three different articles which question the relative merits of males and females behind the wheel. But can we really say that women are better drivers than men or vice versa? In short, no we can’t. There is no physical reason why men and women should drive differently. Years ago, before power steering and automatic transmissions, you could have made an argument than men coped better with the physicality of driving, but that has not been the case for a long time now. Usually debates about the merits of men and women behind the wheel revolve around invalid assumptions or highly selective statistics. And while there might be no physical reason why men and women drivers should be any different, The Car Expert has seen plenty of male and female drivers over the years to suggest that there are differences, and suggests some reasons. Firstly, while it is technically correct that "men have more car accidents than women" and "men get more speeding fines than women", it is less of an issue when you take into consideration that there are far more men on the road than women, and they also tend to drive longer distances. So in percentage terms, the number of men getting caught for speeding and having accidents is not so different to women. There are other factors at play as well although before you start with the hate mail, bear in mind that these are generalisations, and based on many years of observations and anecdotal evidence rather than objective scientific data:
• when couples (one man, one
•
woman) travel together, it is more likely that the man will drive. On longer journeys, the man usually does more of the driving than the woman. The above is even more true when conditions are more difficult (night, rain, snow, etc.) or they are in unfamiliar territory.
• Single-occupant cars are
NOVEMBER 2012
be discussed below. women tend to choose different types of cars, and men are also more likely to go for a higher-performance model of a certain car while women are less concerned about it. That at least partly explains the speeding tickets!
• Men and
• In social terms, cars tend
got to sit alongside hundreds of complete strangers driving unfamiliar cars on unfamiliar roads, and it was confidence that dominated how the test drive went. Males, usually being more confident, would jump into the driver’s seat and go with much less hesitation than women. Often there was an element of bravado and even selfimposed pressure not to look like a bad driver in front of someone who saw lots of drivers (not that I actually cared, unless I was worried for my own safety!), especially among younger male drivers. With less confident drivers, usually but not always women, there would be much more hesitation, instant and abrupt following of instructions (eg - "change lanes somewhere along this road" would lead to an immediate lane change rather than a considered ‘mirror, signal, manoeuvre’ at an appropriate time), and often apologies for their "bad driving". My job was part-driving coach and part-salesman in managing people’s driving behaviour by encouraging them to relax or warning them to slow down as required!
to be a ‘guy thing’, which often means male drivers feel an expectation among their male peers to be competent drivers, with the result that bravado can often exceed actual ability. Women are less concerned about each others’ driving abilities as a measure of their standing as a human being, resulting in less bravado or showing off among friends. • Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs seems to be a maledominated activity. For whatever social or psychological reasons, men are more likely to choose to drive when they know they have drunk too much than women. • The only significant physical difference I have observed between men and women behind the wheel is that more women drivers have problems with spatial Baby On Board awareness than men (most evident in parking or negotiating narrow gaps) Having kids on board usually causes a dramatic change in driving behaviour as well. Even the most ‘risk-taking’ drivers Confidence Is King (or Queen) become a lot more ‘risk-averse’ as soon as the child seats go in. Although having said After years of watching other people test that, kids can be very distracting passendriving cars at dealerships, the single gers, which leads to a whole different most important difference between men range of risks. The effect of other passenand women drivers seems to be confidence. Men, on the whole, seem to be gers varies depending on the demographic of the driver and passengers; young male more confident behind the wheel than women. This doesn’t mean that men are drivers with their young male mates on board tend to take more risks than when likely to have more or fewer accidents they are on their own, whereas if a young than women, but it does tend to mean they have different accidents. Having con- male is driving his mother or grandmothfidence makes you decisive, which means er, he tends to be far more careful. Womlots of good decisions and some bad ones, en drivers appear more likely to be disand more behaviour which may be consid- tracted by conversations with their pasered ‘risky’. Lacking confidence means you sengers than men. Unfortunately there is very little scientific research available to tend to be indecisive, which means fewer good decisions, more bad decisions and develop these observations. often a lack of decision which moves a So, are women drivers any better or situation out of your control. However, it worse than men? also makes your behaviour more ‘riskaverse’. All of the above is based on my own observations, and generalisations based on This difference in confidence leads to a difference in how drivers approach every my own years of experience. I could go on for hours with more anecdotal opinions aspect of their driving. For example, a more confident driver is more likely to about the differences between men and women drivers behind the wheel, but alttravel at a faster speed, sit closer to the car in front (including tailgating), and con- hough there are clear differences between the average male and average female tinue driving under more pressure or in driver, I think that it pretty much balances more difficult conditions (such as heavy out overall, and most drivers of both sexrain or tiredness) rather than stopping. A less confident driver is more likely to hesi- es could do with some more driver traintate at intersections and roundabouts, ing and education - although men are less send unclear signals to other drivers about likely to admit that. changing lanes and follow satnav directions rather than local signs or using their (http://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/womendrivers/, Posted on April 13, 2012 by Stuown judgment. Each of these situations art Masson) can lead to an accident in the right circumstances.
far more likely to be men. Women drivers are more highly represented in cars with passengers, largely because they still share a larger load of chauffeuring the kids around than men do. This also has a As a car sales executive for many years, I massive bearing on driving styles, as will Page 5
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Eh, watch, wallet, spectacles… When preparing to go out for a ride, other than the kit I wear, I normally check that I have means to buy fuel, my driving license in case I get stopped and, as a matter of convenience, my mobile phone in case I break down or others want to call me. How many of you have considered how vital a piece of safety equipment the mobile phone is? Read the story of Anthony Margrave (reported on 19th September in the ‘Driffield Times & Post’ website) and how his life was saved because of his mobile phone: A missing person enquiry was launched by Humberside Police after a 40-year-old man was reported missing by his partner in Goole after he had not turned up for work a day after she last spoke to him. A missing person investigation was launched at 15:37hrs on Wednesday 12 September after his partner became concerned she had not heard from him in nearly 24hours. The man’s home in Goole and work place were checked, along with checks at nearby hospitals and police custody suites. After discovering the man’s powerful motorbike was also missing from his home address, additional checks were made to locate the motorcycle. The last thing officers knew was that at 16:30hrs on Tuesday 11 September the 40-year-old man was planning on having a ride on his new motorbike.
Warning signs were evident on the road where Antony Margrave was found.
At 12:14hrs on Friday 14 September the man was found 6ft down a ditch, lying in water conscious and breathing between East Cowick and Thorne, just inside the South Yorkshire Police area.
As 24-hours had passed since his last sighting and this being incredibly out of character, all possible resources were deployed to finding him. An officer involved in the investigation Inspector Rob Cocker, knew the man’s phone had not been used for at least 24-hours nor moved from its location in a very unpopulated large rural area, south of Snaith. Traffic officers were deployed to drive the route from the mans home address to work, however due to the time of day, the consortium police helicopter was also used in the search to check hedges and ditches.
It is believed the motorcyclist collided with a metal signpost on the off-side of the carriageway and then travelled approximately 200 meters further along the carriageway before coming to rest in a ditch. The motorcyclist hidden from view was at the scene for nearly three days before being found on the 14 September. The 40-year-old man suffered serious injuries including broken ribs and hyperthermia and he is currently being treated at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
CCTV was checked and a dedicated systematic police Inspector Rob Cocker said: “Telephone analysis showed search called POLSA was launched to methodically search that the man’s texts and call pattern was completely out for the missing man. of character, the analysis also gave the police a large search area in a predominantly rural part of the county. After two full days of searching rivers, reservoirs, fields, Even with a helicopter it is impossible to check every ditches, houses, gardens, and any other likely location overgrown ditch and crevice and the only way to be the man could have been in the Thorne, Rawcliffe and 100% sure is to search on foot using officers on the Snaith area. ground. At 11:20hrs on Friday 14 September a small amount of debris was found at the side of a road, close to the junction of Selby Road and Reed Holme Lane on the A614 just north of Thorne by Humberside officers, which they believed came from a motorcycle.
“This was a large scale missing person enquiry and required resources being pulled in from Scunthorpe and Hull and the use of the South Yorkshire Helicopter for three days.
“All officers feared the worst and it was very pleasing to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and an ambulance were find the man alive and hope him well with his recovery. requested whilst a thorough search was conducted in the It is a credit to his determination that he is still alive.” immediate area. Page 6
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
ACU National Rally 2012 “I must be potty” I was told! The ACU National Rally is nominally 540 miles around England. The aim is to link as many checkpoints as possible and accomplish it all within 18 hours riding. A piece of cake. Or is it?
which detailed all the checkpoints and their respective links, along with the rules - they don’t give you much time to plan – about 3 weeks – but we were committed. ‘Les Petits Pois’ was a team name suggested by my beloved, all having Christian names starting with ‘P’ and amassing a total body weight between us exceeding 50 stones (I’m an ‘old money’ type of bloke). Might I also add that our combined ages approaches 190. Start time was 14:00 Saturday and we had to be home to the final checkpoint by 10:00 the following day, 20 hours / 540 miles(ish). Only in reality we have to rest for a minimum of 2 hours and declare such on the checkpoint form, so it’s 18 hours in the saddle, averaging 30 mph, approximately.
In essence, the event takes the form of a scatter rally, comprising more than 60 checkpoints. You are able to start at any of the checkpoint and finish at one of 6. Most checkpoints are linked, with each link being allocated a specific number of points, which broadly represent the shortest distance between the checkpoints, rounded off to the nearest 5. We found that term to be VERY BROAD. A route has to be planned linking as many checkpoints as possible with links totalling 540 precisely. As with many things in life, experiencing other hobbies and pastimes, you meet many people who enjoy similar things in life as yourself – my other prime pastime is flying hot air balloons and I have two great mates in the same game both of whom are members of our neighbouring TVAM in Wokingham. During a ‘post flight’ session in a pub in Ireland last year, one of these guys suggested that it might be a good idea if we entered a 3 man team in this year’s ACU National Road Rally - “yeah, that sounds great” says I, not having the faintest idea what it entailed, especially after a few pints of Ireland’s finest. Fast forward to May 2012, when the entry list opens – “Well, are going to have a go?” Still not really understanding how it worked, we all submitted our entry forms and were sent the necessary ‘matrix’
was for me to lead, cracking on to build
by Peter Gooch up some time benefit, for the first 4
Of the three of us, two had GPS Nav Kits, with me being a believer in Maps, and being a HABP/I [Hot Air Balloon Pilot/Instructor] I was given the job of planning our route, precisely locating checkpoints and planning optimum routes between them. Into that plan I worked out fuel stops and rest stops, based on the bikes we were using, me a 1150GS, my compatriots on an elderly 1100 Pan E, and a Triumph 1700 twin, feet out forwards, covered in lights, leather clad, posing machine (he’s an Insurance Broker – there’s no accounting for taste!)
checkpoints as I was familiar with territory up as far as Devizes. Whereupon the guys with the tech would take over. All my planning went out of the window at the third checkpoint in Amesbury, having suggested we were all fuelled up before the off, there being a Morrisons very adjacent to the start point, both my colleagues announced that they needed fuel. So be it, having changed positions after Devizes, we headed for Chippenham with opening heavens and speeds down to sub 30 at times in the deluge. On arriving, just a tad damp round the gills, I foolishly suggested that as we are an hour ahead of schedule we perhaps dry out a bit and have a bite to eat in the very nearby Little Chef. An hour passes very quickly in these circumstances. It’s on to Stroud checkpoint next, so we had better make progress with quite a tricky route. It was still chucking it down in heavy bursts so we went with the SatNav taking the main road. With the Stroud checkpoint behind us we now have a long leg, mainly M5, to Worcester. The checkpoint at Worcester was great. It was run by a local bike club, complete with a BBQ and hot drinks for all and sundry (if only we had known). Now onto the bandit country north west of Worcester. Two more checkpoints on and we arrive at Sutton Maddock, just South of Telford. What a joint, positively ‘hopping’, the whole village are involved, a portion of a barn has been cleared out, hot food and drinks, a place to relax in peace and quiet if you arrive there in the middle of the night.
We decided that a mutually convenient start point would be Basingstoke, as I live in Alresford and they both come from High Wycombe, added to which the Basingstoke checkpoint was being manned by TVAM. It also followed that The Ace Café would be a good final resting place, it being one of the 6 finishing checkpoints, the other nearest one to home being Frome. So now to plot an optimum route connecting Basingstoke to the North Circular – after several attempts and making use of a spreadsheet, I accomplished Team Petit Pois, at the start of the rally. the task, and using Microsoft Autoroute Express, I plotted a route; about What a friendly bunch and really having a 600 miles start to finish (see above). bit of a do, we could have stayed there and enjoyed the party, but after a warm We had 23 checkpoints to cover from Tel- drink and getting our cards stamped, we ford in the West, Ely in the East and Stoke are still just ahead of our schedule but on Trent being the farthest North we had dusk is approaching, we must push on. to go. Having precisely located the check- Stoke On Trent next, what a contrast this points, I prepared a schedule of OSGB grid checkpoint is, a lone man sat in the back references for my colleagues to plug into of a big van with a chair and desk, nowt their ‘Sat-Navs’. We’re ready for the off. else so we move swiftly on. It’s now dark and we are totally reliant on technology. The day of the event dawned bright and Darley Race Track next, south of Ashcheerful, with the threat of bouts of bourne and then on to Kegworth and the heavy, but generally not too bad. The plan Donnington Services on the M1 and our
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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
first monumental cock up: following the ough is located quickly but we now all Sat Nav, our leader (no names, no pack- need fuel. That was easier said than done drill) turns north onto the M1 and we all and took a bit more time out of our alfollow. 40 miles and minutes later we are ready stressed schedule: the gas station back where we started. We take a rest we eventually found was more of a 24/7 break at Donnington and although we’re still ok on time, the ‘slack’ is starting to diminish. We push on to Leicester and another Motorcycle Club well equipped for the likes of us . We take another short break before heading out into the Wolds at about 01:30 towards Grantham with its contrasting checkpoint; a lone chap in a gazebo. Next stop Langrick in the Fens and another minor navigational cock up, on my part this time. There is a railway station nearby with an appropriately named ‘Station Café’ which I take to be the checkpoint. WRONG! After much hunting looking for this cafe (you know the sort of place warmly lit, inviting cups of hot tea) just before Team Petit Pois, at the end of the rally. dawn, we resort to the ‘Book of Instructions’ and find that there is another ‘Station Café’ where the railway off-licence that sold petrol, with a long was dug up 30 years prior about 6 miles queue of early morning / late night revelnorth of our current location. Success at lers topping up on booze. Ely next and last. Now we are getting behind on time, crossing the flat wilderness at that time on no time for that warming cup of tea, on to a bright and sunny Sunday morning was Wisbech where a cuppa is now essential. surreal, but we are on a mission with no After a short break we head for Ely. An time to be romantic. Braintree here we alarm bell is ringing in my head: some- come. A tortuous cross country route drivthing is not right. I signal a halt and I re- en by Sat Nav and arriving with 5 minutes fer to my ‘pace notes’, we’re heading for to spare before they closed. The checkthe wrong checkpoint, it’s Peterborough point was a haulage company depot with next and then Ely. A quick retrace of steps the owner loading grass track bikes into a and we’re off again. It’s daylight now so van. We ask “What is the quickest route to we can really roll (we need to). Peterbor- Epping?”. “A120, M11” he says. We crack
on, our advanced motorcyclist skills now really coming into play as we need to make better than good progress, with our man on his cruiser waving “Follow me, I know the way”. Epping is sorted with a flying visit, the clock is ticking. Now onto the Ace Cafe and our final destination. A quick briefing from our man on his cruiser, “stick as close to me as you can and follow without question, this is where it gets technical”. THE NORTH CIRCULAR (fanfare please). Pitching our way through the Sunday traffic along the NC we stick to our leader like the proverbial does to a blanket and arrive at our destination with 10 minutes to spare (09:50) and get our cards stamped for the last time. Following modest back slapping, we treat ourselves to a well earned Ace breakfast. After a much needed but short rest, we head off in our separate directions for home, admittedly the worst part of the journey. Statistics: we did 670 miles from start to finish and door to door for me added another 100. We stopped for fuel top-ups six times, spending a few pence short of £100 each. Environmentally Friendly? Nah! Would I do it again? What do you think? Absolutely! ANY ONE WANT TO JOIN US?
One Liners
courtesy of http://www.oneliners-andproverbs.com/engels
•
A Committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide that nothing can be done.
•
A computer beat me at chess once but, it was no match for me at kick boxing.
• • • •
Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it. Bacteria: the only culture some people have. Never stand between a dog and a tree. Nobody plans to fail, they just fail to plan
SAM Welcomes New Members, welcome to: Martin Baggott Raymond Bartlett David Andrew Birch Ian Brazier Nicholas Burroughs Brian Quinton Capocci Stuart Gibson Clive Good
Paul Harmswort Richard Hobden Michael Norton Steve Scandrett James Sherry Christine Smyth Geoffrey Edmund Whiffen John William Walker Page 8
Making Progress is printed by Ensign Press of Southampton. Contact info@ensignpress.co.uk
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Guzzi’s don’t leak, but drip trays are at the ready to save Ron Dennis’s nice tiled floor.
McLaren’s stated Mission: to compete in and win every Grand Prix and to win the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. But will it take the corners?
The McLaren motor show 2012
No brakes, suspension and on very old tyres, but you should see this old Indian take a tight bend, 10 feet up in the air.
The weather is perfect, the venue sublime and the machinery on show, the icing on the top. A pair of Italian beauties on show
McLaren hold an annual motor show that is open to employees and guest. This year, I and some of my friends from the Hampshire branch of the Moto Guzzi owners club decided to attend and display our bikes. So as a group we cleaned and polished our best bikes and rode up to Woking to display our machinery along with some of the most exotic and expensive ‘transport’ you could hope to see. Read the full story at http://www.solent-advancedmotorcyclists.co.uk/articles/mclaren-motorshow-2012.pdf By Julian Labouchardiere. Page 9
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
SAM ASSOCIATE CHARTER (Revised) Purpose This Charter sets out the basis of the relationship between Observers and Associates. Observers Observers give their time freely to Associates. They also invest considerable time, energy and personal expense in their personal training so that they can provide Associates with a “Skill for Life”. Associates In exchange for Observers’ time and commitment, a reciprocal commitment is required from Associates:
•
Regular practice between Observed rides in order to put into practice what they have been shown and to apply `The System of Motorcycle Control`.
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A commitment to study the Highway Code, How to be a Better Motorcyclist, Know Your Signs and, preferably, Roadcraft, in-between observed rides.
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A voluntary contribution towards the Observer’s motorcycle running costs, as set down by the Group and varied from time to time. This is currently £10 for rides up to 40 miles and £15 for rides in excess of 40 miles.
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To keep in contact with their Observer at reasonable intervals to arrange subsequent rides.
The Process
1.
The Observer allocated to an Associate will make contact to arrange the first observed ride.
2.
When an Observer feels that an Associate is test-ready, he/she will recommend a Check Test with a Senior Observer to verify the Associate’s progress.
3.
Any Associate who wishes a second opinion on their progress is welcome to come along to a SAM Sunday and request an observed ride with an Observer, other than their own.
4.
Some riders achieve the necessary skills with 6 runs, while others require more. Every rider is different: If, after 10 runs, the Observer or Associate feel they are unable to make further progress, the Associate may be handed back to the Chief Observer for advice or re allocation to another Observer.
5.
Associates are normally expected to pass the IAM Advanced Test within 2 years.
6.
Associates are encouraged to ride in bad weather, as this is an essential skill for life. Cancellation of an observed run due to bad weather will be a joint decision by the Observer and the Associate.
7.
If the Observer feels that insufficient progress is being achieved by an Associate over a three month period due to a lack of practice, lack of studying or the Associate not keeping in contact, the Associate will be "pooled" and await reallocation to another Observer.
8.
In the event that an Associate feels that, for whatever reason, e.g. a clash of personality, difference in style etc. he/she is not making the progress with their Observer that they had hoped for, they should firstly talk this through with their Observer and agree a plan and, if this is not satisfactory, contact the Chief Observer to request reallocation to another Observer, at the Chief Observer's discretion.
ORT This is IMP
Ready for your Test …….
ANT
"The IAM has told all examiners that candidates’ driving licence photo cards must be valid, otherwise the test will not take place. Previously the test would have gone ahead and the candidate would have been advised to get it sorted." Page 10
SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
Events Calendar November 2012–February 2013 SAM Events
Other Events November
Sam Sunday (4th) Group Ride, Box Hill (4th) Graham Marsden (RL) Wickham Sq (SM) 09:50 Group ride to Mere L2 (11th), Alec Gore (RL), Ower Svc (SM) 10:30 Club Night, 13th
Goodwood breakfast meeting (4th) continental classics MotoGP Valencia (11th) Footman James Classic Motorcycle show, NEC (16th-18th) Motorcycle Live NEC (24th–2nd) Dec.
December Xmas Club Night, (11th)
January Club Night, (8t h)
Carole Nash Winter classic show (6th) Newark showground NG24 2NY
February th
Carole Nash Motorcycle show Excel, London (15th – 17th)
Club Night, (12 )
Carole Nash Bristol classic show (17th) Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN
The Ace Cafe London run events every weekend, see www.acecafeevents.com for further details
Key:
(SAM Events) RL (Run Leader), SM (Start Meet), EA (End At), WKA (Winchester King Alfred’s Statue), OS (Ower Services), WS (Wickham Square) (Other events) BSB—British Super Bikes, WBS –World Super Bikes Note: Check the web site for the latest SAM Events programme. The source for the other events are varied and include some of the links mentioned below.
Not found something of interest in the list above? There are a number of useful web sites to watch depending upon your particular interest. I have compiled the following short list: • http://www.mag-uk.org/en/eventslist
• • • • •
http://www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerrallies.html http://sump-publishing.co.uk/classic%20bike%20events.htm http://www.cernunnos-mcc.org/whatson http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/RidingEvents/
http://www.acu.org.uk/events/ If you know of an event or show that may be of interest to other members in the months February 2013 — April 2013, drop a line to editor@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk with dates, contact details and any other information that would be useful, and it will be added to the list.
SAM Forum Reminder I'd just like to take this opportunity to remind all SAM Members that the club has a discussion forum which allows everyone to ask questions about Advanced Training, chat with other members from Associates to Observers, offer items for sale and much more besides. Recent topics of discussion have been the merits of the IAM's Association with Adelaide Insurance (do they actually offer a better deal to Green Badge Holders than other insurers?), what (if anything) should SAM offer non-IAM members and whether all the planned new EU "safety" regulations will actually drive people away from biking. Also one Associate Member is writing a blog of his experiences of Observed Rides and Advanced Training which gives a useful insight to those who may be just starting their own Advanced Riding. You can find the forums at http://www.solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk/forum/ or just go to the main SAM page and click on the Forum link. Do join up and say hello, we'd love to see you post! By Graham Marsden
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SAM SOLENT ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
NOVEMBER 2012
YOUR COMMITTEE Role
Member
Email Address
Chairman Club Secretary Public Relations Treasurer Chief Observer
David Forster Logan Colbeck Vacant Sam Davis Alec Gore
chairman@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk secretary@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk public-relations@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk treasurer@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk chief-observer@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Training Officer Membership Secretary MDU Co-ordinator Webmaster
Alec Gore Carrie Rawlinson Tim Bennett Rui De Castro
training-officer@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk membership@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk mdu@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk webmaster@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Club Night Organiser
Mark Rowe
club_night@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Club Night Organiser
Martin Thomas
club_night_2@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Associate Co-ordinator
Mike Carter
associate-coordinator@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Merchandise
Gary Elston
merchandise@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Group Rides Group Rides Magazine Editor
Graham Marsden Nigel Tailyour Rod Griffin
group-rides@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk group-rides2@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk editor@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Bumper stickers • • • • • •
(More)
One Liners
• •
Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.
I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
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I didn’t climb to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian…
Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.
Courtesy of http://www.joydeepdeb.com
from http://www.ahajokes.com
I wouldn't be caught dead with a necrophiliac. Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now. Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.
Honesty is the best policy but insanity is the best defence.
Caption Competition August 2012 “Test pilot wanted. Experience not required.” RG
DISCLAIMER Many of the views expressed in this SAM Newsletter are personal to the author and publication does not imply endorsement of any article, any author or any organisation. Views expressed are not necessarily in accordance with the policies or the views of the IAM or SAM. Where articles are reproduced from other publications or authors, unreserved acknowledgement is given to the source. No responsibility is accepted by the Editor or SAM for any damage to intelligence or riding abilities, howsoever caused which might result from reading this publication.
Caption Competition. Suggestions to editor@solent-advanced-motorcyclists.co.uk
Advanced notice: The following edition of ‘Making Progress’ is scheduled for February 2013, please ensure all contributions are submitted by 10th January. Advice on submitting articles: send in your article in the form of a word document, plain text or in the body of the email. Images should be accompanied by a caption, i.e. file name - caption, if not I will apply my own. So get busy, write and send them in. Page 12