Cornwall Advanced Motorists News

is published by Cornwall Advanced Motorists, and is edited by Peter Hester and Polly Tatum. The views expressed in its pages do not necessarily reflect those of other members, Cornwall Advanced Motorists or the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Please send us your articles, anecdotes, pictures - all will be considered for publication. The deadline for the next issue is 15 July. They should be sent to CAM News, Catherine House, Trevanson, Wadebridge, PL27 7HP

A New Beginning

by Don Ingham, Chairman

Welcome to the first edition of the new-style newsletter. I am particularly grateful to Polly Tatum and Peter Hester for all of their hard work in its creation. The opportunity has been taken to use up-to-date technology. You will notice new features and the introduction of photography. Through the dedicated work of Richard Gardner we now have our own web-page (see p.11). Please have a look and let us have your comments.

Your new committee has been very busy since the last newsletter. You will recall that we had suffered a substantial fall in membership in the last 5 years (from 296 to 199) which has had to be addressed. Our modest outgoings are based on a membership income of 250. We have 236 members [including family members, associates and a friend], and 19 paid up motorcyclists on whose income we cannot depend long-term as they aim to form their own independent group We therefore need to recruit at least another 33 members.

Publicity and recruitment have to be on-going tasks in order to cope with natural wastage from the group. There have been assessment drive events at Dales Rover and at Truro Rotary Club and newspaper publicity – leading to the successful recruitment of Mark Binnersley West Briton reporter to our ranks. I have myself recruited and now observe two new members

We continue to receive the generous support of Dales Rover at Scorrier. This has included: use of a vehicle for the West Briton article, payment for their staff to undertake our course, access to their mailing list and use of their premises as a base for our assessment drives. Hawkins Motor Group supports this newsletter via its advertisement. Police support is illustrated in our photographs.

We are grateful for the support of Dales Rover of Scorrier and Hawkins Motors of Penryn.

As you know, I said that I would undertake this role for this year. We are examining all workings of the Group which will be improved where necessary and appropriate. This work will be documented as a Working Manual to which all committee members contribute to ease the path of both my successor and future members.

I very much appreciate the superb support both of the committee and of members. Everyone I have asked to do something has responded magnificently even at short notice. I am particularly grateful to Diana Smeath.

Congratulations to those who have recently passed the IAM test

observers’ names in italics

Dennis West, Constantine, Jim Boote

Sarah Jane Davies, Marazanvose, Peter Hester

Stuart Matley Jones, St Ives, Alan Tippett

Tony Backhouse, St Austell, Ron Burley

Alison Haines, Ian Mutton

Steve Pearce, Jack Ruse

Welcome to new Associate Members

Jason Carne, Truro Stephen Nelson, Feock

Kim Gough, Porthleven Amy Philp, St Austell

Mark Lamming, Perranporth Keith Randell Ponsanooth

Linda Masterson, St Day Colin Rule, Truro

George McFeat, St Austell, Chris Thomas, Camborne

Martin Wood, Padstow Donald Dick, Newquay

Olga Statham, Sancreed Martin Gorring, Bodmin

Janet Wood, Gorran Haven

Associates need Observers!

There are many people coming forward who want to take the advanced test and become full members of the IAM.

As you will remember, an observer was there to help and advise you when it was your turn. We don’t want to dampen the enthusiasm of new associates by keeping them waiting, but without plenty of observers to help them that is what happens.

Have you thought about being an observer? No time? Not confident? Please think again. It would be of great help to the Cornwall Group if you were to take this step. You will receive training, you will meet observers and get the chance to talk to them. To get started please telephone

John Hewlett 01209 821691

Observer Jack Ruse with a potential new member at the CAM Assessment Drives Day with Dales Rover of Scorrier on the day of their launch of the new MGTF Model.

CAM is grateful to Sara Cadge, Dales’ Director, for this and other support of our group, including the use of vehicles and fees paid for members of Dales staff who take our course. Thanks to the observers who came in during the day - at short notice.

Connections Upcountry

As you will know from your Advanced Driving magazine, Cornwall Group is a part of the IAM’S Region One - Southwest England and South Wales. Helen Schofield is its co-ordinator.

We support the work of the Region by attending meetings of its Regional Liaison Forum. We similarly support IAM district and national meetings. Minutes of all of these meetings are available to you at our group meetings along with minutes of our own group and committee meetings.

Regional Liaison Forum and other meetings provide us with valuable opportunities to share experiences with others. The size of the region does mean, however, that we are involved in considerable travel - for example to Swindon or to Gwent. David Caddy, Mike Doyle and I will be attending the district Spring meeting at Bristol on 27 April.

A very good working relationship has been established with Region One, in particular with Helen Schofield who has been a great supporter of our efforts and a ready source of help and advice.

DI

Annual Dinner

On 16 March a delicious dinner at the Aviary Court Hotel at Illogan was enjoyed by twenty members and friends and family. It was a most enjoyable evening and we hope many more will come in 2003.

Scooting About

Peter Hester interviews Margaret Prowse

Have you ever wondered if riding a moped or scooter would ease traffic congestion, especially during the morning and evening rush hours, or just provide alternative transport for local journeys? In an attempt to find out the pros and cons of riding a scooter I went to talk to Margaret Prowse.

She lives in Penryn and is the wife of a friend of mine [Mike] and although she is now retired she uses her scooter for all local journeys. Margaret originally had a Honda but swapped it some time ago for a very stylish Suzuki model.

Although there is a difference between scooters and mopeds [see legal definitions below] I have used the terms freely in our conversation below. I started by asking Margaret what brought her into scootering. Her reply was straightforward: to be independent, as simple as that.

P So you drive a car do you – you’re driving your scooter on a car licence?

M Yes – I’ve been driving a car for 37 years.

P So how long have you been riding the scooter?

M About 15 years or so

P So you wanted to be independent - what else do you find about the scooter

M I find it’s brilliant for parking - brilliant for getting in amongst traffic - economical - lots of different reasons - but mostly the fact that you can park anywhere

P Carrick Council informed me that parking was free for motorcycles in all car parks but I have not seen motorcycle bays in all of them.

M In Falmouth there are designated areas on The Moor and in the main car park but not in the car park by Trago Mills.

P That is going to be a big help seeing that most of the local car parks are going up to £2.90 long stay.

M Even if you can’t get into a car park you can always find a space between cars where you can squeeze in with a scooter.

P What do you find you get as far as MPG is concerned?

M I honestly don’t know but I suppose about 60.

P I would guess you may be getting a lot more than that.

M Yes probably - I seem to fill the tank up with £2 and it goes on forever.

P How much do you actually use the scooter?

M This one not as much as the old one I had - that one I used to use every day - but this one I haven’t used it very much at all.

P Do you find you have problems on main roads with the scooter?

M No, this one keeps up with traffic very well - it’s quite a nippy one this one - no it doesn’t bother me, but I think it would have bothered me if I did not have a full driving licence. If I didn’t drive a car and I didn’t know the rules of the road then I might be a bit nervous.

P How do you find traffic behaves towards you?

M I think in most cases most drivers are good but you get the odd idiot that will cut you up – I think you’re treated with contempt when your’re on a moped, to be honest, I really do. Drivers have no patience, no patience at all.

P How do you go on in bad weather? I tend to avoid bad weather on anything with two wheels. How does it handle in the wet?

M You have to be careful in crosswinds but no problems really – you just have to drive accordingly. Just drive sensibly. I’ve got waterproof leggings and to be honest it doesn’t bother me – but I can get a wet bottom! It wouldn’t stop me going out, can I put it that way? If it’s raining and I want to go I will still go. I could do with a little windscreen wiper on my visor.

P How do you keep your visor clear?

M Just wipe it with my glove – mind you I did have one helmet that didn’t have a visor.

P I know you use your scooter to go down to the shops and things but do you ever go out for a ride just for the hell of it?

M Oh yes! I say to Michael I’m going to have a day out on my own and I leave him some lunch and I go off at 9 o’clock in the morning and I go maybe to Penzance.

P You take it that sort of distance? [about 25 miles, Ed.]

M Oh yes I have a mobile phone and I do ring Mike to let him know I’m O.K.(cause he does worry a bit) and what time I will be back so at least he knows I’m O.K. Oh yes I go out just for the day especially during the summer - I love it. I like the independence that it gives me ‘cause then I can do my own thing.

P You know when you’re in heavy traffic and there is a queue in front of you, do you filter to the front?

M Yes !

P I’ve noticed that a lot of people who have taken to scooters still behave as if they are in the car and stick in the traffic queue.

M Oh no - I just love it , I love that.

P Have you ever thought of doing the motorcycle test and getting a

bigger scooter?

M No, I wouldn’t want a bigger bike because I know me - I’m a fast driver in the car and I know with a motorbike I would go fast - I know I would and I’m not going to put myself in that position. A bigger bike may be too heavy for me as I’m not getting any younger. No this one suits me fine - and I haven’t got to take a test but I have thought of doing the advanced motoring test either in the car or on the moped as I think it will make me a better driver

P There is a booklet on safe scooter riding, but unfortunately the

advanced driving test is not available for mopeds.

M Well I think it should be!