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Cover picture Seen at the WI event at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge last September, photo Don Ingham

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, or 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 March. Send to:

Welcome to the first issue of CAM News in 2003. I hope you will continue to find our publication informative, helpful and sometimes amusing. If you haven’t renewed your subscription for last year you can still do so at our group meeting on 29 January or better still use the form overleaf to send in your payment now. After that we regret we will no longer be able to send you CAM News. Enclosed with this issue is a gift aid declaration form; tax-paying members who use it will be giving some of their money to CAM instead of to Inland Revenue!

As many of you know, Don Ingham took the chair for one year only and promised to 'give it his best shot'. As the incoming Chairman, I can tell you that he was as good as his word. Under his guidance and personal effort, your committee has turned the fortunes of the group around and, whilst there is still plenty to do, CAM can now proceed, building on the work that has been done to date. I wish to record our grateful thanks for all that was done in the last year.

Our Motorcycle sub-group, under the ever watchful eye of Mike Doyle, continues to recruit new riders and I am hopeful that Mike will see a good return in the numbers who choose to continue their membership having passed their tests. Mike's aim is to get the numbers up so that they can 'stand on their own' before too long and that would be a great achievement.

I am pleased to report that we have a full year of events arranged at Kenwyn and other venues. Now I want your suggestions for suitable events for 2004. No, it's not too early to be thinking about this, put on your thinking caps please and send in your ideas.

We are very fortunate to have the continuing valuable support of Hawkins Motors, Dales Rover and now Carrs of Truro this year. We also receive wonderful assistance from Devon & Cornwall Police in many ways. We really do thank all these people and look forward to the coming year's events.

I have said that it is my intention to hold some of our group meetings at venues other than Truro. This year's calendar is already full, so this will start in earnest in 2004. We hope to hold some Observer Meetings to recruit more people into this important area of our work and also increase the number of Senior Observers. David Ede will be overseeing this and I believe some of these meetings will be held away from Truro, so that is a start in that direction. I will be looking to fill two new posts this year. The first is for Vice

Chairman and the second is for a Publicity Officer who will include event organisation in his/her brief. As a group we need to tell the world of our existence and our activities for road safety and better driving standards. If you think you would like to do either of these jobs or know of someone who would, please get in touch.

My very sincere thanks to Diana Smeath and the committee for their efforts and to Dave Caddy, our retiring Treasurer, for all his work in sorting out the groups' finances. Dave is retiring for health reasons and we wish him a speedy recovery. We thank Jason Carne for stepping in to take over those duties from Dave and wish him well. In the meantime, remember to keep up to date through our superb website, cared for by Richard Gardner - it is the best!

Subscriptions were due to be paid at the Annual General Meeting in November. If you have not renewed yet, please now send your cheque with this slip to: Diana Smeath, Woodbury, Green Close, Feock, TR3 6SF.

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms ………………………………………………………………. Tel:

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

To be a full member of Cornwall Advanced Motorists you must also be a fully paid-up member of The Institute of Advanced Motorists. If you are an associate member please do not pay until you have passed the advanced test.

IAM membership No. …………. Date elected ……………………………….

I hope to arrange some gatherings for all observers and prospective observers with the intention of meeting you all. In the meantime, please accept my sincere thanks on behalf of the CAM committee for all your efforts in the past year – over 50 advanced test passes. Well done!

You may already know that I have taken over from John Hewlett as Associates & Observers Organiser. As a “new kid on the block” my involvement with CAM has proved to be quite challenging, not the laidback lifestyle I imagined as a semi-retiree! My wife, Pam, and I moved down from Watford recently and still marvel at the beautiful scenery, coastline and less stressful way of life that is one of the trademarks of the county. I must say, however, that the railway bridge at Goss Moor is a source of major irritation when damaged by lorries being driven by so-called professional drivers. I think it’s a scandal that it could take until 2007 before this road is improved. On the roads, drivers are often more courteous and friendly - “white van man” will invariably let you out before him! One big difference is that whereas in Watford almost anything was obtainable within a three mile radius of home, in Cornwall trips to larger towns or cities, such as St Austell, Truro or Redruth, have to be strategically planned as they involve a round trip of some 30 miles.

On our leisure days we have visited steam rallies, country fairs and combine harvester racing and been riding; my horse, Drummer, responded to very few of my attempts to control him and I concluded that I ought to stick to my Honda CBR 600 motorcycle as it is infinitely more controllable most of the time - I think I’ll stay on two wheels for my recreation. [I passed the motorcycle test at 16 and the advanced test in 1995].

I passed the car advanced test in 1990 and in 1993 I decided to become an observer [or Adviser as they are called in the NW London Group]. I passed the senior observers test in 1995, retesting in 1998 and 2002. I found it very rewarding as drivers acknowledged their improvement in technique even if it was recognised that they might struggle to reach the advanced test standard.

I have always been interested in motorsport and enjoyed spectating at speedway, motorcycle and car races, and marshalled at motorcycle races for three years. I undertook time-keeping duties in 1985 and have done that regularly on the Tour of Cornwall rally. But my motorsport activities have diminished somewhat now; I’ve only had one stint of time-keeping at a local sprint. My usual journey to marshal on the Network Q Rally did not take place this year. I normally go with nine other friends. After much deliberation, we decided that the time and expense were not worth it, just to see a maximum of 90 cars. In addition, the governing body decreed that after Carlo Sainz’s crash last year, all marshals would have to undergo training and

licensing. Although I’ve been involved for nearly 20 years, I always take the positive view that none of us knows it all (certainly not I) and we can always pick up useful information, but unfortunately none of the courses was available down here. We will have to watch it on TV.

Isn’t it amazing how all the latest motoring programmes on TV, Top Gear, 5^th Gear, Pulling Power and even Driven (which had previously been very good) are all now showing cars sliding round a test track with smoke billowing from the tyres? Where has the responsibility gone? Surely the producers must realise that young drivers will always be tempted to emulate these qualified, experienced racing drivers on our roads. How on earth do we get them to change - or do they see it all for showbiz?

Pam and I feel exceptionally fortunate to have been able to retire so early to such a picturesque area, although I did line up a job for Pam as a part-time pasty crimper, but she was insistent that she didn’t want it.

Best lines heard recently: ‘life is a trade-off’, ‘courtesy is a language that needs no tongue’, ‘just because local people want it [Asda] doesn’t always make it desirable’. Makes you think.

On 29 October last, the chairman, Don Ingham, welcomed 54 people – members and guests - to CAM’s group meeting, held for the first time at Hawkins Motors in St Stephens. John Hawkins thanked everyone for coming. He flourished an IAM badge from the 1960s and told some amusing tales from the days when he started out in the motoring business.

Superintendent Colin Terry, gave a resume of his driving career and went on to talk about accident statistics: there were 137 collisions in the Devon and Cornwall area in the last six months which resulted in death or serious injury. More drivers should develop better driving skills. Colin Terry answered questions from the floor concerning television motoring programmes and inappropriate speed, saying that we all have responsibilities towards young people and should do as much as possible to engage them in improving their skills.

He said there was no doubt that the use of mobile phones while driving can and does cause fatal accidents. Education, engineering and enforcement should all be used and we must be encouraged to spread the word to reduce the high numbers of road deaths. He went on to say he enjoyed CAM News and would like to be included in the motorcycle runs.

Colin Terry presented certificates to all the new members who were able to be present. A certificate was awarded to Don Ingham in recognition of all his efforts during his year as chairman, ensuring the successful continuation of our Group. A photograph of each presentation is on this website.

Don Ingham thanked Lesley Hoskin for organising the raffle and everyone who had helped at the Marie Curie Driving Challenge at RAF Portreath which took place in truly awful weather.

… I should have liked an opportunity to thank IAM and Cornwall Advanced Motorists in person, for existing as institutions to encourage the improvement of driving skills. I should also have liked to express my appreciation of all the observers, and in particular of “my” observer Mike Stone, for giving their time and skills to help individuals such as myself to become better drivers.

There will always be something else to learn, I feel, but thanks to the IAM’s driving programme and Mike’s patience and helpful advice, I am vastly more confident and much safer on the road than before. And whereas eighteen months ago I would not have dreamt of driving in Europe, these days I am quite happy to share the driving with my husband in France, Germany and, if all goes according to plan … Portugal.

Taking the Advanced Driving Course has had a very positive effect on my lifestyle, and I should be very grateful if you could convey my thanks to CAM on 29^th October…

Many of you will know that the first of our Autumn storms came into Cornwall during Saturday night/Sunday morning 12 and 13 October. Not surprising perhaps that Sunday the 13^th was the day arranged for the Marie Curie Laides Driving Challenge at RAF Portreath.

The CAM involvement for this event was to set up 3 'test areas' using traffic cones arranged into 'garages', two per area. The contestant had to start off from the first 'garage', go forward, avoiding cones, stop and reverse back passing a different cone into 'garage' no 2. Then repeat the procedure, ending up in the first garage, ready for the next contestant to have a go. That in a nutshell, was the plan. It worked well on the Saturday afternoon when it was all set up and the sun was shining.

When our valiant team arrived at about 8.30am on Sunday, the courses had to be reset as the cones had been displaced by the overnight gales. It was also raining, really raining! By the time that the first of our Ladies arrived to take part in this part of their day, we were well and truly soaked, even though Peter Hester very kindly brought along some extra wet weather gear to help out those of us who were not best equipped.

I think all the contestants who took part that day, did very well indeed. To get into a strange car, in the pouring rain with mirrors and windows constantly obscured by the driving rain and negotiate our courses as well as they did was excellent. I know they were guided and helped by our tireless team, both inside and outside the cars, but it still took some doing. During our day, we saw through over 150 contestants, using 3 cars at a time. As the day progressed, the weather worsened and the wind shifted around to the north. I was to learn later that we were in a force 10 gale with gusts over that at times.

The day was brought to a sudden halt after a windscreen blew out on a Bus on another course and an HGV was threatening to get blown over. The organisers called it a day, just before three o’clock We were due to go on until five and still had about 120 contestants to take part but, it was a wise decision to stop. So far as our team was concerned, it was becoming impossible to continue anyway, as the cones were moving about faster than the cars!

In spite of the difficulties, 20 ladies managed a 100% score, the average were scored around 85% and a lot between 70% and 80%. We also had a couple of 'minus' results. A lot of our literature was given out and I think we could well have some applicants to CAM and IAM as a result. In spite of the

awful conditions, most people who took part said that they enjoyed themselves, and that makes it all worthwhile.

Very special thanks to all our team for their wonderful efforts over the weekend. They were, Don Ingham, Diana Smeath, Chris Ambrose, Paul Basher, Peter Hester, Roy Bullen, Brian Hill, Jack Ruse and David Ede.

This trophy provides a benchmark for the high standard of driving expected in the group. It is awarded to commemorate the life of Andy Henwood who, as a serving police officer, was killed on duty outside the Royal Cornwall Show in 1979.

The competition for the trophy is in two parts – practical and written. This year’s written part was set by last year’s winner, Chris Ambrose, and is reproduced below. I am grateful to all who took part and especially to Gary Penrose and Chris Ambrose. [Peter Hester withdrew because he was not free on the only day the police could arrange his observed drive].

The practical section - an observed drive - was overseen by Gary Penrose of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. All three finalists, Andrew Cutmore, Stephen Nelson and Simon Sweet, praised Gary’s professionalism. Gary himself described the day as “a great success”. The winner was Simon Sweet of Polgooth.

HIGHWAY CODE QUESTIONS

1. Under what age must a passenger be for it to be the driver’s responsibility to ensure a seatbelt is worn?

4. Generally, during what hours should the car horn not be used in a built up area?

5. What is the maximum permitted speed limit for a car towing a caravan on a single carriageway road?

6. With a car in good condition on a dry road surface, what is the braking distance from 60mph?

7. What is the minimum recommended distance that a warning triangle should be placed behind a broken down vehicle?

8. In the traffic light sequence what is the major difference between a Pelican crossing and a Toucan or Puffin crossing?

9. At 40mph your vehicle will probably kill any pedestrian it hits. What is the percentage chance of the pedestrian being killed at 20mph?

10. Which category of vehicle, if any, may be parked without lights at night in a lay-by on a road with a speed limit of 40mph?

11. Approximately what percentage of all accidental deaths in children is due to road accidents?

15. What is a vehicle likely to be carrying if it displays an orange rectangular panel?

16. In which year did it become compulsory for front seatbelts to be worn in cars?

17. In which year did it become compulsory for motorcycle crash helmets to be worn?

21. On a road with normal camber is this more advantageous to cornering on a left or right hand bend?

22. Britain’s first breath test was in Somerset. In what year was it conducted?

Friday 15 November and I was due to meet Gary Penrose at Camborne Police Station at two o’clock for the driving section of the Andy Henwood trophy. I arrived in plenty of time and put it to good use in giving the car windows a final polish. I strolled into the station only to find I was in the wrong place. The Traffic Division is now at the other end of Camborne on the industrial estate. Will I have points deducted for getting lost before I start?

Having met Gary Penrose for the first time I discovered he is involved in police driver training. Gary informed me that throughout the drive he would be making notes – did he ever – we are talking two sides of A4!

Our route took us out of Camborne towards Connor Downs, keeping a careful check on the 40mph limit. Right towards Gwithian, now up to the national limit. I met an oncoming light commercial and eased off. Gary said I should have taken a lower gear then [the trouble is these Skoda turbo diesels are so torquey!] Left back into Hayle and the 30mph – seems like a crawl but it’s the law. Left then right onto the A30 Hayle bypass.

Approaching the St Erth roundabout I am instructed to turn right, third exit back into Hayle. Although I am still some way off I observe in my mirror a small lorry overtaking at speed the following vehicles some way back. Rather than get trapped in the wrong lane I “stake my claim” by giving an early signal right. The lorry reacts and keeps its distance and I am able to move out into the right hand lane. Along Hayle Causeway and into the town.

“Okay. You can start your commentary now,” said Gary. Although a commentary is no longer required on the IAM test it is often useful for the

examiner if you think aloud. Surprisingly not many examiners are telepathic – they only seem so. Remember when commentating the rule of three: what you see, what you are going to do about it and why.

Quite a bit to mention in the space of about a mile: buses pulling up/moving off, passengers alighting, car doors opening, vehicles waiting to emerge from junctions – making sure I get that important eye contact.

I noticed a parked van on our side of the road. I watched it to make sure it did not move off – the road underneath it was dry although we had just had a shower. This did not mean it could not move off, only that it had been there a while. Across the roundabout and back towards Connor Downs again but this time right towards Barripper. Keep going left and we go along the outskirts of Camborne and the end of the test. Gary asks me how I thought I did. I am aware there was an awful lot of writing.

Luckily most of it was positive, apart from steering: on one bend I pushed instead of pulled and inadvertently lifted the accelerator slightly in another bend.

I am always very aware as an advanced driver, whether on test or driving day to day, that I am only as good as my last drive and it is far easier to let standards slip than to maintain them. Concentration is paramount.

I would thoroughly recommend that members do not shy away from the contest when it is held in 2003. It is marvellous in helping to maintain your standard and it’s a cheap way to have an IAM refresher!

Many thanks to those of you who answered our questionnaire about CAM News and the Internet.

The results showed there were 27 members with Internet access, 19 of whom were willing to print off a hard copyfor another member. 17 would be willing to receive a downloaded printed copy. Nine members would prefer to keep the existing arrangement and nobody expressed willingness to help with the production and dispatch of a paper copy.

The committee discussed these findings at length and decided that the extra work involved in running a two-tier system was not viable.

So,CAM News will continue to come through your letterbox three times a year and Internet users can still see it on screen.

Offers of help in other areas have been passed on to the committee members concerned.

Is your conversation really necessary?

Funny isn’t it? Just a few years ago it wasn’t possible to talk on the telephone while driving. Nowadays it seems people can’t wait to do it.

It is a dangerous practice. Let’s work to get the message across. Oh, and while you’re doing your propaganda bit, don’t forget to mention text messaging!

Cornwall Mike Doyle

Advanced 07870 171720

Motorcyclists mikedoyle@totalise.co.uk

Mike’s Mutterings

This is the time of year when we can look back, examine the year just gone, and look forward to the year upcoming. It’s hard to imagine but at this time last year Cornwall Advanced Motorcyclists (CAM) hardly existed, and now we have over 40 members. It’s been a very busy year organising the Group’s set up; we have had our successes, and we had our not so successful moments.

Observers As you can imagine, setting the group up from scratch was not an easy task but lots of help has materialised and we’d like to express our thanks to everyone who has contributed to the successful inaugural year of CAM. We would like to especially thank the people who have worked so hard to become Observers so that we can continue our success in the coming years. So a big thank you to Tim Soper, Roger Allway, Dave Mooney and Cedric Thomas.

Of course, CAM would not exist if it were not for members who come along to observe for the advanced Test, (IAM and RoSPA). This year they were:

Colin Rule Roger Allway Stephen Francis Terry Hoare Steve Gardner Joe Wildman Mike Winn Victor Peake

Social During the summer we had a number of Social Rides to places of interest, all of which were well supported and every one enjoyed themselves. Of course, there is always room for improvement. Have you ever fancied running your own social run? Leading the ride? Visiting somewhere, you

want to go? Know of a destination that may be of interest to others? The CAM Motorcycle Committee will shortly be putting together the social runs calendar for next year and we are looking for both new ideas and run leaders. .Leading a run is easy. You do not have to be the greatest rider in the world. All you have to do is act as a telephone point for people wanting to attend the ride, then turn up at the right time on the right day and lead the way. If you do not fancy leading a ride, but know a good route, or even just an interesting destination, let us know and we will do the rest. Speak to Colin Rule 07967 340971 and he will take it from there.

As well as the social runs we now have our own Social venue at the Porthpean Outdoor Centre on the outskirts of St Austell. Next year the social meeting will be on the first Tuesday of every month commencing on

4 February at 7pm. Please try to attend. Eventually we hope to have regular speakers. In the summer we will do an evening social run. If you know of someone who would be willing to give a presentation/talk to the group, or you have an idea for a talk please speak to Colin Rule.

Website The club has its own web site at www.cornwall-advanced.co.uk . Unfortunately this could not be updated as regularly as we wanted it to be, but this will improve in the new year so keep checking it for the latest news, runs, meeting and test passes.

If you could help to maintain the web site or write articles for it please contact Steve Gardner (07966 405222) and I am sure he will give you a warm welcome.

Annual Dinner Fourteen of us sat down together for the annual dinner, held at The Coppice in Lanner. It was a great evening, much enjoyed by all.

Subscriptions To bring us in line with the Car Group we have to change our subscription year to run October to October, you will shortly be receiving your renewal forms from Cedric. Please return them to him as soon as possible. Remember that without you there is no group, so please continue to support the group.

All that remains is for me to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year and safe riding in 2003. Hoping to see you all in 2003. Mike Doyle

Scene: a grey, almost raining Thursday noon in August, a fairly narrow, twisty 40mph road between St Austell and Stenalees and a broken-down car with hazard lights flashing facing towards St Austell.

Driving round the bend in the opposite direction, I see hazard and slow down. The car driver coming the other way doesn’t. (He’s not an IAM member) He pulls out round broken down car, sees problem too late, brakes hard and skids! By which time I’m parked right up against hedge, impact of offside headlights meeting slams me into seat belt – new, stiff and very effective – “Ouch!” No whiplash, because head support is at correct height, but painful bruises below my knees.

I stay in my car, the other driver is walking around. The police are first on the scene, then paramedic car. He puts me in neck collar “in case”, holds my head still. Tells me the air ambulance is coming because land ambulance will be too slow – it’s August and now raining, remember. I think, “Where will it land?” Steep valley, narrow road. The broken-down car has been pushed behind mine and traffic is taking it in turns to go past. Because the air ambulance has to land some distance away, they call a land ambulance to take me to it. I’m still in the car.

So the fire brigade is called to make the airbag safe. They don’t have the clamp aboard, so lift the bonnet and disconnect the battery. Fireman offers to take the side off the car so they can put me on a back-board in the car “in case of back injury”. I say “Don’t you dare!” So they swing me round, stand me up, still holding my head still, and strap me onto the board – agony! Luckily my car is very easy to get in and out of. Then a bumpy ride into a small, rough area ‘playing field’ and into the air ambulance. Flat on my back, so can only see sky and rotor blades and no earmuffs because of neck collar and blocks. Noisy!

Because my injuries are not life threatening they land on the RAF spot by Duchy Hospital and another ambulance takes me to casualty. As I said, “everything but a lifeboat”. The emergency services were excellent and covered all contingencies. I had seat-belt bruising and bruised legs, either

strained muscles or a cracked sternum and vertigo from the violent jolt. My lovely new car – 4 ½ months old – was repaired twelve weeks later and the other driver admitted liability.

If I hadn’t had IAM training to be more aware of hazards and react instantly I wouldn’t have stopped so quickly and the consequences could have been a lot worse and I might have lost confidence in my driving ability. So, thank you, IAM – your training can’t save us from all accidents and other drivers, but it can reduce the costs to life and limb.

Four weeks after this event, a friend saw the result of another accident in the same place – this time a car was on its roof!

Chairman	Stephen Nelson
Vice-Chairman
Secretary	Diana Smeath
Treasurer	Jason Carne
Associates & Observers Co-ordinator	David Ede
Membership Secretary
Publications	Peter Hester
	Polly Tatum
Website	Richard Gardner
Events
Motorcycles	Mike Doyle

The Regional Liaison Forum meets on 1 February in Dorchester, on 28 June in Bath and on 25 October in Bournemouth. CAM Committee meets ten times a year.

take the B3284 Perranporth Road under the railway bridge, go past the City Inn, then Hendra Road, both on your left. 400 yards past Hendra Road you will see a crossroads sign. Turn right into Kenwyn Church Road. Lychgate is at the far end of the road where it becomes Knights Hill. There is on-street parking.

travel via Shortlanesend on B3284. Shortly after passing 30mph sign at the Truro boundary you will see the War Memorial on the left. Turn left into Knights Hill. The Lychgate is at the end where Knights Hill becomes Kenwyn Church Road. There is on-street parking.

For £75 you can give your friends and relations a positive start to the New Year with an IAM gift token for the Skill for Life programme – they can be ordered direct by calling Linda Francis at the IAM - 020 8996 9600.

Your technical questions should be sent to the address below for forwarding to the appropriate person.

We wish all readers of CAM News a very happy and safe New Year! And we thank those of you who have sent in articles – there was not room for everything and we have had to hold some over. PH and PT