Our Motorcycle observers preparing for their senior tests back row[L-R] Peter Smith,David Mooney, Tim Soper front row[L-R] Derek Crofts, Cedric Thomas, Robin Wale

We are pleased to report a year of progress in our group's fortunes thanks to the great effort of many people during the year. Stephen Nelson was elected to replace Don Ingham after Don's year in the chair; during that time a dramatic improvement took place in putting the group back onto a firm financial footing. In his opening address, Stephen said that he wanted to see the Group build on that foundation with emphasis on the training of new Senior Observers. This would then support our observers in their important task of bringing on new Associates and all that flows from that growth in new members. David Ede and his helpers did this in style, earning high praise from Andy Poulton, Staff Examiner of the IAM, and now we have six Senior Observers in place. A wonderful achievement.

Group events during the year:

The Chairman and Mike Doyle visited the Mobility Centre at Treliske and as a result of that, our secretary, Diana Smeath, has been observing Jason Moyle, to see if our methods can assist some of the disabled drivers who have needed to pass through this organisation. Although it is still at an early stage, the indications are positive.

Regional Liaison Forum meetings were attended by the chairman, secretary and Mike Doyle in February and by Mike Doyle in June. We were unable to attend the October session.

In place of our annual dinner this year, we held a social event at Country Skittles at Townshend which was quite well attended and we enjoyed ourselves.

CAM News goes from strength to strength. We have increased our print run to 350. Alongside this our website is to be updated and improved and our thanks to Paul Basher for taking on the maintenance of the site after its creator, Richard Gardner, left us to lead a new life overseas. Roger Fleet and Steve Gardner are now the site managers.

Publicity has been taken on by Tony Lea and he is going to a lot of trouble to raise our profile in the county. This year saw Jason Carne stepping in as Treasurer after Dave Caddy's enforced retirement for health reasons. Now Jason is to move on following additional responsibilities at work, professional exams and a new arrival due in the new year. We wish you well Jason. At the AGM Cedric Thomas was confirmed as Jason's successor. [see page 9]

Changes have taken place in the Motorcycle Sub-Group and at the start of the annual general meeting the vice chairman read out a letter from the southwest regional coordinator to the membership of CAM explaining the reasons for them.

Chairman's Note A lot has been achieved this year and I wish to place on record my gratitude to all our committee members and others who have helped out this year. I am very grateful to Jim Boote our Vice-Chairman for all his support and wise counsel and as always, my special thanks to Diana our secretary, for all her efforts during what has been a very busy year for her - never mind all that she does for us in Cornwall Advanced Motorists.

Annual subscriptions have been due since the AGM. 28 January is the last chance to renew. 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.

My annual report November 2002-October 2003 David Ede

On our rolling programme of driving courses, 50 associates have joined during the year, resulting in 36 advanced test passes. At present there are 42 drivers in mid-course. It should be remembered that even if a person's skill level fails to reach advanced test standard, they will always leave us a better, safer driver. After all, greater road safety is the primary reason for CAM's existence!
I would like to thank all our observers who continue to be the backbone of our group and give their time freely. Jack Ruse has once again topped the charts with 11 test passes! Very well done, Jack.
Now that our team of 7 [including me] qualified Senior Observers is established, we have begun a training programme for new observers, and my appreciation goes to all 18 gentlemen who have volunteered. We desperately need more lady observers.... come on girls, put your names forward and help CAM - please. Just contact me for a chat about observing, it can be fitted into any lifestyle.... don't forget that this is the age of equality!
I have been involved in helping six motorcycle observers to prepare for their senior tests. My best wishes go to them, also Kathryn Kitchen and Richard Sutton [who will take their senior (car) tests in early 2004] and not forgetting Andy Durnin, who sits his ADI exams about now.
This has been an eventful, historic year what with CAM's newly qualified senior team and the first observer training programme ever held under the latest IAM guidelines from HQ. I can assure all members that with the massive support from all concerned, the group will be even more successful in the future!
As a result of my greater involvement with all the observers, Mark Brodrick has kindly volunteered to take over as Associates Organiser. This will leave me to concentrate on the observers and will take effect on 1 February 2004.
Have a very happy New Year!

David Ede Observers Organiser , Mark Brodrick Associates Organiser

Dave's Slant ... on Motoring, Motorsport and the Universe

'Speeding rally drivers caught on cameras' trumpets the headline in the national press. It then states that they were fined and/or banned for these infringements during the 2002 Wales Rally GB, which was a round of the world rally championships. Certainly this year the cameras were very much in evidence, even to the extent of police camera vans on motorways and A road bridges - we could see them! All the competitors and public were forewarned, so you have to conclude
that it was their fault that they were penalised. It should also be stated that road timings on these events are at less than the legal maximum, although some might have tried to increase service time by speeding if their car was faulty. That said, in the 80s, queues of rally cars were escorted between special states by police outriders - perhaps there isn't the manpower to fulfil this function today ...
For our trip, our eldest son was insistent that we hire a Land-Rover Discovery, not really my type of vehicle, but I must admit it was a vast improvement on one we had seven years ago. The new 5 cylinder diesel coped extremely well with all the conditions, had less body roll on corners and pulled well off-road. I was also impressed with the small GPS navigation unit that our lad had bought for £100 - it pinpointed our exact position within 15 metres and even showed our exact speed. Isn't technology wonderful when it works?
Best lines heard recently: 'Fame increases Power' - Alvin Hall.
Two-thirds of goods bought today weren't invented before 1978. And, scientifically, we now have more answers than questions.

Drive carefully out there.
David Ede

'Advanced Motorists call for warning first'

The Institute of Advanced Motirists (IAM) is urging the government to simply warn speeders the first time they are caught, rather than fining them.

At a recent meeting Institute chairman, John Maxwell, stated that the government should draw up a sternly worded letter to be issued to first-time offenders, as opposed to the current system of instantly issuing a fine and three-point penalty.

This move would re-emphasise the real purpose of speed cameras, which the Institute believes has become unclear recently... Maxwell said cameras were beginning to frustrate drivers and the important safety message was being lost ...'

from the Cornish Guardian
of 23 December

An introduction ... My name is Cedric Thomas, I was elected treasurer of CAM at the AGM in November last. I am a stranger to most of you as I am an Observer in the Motorcycle Sub-Group. I have been Social Treasurer for this coming year. I would like to thank Jason Carne for the smooth handover and I wish him well with his new addition to the family. There are a lot of faces to get to know, so if I'm struggling to put a name to a face, don't be afraid to correct me. I have attached my mug shot so you will recognize me. My first task is to update the details of members, car and bike, on our database. If the details on the address label are inaccurate or you no longer wish to be a member, then please let me know, preferably by email to cedric.thomas@cornwall-advanced.co.uk or through our secretary, Diana Smeath. The annual subscription is £10 for all car and bike members. The last opportunity for you to pay your subscription to me will be at the Group Meeting at the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge in January. Or you could use the form on page 5. If we have not received your subscription by 28 January, your membership will be deemed lapsed and you will no longer be a member. Associates please note: your first year's membership of CAM is included in your Skills for Life payment which starts when you pass your test. Cedric Thomas

Let There be Light Peter Hester

One of the features of the 1960's Citroen DS was the swivelling headlamps. These were attached to a mechanical linkage which turned the headlamps so that the beams followed the direction of the front wheels. This had the problem that the direction the front wheels were turning was not always the same as where the car was going and where the driver needed to see.
This concept has been largely overlooked until now, but according to Auto Trade magazine (Dec 2003) it is being looked at again by companies Visteon and Hella.
The Visteon system can vary the length, width, and direction of the headlamp beam pattern, and can also swivel the reflector to the left or right. As well as this, the software developed by the company can modify the shape and direction of the beam dependent upon whether the vehicle is travelling at slow speed in a city or at high speed on the motorway. A full version of this system is reported to become available in 2005.
The Hella system follows similar technology using bi-xenon headlamps. The main difference appears to be that the rate of turn of the headlamps is dependent on the speed of the vehicle as it goes into the bend and that it is currently available as an option on up-market prestige models of car.
The Hella system claims to increase the visibility into a bend by as much as 25 metres. Tests of these systems carried out in Germany showed that, on average, 20% more obstacles were recognised and there was an improvement in the reaction distance of drivers.
No doubt these technologies will roll out to more popular models of car in the coming years.

Read any good books lately?
Book reviews and/or recommendations are welcomed by the editors. Highly thought of is Drive On! A Social History of the Motor Car by L.J.K. Setright. If you have read it, would you write a review for CAM News?

'New Opportunities for Humiliation'
Some American friends who live in Paris sent me an article from the European edition of a US newspaper. 'Think driving on the left side of the road is difficult? Try getting a British driver license.' It describes our driving test as 'a nerve-wracking process that takes months of preparation and practice - and can end up costing £1000 or more... Most test-takers don't cut it. Britain's pass rate is 44% and falling. That makes driving tests in places like New York, where 61% of drivers pass, seem a relative breeze...'

'While citizens of other European Union countries can exchange their licenses for a British one, Americans, within a year of moving [to Britain], are supposed to take the test. But many don't, largely because of horror stories told by people who have tried.' That Britain has one of the world's lowest auto fatality rates is just mentioned in passing. There followed some interesting statistics, the source quoted was Government agencies (2001).

Driven to Fail
Driving test pass rates in 2001
Germany 79% New York City 53%
New York State 61% Paris 42.8%
France 53.6% London/Southeast UK 40%
Netherlands 45% UK 43.9%

Motorcyclists Sub-Group

The new committee elected 2 December 2003
Chairman Tim Soper
Secretary Derek Crofts
Social Treasurer Cedric Thomas
Webmasters Roger Fleet and Steve Gardner
Events Manager Colin Rule
Associates Representative Dave Mooney

Although Cornwall Advanced Motorcyclists is a sub-group of the car group, all its members are members of Cornwall Advanced Motorists. It is hoped that the Motorcycle Sub-Group will eventually become fully independent of the car group after it has satisfied IAM rules regarding the formation of new groups. The car group fully supports this.

At present we have 6 Motorcycle Observers dealing with 11 Associates. Five of our Observers commenced Senior Observer Training in December.

The next meeting of our sub-group will be on 3 February at the Lychgate when Rodney Grigg our IAM examiner will come to talk to us.

Numbers on social rides are increasing from six in July to ten in November and it is intended that these will continue, being held on the third weekend of the month, alternating between Saturday and Sunday.

On 28 December there were blue skies and bright sunshine, then dark skies and rain, hail and high winds, but this didn't prevent our riding and driving to Jamaica Inn to enjoy Christmas lunch in each other's company. There were thirteen at table, including members of the car group. Pictures on the website.

Although Cornwall Advanced Motorcyclists is a sub-group of the car group, all its members are members of Cornwall Advanced Motorists. It is hoped that the Motorcycle Sub-Group will eventually become fully independent of the car group after it has satisfied IAM rules regarding the formation of new groups. The car group fully supports this.

At present we have 6 Motorcycle Observers dealing with 11 Associates. Five of our Observers commenced Senior Observer Training in December.

The next meeting of our sub-group will be on 3 February at the Lychgate when Rodney Grigg our IAM examiner will come to talk to us.

Numbers on social rides are increasing from six in July to ten in November and it is intended that these will continue, being held on the third weekend of the month, alternating between Saturday and Sunday.

On 28 December there were blue skies and bright sunshine, then dark skies and rain, hail and high winds, but this didn't prevent our riding and driving to Jamaica Inn to enjoy Christmas lunch in each other's company. There were thirteen at table, including members of the car group. Pictures on the website.

Motorcycle events 2004

Sunday 25 January - Exmoor
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

Tuesday 3 February - Talk by Rodney Grigg
Lychgate, Kenwyn, 7 pm

Saturday 21 February - North Cornwall coast road to Bideford
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

Saturday 28 March - Kingsbridge and South Hamms
meet for Breakfast at Windy Ridge at 9 am

Sunday 25 April - Cheddar Gorge
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

Saturday 22 May - Yeovil Fleet Air Arm Museum
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

Sunday 27 June - Dartmouth
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

July - to be announced - evening run

Sunday 22 August - Treasure Hunt avoiding traffic bottlenecks
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am

September - Weekend ride to Ace Cafe/Sammy Miller Museum
meet at Boscawen Park, Truro at 10.30 am
note: date yet to be announced

Group Events in 2004
Associate Members are welcome to come to group meetings

Wednesday 28 January at Wadebridge, John Betjeman Centre
Steve Froud of the Driving Standards Agency

Tuesday 24 February, Lychgate, Kenwyn
Ron Spence of the Mobility Centre

Wednesday 31 March Carnon Downs Village Hall
Helen Schofield, Regional Co-Ordinator

Tuesday 27 April Lychgate, Kenwyn
Rod Shephard, Chief Collision Investigator at Middlemoor

Wednesday 26 May Carnon Downs Village Hall
Alan Cottle, paramedic

Tuesday 29 June Helston
Outside event

Tuesday 28 September Lychgate, Kenwyn
Bob Heayll, Road Safety Unit

Wednesday 27 October Hawkins Motors, St Stephens
Chief Superintendent Ellis

Tuesday 30 November AGM Hawkins Motors, St Stephens
Polly Tatum

Regional Liaison Forum in 2004:
1 February in Dorchester, 28 June in Bath and 25 October in Bournemouth.