Discussion
and what the local groups should be encouraging more IMHO. But this forum is a great start 
""Not sure what my next step should be. Perhaps dust off Roadcraft, do some "fun" driving, do an IAM assessment to brush up, and some further training ""
Usual next step up the ladder would be to go for RoSPA Gold?
BOF.
PS - If you don't suffocate in London..."When in town - windows down" can give you a bit more info in some circumstances?
Usual next step up the ladder would be to go for RoSPA Gold?
BOF.
PS - If you don't suffocate in London..."When in town - windows down" can give you a bit more info in some circumstances?
If you're in North East London you could consider North East Thames RoADAR group - they meet in the Loughton area and have observers all around that area too.
Another on-line Advanced Driving resource you might enjoy is www.advanced-driving.co.uk
Another on-line Advanced Driving resource you might enjoy is www.advanced-driving.co.uk
Just passed my IAM course and am being recomended for memberchip. A very worthwhile course in my opinion. I learnt things I didn't know or had forgotten, had some of the things I was doing confirmed as the correct procedure and had a few bad habits corrected.
I think everybody will gain/learn something worthwhile from doing the course.
I did it in Maidstone, the group that Tony H observes for. although as we know each other he couldn't observe one of my runs (lucky for him really
)
I think everybody will gain/learn something worthwhile from doing the course.
I did it in Maidstone, the group that Tony H observes for. although as we know each other he couldn't observe one of my runs (lucky for him really
)Kinky said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Would be good to have a PH-IAM group!
Although being realistic - might be tricky to have a nationwide group.
Why not explore the idea? The IAM tried a similar thing with Alpha groups some years ago (when I was involved with the IAM at Regional level). These were groups for IAM members under 30. Due to numbers, Alpha groups were set up Regionally rather than locally. Alpha groups didn't have a critical mass of under 30s. However, had the criteria been under 40 years old, they could well have succeeded.
If the IAM is to pitch itself to all age groups, then it must try out creative solutions. A PH IAM group could be a great way to increase involvement of 20- and 30-something year-old members.
How many PHers would be interested? What would be the objectives/plan? Perhaps some easy wins would be best, such as offering members a small but well-organised range of annual activites (e.g. a skid pan session at somewhere like Silverstone, an annual weekend road drive/ride with optional coaching from IAM Examiners, a circuit-based training day).
The need would be far greater from drivers than riders, because the bike groups work so well. Though I wouldn't exclude riders, as mixed driving and riding activities would be novel - providing an interesting opportunity to share experience.
SVS,
Believe you me - I'd be 100% up for it.
I'm just slightly sceptical at this point, due to the varying distances between "IAMPHers" .... sure there will be a concentration in key areas - London, etc .....
Perhaps I'm wrong? I'd like to be.
To nail my info to the IAMPHers mast - I'm located near Ascot, but work in Basingstoke - so anywhere south east Berkshire / North East Hampshire should cover me.
I know we'd have a gaggle between Basingstoke/Reading
Don - so I'd easily fit into that group.
I'm only aware of 1 other IAMPHer in that patch (and he's a non-registered reader of PH).
K
Believe you me - I'd be 100% up for it.
I'm just slightly sceptical at this point, due to the varying distances between "IAMPHers" .... sure there will be a concentration in key areas - London, etc .....
Perhaps I'm wrong? I'd like to be.
To nail my info to the IAMPHers mast - I'm located near Ascot, but work in Basingstoke - so anywhere south east Berkshire / North East Hampshire should cover me.
I know we'd have a gaggle between Basingstoke/Reading
Don - so I'd easily fit into that group. I'm only aware of 1 other IAMPHer in that patch (and he's a non-registered reader of PH).
K
SVS - I would be well up for that, sounds just the sort of thing that I am interested in.
Of course the problem is one of location as Kinky said. I am based in NW Kent / SE London, so Kent and Surrey work best for me. Further afield is not a problem for a day of stuff, but not really practical for an evening.
Of course the problem is one of location as Kinky said. I am based in NW Kent / SE London, so Kent and Surrey work best for me. Further afield is not a problem for a day of stuff, but not really practical for an evening.
Hi again,
You may well be right, but you never know. This is the right Forum to find out if there would be sufficient numbers.
Of course, the High Performance Club has a brilliant range of driving activities. It's just an unavoidably expensive process to achieve Club entry. (Prohibitively so for many people, unfortunately.) I know the Club considered Associate membership for IAM/RoSPA drivers, but decided against it after very careful consideration.
Of course, you should all become bikers and join your local IAM/RoSPA bike group
It's so much more fun on two wheels than in those horrid tin boxes
Kinky said:
I'm just slightly sceptical at this point, due to the varying distances between "IAMPHers" ....
You may well be right, but you never know. This is the right Forum to find out if there would be sufficient numbers.
Of course, the High Performance Club has a brilliant range of driving activities. It's just an unavoidably expensive process to achieve Club entry. (Prohibitively so for many people, unfortunately.) I know the Club considered Associate membership for IAM/RoSPA drivers, but decided against it after very careful consideration.
Of course, you should all become bikers and join your local IAM/RoSPA bike group
It's so much more fun on two wheels than in those horrid tin boxes
Edited by SVS on Wednesday 23 August 17:39
Hello all!
My first post here on PH.
I joined the IAM around four years ago and went on to become an observer. This STAC course though, I have refused to take a associate on ....the official reason being to many other commitments but to be honest its because I'm getting fed up with it all.
Throughout the time I've been a member the biggest thing to stick out is the problems our group has had with the London office. At every committee meeting there was nothing but moans and sighs when we had to deal with them as their admin seems to be rubbish.
On a personal level I get offended with their quarterly magazine....am I the only one that doesn't like the fact they are always offering us some over priced tat such as ceramic dash mounted heaters...or those dust caps with the green light in them (The stupid thing being they advertise them twice in the mag and the official IAM one's are more expensive than those advertised in the back by a private seller!!)
Then there was the infamous 50th anniversary....and in celebration of this fact we were given a free sticker!...and mine fell off!!
While I will always say I'm glad of the skills I learnt I sometimes think "I wished I had left it at that".....the observer thing gets me down.
After spending a few weeks rehearsing the route's and getting prepared for my first run with an associate he never turned up!
All together there have been three of them that have not turned up and this gets to me.
gor blimly...for a first post that sure is one big whinge...I'm sorry!
My first post here on PH.
I joined the IAM around four years ago and went on to become an observer. This STAC course though, I have refused to take a associate on ....the official reason being to many other commitments but to be honest its because I'm getting fed up with it all.
Throughout the time I've been a member the biggest thing to stick out is the problems our group has had with the London office. At every committee meeting there was nothing but moans and sighs when we had to deal with them as their admin seems to be rubbish.
On a personal level I get offended with their quarterly magazine....am I the only one that doesn't like the fact they are always offering us some over priced tat such as ceramic dash mounted heaters...or those dust caps with the green light in them (The stupid thing being they advertise them twice in the mag and the official IAM one's are more expensive than those advertised in the back by a private seller!!)
Then there was the infamous 50th anniversary....and in celebration of this fact we were given a free sticker!...and mine fell off!!
While I will always say I'm glad of the skills I learnt I sometimes think "I wished I had left it at that".....the observer thing gets me down.
After spending a few weeks rehearsing the route's and getting prepared for my first run with an associate he never turned up!
All together there have been three of them that have not turned up and this gets to me.
gor blimly...for a first post that sure is one big whinge...I'm sorry!
Edited by hjdary on Saturday 23 September 01:23
at hjdary. What a first post indeed! So, if you hate the IAM magazine so much, why do you read it? I must confess to having never opened one. Magazines always have adverts for stuff like this: 
Has vixpy1 seen this? Laugh at them! Don't let it get you down.
I'm very suprised at your bad experiences. There is always going to be administrative issues in any organisation. Just console yourself thinking about all the good that you must have done being an Observer.
Kinky said:
SVS,
Believe you me - I'd be 100% up for it.
I'm just slightly sceptical at this point, due to the varying distances between "IAMPHers" .... sure there will be a concentration in key areas - London, etc .....
Perhaps I'm wrong? I'd like to be.
To nail my info to the IAMPHers mast - I'm located near Ascot, but work in Basingstoke - so anywhere south east Berkshire / North East Hampshire should cover me.
I know we'd have a gaggle between Basingstoke/Reading Don - so I'd easily fit into that group.
I'm only aware of 1 other IAMPHer in that patch (and he's a non-registered reader of PH).
K
Believe you me - I'd be 100% up for it.
I'm just slightly sceptical at this point, due to the varying distances between "IAMPHers" .... sure there will be a concentration in key areas - London, etc .....
Perhaps I'm wrong? I'd like to be.
To nail my info to the IAMPHers mast - I'm located near Ascot, but work in Basingstoke - so anywhere south east Berkshire / North East Hampshire should cover me.
I know we'd have a gaggle between Basingstoke/Reading
Don - so I'd easily fit into that group. I'm only aware of 1 other IAMPHer in that patch (and he's a non-registered reader of PH).
K
I'm another PHer and IAM member in Thames Valley and I'd be up for a PH IAM group. Only trouble is, I wouldn't qualify for an under 30s - or even for an under 40s - group, albeit I think I share most of your concerns about IAM groups and the nature of their meetings. As the saying goes, its not how old you are, its how old you feel!
Edited by gdaybruce on Saturday 23 September 13:26
Just discovered a link on the RoSPA web-site to information and an application form that allows IAM members to automatically obtain a BTech Award. Observers can automatically obtain a BTech Certificate (one step up from an Award). May be useful for anyone whose career involves driving - another qualifiaction that can be on a CV. However, there is a £90 charge.
www.rospa.com/drivertraining/BTEC_accreditation.htm
www.rospa.com/drivertraining/BTEC_accreditation.htm
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