Which Group?

[johnalfasud]

Hi,
I'm looking to join a local IAM group but have a few all within sensible distance, specifically Oxford, Aylesbury, and (slightly further) Milton Keynes.

Does anyone have any experience of any of these groups or advice as to which might be best?

Thanks in advance,
John

[anonymous-user]

It depends what you want out of the group. My experience with the Aylesbury group was somewhat mixed but a significant number of the group committee I met all complied to the stereotype. Very nice people none the less. My observer, on the other hand was a mid-30s police officer that I never once saw wearing a cardigan.

ETA: Having now moved closer to Oxford, I have briefly been in touch with the Oxford group and they seem to be very friendly people but I have yet to actually get my backside into gear and get along to a meeting and transfer my membership so can't really offer that much information.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 30th November 13:59

[waremark]

If, for example, you would really like to have an observer who has not yet reached retirement age, I suggest you ask the group before signing up whether this will be possible. The problem here is that your experience will depend enormously on the observer you get, but age alone is not a good indicator of who will make a good observer.

[mph999]

johnalfasud said:

Hi,
I'm looking to join a local IAM group but have a few all within sensible distance, specifically Oxford, Aylesbury, and (slightly further) Milton Keynes.

Does anyone have any experience of any of these groups or advice as to which might be best?

Thanks in advance,
John

Newbury group is quite good ... you might get me ...

mail me for details if you wish ...

Edited by mph999 on Friday 1st December 01:07

[johnalfasud]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments. I've done some advanced training before and come into contact with many different styles of observation and coaching. I'm someone who needs to understand why to do things, not just "because that's just the way it is", so I'm keen to join a group where that is understood, and discussion is encouraged.

I'm also slightly wary of being pre-judged (thinking maybe of retired people here but perhaps that's unfair) as I'm in my twenties with an Impreza as my daily driver (building a Westfield as well...)and I do find a get pre-judged by people a lot of the time.

Ultimately though, I want to improve my driving, preferably alongside like-minded individuals who might understand my love of performance cars, rather than condemn it!

Thanks,

John

[waremark]

johnalfasud said:

I'm someone who needs to understand why to do things, not just "because that's just the way it is", so I'm keen to join a group where that is understood, and discussion is encouraged.

As I said, contact a couple of local groups, tell them what you want, and see how they respond. But be aware that these things may vary more between individual observers within the same group than between groups. If you explained your interests to my Chief Observer you would probably be allocated an observer who was an enthusiast and performance car driver, whereas other observers in the group might live down to your worst fears.