Not the Chair’s Chatter

First of all - A claim to fame! - I am a Guinness World Record Holder - Fastest time to visit the 12 countries of the EEC.  This was in a Rover 418 Turbo Diesel and there were 40 odd other entries into a very strictly regulated event. I was the organiser of a three man Met Police Motor Club team. Competitors included Army personnel, Police driving school and other professional drivers.  A Ford Sierra Cosworth - a really hot car back in those days was another entrant. The main rules were - You cannot break any traffic regulations - including speeding and you must have an approved Tachograph fitted. This was before mobile phones and satnavs….  Planning the route, (Hovercraft across the Channel!) advanced IPSGA driving skills, a set of new stick rubber - courtesy of Yokohama, a cruise control and ‘driver time' swap overs were the keys to success.

Back to LAM –  I joined LAM to get the advanced pass and thence become a Blood Biker.

That said I enjoyed the LAM company and have ended up doing more with LAM than the Blood Bikes!

Motorcycling: my riding advice can be simplified as two things; ‘Lift your vision’ and ‘Trust your Instinct’.  When you pass your Advanced test, you know that you have acquired skills that are now second nature - excellent observation skills and Instinctive application of the IPSGA system.

Ideally as an Associate and then as a Member, you should continue to practise riding and keep abreast of the Highway Code.

For me - I know that I’m not an ace; but I keep trying.

I have attended two IAM Skills Days; The first was at Thruxton where I pitched for the middle of the range and the last at Blyton where I went with the Advanced group.

The latter was subsidised by my £75 PATTA members allowance - (Thank you LAM.)

I have been on two BikeSafe days and late last year undertook the Essex ‘Firebike’ day – see separate article.

I’m now trying to get back on top form after the winter down-time ready for a Post Test Ride, one of these a year is a freebie but the prospect of being assessed is a bit scary!

But why do I volunteer as an Observer?  Well, I have seen the results of so many ‘KSI’s’ involving pedestrians, motorcyclists and car drivers, as well as non-traffic matters - stabbings, GBH’s etc.

Getting full licence holders to be safe, systematic and smooth is a rewarding experience for me,I love that phone call when an Associate says ‘I passed!’.

I’m now part of the LAM Training Team - we are a pro-active subgroup making Associates and Observers lives that much more interesting and smarter by concentrating on the bigger picture and keeping everyone ‘on the same page’. Motorcycling is fun, it can be useful and carries a sense of freedom that is otherwise missing in life so let’s make it as safe as we can.

Safety comment from me; We ride IPSGA – It’s the ‘Information’ phase that is all important, take use give; Think back….if you are ever surprised by blue lights and sirens from behind, you were not switched on enough!

Do you know that Councils spend millions of pounds on road paint and ‘furniture’ that most motorists are oblivious of; the centre line when it becomes a hazard line, what is the difference? the Shell grip road surface on the approach to many junctions and pedex, the Stop sign - almost always placed because of a previous fatal collision, it’s not a give way - ever!

Great observation enables safe progress, safe overtaking and should the need arise - safe emergency driving.

Last word - There are lots of old riders, lots of bold riders but not many old bold riders!

Stuart Hinks

National Observer & LAM Training Team member