Newsletter0514

Summer Issue May 2014

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Driving Safety HomeThe newsletter of the Stratford upon Avon

Group of Advanced Motorists (3127)

Registered Charity #1016119

Spring Skill For Life Course AssociatesHere are the current members of theassociates group.

If you know of anyone who wouldbenefit (please be diplomatic) fromthe Skill for Life Course - and let’sface it, everyone could - then pleaseask them to contact Mike Page -email [email protected] phone 01789 763732 - for moredetails. And of course remember totell them what fun it is!

The following have taken their Advanced DrivingTest and satisfied the Examiner that they are of astandard to be accepted into the IAM: Dave Fenton,

Bethany Evans and Sarah Brooke-Taylor.

Congratulations to you all and welcome to the world ofAdvanced Motoring!


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ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHTOur Annual Quiz evening was held on the 28th February,2014, and was attended by 43 members and friends - arecord turn out.

Dave Cowell, our enthusiastic Quiz Master, posed sometricky questions, especially in the first round, and therewere a lot of puzzled looks as team members struggled toget the answers down. However, our brains very quicklygot into gear, and when he read the answers out after eachround, there were cries of triumph as different teamsrealised that their answers were correct. Dave’s wife Kathywas her usual efficient self, and corrected the answersheets in record time.

A tasty meal of steak and ale pie and trifle was providedat half time, by John Wyllie, our usual caterer, and at theend of the evening the winning team, led by IAM memberIsobel Grundy, were presented with their prizes.

We are very grateful to Dave and Kathy for coming tosupport us each year, and a donation was made to themfor their chosen charity.


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DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVALThe visit to Donington Circuit for the Historic Car Festival as only attended by 3members, which was a pity, as it was a fun day. We got there early which was

lucky as there was so much to see,in company with many hundreds ofother old car enthusiasts. Wewandered around in the morning,mesmerised by the beautiful,gleaming old cars on display.

While we sat outside eating oursnack lunch, a row of 1920 modelswere opposite us, warming up fortheir race, emitting loud throatyr o a r sw i t h

occasional coughs and hiccups, and tended byoveralled young men anxiously peering underbonnets.

We then wended our way towards the pit lane, wherewe met our friendly Marshal, Keith Madderson,resplendent in bright orange overalls, and weretaken in to the holy of holies, the Pit Lane, where wegazed into the busy garages housing the cars beingprepared for their races. Keith explained the systemof pit stops, accompanied by the roar of the passingcars taking part in the qualifying races.

Leaving him to call up cars for the first race of the afternoon, we made our wayto the tall grandstand on the other side of the track, where we watched 2 noisyraces, the pre-1966 tourist cars, andthen a very exciting, 100th anniversaryrace, (9 cars) for Maserati owners.Keith told us later that by leaving afterthis race, we missed the excitementof a car on fire in the pits, which hehad to extinguish. All in all it was athoroughly enjoyable day.


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NEWSMOTORISTS STILL SAY ‘NO’

TO ELECTRIC CARS

The most important factors deterring motorists from buying an electric vehiclewere recharging (40 per cent), the distanced travelled on a battery (39 per cent)and cost (33 per cent).Currently, less than one per cent of drivers already own an electric car or van.Five per cent said they were thinking about buying an electric car and eighteenper cent had thought about purchasing an electric vehicle but later changed theirmind.However, not all motorists are put off the idea of an electric vehicle. Thirty-sevenper cent said that lower cost would encourage them to buy an electric vehicleas well as the distance travelled (20 per cent), widely available recharging points(17 per cent) and environmentally friendly (16 per cent). With costs, the mostimportant cost stated was the purchase cost, followed by fuel and rechargingcosts, maintenance, insurance and vehicle excise duty.IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It is clear that the government have along way to go to convince drivers that electric vehicles really are the future.On the positive side drivers are not worried about safety or comfort issues, but

range anxiety andcharging infrastructureremain real stumblingblocks. For the good ofthe environment theIAM want to see quickerroll out of chargingpoints and long termguarantees that thecurrent £5000 subsidywill remain in place.


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NEWSOBSERVERS WANTED

As you all know, the people who sitalongside new associates are calledObservers, and these Observers arevolunteers, giving up their time for noreward other than the knowledge thatthey are helping to make our roads saferby encouraging better driving techniques.Unfortunately we don’t have enough ofthem.This means that the Observers we haveare being asked to attend every Sundayand sometimes to carry out 2 checkdrives each Sunday Morning.To reduce the demands placed upon ourdedicated Observers we are asking for

more Advanced Drivers to step up and join our merry band of Observers. Withmore Observers to call upon each Observer will be asked to carry out fewercheck drives - spread the load!If you are interested please contact Pete Thornett by email [email protected] - or why not drop in on a Sunday morning andspeak to him in person? You can now find out which Sundays the course isbeing run by checking our Events Calendar on our websitewww.stratfordiam.org.uk.

Wait! There’s more …We require a willing person to take over the role of Membership Secretary. Itrequires access to a PC with Microsoft Access 2007 or later (if you don’t havethe software we can provide it for you). If you would like to find out moreabout becoming a Committee Member contact Mike page by email [email protected] - or phone 01789 763732

GROUP


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Upcoming events:

June 21st Saturday National Memorial Arboretum. Entry free. Visitors Centre rides in buggy or train, £4.50September 19th Fri. Tour of Mini Factory Minibus during tour or take your own car. £12.00 To be confirmedOctober 11th Sat.. Toddington Steam Railway with fish and chips on board. £19. To Cheltenham and back. Special Carriage for wheelchairs. To be confirmedOctober 25th Walk to be advisedNovember 28th Skittles with hot meal

PLEASE BOOK IN FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS.Tel: (01789) 730276 Email Address: [email protected]

Position Holder Phone EmailChairman Don Rushton [email protected]

Secretary Mike Page 01789 763732 [email protected]

Treasurer Dot Holtom

YDS Jan Copson 07847 802711 [email protected]

Events Lindsay Rushton 01789 730276 [email protected]

Membership Phil Vaughan [email protected]

ObserverTraining

Pete Thornett

Publicity Mike Heath [email protected]

Newsletter Keith Madderson [email protected]

Committee Colin Upchurch

Documents

Newsletter0514