Is it really worthwhile guys....??

Seems like a lot of heartache and time spent for dubious benefit/a kick in the nads, depending on whether your tester has misplaced his false teeth.....

 

Valid point mate.

You're right in that there's no direct benefit in terms of reduced insurance (some do but you'd pay a higher premium from these anyway) or discounts in other areas..

It's a relatively small outlay for the test and driving checks... but the main thing for me was confidence.. It's a tough course with quite alot of technical driving required.. lots of vision and a greater understanding of the road you're on, about to to be on and the other traffic around you...

I was lucky in that I went to Observer ('one up' from advanced and able to take a driver up to advance level, but not examine) and I did a bit of Roadcraft... This was in Cyprus, so the rules were probably a little more 'relaxed', but I was still covered in sweat after my 90 min test...

So yes, I think its worth it.. pride in achieving something that is quite tough and which does make you a better driver.. Obviously not in a track kinda way. But one who is more tuned to what's happening around him. I still enjoy using the techniques to this day, though I am VERY rusty. But there's no difference between a crap examiner when you trying to shed your L plates, to a crap advanced examiner who's a bit picky or having a bad day..

 

Fair do's Al. Is that why you stayed well out of the way of me & Sticky on our little cross-country 'dash' the other week...???

 

He wasn't tuned into using 1st and second gear coming back from Ladybower

LAG !

 

Well, he's certainly used to them now Dave. In fact, I'm sure that all he was using the other week....

 

Still seething

Am going to the monthly check on Sunday and let them look through my "failure list" and see if we can work out some positive points...

As you said Al, it's the pride of doing things and having a good drive using the techniques you pick up but you get a bit miffed when you're pulled up for things you thought were OK or things that are "inherent" in the vehicle design. He was on that it's easier to pass in something like mine over say, a micra, due to having the power and flexibility but it is a damn sight easier in a micra because you know you can't do things (overtaking without a lot of planning) and have to drive it hard at times to make progress so it tends to make you hold back, i.e. plod along at low risk...

He mentioned someone that had just done a refresher observer test in a limited edition wrx (only thing I could come up with was maybe a uk300) and I'm assuming they passed so he's basing it on "the car can do it so it's you." This might seem like a moan / excuse but a potentially bog standard scoob will behave differently to mine - I know from when I've had mine tweaked at the various stages...

"I was probably lucky geting an Ex-met instructor who really enjoyed passing on the knowledge and understood that 60 in a 40 COULD be justified in some safety cases... This showed vision, tolerance and flexibility.. maybe missing in your examiner?"

Spot on and how the real world should operate. I was told an allowance of ±1 or 2 mph on speedo reading and can drive as a "strong" 30 or 40 but no allowance above this when overtaking (I didn't overtake anything on test apart from 1 hgv on M1 who are limited to 56). You can't overtake when you're doing 27 in a 30, 36 in a 40 etc

All the examiners are ex class-1 police drivers so are used to high speed pursuit work (which we aren't taught) but we are supposed to be trained to a "response" driver level which is above "grunt" squad car driver - god help mr crim who does 31mph in an uncalibrated speedo car you'd never catch them...

 

Dunno about the retest - will have to reapply via head office so don't hold your breath.

After the microsurgery analysis of the drive and telling me I hadn't passed, I was asked if I was going to become an observer... tum te tum

I want to pass the thing as something positive for me obviously but one in the eye for some others...

 

Not surprised you're angry about this mate. From what I've read between you & Al, there seems to be no consistency between the various testers.....Hilarious.... Just imagining a 'low speed pursuit' between a crim and police pursuit.

"If we can't nick him for the armed robbery Sarge, at least we can do him for that 35mph stretch past the school...."

Barmy....

 

As an advanced and conscientious driver, I think you’ll find I was sticking to the speed limit.. Nothing to do with the fact that you have 20-80 BHP more, less fear and are a little more cuckoo on dark, unknown roads ?…

You mean I can use 4th & 5th? I was always taught that these were for Motorways only.. Damn.. That’s why I’m always struggling after 60 mph and my MPG is in single figures…

Another good point about the inconsistency of examination. AFAIK (and happy to be corrected) these guys aren't externally tested to a formal standard as required by a 'normal' examiner. It is very much 'in house' as it is seen as simple personal advancement that is not registered on your licence. The rules by wchich the observers and examiners run is by the ROSPA or IAM derived guidelines.. self regulated.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the certificate as I think it is a worthwhile advancement. But in mine and Andy's case, you can clearly see the difference in standards..

 

It's mi contacts mate.... Always misted up. Anyway, mine's only got a boggo engine....
Ah.... Just like the Freemasons....

 

Al, Dave - top eve last night guys....

Al - that is one 'hot' amp you have there..... Still convinced it warped mi laminate....

Dave - 'I can't hear the cello....'
Reply - 'That's 'cos we're listening to Kraftwerk....'

 

Chris.. Send the bill for the flooring & electricity to dave. He wanted to listen to it..

Yep... another fine evening.. I'm still 'oozing' after that Sara Mclachlan track..

I'm still going to have to do some serious speaker auditioning to find that 'right' match for the system... The S6e's were very good... Speaker testing soon..

I also have a feeling that the floor may have affected the sound somewhat if the details from the isolation thread are anything to go by.. Wooden floor=wooden sound (cue dave laughing....). This could have had something to do with Dave's comments on the muddling of some of the instruments on one particular track... Isolation testing soon I think!

 

Yeah - he's not around at the mo, so it's his fault....
Al, this worries me.... I had to mop the floor after you'd left...
I really do like the (Big) Spendors. Even though they're bass lite....
Isolation testing...?? Is this where we put Dave in the garden shed...??

That's what they say mate.... 'Wooden floor, wooden sound...' 'Concrete floor, should be locked up...'

 

"Wooden floor, wooden speakers "



Top night Was a bit late when I got in (plus I got the cold shoulder ) but I set my system warming whilst I went shopping this morning and have just listened to the said Sarah MacLachlan track, and the cello was fine. I think Chris needs a refund on the MF gear

I hope one day that my influence may make Al realise that a key element to good hi-fi, is good music taste Did you spot that Will Young CD in his collection Chris

 

It's in the post, Sir....
Kept trying not to look, but his eyes were following me around the room....

Even worse, the Notting Hill compilation.....

 

Gentlemen. Some poorly aimed cheap shots.

However, as I do not wish to stoop to this level of cheap humour and attention seeking, I will refrain form listing some of Helen's CD's also located in your CD case (ala Will Young) and pretending that they're yours. I'll also not comment on Chris's Kraftwerk CD that was our final disk of the evening.....

Also, I did not hear any complaints when the mighty Bill Withers was singing 'Aint No Sunshine' from the very same Notting Hill Compilation that is being derided below. In fact, there was much 'oozing' and tapping of feet...

 

But, Al... The other eleven tracks were, er.... dire...

 

Chris, apart from; How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? by Al Green & She by Elvis costello, then I couldn't agree more

Thing is I, and I'm sure everyone else here, have plenty more CD's in their collections that were bought on the back of one or two songs then quickly resigned to CD heaven due to the fact that everything else was dire.

KD's Langs' 'Hymns from the 49th parallel' is one of the excpetions... what you waiting for?

 

Will be buying it this very weekend mate....

 

Where you going?

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Leg oop from Stansted...

 

Dazza, Sticky. Where's the WYIOC LFS server gone?

 

The traction control broke and it crashed.....

 

Dunno Al. Give me a bell anytime you fancy a blatt and we'll arrange to go on another server there and then

 

Andy - you been blatting on your bike recently?? Or has Dazza's performance shown you the light...?

 

Hah mate. Been a bit...

...wait for it...









BUSY at work!!!!





Plus a funeral yesterday...



...and court in about...checks clock...53 minutes...GULP!!!

I'll let you know how I get on, assuming they let me out or give me bail.




s..t...i...c......k......y...............

 

Good luck mate

CU sat.

 

Ditto.....!!!!

 

Andy.. How did it go?

PM if neccessary..

 

Ditto.....!!!!