Training Scheme Inaugural Minutes

The inaugural meeting of the training scheme was run under the auspices of County Hall. It was chaired and the minutes were produced by County Road Safety Officer John Wilmot who soon became a close friend and club member.

Dear Instructor,

LEICESTER PHOENIX MOTORCYCLE TRAINING SCHEME

Please find enolosed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18th February 1976 and the list of registered instructors.

Yours faithfully,

A.J.Wilmot

Senior Road Safety Officer

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 1976 - 7.00PM

LEICESTER PHOENIX MOTORCYCLE TRAINING SCHEME

Present A.J.Wilmot - Senior Road Safety Officer
Maurice Belben - Area Road Safety Officer
Seven members of the Phoenix Motorcycle Club
A number of apologies were received.
Outline

The Senior Road Safety Officer briefly outlined the scheme and the general running arrangements of the other 5 centres and outlined the costs as follows.

Expenses to be met by LCC.

  1. Administration = Letters, Adverts etc.
  2. Organiser = Office facilities etc.
  3. Rent of premises - Training area - Garaging of motorcycles
  4. Booklets, Highway Codes, Leaflets etc. (Pupils)
  5. Training jackets (Pupils)
  6. Road fund licences
  7. Insurance of centre
  8. Insurance of machines
  9. Running in of new machines

Expenses to be met OUT OF FEE from pupil

  1. Running expenses of any machines (Petrol, oil etc)
  2. Servicing of any machines
  3. Instructors expenses
  4. RAC/ACU examiners fees
  5. Pupils badge and certificate
Reported

Full consultation had taken place with all interested parties and that full approval had been given from

  1. C.T.Bowring (London) Ltd for insurance
  2. R.A.C. to set up centre
  3. Markets Dept. use of premises
  4. Fosse Riders Scheme (no problems)
Agreed
  1. A.J.Wilmot/Maurice Belben to act (temporary) as organiser/administrator
  2. Pete Vines to be appointed chief instructor
  3. Brian Porter to be appointed deputy chief instructor
  4. Dave Smith to be appointed maintenance instructor
  5. That 12 persons as named be registered as instructors with the R.A.C.
  6. The course
    A. Familiarisation visit2/3/76
    B. Start9/3/76
    C. No training (holiday)10/4/76
    E. Last training night8/6/76
    F. Test - Sunday13/6/76
  7. The organiser write to all prospective pupils informing them of the start
  8. That normally all communications be via the chief instructor, Pete Vines
  9. That training equipment be provided by the Road Safety Officer and kept at the market
  10. A bank account be opened in the name of The Leicester Phoenix Motorcycle Training Scheme
  11. That the question of instructor expenses be left over until the end of the first course
Questions A number of questions were then answered relating to the general running of the centre
Close There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.30pm

LEICESTER PHOENIX MOTORCYCLE TRAINING SCHEME

LIST OF OFFICIALS AND INSTRUCTORS

Temporary Organisers

John Wilmot (Senior Road Safety Officer

Maurice Belben (Area Road Safety Officer

Pete Vines (Chief Instructor)

Brian Porter (Deputy Chief Instructor)

Dave Smith (Maintenance Instructor)

Steve Brown
Phil Freestone
Steve White
Richard Taylor
Bob Nash
Tony Bradley
Les Freestone
Terry Reynolds
Ben Crossley
Mr Medland

R.A.C. A.C.U.
Motor Cycle Training Scheme.

Training Syllabus.

Period 1

General Introduction, Enrolment and Administration Introduction to training scheme and instructors.
Protective clothing - Highway Code.

Period 2

Maintenance - engine - 2 and 1+ stroke.
Machine Control - introduction. Controls - panic stops, riding position, starting riding. - Highway Code.

Period 3

Maintenance - lubrication, 2 and 1+ stroke, general principles and routine.
Highway Code.
Machine control - moving off - changing gears.

Period 4

Maintenance - ignition, elementary electrics.
Machine Control - practice control, moving off, gears - signals
Highway Code.

Period 5

Roadoraft theory. -
Hazard procedure, traffic signs, traffic lights all signals, the law demands.
Highway Code.
Road craft practical. -
Moving off, turning right and left, road junctions, overtaking, stopping.

Period 6

Roadcraft - theory. Hazards procedure.
Machine control, starting on gradients, running engine, dead engine and controls.

Period 7

Maintenance - transmission - m/c parts.
Machine control - slow riding, figure of eight, obstacles - tight turning.

Period 8

Maintenance transmission - clutch - gearbox - use of gears.
Roadoraft - riding on quiet roads.

Period 9

Maintenance - lighting. Various systems - care and service - spares.
Roadcraft - road riding selected hazards, emergency stopping on the road route.

Period 10

Maintenance - general advice - revision. Tools - maintenance servicing.
Roadcraft - riding in traffic. Speed, overtaking, road position, signaling, rear observation, entering traffic streams.

Period 11

The Law - Road Traffic Act - insurance documents etc., procedure in the event of an accident.
Revision on Highway Code.
Roadcraft - The Test Route.

Period 12

Complete revision and further practice of all previous periods of training, further experience of riding in varying traffic conditions.
Complete outline of how test is conducted.
Mock Tests and Quiz on Highway Code and maintenance questions -
Revision of Test Route.

This training syllabus is designed to enable pupile attending the course to follow the periods of instruction, to act as a reminder of lessons to come and an aid memo for revision on theory lessons.

Various factors might affect the order in which the lessons are conducted it is therefore suggested that pupils mark their own syllabus when a period of training has been completed.

Introduction Night

The documents section of card to be filled in with expiry date of the documents. Otherwise cards to be filled in as thought appropriate.

Practical

Check pupil's eyesight, check helmet, clothing (i.e. jacket, gloves, eye protection and preferably boots).

Machine: check brakes and cables, tyres, bearings, lights, explain to pupils chain adjustment and oil levels (checking each). Advise on any problems. General chat with pupils about previous riding experience making notes on reverse of card.

Slow Riding

Insist on rearward observation. Before allowing pupil to begin, explain the art of stopping.

Cattle Trucks

Warn pupils to hang back if in doubt.

Notes for Instructors

Turning signals: where indicators are fitted they must be used at times in conjunction with arm signals. Explain use of arm signals for extra clarity, but use of indicators at all times when hands are needed for controls, particularly useful when making a right turn.

Rear observation: the use of mirrors is recommended only in conjunction with physical turning the head to the right.

Road positioning: Pupils should be encouraged to ride in the centre of his carriageway if his machine is proceeding at the same speed as the traffic. Should his machine not be able to maintain traffic speed, he should keep closer to the gutter but avoiding the need to swerve out round drains etc.

For the first few weeks teach in car park: slow riding, gradient start, figures of eight. manoeuvre round bollards, hand signals. When satisfied with pupils capabilities, take around left hand course. N.B. Riding order, Instructor, Pupil, Pupil, Instructor.

Left Hand Course

Right out of cattle market, left at Aylestone Road, left at Saffron Lane, left at Knighton Lane East (Park), left at Welford Road island, left at Aylestone Road, left to cattle market.

When pupil has mastered left hand course, take him round test course. Riding order, Instructor, Pupil, Pupil, Instructor.

Test Course

Down to traffic lights, straight on down Rawdikes Road, follow to Walnut Street, Turn right, turn left at New Bridge Street, turn right Jarrom Street, turn left Oxford Street,(into right hand lane as soon as possible) up Newark Street, turn right Welford Road (3rd. lane from right) turn right at Knighton Lane East (island), turn right at Saffron Lane (particular care), turn right at Welford Road, turn right Freemans Common Lane.