HPC silver and gold

[Russ_H]

Well, it's very quiet on here at the moment, so , as a subject for debate, I suggest HPC silver and gold drivers. If any ADUK members have reached such exalted levels, would you be willing to describe your experiences? What did you need to do? How did you prepare?

[jcochrane]

The best place to start is the High Performance Club website. This should give you the general idea. At the moment what used to be Silver is now to be called Night Drive and a new driving standard is presently being written to fall between Entry and Gold (but closer to Gold than Entry) and this will be the new Silver standard.

A major part of the ethos of the club is commitment to self improvement. Driving with other members and seeking professional advice is part of that. I don't think members tend to think in terms of training to achieve a standard but rather a standard happens to be reached through the commitment to self improvement. This is an ongoing process throughout your driving life with the club. For me the standards are indicators to help measure progress.

[Russ_H]

Thanks for your post. I thought that it might have started a debate, but it hasn't.
Shall we discuss BGOL instead?

[martine]

Thanks for your post. I thought that it might have started a debate, but it hasn't.
Shall we discuss BGOL instead?

I know there are several HPC members here - perhaps they are being a little shy/modest...come on guys and gals she OP asked for your experiences of doing Silver/Gold...what's it like?

[jont]

I know there are several HPC members here - perhaps they are being a little shy/modest...come on guys and gals she OP asked for your experiences of doing Silver/Gold...what's it like?

What sort of things would you expect one to post to add to what John has said? I'm not sure what debate there is to be had unless someone tries to bring it back to a (mis)comparison of civilian vs police driving standards.

Much like preparing for an IAM or any other test, one might assume preparation could involve a reasonable amount of driving with others who have already attained the standard followed by presenting yourself to an appropriate assessor to see if the required standard has been reached.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

It's harder than HPC entry standard. Significantly harder.

Does this help?

[jcochrane]

I know there are several HPC members here - perhaps they are being a little shy/modest...come on guys and gals she OP asked for your experiences of doing Silver/Gold...what's it like?

It's a whole days drive to a high standard thus demanding on concentration but still fun. Even if assessed as Gold there will still be areas pointed out for further development.

As it is an assessment of your driving to date you drive as you would normally drive. I'm not sure what more to add to what already has been said. Maybe the OP has some specific question about the assessment?

[Russ_H]

Maybe the OP has some specific question about the assessment?

No, I don't have any specific question I'd like to pose; I just thought that a useful discussion might spring from my post. My main hobby is diving (the underwater kind) and it is quite common for people to post a report of a course they've attended, or a trip they've been on. The report, and the ensuing discussion, can often be very instructive. Here is an example:

http://coldwaterkitty.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/cave-2-report.html

[waremark]

Although the club is a private members club, it has published a definition of its Gold standard which is accessible to non-members on the club website (the Silver referred to in that document is no longer called Silver). The definition of the Gold standard starts on page 31 of the published electronic format - and people may find it interesting to read. It sounds so demanding that it makes me wonder how any of us can achieve it!

As has been mentioned, a Gold award is not the result of a specific course, but is awarded as the result of a full-day demonstration of a very high standard of driving to one of the club's three 'gatekeepers' - the three coaches who offer courses via which it is possible to join the club.

By the time a member may be considering an assessment for a higher award, he/she will probably have spent a considerable time with these guys. A day with them is demanding, challenging, stimulating, and can be inspirational. I spent today with Andy Morrison. His demo drive was sublime, his input to my driving insightful and helpful.

Delivering a Gold drive is about the standard of the drive, rather than about specific techniques mastered or demonstrated. Gold members are probably all able to deliver a strict IAM or Rospa drive to a high standard, but would not necessarily do so, as a wider range of techniques would be acceptable. The nearest I will come to provoking debate is to pick out one comment from the standard: 'The driver will display a mastery of Roadcraft ... whilst at the same time showing flexibility rather than an excess of rigidity.'

[MGF]

Does the flexibility extend to the law?

[Octy_Ross]

I've never written about my path through to HPC membership. I haven't attained, nor am I likley to any of the 'extras'. I just don't have the time to go doing that.

As a diver, I've never written about any of the training or quals I've achieved either.

For me, these things are personal, I find it quite hard to type up a report on them.

[martine]

So...I don't think the OP was after anything controversial...I think the OP is interested to know about the day's assessment drive, what's it like, what roads, what were you expecting, what was surprising, what did you find esp. difficult.

Just an account of what it's like to do a higher level HPC award - nothing more.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

Hmmm, let's not forget that the OP is a (former?) DSA ADI examiner. I don't think it was quite as simple as that...

But basically, putting yourself in for the higher awards involves lots of practice with other club members, some reassurance from them that you are capable of the higher awards, time spent with (a) gatekeeper(s) improving areas that might detract from the standard aspired to, completion of the mandatory pre-requisites (documented on the club website, albeit slightly out of date now), and a full day's assessment (pre-declared as such, not just a coaching day with an award as a fringe benefit) to assess whether the standard was reached. So time, money, dedication to self-improvement over a (normally) lengthy period, and the ability to deliver under assessment conditions. One day ...

[waremark]

Does the flexibility extend to the law?

From the club's road driving code (not externally published, and I am in no way speaking on behalf of the club, but I cannot believe it is a problem for me to repeat this):

"Basic Principles
• Safety is paramount. It is everyone's concern but your responsibility.
• The Club cannot and does not condone breaking the law in any way."

To answer another question, a very high proportion of a session with one of the club's gatekeepers would be on technical and demanding rural roads, subject to the NSL. Club members do relatively little urban driving with one another or with gatekeepers.

Actually, I think we have now answered the OP's questions fairly fully!

Those who receive higher awards always try to demonstrate that standard in drives with other members. Sometimes some of us fail to live up to it!

[Russ_H]

Hmmm, let's not forget that the OP is a (former?) DSA ADI examiner. I don't think it was quite as simple as that...

In fact, it was just as simple as that. I was an examiner, but I have retired. What motive, other than curiosity, could I possibly have for posting the question?