As if running a stand for the IAM at the Motor Show wasn’t enough, some members of Solihull Advanced Motorists were also involved in chauffeuring some of BMW’s customers to the show in a fleet of BMW X5, 5 and 7 series cars for four days.

Solihull Advanced Motorists were approached in August and asked if they would like to take part in driving for BMW at this years’ motor show. The Original Valet Company provide drivers each year for a fleet of BMW vehicles, to chauffer some of BMWs customers from Packington Hall into the NEC during the first few days of the motor show. They approached Solihull Advanced Motorists as they were looking for a high class of driver and we are also very local and know the area well.

Each of the volunteers undertook an assessment drive with OVP so that they could ensure we were of the required standard. Everyone passed with flying colours, especially as most of us had also just taken our qualified observer test in the preceding weeks.

A training day was held at Packington Hall, a substantial private residence set in 500 acres, some 3 miles from the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull. Everyone was shown the ropes of where to drive the cars from and to, the preferred route and then how to operate the multitude of gadgets and computers in the vehicles. Our BMW uniform and personal badge were distributed and we had a look around the various facilities. The fleet consisted of 32 new BMWs, the X5 off-road vehicle, M5, 535’s, 735’s and 745’s of various specifications and colours.

Our first day had finally arrived and we each turned up for our allotted shift. We were presented with the keys to our vehicle and pointed towards the waiting customers. As each customer arrived at the hall, they were met, escorted from their vehicle, which was duly valet parked and served with refreshments whilst they browsed the newest BMW stock on display at the front of the Hall.

When they were ready to leave for the motor show, one of the fleet edged forward, the doors were opened and they boarded the vehicle of their choice to be chauffeured to the show. We chauffeured a great range of people from top businessmen and women, the gentry and the like, to everyday Tom, Dick and Harriet with family in tow. Some were chatty, some played with many of the buttons and some just sat back and let us do the driving. Everyone was genuinely thankful that we had driven them around. Some even seemed to be a little bit jealous, that all we had to do was to drive around in a luxurious car all day and get paid for it.

Some of the customers also had the option to drive themselves in one of the vehicles provided, with us in a passenger capacity. Most drove to an acceptable standard, though a few did seem to feel that they had to test the acceleration of the vehicle to it’s full potential. Still, as observers I’m sure we’re all used to coping with this kind of situation every now and then.

We drove for 4 days in total and each of us covered about 700 miles. The whole experience was a thoroughly enjoyable one and if you are ever given the chance to do this sort of driving, jump at it. After all, not many people get paid to drive around in £65,000 vehicles, on 500-acre greenbelt sites, with rare deer and a high respect from everyone who came into contact with us.

More photographs are available in the gallery