Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
A 95-year-old war veteran recently experienced the thrill of driving once more, five years after losing his sight and having to surrender his driving licence. Jim Alison, from Abergavenny, took part in a special charity event at Llandow Circuit, located in the Vale of Glamorgan, designed to give people with disabilities the chance to get behind the wheel. During the session, Jim reached speeds of up to 90 km/h (55 mph) while accompanied by an instructor who had access to dual controls.
Jim, who served 22 years with the Royal Engineers before working as a chauffeur in London, expressed his excitement about the opportunity. “You put your life in their hands and it was absolutely fantastic,” he said. Despite having his licence taken away due to macular degeneration affecting his eyesight, Jim never imagined he would drive again. At the event, participants could take turns driving under safe conditions, with Jim highlighting how he was allowed to drive on the straight parts of the track as curves were too difficult to navigate without sight.
The occasion was part of the Speed of Sight event, organised by Blind Veterans UK, which encourages people of various ages and backgrounds who experience visual impairments to enjoy the sensation of driving. Among the participants was 14-year-old Harley, who also has a visual impairment and took to the track twice. Harley described the experience as a whirlwind of emotions: “It’s like happiness, excitement, wonder – it all goes through your mind in a blur because, literally, you’re going so fast.” He praised the event for offering an exciting and adrenaline-fueled experience to disabled people who have a passion for motorsports.
Speed of Sight was founded by Mike Newman, a blind motorsport enthusiast who defied expectations to set multiple driving world records. In 2012, he created the charity after meeting many individuals who missed the independence and joy of driving following the loss of their licences. Mike explains, “Because I love cars so much myself, I tried to think of an idea of how we could get behind the wheel again and make it fun and exciting.” He believes the programme helps participants forget their daily struggles and embrace enjoyment through driving, stating, “Or, if I can drive a car on a racetrack, what other things can be enjoyed.” The cars used in the events are specially adapted Mazda MX-5s equipped with dual controls, affectionately named after some of Mike’s guide dogs
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.