Charity reveals it’s exhibiting at Autosport International!
Charity, Speed Of Sight, which hosts track days for people with disabilities, will be exhibiting at Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham from 11th to 14th January 2024 and unveiling their new car!
Speed Of Sight, which will have a stand in hall 2 (stand number 2232), is run by blind race car driver and multiple World Record holder Mike Newman, BEM, and his co-founder John Galloway. Interested participants can have any disability and can drive themselves and an instructor around a racing circuit, the charity hosts track days at various circuits across the UK. The team is trained to help everyone in and out of the cars, which are specially designed and built – two racing cars and three all-terrain buggies – to allow people of all ages with disabilities to enjoy the excitement and thrill of driving.
The vehicles, named after Mike’s guide dogs, are specially designed with dual controls and twin steering wheels and the buggies are equipped with hand controls.
However, the number of vehicles in 2024 will be rising, as MEV Kit Cars, another company exhibiting at Autosport International, has been building a dual controlled car for the charity, which will be revealed for the first time on the Speed Of Sight stand on the first day of the show (11th). This is all thanks to three companies that have generously provided funding for this new car, Sigma Capital Group, The Ardonagh Community Trust and the Peter Harrison Foundation. Representatives from both Sigma Capital Group and The Ardonagh Community Trust will be on Speed Of Sight’s stand during the event and for the unveiling of the car.
Mike Newman enthused: “We’re so excited to be revealing our brand new car at such an incredible event such as Autosport International. We’re so thankful to the sponsors of the car, Sigma Capital Group, The Ardonagh Community Trust and the Peter Harrison Foundation, without them, this would not be possible! MEV Kit Cars has built such a fantastic car, which will help us allow more people with disabilities to drive around a track – something they never thought they’d do! We’re incredibly grateful to MEV Kit Cars for building this car, and to Sigma Capital Group, The Ardonagh Group and the Peter Harrison Foundation for funding it, it will change so many people’s lives, they have no idea how big of an impact this generous donation will make, we’re so so thankful.
“We created this charity because we believe that no disability should get in the way of having the incredible experience of driving a car, which is why, when I was told I would not be able to because I have been blind since birth, I decided to become the fastest blind man – on land, water and in the air!
“I did not let my disability stop me and it has changed my life, and that’s what we are trying to bring to every person who has a disability and has been told they cannot do something that is so normal for everyone else. We are trying to bring these driving experiences to as many people as possible, so that’s why we’re so excited to be exhibiting at Autosport International, because there will be so many more people aware of us and what we do.
“Sometimes we have people who attend our track days who don’t realise that they’ll actually be able to drive the cars themselves, but when we get them in the seat and tell them how to use the pedals and steering wheel, their faces just light up and they get so excited – it really does amaze me that we’re able to provide that joy to people.”