The world speed record for driving blind..

Daily Mail - Page 36 - 14th August 2003

It is a feat no ordinary motorist would attempt. But Mike Newman is no ordinary motorist.

The 42 year old bank official averaged 144.7mph yesterday - and roared into the record books as the fastest blind driver of a car in the world.

After climbing out of his super-charged Jaguar XJR, Mr Newman, who went totally blind at eight, said: "It was brilliant. I am ecstatic. I think I am probably going to cry later."

The record was achieved over two runs in opposite directions on a 1.9-mile former runway at Elvington near York. Mr Newman was guided via a radio link with his step-father, also Mike Newman, in a chase vehicle four car lengths behind.

The Jaguar whined like a jet engine as its supercharger powered the vehicle over the first half mile to more than 135mph.

Then the on-board computers, linked to satellite navigation equipment in the chase car, began monitoring a measured mile as the acceleration continued. A cloud of black smoke from the rear of the car then signalled its fierce braking.

The first run, into a sharp breeze, was logged at 142.8mph. On the return leg, with the following wind, Mr Newman topped 150mph, to produce an average of 144.7mph.

"The car behaved fabulously - it was tremendously noisy, but it was smooth ride even though my heart was pounding," said Mr Newman, who lives in Manchester and is a small business manager for Barclays.

After trail runs in other cars, he borrowed the Jaguar from a dealership and only had two days practice in it. His stepfather, a driving instructor, said: "He was excellent. He's the best pupil I've ever had."

While Mr Newman is the fastest unsighted driver of a car (the previous record was 141mph), the overall blind land speed record of 165pmh was set earlier this month by Billy Baxter on a motorbike.