Faster than the speed of sight

Manchester Evening News - Monday October 3, 2005, Page 13

DAREDEVIL Mike Newman wants to smash his own world land speed record for the blind - by driving at more than 200mph.

The 44-year old bank manager from Sale will attempt a new record a week tomorrow at Elvington Airfield in York to mark World Sight Day two days later.

Faster than the speed of sightBMW has loaned the father-of-two a £65,000 M5 which has been specially ‘derestricted" sop it can do more than its usual top speed of 155mph. It is now capable of 205mph.

Mike, who is completely blind, will have to do two mile-long runs alone, over which average speed will be recorded.

A camera mounted on the car will beam pictures to colleagues at the side of the runway, who will keep Mike on the straight and narrow via a radio link.

Mike, who works as a bank manger in Wimslow, hopes to break his own land speed record for the blind which stands at 144,47mph. Then he wants to be the founder member of the Blind 200 Club.

An attempt top break the record in America last year was abandoned at the last minute because of difficulties with the car.

Mike, who wants to raise money to help the blind and partially-sighted, said: "Every fice seconds someone in our world goes blind. Every minute a child goes blind 80, per cent of which is avoidable."

Current world land speed record holder Andy Green, the RAF pilot whose Thrust team reached 763mph in Nevada in 1997, is also backing Mike.

He said: "As the current world land speed record holder; I understand as well as anyone the thrill, excitement and physical challenges of driving at high speed.

"However; the thought of doing this without being able to see where you are going is just astonishing and takes the challenge into a different league.

"I have followed the progress of Mike and his Speed of Sight Team to their current record of 144mph with fascinated interest.

"Now, with the support of BMW, Mike has every chance of smashing this world record and achieving his ultimate of driving in a cat at over 200mph."