Just_me

A blind man??

THE DATE IS SET FOR THE WORLD BLIND LAND SPEED RECORD ATTEMPT AT 200MPH


Mike Newman, the current World Blind Land Speed record holder and the Speed of Sight team have now set a date of Tuesday October 11th 2005 to break the World Blind Land Speed record. This date coincides with World Sight Day on the 13th October 2005. The Speed of Sight team will make their attempt at smashing the existing record of 144.7mph with the aim of pushing the World Blind Land Speed record above 200mph.

Using the runway at Elvington Airfield in York, Mike will be driving a BMW M5. The road-going M5 is electronically restricted to 155mph but, for the record attempt, BMW have engineered a one-off, derestricted car capable of a top speed of 205mph. Factory standard Continental Tyres ensure the M5 keeps contact with the runway at all times.

Mike’s exploits have attracted the attention of the fastest man on earth. Andy Green, driver of the Thrust SSC Team 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 Newman and the Speed of Sight team to their current record of 144mph with fascinated interest. Now with the support of BMW and the use of a new M5, Mike has every chance of smashing this world record and achieving his ultimate ambition of driving a car at over 200mph."

The record attempt will be made possible through the sophisticated state of the art microSAT GPS systems communications equipment supplied by sponsors Scan Computers, Site Link and Datron Technologies.

Mark Hargreaves of Datron Technology said:

"We are happy to continue to support Mike, the Speed of Sight Team and VISION 2020 in their goal to generate funds and global awareness. The microSAT GPS technology and telemetry system will measure and record all the vehicle parameters such as speed, distance and time as required by Guinness World Record Books."

World Blind Land Speed Record Holder, Mike Newman said,

"Every five seconds someone in our world goes blind. Every minute a child goes blind; 80% of which is avoidable."

By attempting to reach speeds of 200mph, Mike Newman will increase awareness and much needed funds for his chosen charity VISION 2020: The Right To Sight, a member of the World Health Organisation. Their aim is to rid the world of preventable and curable blindness by the year 2020. VISION 2020, whose UK patron is HRH Sophie Wessex, are responsible for organising the worldwide awareness event, World Sight Day, which occurs two days after the record attempt, on Thursday October 13th 2005.

In August 2003, in front of a worldwide audience, Mike set the current average mile speed record of 144.7mph, by driving alone in his Jaguar XJ-R, over a measured mile. He is looking to smash this by taking the BMW M5 to speeds approaching, and hopefully in excess of, 200mph whilst alone in the vehicle and completely unable to see the road ahead.
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BMW_Dude

This is quite amazing!

Even though it's an M5, I wouldn't want to be in the car at the time!

Alx

If he hits a bump or swerves off he's done, and might certainly endanger others....

im not excited about this at all.

Maybe if he was in a rubber room with a loooooooooooooong hallway i would feel safer about the thing.....

PS> In case you haven't heard three days later is the World Record setting Date for Underwater Bicycling.

The Emperor

How much is 205mph in km/h?

Just_me

328 I think

Alx

DAMN!!!!

Just_me

Update

he failed 200mph attempt but reached 167mph (268km/h) and he is blind BTW the car had a speedlimit.

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warot

HOw is he supposed to reach 200mph with a speedlimiter?
He must at least have had a radio with someone yelling to stop at the end of the track right?? ... right?

Just_me

They probably thought the car was without speedlimiter. 269km/h is the exact same speed different carmags achieved, with the speedlimiter.

audi_rudy

man tha sucks doing that and only finding out that the car cannot go any faster but 160 or so mph is pretty damn fast for a blind man. Must be pretty dangerous for all the people watchin
and what is that i hear about the underwater bycicle race

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