Driving For The Blind
Photograph of red Ferrari Mondial
For a number of years the Preston & District Blind Welfare Society has been running a driving day at a local airfield for visually impaired people, some of which having never driven before.
The event usually runs on a Wednesday evening in June and attracts over 60 blind and partially sighted drivers, who can experience driving a variety of vehicles i.e. double Decker buses, heavy goods lorries, motor bikes and dual control motor cars. Speeds in excess of 50 M.P.H. are not unheard of and on top of that, I have been known in the past to take along a couple of my more "potent" motors.
On one occasion I transported my 300 B.H.P. Triumph TR7 V8 rally car to the event. A friend of mine, who is a rally driver, gave rides to those more ambitious attendees, who enjoyed the thrill of being "flung sideways" in the figure-hugging bucket seats at approaching 100 M.P.H!
One memorable summer’s evening I took my gleaming red Ferrari Mondial for a spin on the airfield. As the black tarmac strip had basked in the sunshine for most of the day and well into the early evening, and my Mondail’s 32 valve, four camshaft, V8 engine was raring to "go", I took the driver’s seat, resplendent in cream leather.
Alongside me was a sighted friend who was to give me instructions as to how to aim the car towards the horizon and not the gravel at each side of the runway.
After donning my seatbelt and checking the controls, I hit the "start" switch and the powerful V8 sprang into life. With a growl, the engine pulled away cleanly as I let go of the clutch.
Within seconds I had "snicked" the gearshift up through the chrome-plated gate and my "ashened-faced" friend and I were speeding towards the horizon at nearly 130 M.P.H!
You can listen to the sound of me driving my Ferrari by clicking on the link below-
I have found the Ferrari Owners Club website very "text friendly" and just check out those prices!
[Copyright] Allied Law 2002