Magic Motorfest, held at Farnworth Cricket Membership at present (September 27), was the inaugural occasion organised by Farnworth-based charity Velocity of Sight, which offers driving experiences for individuals with disabilities, together with those that are blind or who’ve been advised they may by no means have the ability to drive attributable to one other incapacity, equivalent to epilepsy.
John Galloway, co-founder of Velocity of Sight, stated: “At this time is about a number of issues: the neighborhood coming collectively to help Velocity of Sight and different wonderful organisations round right here.
“We’re the one charity, imagine it or not, on the planet that does what we do.
“We offer unimaginable driving experiences in actual racing vehicles for individuals who have been advised they may by no means, ever have the ability to drive a automotive.”
The pageant featured round 170 vehicles on show, every making a donation to participate, with autos starting from high-performance fashions to personalised designs, basic vehicles and a retired military car.
A convoy of vehicles, organised by Bolton Convoys, set off from The Southfields pub in Nice Lever and made its solution to the cricket membership as a part of the day’s festivities.
Bolton Convoys organises skilled automotive convoys to make sure the occasions stay secure.
Mr Galloway defined how the charity’s work modifications lives, providing a driving expertise to individuals who could also be blind, have autism, Down syndrome, mind accidents, or advanced bodily disabilities.
He stated: “We hoist them into these racing vehicles.
“The 2 steering wheels are linked, and underneath instruction from considered one of our instructors, they drive the automotive collectively as a group.
“It’s a full, immersive driving expertise that they’ve been advised they might by no means have the ability to have.
“That’s really life-changing.”
Velocity of Sight gives experiences for youngsters as younger as seven, and its oldest participant to this point was a 102-year-old blind World Battle Two veteran.
Mr Galloway stated the occasion was designed to lift consciousness of the charity’s work and join with individuals within the space who could not have heard of Velocity of Sight earlier than.
He stated: “Individuals had been coming as much as us saying, ‘We’ve by no means heard of Velocity of Sight.
“‘You guys are wonderful.’
“So I believed, ‘You understand what? Why don’t we do a automotive pageant to have fun automotive fans who love vehicles, and get them to carry their tons of of vehicles at present?'”
Mr Galloway additionally defined how the charity needs to make the pageant a yearly occasion and urged native companies and other people to achieve out to him to participate through his e mail: john@speedofsight.org
The occasion was made attainable due to the help of Farnworth Cricket Membership and key volunteers.
Mr Galloway stated: “We now have to thank Farnworth Cricket Membership, as a result of they had been the primary individuals to return to the desk and say, ‘You understand what?
“‘We love what you guys are doing. We’ll allow you to use the entire of the cricket fields to do what you do and promote you.’
“Shane Molton has been a titan in serving to to organise and get vehicles right here at present.
“And in addition Beverly Moore—she’s been capable of get all the neighborhood collectively.”
The pageant additionally featured meals stalls, neighborhood group shows, and leisure, with Bolton FM on the occasion.
Two automotive dealerships, Chery in Farnworth and RRG Toyota, additionally made donations to help the charity.
Mr Galloway stated: “It’s about making an attempt to help each other and hopefully have bikes, vehicles, and every little thing you may want for.”
Velocity of Sight was co-founded by Bolton-born Mike Newman, an eight-time Guinness World Document holder who was born utterly blind.
Mr Newman has set data for the quickest speeds achieved on land, water, and within the air, together with turning into the primary blind particular person to drive solo at greater than 200mph.
The charity has been primarily based in Farnworth for practically 14 years however operates its driving experiences at circuits exterior Bolton.
Mr Galloway stated: “We imagine giving individuals with disabilities a tremendous driving expertise helps them change the way in which they see themselves, and it additionally helps individuals change their notion of incapacity.”