Blind Speed Track Day - May 2021
In Sight of Dreams in partnership with Blind Speed organised a track day for people with blindness and low vision at Wakefield Park Raceway on Tuesday 4 May 2021. Elliott Motorcycles is proud to have supported Ben Felten and the team behind this awesome event.
Participants would have an opportunity to get behind the wheel of a car, experience a hot lap as a race car passenger and/or a motorcycle pillion. Blind Sports NSW promoted the track day and received a large amount of interest. As a result, approximately 55 people over 16 years of age with blindness or low vision registered.
Dual control cars in the morning
In the morning participants were offered the opportunity to learn how to drive in dual controlled cars. Then in the afternoon they would have the opportunity to experience a hot lap on the Wakefield Park Raceway circuit.
Ben Felten explained before the event that for some people, this event may be the only time they get the chance to drive a vehicle or pillion on a motorcycle within their lifetime. He also let us know that it would be a highlight of the year for many members of the blind and vision impaired community. So it would create lasting memories which would be sure to leave people with big smiles. Needless to say, it was a honour to be part of something so great!
We brought our LSR1 MKII land speed race bike and Harley-Davidson Australia brought a Harley-Davidson® Livewire® for track demonstrations. Also, James organised for Bondi Films to be there capturing the event for a short video. The video will be used to promote community awareness as well as further support, sponsorship and participation. Ideally, helping enable more of these kinds of events to occur across Australia.
Ben Felten of Blind Speed is a keen advocate for electric and autonomous vehicles. So on the day Ben spoke about how technological advancement is important to enable greater inclusion. Advancements in electric and autonomous vehicles will enable greater mobility and independence for people with blindness or low vision. It was great to be able to showcase the H-D® Livewire® to support Ben’s message alongside Western Sydney University’s solar car.
Hot laps in the afternoon
Unfortunately, it was a cold, windy and rainy day in the Goulburn area. So the motorcycle pillion rides and some of the motorcycle demonstrations had to be scratched from the event schedule. But the wind and rain didn’t dampen spirits and didn’t stop participants from making the most of it. Everyone was enjoying the day and the Wakefield Park Raceway team were on point making sure everyone was looked after.
Elliott Motorcycles supported the event along with Vision Australia, Caring Approach, Motorcycling NSW, Australian Auto-Sport Alliance, Harley-Davidson Australia, Kawasaki Australia, Dunlop Australia and Wakefield Park Raceway.
Photographs by Lisa Musico.