Friday, May 29, 2020

AUTOS: A Blind Man's Quest for Breaking A Virtually Unknown Record



Dan Parker Corvette. (Image Source: hotcars.com)
As what's that 'Ol Saying 'bout Thee Need for Speed, Eh?

Continuing the never ending theme 'O Virtual Racing, albeit this has real world connotations, since it's being conducted on real Honest-to-goodness Ash-Fault', nee Drag Strips.

As I totally hope Dan accomplishes his Quest to Break this record, whenever we're allowed to G-O Motor Racing in earnest once again...

Otay, so what Thee Bloody Hell am I talking about? As I'm Arse-sumin' most of you, like myself have never heard of Dan Parker before, El Correctomundo?

Having only learned of Dan's ambitions to break the existing Speed Record for A Blind Person Driving an Automobile via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service a month ago, when reading; Err listening to said story.


Although Obviously Dan's Computer technology is presumably better than current Screen Reading technology, like my currently unusable Zoomtext 2020 product that won't interface correctly with my Brand New winDOUGHS 10 Confuzer! Since technology's a Double edged Sword!

Alas, as a legally blind person who totally Depends upon Technology Daily, A la writing ye "Award Winning" No Fenders Blog. Unfortunately I'm constantly inundated  by the never ending flukes' O Computers, which I prefer calling Confuzers!

Not to mention how Gory Finicky the NFB's Newsline service is. Constantly having its content Corrupted! Although I'm Arse-suming that Newslines myriad 'O Glitches is largely Due to the never ending IT Boffins' of it's many Newspapers constantly tweaking Thar Software's Coding!

since ironically, I listened to this Car and Driver Magazine article before the magazine's content was "Corrupted" once again, losing All of the April 22nd to April 30th Articles. Before Finally resuming service some Gory Four Weeks later on May 18th; But I Digress...

As Dan Hopes to Break the Existing Record by going 201mph or Faster! Along with piloting his 2008 C6 Corvette Solo', or Un-assisted - utilizing a novel Computer Guidance System, that I'd really like to know more about! Especially since I'm Arse-suming' he used a similar system to set a new Motorcycle Speed Record at Bonneville Wayback in 2013; Aye Karumba!


As Dan has been around Speed his whole life and began competing at Age 8 and lost his sight in a Narly 2012 testing Accident when Hitting a Concrete "Jersey" Barrier at 175mph!


Yet Dan has persevered, albeit with much help in his Quest to topple the existing Blind Speed Record of 200.9mph currently held by Mike Newman Driving a Nissan GTR in 2013.

While Dan's already made the first of his many testing passes in his 2008 C6 Corvette, beginning with a run of 120mph!


While I've got Zero Clue of where this test run was made or how it fits into his whole test programme? Since I believe the only thing the brief video says is it's from 2018. While the current Car & Driver article claims Dan's made a test run just South of 154mph! And his custom Guidance system kept him within 5-feet of his virtual Centerline the entire run while Battling side Wind gusts of 22mph.


Reportedly Dan is aiming to make his record breaking attempt sometime this Fall, and is confident of reaching 210mph! Which would be absolutely Amazing...

Good Luck Dan!