Mike Newman with the Keating car. Pic ©Chris Foster/MOSI
World blind land speed record holder Mike Newman and his Manchester-built supercar visited the MOSI Transport Festival today (August 10 2009) ahead of a trip to the US for his next record-breaking attempt.
The Transport Festival celebrates 100 years of North-West transport innovations, and Newman's latest record-breaking car is built by local designers Keating. It is on display at the Museum until Thursday (August 13 2009).
Mike already holds records for reaching 89mph on a motorbike, 144.7mph in a Jaguar XJ-R and 278.5mph in a BMW M5. He took some time out of his packed day to talk to Culture24 about his upcoming record attempt.
"With the Keating we are taking a significant step up the ladder, and this will be no mean feat," he said. "I am really delighted that we have been able to find something a bit 'fast and furious' in our own country.
"To be supported by your home team means everything. The Keating is also very much a North-West innovation, so the MOSI Transport Festival is a natural place for it to be exhibited."
The team are aiming to attempt the feat in October, and the car still needs a bit more work before it is crated up and sent to the States. "It's a shame we have to go to California," added Mike. "Most of our support is back here, but there is nowhere with enough space in the UK."
The record attempt will be in the same California desert where Mike tried to break his previous record.
"The last attempt was unsuccessful, so there is definitely some unfinished business in the desert," he explained. "Driving at these speeds is a very tactile experience – you get a real feel for the road underneath you, the wind noise becomes very different. I really have to focus on the directions being given by the navigator who follows me in a chaser car."
"Predominantly they are there to give me directional information, and he also has the very important job of telling me when to stop. There have been no really bad accidents so far – just a bit of a spin on one attempt, but nothing too drastic."
Mike and his car in the heart of MOSI. Pic © Chris Foster/MOSI
"I love motorcars and have done since I was a young lad. A few years ago I started thinking to myself, 'what would I like to do if I could see?' I was talking to a friend of mine, John Galloway, about it and together we started the Speed of Sight team.
"We haven't looked back since we set it up – not that I am able to look forward, either," joked Mike.
"However, I will be hanging up my driving gloves after this record attempt. We have a plan that's in its embryonic stage at the moment but I am hoping to single handedly cross the Atlantic."
For now Mike's Manchester-built car, which can reach speeds of over 270 mph, is being exhibited as part of the MOSI Transport Festival, which runs until August 16 2009.
For more information of the Festival of Transport at MOSI visit the MOSI website and for more information on Mike's record breaking attempt check out the Speed of Sight website
