Attention all Petrol Heads

Faced with the possibility of taking part in a season’s competitive motor sport, Mik Scarlet couldn’t wait to take to the track and say move over Stig

I’ve never been a sporty type, but when I saw the advert for disabled drivers who might be interested in taking part in the Loughborough Car Club’s Disabled Driver Scholarship I found myself filling in the entry forms without thinking. The idea of doing a motor sport appealed to the untapped competitor in me.

I arrived early at the venue, an army base in the Midlands, on a gorgeous sunny day to find a mixed group of equally eager drivers all panting to get behind the wheel. After greetings and a mug of tea, our instructors Richard Egger and Max Stowe outlined the day for us.

We would each have three turns in driving on the small circuit. The last round would be timed and two of our happy band would win a chance to race with the car club in this season’s competitions.

This kind of motor sport focuses on skill and control just as much as speed and aggression, and the car club wanted to open it up to disabled drivers. Ex-professional racing driver Max, who uses an electric wheelchair, regaled us with a list of disabled drivers who are already ripping up the motor sports world, which made us all feel more confident about what was to come.

Before we were allowed behind the wheel, we all wheeled around the course which must have looked like a scene from a comedy show. Even at this point our competitive streaks were coming out as we raced between the cones. Now we could be allowed behind the wheel of the Nissan Micra, fitted with standard hand controls. My nerves started to grow as each of the contestants raced around the track. Then my turn arrived, and I climbed into the seat, put on my seat belt and started the engine.

What a rush! Even though this was only my first attempt at motor sport, I was hooked. Richard guided me through the course and taught me how I could get the best from myself and the car. All too soon I was out of the car, waiting for my next turn. I returned to the group, and found that everyone had loved the experience. While we were all wheelchair-users, the members of the car club told us that this was the first time that this had happened. People with all types of disability can give it a go, as long as they have the ability to drive. The driver that demonstrated that anyone can take up a motor sport was Ben Freeman, who had only driven once before and was too young to hold a driving licence.

Soon my turn came around again. This time I had to go faster. My instructor pushed me to push the little Micra harder, and by the end I was flying round the track. I exited the car almost shaking with the adrenaline. All the gang laughed at the state of me, and we all found that this adrenaline really helped with our various pain and spasm issues. A hidden benefit or what? By now we were all getting on like a house on fire, and thanks to the burning sun we left like it too.

After another tea break, it was time for our last time out. This time it was being timed, for real.

One by one, we set out with one aim... to win. I tried my hardest and felt like I was in with a chance. But alas no. I came in joint 5th. The winners were two really great guys, David Barratt and Ian Trott. They were both overjoyed. David told me: “I came here to win, but never thought I would”.

But all of us were winners. We had a fantastic day, met some fantastic people and gained some advanced driving skills. Motor sport is a superb way of spending a day, and I would advise anyone who fancies it to look for a local club. Or even try out for next year’s Scholarship.

One tip, watch your speed on your journey home!

• For information on next year’s Scholarship, contact Richard Egger 07971 596 551 or email compsec@loughboroughcarclub.co.uk