English Endeavour Rally will be a three-day event offering a taste of competitive motoring to disabled drivers in the UK, with the support of the 20,000-strong Disabled Drivers' Motor Club and its President, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. As the DDMC's Chief Executive, Ed Passant says: "This event will make a wider understanding of what is possible."
Planned to start from Stoke Mandeville, 50 teams will have the opportunity to experience driving on straight navigation road sections, interspersed with car control tests, together with the chance to find out what driving on a race track is like. The rally will take place this autumn, and dates and final routing are to be confirmed.
The Organising Committee, under the Chairmanship of Paddy Hopkirk, is planning this inaugural event for the driving enthusiast who has a disability, as an opportunity for people to undertake something normally not available and that will combine the excitement of competition with the sense of achievement that participation will bring.
The overall event structure is under the care of Event Director Malcolm Neill, while Clerk of the Course Mike Summerfield will bring hisorganisational experience of international long-distance rallies into a domestic framework. Medical operations are under the charge of Ken Walker, CMO of the MSA for many years.
Entrants will be expected to take personal responsibility for their usual on-going needs but the medical team will be on hand to supply occupational therapy and physiotherapy should it be needed.
Entrants must be able to sleep in a standard hotel bed and all vehicles must be road-legal and taxed. 4 x 4 vehicles are permitted as is automatic transmission; however neither vans, trucks nor pick-ups may enter.
All entrants must be in possession of a valid driving licence and all will have to submit medical details to the event medical panel, whose decision on eligibility will be final.
The aim of Graham Raphael , Chief Executive of Motorsport Endeavour, is to help open the door for people with disabilities who want to undertake unusual motoring challenges and so far have not found it possible.
Entry fees may be expected to be £1250 for a two-person team. This will include shared accommodation, breakfast and dinner for the duration of the event together with vehicle rally plates, road books and items of rally clothing.
Organisations supporting the event include City solicitors Lewis Silkin, Independence Technology, makers of a gyroscopically-stabilised wheelchair, The Daily Telegraph and Greenfire Technology.
The social side of the event has not been forgotten...daily lunch halts, evening tests and a friendly atmosphere will enable new friendships to be formed and tales of the day's motoring to be shared.
More details are on the website set-up by partner ETC and it may be accessed at motorsportendeavour.com
For preliminary entry forms contact the DDMC at 01832 734724 Tel
