Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: South African man sets speed record for blind - in 200 mph SL Black Series!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black - Click above for high-res image gallery

Looks like Luc Costermans (a.k.a. the Blind Belgian) is no longer the world's fastest sight-challenged driver. The latest person to snatch the world land speed record for the blind is South Africa's Hein Wagner. Wagner, who has been blind since birth, pushed a borrowed Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series to 322.5 km/h, just a tick over 200 mph. That puts him in the Guinness Book of World Records, ahead of Costermans, and it's not the first record for Wagner, though.

This is the same man who became the first South African to set a world land speed record, sighted or not, back in 2005 when he pushed a Maserati to 167 MPH. The deposed champion, Costermans, can take consolation in being the first blind man to break the 300 km/h barrier. Wagner himself might have to be content with being the first to break 200 mph, as previous record holder Mike Newman hopes to take an 1,800-hp Keating TKR supercar well past that figure later this month. In fact Newman is going after the overall production car speed record of 257 mph currently held by the SSC Ultimate Aero.

For now at least, the record belongs to Wagner. His record run was achieved on the runway at the Upington International Airport in Northern Cape, South Africa, with copilot Ray Wakefield of Speedrecord SA riding shotgun. Wagner has always had an adventurous streak, having previously run the New York Marathon (in 4:27!), skydived (skydove?) from 10,000 feet, completed the Construction du Cap bike race solo, competed in the Cape-to-Rio yacht race, and he has even climbed the ten highest peaks in the Western Cape. Wagner is raising money for his Vision Trust organization, which makes technology more accessible to the blind.

So what's up next for Wagner? He plans to fly a Boeing from London to Johannesburg -- with passengers. It was probably hard enough to find one passenger for the drive in the Benz, getting a full load of passengers for the flight might take a bit more persuading. But what the heck, it's for a good cause, right? Thanks for the tip, Dean!

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

[Source: News 24]

REPORT: South African man sets speed record for blind - in 200 mph SL Black Series! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blind driverBlindDriverguinness book of world recordsGuinness World RecordGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsGuinnessWorldRecordHein WagnerHeinWagnerland speed recordLandSpeedRecordLSRluc costermansLucCostermansMercedes SL 65 Black seriesMercedes-Benz SL 65 BlackMercedes-Benz SL 65 Black SeriesMercedes-benzSl65BlackMercedes-benzSl65BlackSeriesMercedesSl65BlackSeriesMike NewmanMikeNewmanSL 65 BlackSL 65 Black SeriesSL65sl65 amgsl65 black seriesSl65AmgSl65BlackSl65BlackSeriesSSCSSC Ultimate AeroSSC Ultimate Aero TTSscUltimateAeroSscUltimateAeroTtworld land speed record for the blindWorldLandSpeedRecordForTheBlindFri, 09 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: The blind Belgian's record speed run in a Lamborghini]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/video-more-of-the-blind-belgians-record-run-in-a-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/video-more-of-the-blind-belgians-record-run-in-a-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/video-more-of-the-blind-belgians-record-run-in-a-lamborghini/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch videos after the jump

Today we bring you more video of the blind Belgian who recently broke the blind land speed record in France. Luc Costermans piloted a Lamborghini Gallardo borrowed from supercar rental agency GT Drive to 192 mph on the Istres airstrip, which is a pretty amazing feat, but one that's likely to be challenged by former world record holder Mike Newman. Although they aren't in English, we have several video clips of the event for you after the jump.

Gallery: Blind Belgian Luc Costermans breaks speed record

Continue reading VIDEO: The blind Belgian's record speed run in a Lamborghini

VIDEO: The blind Belgian's record speed run in a Lamborghini originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blind land speed recordBlindLandSpeedRecordGT DriveGtDrivelamborghini gallardoLamborghiniGallardoluc costermansLucCostermansTue, 14 Oct 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Blind Belgian breaks speed record in borrowed Lamborghini]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/blind-belgian-breaks-speed-record-in-borrowed-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/blind-belgian-breaks-speed-record-in-borrowed-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/blind-belgian-breaks-speed-record-in-borrowed-lamborghini/#commentsFiled under: ,



For most of us, once we're able to sweet talk our way into Lamborghini Gallardo, going 192 mph isn't that difficult. But Luc Costermans has at least one more major obstacle to overcome: he's been blind for four years.

Despite that, he managed to borrow an orange Gallardo for an attempt on the Blind Speed Record. Congratulations are in order for both Luc and the Gallardo's owner, as the record was broken and the Gallardo apparently wasn't. Luc set the Blind Speed Record at 192 mph, Saturday, at an airstrip in Istres, France.

"I'm very, very happy. It's a team effort," Luc said after the run. His co-pilot, Guillaume Roman, wasn't quoted in any of the stories we read, but we assume he breathed a deep sigh of relief. Seriously, who volunteers to ride shotgun with a blind driver in a Gallardo doing almost 200 mph?

Luc can't rest on his laurels. Previous record-holder Mike Newman is hoping to hit 200 mph in a
Keating TKR. Anyone got a Veyron Luc borrow? Anyone?

See video of the record-breaking run here. Be warned that it's not in English.

Gallery: Blind Belgian Luc Costermans breaks speed record


[Source: BBC]

Blind Belgian breaks speed record in borrowed Lamborghini originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blind driverblind speed recordBlindDriverBlindSpeedRecordgallardolamborghinilamborghini gallardoLamborghiniGallardoluc costermansLucCostermansSun, 12 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EST