Key Points
- Accessible Driving: The Bolton charity, Speed of Sight, allows visually impaired or disabled persons to drive special racing cars with dual controls.
- Dual Controls Innovation: These special racing cars designed by the Speed of Sight charity have dual steering wheels, brakes, and accelerators so that instructors can always have control and give directions through helmet headsets.
- Variety of People: People who suffer from cerebral palsy, autism, strokes, and even birth blindness can participate in the charity programs.
- Upcoming Track Day: The last local track driving day in the current season will take place at Three Sisters Circuit, Wigan.
- Local Fundraising Event: This charity will be holding its first-ever Magic Motor Fest at Farnworth Cricket Club, where there will be around 200 vehicles on show.
Farnworth (Bolton Today) September 1, 2026 – People who have previously been told they would never be able to operate a vehicle are taking the wheel on professional racing tracks, courtesy of the Bolton-registered charity Speed of Sight.
Founded in 2012, the organization utilizes specially modified sports vehicles equipped with twin steering setups, paired foot controls, and helmet communication systems to grant driving access to individuals affected by severe physical, sensory, or neurological conditions.
What is the Mission of the Speed of Sight Charity?
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, co-founder John Galloway explained that the project targets individuals whose medical conditions prevent them from holding a standard driver's licence. The initiative caters to both congenitally disabled individuals and those who lost their independence later in life.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, John Galloway stated:
"What you will see is blind people, people with cerebral palsy, people with autism, people who've had strokes, people who have been told they will never be able to drive a car. Either for the first time because they've been born with that condition or disability, or sadly, people like my dad, who later on in life had two strokes, which meant he had to forgo his driver's licence."
Co-founded alongside Mike Newman BEM—a blind racing driver holding eight Guinness World Records across land, sea, and air—the charity operates throughout the United Kingdom.
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How Do the Dual-Controlled Racing Cars Work?
The foundation relies on engineered track cars where both front positions act as full driver stations. The secondary controls allow qualified instructors to step in whenever necessary.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, John Galloway described the experience on the track:
"You turn up at a racing circuit, you're nervous, you're cacking yourself. You're worried, but you're also excited, so together, you've got the accelerator and you've got the brake at your feet. Then you go onto the circuit with all this trepidation and being nervous and a little bit scared, and you find that after lap one that you're still alive, and then you start to just relax."
Instructors use internal helmet communicators to give real-time directional cues to visually impaired drivers while maintaining physical override capability via their secondary set of controls.
What Upcoming Events Is Speed of Sight Hosting in Bolton?
The charity conducts driving experiences at venues across the country, including the Three Sisters Circuit in Wigan. Alongside track events, Speed of Sight is launching community-focused initiatives closer to its Bolton origin.
As reported by Joe Regent of The Bolton News, John Galloway outlined plans for their upcoming community gathering:
"We're putting on this epic event to bring awareness to the charity and at the same time put on a community event that everybody's going to absolutely love so we can do it every year, which will be bigger and bigger."
The inaugural Magic Motor Fest at Farnworth Cricket Club is expected to gather up to 200 display cars and motorbikes, alongside fairground attractions, food vendors, and appearances by local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Bolton, Bolton FM presenter David Dockerty, and Bolton Wanderers mascot Lofty the Lion.