Blind man drives 211 mph for Guinness record

Episode 394

April 5, 2022

The Loring Timing Association connection to Guinness Record

After gathering data on his record-setting Corvette at the A2 wind tunnel, Jason White heard from Dan Parker who was researching Corvette aerodynamics. After sharing conversation, the two became friends. Ideas for Parker’s record attempting 2008 Corvette were bandied about. White became part of the team that Parker put together in pursuit of the Guinness World Record held by Englishman Mike Newman who drove blindfolded at 200.5 miles per hour in his Nissan GT-R on August 13, 2014.

Preparation for the 2018 season began for Jason White soon after the Harvest Event at Loring. White hauled his Corvette to the A2 wind tunnel in Mooresville, North Carolina to test several “go-fast” modifications. These tests were what attracted Dan Parker who was researching Corvette aero tests for his future record setting 2008 C6. (Photo courtesy RecMech Motorsports)

August 31, 2019 at the Loring Timing Association Harvest Event, White set the top speed for cars at 269.673 mph which has withstood the attempts of the late Bob Keselowski who went 269.332 mph.

In 2020, White accompanied Parker to the Arkansas track to check out the guidance system developed by Parker’s friend Patrick Johnson as well as his Corvette. I suspect that Jason White could not have known what an integral part of Dan Parker’s record setting venture he would become.

As can be seen in the photo below, White’s next trip in 2021 to Arkansas resulted in a disaster for his New Hampshire-based race team. Without the need to rush his own car back to health for Loring Timing Association events later that summer, White was able to drive to Columbus, Georgia and pick up Parker’s race car for some high speed tuning at the Loring track. White’s methodical, patient approach and experience with high-speed proved to be valuable as he pushed Parker’s Corvette into previous untested speeds.

Driver/owner of the RecMech Corvette to the left in the gray shirt talks the crash over as the hurt Vette is being prepared for removal from the side of the Arkansas runway. Amazing how life’s circumstances shape the future. Not sure what would have happened this year if this wreck had not occurred? (Photo by Kevin Peckham)

Jason White purging the nitrous ports on the Dan Palmer Corvette at Loring Timing Association Harvest Event 2021. White and fellow RecMech crewmember Kevin Peckham towed the race car from Columbus, Georgia to shakedown the car at speed. Peckham commented,” Jason asked if I wanted to give him a hand at his shop (Northwood, New Hampshire) last June. I met Dan in Arkansas last May it’s been a crazy year for race cars!” White established new speed records with Parker’s car in the A/FMS class Mile 183.281 mph and 1.5 mile @ 195.34 mph. (HTF Motorsports photo)

Dan Parker

“I was born into a racing family on July 2, 1970 in Salem, Alabama,” said Dan Parker. “My father, Jimmy Parker, still races today. I was 8 years old when dad entered me into a mini-bike class at an all-motorcycle event, and I placed second!”

“In 1997, I started driving Pro Mods for Ellis Milner. I have won one Dixie Pro Stock championship as well as the 2005 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Nitrous world championship title. I was also in the first side-by-side 3-second Pro Nitrous pass. Racing was my life, and I never imagined it would be taken from me.”

Remains of Dan Parker Pro Mod after crash at Alabama Dragway March 31, 2012. As a result of the violent crash, Parker lost his sight. (The Blind Machinist photo)

“In 2012, I was involved in a horrific wreck. It was a miracle that I survived the accident at all, but I was rendered completely blind as a result. I was determined to continue life as usual, and to keep racing. I made a plan.”

First part of Parker’s plan was to build and race a motorcycle at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. “I built a motorcycle and became the first-ever blind man to race at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2013, then set my class record in 2014 with no exemptions for blindness. I race with no human assistance, and I use a custom guidance system that gives me audible feedback on how to correct my course.” National Federation of the Blind (NFB) representative congratulates Dan Parker for records set at Bonneville Salt Flat 2014. (NFB photo)

“Of course, for me the blindfold will not be necessary,” Parker said about his 2022 record pursuit. “My 2008 Corvette is a purpose-built race car and I designed every aspect of it. With the work of the Blind Driver Challenge, we will not only demonstrate that a blind person can drive a vehicle safely, but that we can do it at over 200 mph. Together we hope to inspire blind people and to demonstrate our capacity, make history by setting a new world record and show the potential of new technology like self-driving cars to help blind people break barriers in everyday mobility.”

A multitude of race businesses, some which I do not know their specific contribution to the project were recruited for this 4.5-year journey to the record. The roll cage was fabricated by Stormin Norman’s Custom Rollcages and Strutmasters.com helped with suspension components. Stroud Safety provided seatbelts, window nets, and parachute. Cruise, the San Francisco-based autonomous car development folks, helped fund the effort at Spaceport America, Truth and Consequences, New Mexico.

The Loring Timing Association (LTA) was named the sanctioning body for Parker’s record attempt.

Race day in New Mexico desert

One of Parker’s longtime friends Joe Pena, was staying behind at his house in El Paso, Texas to get any last-minute parts the team might need before going to the Spaceport Thursday morning since speed parts in the middle of the desert do not exist. Pena’s girlfriend, Laura Olivas, provided many of the on-site photos for this episode.

Pena relates what he heard and saw were problems popping up race day. “Thursday morning, I know Dan never slept as he texted me a list of parts to get at 1am and 3am. So many things came together the last 8 minutes to accomplish the record run, it’s pretty unbelievable.”

“The nitrous barely started working, the chassis had some last-minute adjustments, the car wouldn’t idle so Dan designed and had the guys build a push bar the day of the run. The oil sending unit wire came off the pass before and scared the daylights out of the crew. The chiller that takes the hot water out of the car and puts cold water back in had the pump fail so they used water bottles to re-fill it. They had previously had some transmission issues. The engine was tuned at the track just a few runs before. The nitrous worked on both runs previous then up until the last practice run it did not turn on.”

While last minute car preparation was going on the other side of the support truck, Dan Parker slipped away to have some alone time with God before the record runs began. “I was praying so hard asking God to make it happen” (Laura Olivas photo)

“These pictures tell a lot of the story. We had the Spaceport rented until 5 pm. We were running out of time. When I went through the finish line on my back-up run, I had 8 minutes left on our 1-hour turnaround time. I stayed strapped in with my helmet on to stay focused. With my molded Racing Radios earbuds, I could not hear what was happening behind me. To keep me calm the team made the right decision not to tell me.”

“I’ve always been able to handle pressure.  You can’t go to the starting line worried,” said Parker.

On the other side of the truck the team was leaping into action to prep for the return run necessitated for a world record. ( Laura Olivas photo)

“The water pump on the cooling cart failed after they drained the water tank on the first run. The team used everything they could find to scoop water into my cooling tank in the rear. I had no idea what was happening, I am glad I did not know. My nerves were shot anyway and I was trying hard not to have a break-down. At that moment the pressure was extreme but we prevailed.”

Dan Parker on right-of-center hugs Jason White who was his ride-along passenger. This was after Go-Pro video compiled by White’s high school age cousin, Simon Foley, was reviewed by official from Guinness World Records which verified that Parker had control of the car the whole run. Parker’s fiancé Jennifer Stegall is on right. Crew-member Kevin Peckham is on left.  (Laura Olivas photo)

Michael Empric, Adjudicator for Guinness World Records on right awards Dan Parker his certification as the fastest blindfolded driver since they had no category for truly blind persons. This world record was also the first at Spaceport America. (Spaceport America photo)

You can make excuses or you can make it happen!

A few days later Parker commented, “As I have woken early this morning, reality of what we accomplished this week is setting in. As a racer the magic 210mph pass is amazing and backing it up with a 212 puts icing on the cake.”

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)