Nigel Lamb, aka Blind Bloke Racing. Nigel is smiling directly at the camera holding two thumbs up, he is wearing motorcycle leathers and dark glasses.
Record-breaking, thrill-seeking and vision impaired, Nigel Limb (aka Blind Bloke Racing) is the current holder of the British record for a strip run on a motorbike hitting speeds of 83 mph in 8.74 seconds on an Electric TT Zero bike with a vision impairment. He is making the trip down to Surrey from his Lincolnshire home for a talk at Brooklands Museum on Thursday 17th August and we caught up with him ahead of the event.
Nigel, what drove you to take up the challenge of breaking the British record for a strip run on a motorbike as someone who is vision impaired?
At the age of 50 years old, I had a freak accident racing motorbikes and suffered a DAI, which is a diffuse axonal injury in my brain. I lost my eyesight. I lost my business. I lost me. So I just needed something because I thrived and lived for 27 years with everyday being a new challenge.
So when I was on that motorbike for those, however many seconds I set the record, eight seconds, it’s just me, it’s just man and machine and God! For that moment in time, it’s Nigel and Nigel only.
After you had your accident in 2015, what did it feel like to get back onto the bike?
It was crazy because it was just so natural.
How has your experience of sight loss changed your day-to-day life?
Well, I struggle. At home I’m fine because in your home, you tend to know where stuff is. But day to day I fear crossing roads, I struggle shopping and I feel vulnerable when I’m out.
Thank you for helping support Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey through this event. How important was the support you received from your local sight loss charity for you?
The Lincoln and Lindsey Blind Society (LLBS) were very good to me. they do a lot of good stuff. LLBS needs to be here for other people like myself that need them. These charities are absolutely needed.
Why should people come to your talk at Brooklands Museum on 17th August?
It’s an amazing story over adversity.
Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey will be running a raffle on the evening to help raise funds for the charity’s work. We’d like to thank Nigel and Brooklands Museum team for their support in our fundraising and awareness raising.
To book your tickets visit Blind Bloke Racing, Brooklands Museum, Thursday 17th August, 7pm
Two images: First a picture of a Blind Bloke Racing banner . Underneath an image of Nigel standing proud next to his motorbike.
