^{"What have YOU done today to make you feel proud?" Heather Small (2000)}                    

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4th March 2002

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I was very honoured to have been asked to attend this event, held at Donington Park circuit, as a guest of honour, and to show the car to the public. Especially as the group of drivers I met have also inspired me to want even more out of my driving. They drive Porsche, Jaguar, TVR, BMW and even Hot Rod racers, and the feeling is if they can do it, so can I!!!!!

Celebrity guests who attended were Vicky Butler-Henderson, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Eddie Kidd, and each of them was a pleasure to meet. I know Vicky and Tanni could have easily have spent longer with each of the drivers, talking through what were, and how they coped with, their varying needs.

During the day I was sitting by the car where the reporter from the outside broadcasting unit of BBC Radio Derby came past and interviewed me, about how easy it was to drive again, and what hurdles are faced.

And then a bit later the show received a call from BBC Radio Nottingham asking if I'd go to their studio in the evening and do another live interview! So after the show Jackie and I went to Nottingham and from Studio 2 I talked with Alex Trelinski - to an audience of around 8 million people!!!!! Glad he told me that fact AFTERWARDS.

But before that, my day at the show was completed when we were invited to line up on the startline and then drive several "hot" laps of the circuit. I had the smallest engined car so chose to take it quite carefully (Jackie was on-board too taking photo's and wasn't happy with the body roll!!!!!!), but even so I wasn't expecting the Porsche 993 to lap me after 2.75 laps!!!!!!! And he reckoned he wasn't trying!!!! However, after 5 laps the chequered lap came out, and it was with another H-U-G-E smile that I drove off the circuit back into pitlane. We all had a story to tell, of a spin, a slide, or of being overtaken. But the sheer satisfaction of having done it was immense.

I'd like to thank the organisers of the show, Mobility Choice, for inviting me there, and hope I might get back there again for next year.

to picture gallery of show