{"id":224652,"date":"2020-06-02T16:34:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T21:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=224652"},"modified":"2020-06-02T19:27:51","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T00:27:51","slug":"blind-drag-racer-world-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/blind-drag-racer-world-record\/","title":{"rendered":"INCREDIBLE: After horrific crash, blind drag racer sets new world record"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A blind drag racer is living proof that having a disability doesn’t have to hold someone back or make their life any less worth living. Dan Parker was a world champion in his sport — until 2012, when a horrific crash destroyed his eyesight. After overcoming depression, Parker decided to pursue his dream of racing again, successfully setting world records along the way.<\/p>\n

On his Facebook page<\/a>, Parker said that his survival and rehabilitation alone exceeded everyone’s expectations. But he had another dream: to race on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. “After the accident, I thought that dream was over,” he wrote. “Then it came to me one night in bed that I could do this. Losing my eyesight did not have to stop my goals and dreams.” So with sponsors, a lot of hard work, and the help of friends, he created a land-speed trike that was completely unique.<\/p>\n

“At first the officials at the BUB motorcycle speed trials were a little apprehensive when I first called inquiring about my project,” Parker told The Drive<\/a>. “After we formed a relationship they realized I was serious and a professional racer and put my skills and guidance system to the test in a special course. The officials told me if it were not for my past racing history, willing to work with officials, and my professionalism, they would not have considered letting me race.”<\/p>\n

In 2013, his dream was completed: he successfully raced the Bonneville Salt Flats, becoming the first blind man ever to do so. But he later learned another blind racer, Mike Newman, had set a world record for the highest top speed attained on land. Beating that record became Parker’s new goal — and on an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” he achieved it.<\/p>\n