David Edwards - UK Speed Record Holder

Congratulations on setting two UK Class Speed records at Wethersfield in September in his 8 litre Lola 222 Chevrolet.

David set a new record for the 500m flying start.
He then went on to break the 1 mile standing start record which had been set by John Cobb in his Railton Special and had remained unbroken since 1933!

Seen here with Sir Stirling Moss at the launch of his record bid which raised money for the Aspire charity.

The campaign was called THE MISSION: IT'S POSSIBLE and aimed to raise money for Aspire - a national charity that works with people with spinal cord injuries, helping them to live more fulfilled and independent lives.

David, a trustee of Aspire, is himself a wheelchair-user since 1993: "It's my mission to inspire people through this project to understand more about spinal cord injury and to support the important work that Aspire does throughout the UK."

The campaign was launched at the Connaught Village Festival, hosted by Sir Stirling Moss OBE, in London on Thursday 15th May 2008 when David and his stunning car appear together in public for the first time.

With 835 bhp under the bonnet and a possible sub 3 second 0-60mph time.

This historic race car was originally driven in the spectacular Cam-Am series in the 1970s.  Since David bought the car in 2004 he has worked with the team at Scott Racing and Dr. John Davis to develop a solution to changing the heavy gears by hand. The many alterations made to the car are evidence of how technological advancements in motor sport can benefit disabled drivers, both now and in the future.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the tragic passing of Archie Scott Brown, one of the first severely disabled drivers to confound the sceptics. "His achievements are a real inspiration to me," says David. "It has been 50 years since Archie Scott Brown left an indelible impression upon a growing motoring population, for sheer courage and determination in his quest to overcome prejudice and to participate as an equal. In the decades since we have seen barriers fall and the conceptions about what disabled people can do, change. This record attempt is meant to celebrate those that have contributed to providing an equal opportunity to all and to provide inspiration for the work to continue."

A Lloyd's Insurance broker by day and father of three, David is one of the UK's most experienced disabled racers: in addition to developing the Lola project over the past four years he has also regularly raced a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 and currently holds an International "C" race licence.

David Edwards' Lola T222 was be parked alongside another Lola at the Festival in celebration of Lola's 50th anniversary. Sam Smith from Lola cars is delighted that David has chosen to attempt to break the records in a Lola: "Lola racing cars have always been about passion and engineering capability and I think this fits in well with what David and his team are looking to achieve this year.

As well as the 50th anniversary of Archie Scott-Brown's untimely death, it is also the golden anniversary of Lola making race cars. For one of our most spectacular cars to be involved in this fantastic initiative is a great way of celebrating our rich motor sport heritage."

For information about Aspire, 
please visit:

 www.aspire.org.uk