(September 28, 2012) MANCHESTER, England — On Oct. 11 a 51 year old, ex-Barclays Bank manager from Manchester, is hoping to be the first blind person to hold both Guinness world land speed and water speed records simultaneously. He would then be the first person to hold such a record since his hero Donald Campbell set both records in 1964.

Mike Newman intends to be the first blind person to drive a car, unaccompanied, over 182 mph and take a powerboat over 91mph and will be eagerly watched by one of his biggest fans, Donald's daughter Gina Campbell, granddaughter of Sir Malcolm and a world speed record holder herself.

Mike also holds a Guinness world blind aerial acrobatic record; gained as part of a team record while flying the most consecutive loops in formation with The Blades Aerobatic Team in 2011.

After successful trials in Leicestershire and Devon, Newman is determined to make the record books again on this one, significant day — World Sight Day, annually the second Thursday in October — that is recognized globally to focus attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired.

He will be driving a Noble M600, a 650-horsepower hand-built, carbon bodied, British supercar made by Noble Automotive in Leicestershire. Newman will attempt to reach over 182 mph at Bruntingthorpe in Lutterworth, one of the longest runways in the country. The Noble is one of the few cars in the world capable of such a high speed. A test run of the Noble car, earlier this week proved it worthy of the record within the appropriate distance, with room for breaking.

After a dash to Torquay, Newman will take the helm of Drew Langdon's Silverline offshore Formula 1 power boat, powered by two V8 950-horsepower engines, and hopes to reach over 91mph — the practice speed he achieved just one month ago. The current record stands at 91mph. At the event, Mike Newman and Gina Campbell will meet Elected Mayor and Leader of Torbay, Gordon Oliver.

Commenting after the Noble M600 test, Newman said: "Words can't really express how I'm feeling at the moment, to get to this place. To be able to demonstrate that I'm a person with a disability and not a disabled person will help Speed of Sight change people's perception.

"Everyone should have a chance to realize a dream. In being able to realize mine, I'm enormously grateful to my team, all the sponsors and supporters, Mark Hargreaves whose Datron Technology is relied upon by Guinness and, right now, especially to David Walton at Bruntingthorpe, Peter Boutwood at Noble and Drew Langdon and Silverline."