weekender the western
Printed on 100% recycled paper
FRI 10 OCT 2014 • Issue 1174
Premier’s Sunny day
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Business Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.30-31
Ben’s need for speed He’s blind, ambitious and brave – local man’s crazy world record attempt KATHERINE TWEED
Baird opens Sunnyfield p.18
Teen hurt in awful crash p.16
Who do you sing for? Wanderers look to build on great success p.40
@ktweed_
R
iding a motorcycle at 270 kilometres per hour sounds like a dangerous and frightening feat in itself, but take away a person’s sight and it sounds impossible. Local blind man Ben Felten is planning on making the impossible possible when he attempts to break the Blindfold Motorcycle Land Speed Record this month. Mr Felten was diagnosed at 16-years-old with a degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa and was told that he would lose his sight completely. To him, that also meant losing his ability to ride a motorcycle, which is something he had a strong passion for. “When I actually did go blind, the thing that I missed the most was riding my bike,” he said. “Not being able to drive was an inconvenience but losing my ability to ride was different – I missed it the most and the sense of freedom that it gives you.” Over 20 years later, his dream to get back on the bike has been realised and the 48-year-old has already clocked 150 kilometres per hour on the speedometer. “It is something that I would never have dreamt about doing – riding a bike again. Except I guess I did dream it and here I am,” he said. “To be able to ride again is so enjoyable, so empowering. It is like I never stopped.” Mr Felten has now turned his full attention to his record-breaking attempt later this month. Story continues on » p. 6
Ben Felten is hoping to be a world record holder later this month
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WW10366
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