London cab drivers take war veterans for exhilarating race day at Goodwood

Image credit: Taxi Charity

Ten London cab drivers who volunteer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans took fifteen veterans to Goodwood to participate in a Mission Motorsport event.

The event at Goodwood was hosted by Mission Motorsport and gave veterans the opportunity to sit in the passenger seat and race around the track at speeds of up to 150 mph in a range of sports cars including, BMW, Audi, Ferrari, and Aston Martin.

Mission Motorsport launched in March 2012 to help those affected by military operations by engagement through sport and the Taxi Charity was delighted when they were invited to bring veterans to their race track event at Goodwood in West Sussex.

Among the veterans attending the event with the Taxi Charity were six Chelsea Pensioners who were picked up from the Royal Hospital Chelsea and driven to Goodwood in three iconic London taxis.

One of the Chelsea Pensioners Mike Smith said: “What a couple of weeks I have had. On 12 September the Taxi Charity took me to an event at Biggin Hill and I got to fly in a Spitfire and then today I have been whizzed around the race track at high speeds and had great fun on the skid pan. What a wonderful treat and I am extremely grateful to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for making it all happen. An unforgettable two weeks.”

Frances Wyhowska, Ambassador, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans said: “Mission Motorsport gave our veterans and drivers a marvellous day at Goodwood Motor Circuit. Everyone was given the opportunity to experience laps in sleek supercars at speeds of up to 150mph and the Chelsea Pensioners couldn’t be drawn away….until that is they discovered the skid pan! Our volunteer drivers even got the chance to do three laps of the track in their cabs, albeit at a slightly more sedate pace. The kindness of everyone at Mission Motorsport was outstanding and the smiles on the faces of our veterans and drivers said it all.”

Andy Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Mission Motorsport, said: “Our Invitational Track Day at Goodwood is one of the highlights of Mission Motorsport’s sporting calendar, bringing together members of the Armed Forces community from all over the country. Our 10th anniversary on Friday was no exception and turned out to have our highest attendance ever. It was also wonderful to be able to invite the Taxi Charity along for the first time. The sight of a parade of black cabs doing laps around the iconic motor racing circuit was simply fantastic. And of course, the iconic scarlet tunics of the young Chelsea Pensioners was the icing on the cake of an amazing day. I hope this is the start of a very special relationship with both the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Thank you!”