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Button supports motorsport club for disabled
ESPNF1 Staff
January 17, 2010
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Jenson Button met up with Motorsport Endeavour's Steve Tarrant © Sutton Images
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ESPNF1 arranged a special visit for one of our readers at the Autosport Show on Sunday. World champion Jenson Button took time out of his busy schedule to meet disabled motorsport enthusiast Steve Tarrant.
Tarrant is an enthusiastic marshal and has volunteered his time to officiate in motorsport over the last 24 years. He has flagged at events from club level regional hillclimbs, to the British Grand Prix and Le Mans. One of his favourites is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but it was here on June 24, 2000 that disaster struck.
As a 1968 Lotus 63 4-wheel-drive F1 car driven by John Dawson-Damer left the start line, Tarrant waited at the finish line - chequered flag in hand - with fellow official Andrew Carpenter by his side. As the car approached, Tarrant's life was about to change. Dawson-Damer had suffered a heart attack at the wheel and his Lotus ploughed head-long into Tarrant's post, killing Carpenter instantly. Tarrant suffered serious injuries, including losing his right leg, and was on the critical list for weeks.
Lesser people would have been put off the sport for life, but Tarrant battled his way back to fitness, his aim to marshal again. By 2002 he was trackside once more, firstly at a club event at his local Thruxton Circuit, followed by the British Touring Car championship.
In 2005 he set up a club with Graham Raphael for disabled motorists called Motorsport Endeavour. The organisation's aim is to support disabled people who want to be involved with motorsport - with events being organised by the disabled for the disabled.
It was Tarrant's charity work that led ESPN to contact McLaren to request some of Button's time in Birmingham. To meet him was a superb experience for Tarrant as he has followed Button's career since his days in the British F3 championship. It's not the first time the pair have met. In 2001, a year after the accident, Button took Tarrant on an exciting ride up the Goodwood hill in a Renault Clio Sport.
"Jenson was really keen to hear about all the events that we have organised in the past, and what we have planned in the future," Tarrant said. "He was really impressed and supportive of our work and his team said that they will try and organise a visit to the McLaren Technology Centre for the club later in the year. I really want to thank ESPNF1 for helping to make this happen."
If you would like more information about Motorsport Endeavour and its work, please visit its website by clicking here.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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