GARY BOOTH
A 911 & Porsche World reader from the very first issue, I’ve enjoyed ownership of wonderful Porsche sports cars, but a stroke thirty years ago left me unable to enjoy driving like I used to. Internal combustion engines batter my senses, but what about an
In 1993, at thirty years of age, I was struck down by a stroke. At the time, I had a successful career, a young family and had always been reasonably physically active, participating in various sports, yet here I was impacted by ‘an old person’s illness’. Initially paralysed and unable to talk, I had a long battle to regain a degree of health. Ultimately, I lost my career, my marriage, my home and my family. I was essentially faced with starting my life over from scratch.
During my recovery, I was acutely aware my reintegration into society was frequently thwarted, either through ignorance about my condition from third parties or, worse, discrimination. Attempts to return to work were often repelled by unsympathetic employers, who considered I was fully recovered, despite the fact I was struggling with neurological complaints (neuro fatigue in particular) and do to this day. This makes regular work schedules difficult for me to cope with.
Although I’m probably ninety-nine percent physically recovered and offer very few signs outwardly of a stroke (except to those very close to me), the mental impact lives with me to this day. After all, how can you experience an incident which kills brain cells and expect for it to have no long-term impact?!
Even in the present, the medical profession seems unwilling to acknowledge fatigue and neuro issues are a daily and constant battle for me and others in a similar situation. It is the perception of stroke as a physical condition that we all need to overcome — stroke is, in fact, a brain injury. Along with other neuro conditions, it falls into the bracket of ‘hidden disabilities’, by which I mean it is rarely acknowledged.
In 2018, when struggling with motivation and direction, I revisited my long held desire to address the limited awareness and acceptance of what I had experienced over many years. I established Chequered Flag Motorsport as a not for profit Community Interest Company in 2019, with the aim of increasing awareness around the long-term neuro impact of various conditions, including stroke, autism, ADHD, CFS/ME (chronic fatigue conditions), PTSD (especially in amputees) and many more besides. In doing so, my aim was to provide affected individuals with opportunities for rehabilitation through a range of motorsport themed events and activities.
It’s a journey which has seen me deliver events in partnership with Red Bull F1, United Autosports, Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone, Simtrack Driver Performance Centre, Ginetta Motorsport, NY500 and many more automotive concerns.
I am a true Porschephile, having owned a 1982 924 Turbo that served as one of the ‘running report’ cars from the early days of this publication. I also owned a 1989 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport, a car I still wish was still in my possession. Unfortunately, these days, I rarely enjoy driving — the assault on my senses (visual, aural and physical) not only makes seat time behind the wheel difficult, but in many instances, when my anxiety reaches high levels, almost impossible. It was a desire for normality on the road which led me to wonder whether an EV would make the driving experience any easier? The question was answered when Porsche Cars Great Britain agreed to loan me a new Taycan GTS Sport Turismo not long before this issue of 911 & Porsche World went to print.
Immediate impressions? To my eyes, this particular iteration of Taycan is the most attractive. The Sport Turismo has always looked more cohesive and stylish, including a rear so sexy it could belong to Kylie Minogue. And yes, this is a quick car, but performance isn’t really what I’m concerned with here.
The drive down the A1 from Darlington towards Leeds was comfortable, relaxing and quiet. Perhaps this comes as no surprise to many, but for someone whose senses are battered by ICE driving, this was a new experience. I made sure to take in familiar B roads during my time with the car, and though there’s no denying the Taycan is big and heavy, it is effortlessly manoeuvrable in traditional Porsche fashion.
Taking the car in isolation, it is nothing short of awesome. A very relaxing, comfortable place to be. This Porsche makes driving, especially longer distances, much more accessible for those of us struggling with the after effects of stroke. If I had more time with the Taycan, I guess I would become even more familiar and accepting of the quirks of an EV, such as difficulty finding an available public charging point, which is no way a criticism of Porsche or its products, simply the fact the UK vehicle charging network still has some way to go to serve the high number of these cars being manufactured. For someone suffering the long term effects of a neuro complaint, however, when compared to driving an ICE car, the Taycan is hugely rewarding and a far more relaxed affair. Truth be told, no car can counter the increased levels of anxiety a stroke survivor can experience, especially when behind the wheel of an unfamiliar four-wheeler in inclement weather, but the Porsche certainly made driving a more pleasurable affair than I’m used to. An EV might not be for everyone, but for me and those like me, the Taycan might just be the best available sports car out there. ●