Neil Mildenhall, at the age of 33, lost the use of his legs following a car crash in 2003. That might have discouraged another man from further automotive activity. But Neil is a die-hard petrolhead, with a part-share in a local car garage. He currently runs a 630 BMW M3 with a G-Power supercharger, and drives it like he means it.
Before the crash Neil had ridden a DT50 Yamaha and a Suzuki X125, and passed his bike test. His current ride is a big Harley trike, with room for his wheelchair on the back. He has also gone parachuting twice to raise money for the Backup Trust, and made 14 voyages as part of the crew on a tall ship run by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, qualifying as a Watch Leader. So it’s fair to say that despite the hand fate dealt him, Neil is not downhearted.
Family counts
Currently, Neil is interested in some vehicles with a family connection. He lives on the family farm outside Uffington, the historic village nestled beneath the White Horse and once home to the poet John Betjeman. The farmhouse and yard have been in the family for around 120 years.
“My grandad was the farmer,” said Neil, “his son, my dad Ivan, was a builder. There’s an old Bedford lorry of his out in the field awaiting attention, and
