83-year-old Care Home Resident Rides Shotgun in High-Speed Supercar at Goodwood Motor Circuit
Waterhaven Place, a luxury care home in Chichester, recently arranged a special visit to Goodwood Motor Circuit for resident Keith (83) and a group of fellow motoring enthusiasts. The trip helped him reconnect with his passion for cars by taking part in the Supercar Track Day organised by My University Hospitals Sussex.
As well as admiring the remarkable collection of supercars on display, Keith was invited to ride shotgun in a gorgeous Porsche 911 as it raced at 157 mph around the famous circuit. For Keith, who has owned and restored several Bentleys over the years, the experience brought back the thrill, speed and excitement of high-speed cars.
Indeed, Keith’s own claim to motoring fame is having once restored a Bentley owned by Kind Edward VIII, which is now proudly on display in a museum in Germany. After hearing Keith’s story and discovering just how many other car enthusiasts were living at Waterhaven Place, the team knew they had to arrange something special.
Cheryl Tyson, Customer Relationship Manager at Waterhaven Place, who organised the trip, comments:
“We believe every resident’s passion and life stories should be celebrated, and so when we discovered we had so many genuine motorheads in our midst, we knew we had to arrange a visit to Goodwood Motor Circuit. Amongst the group, Keith really stood out because of his own remarkable connection to cars. Watching him zip around the track in a Porsche 911 gave us butterflies even just standing on the sidelines, but it was truly heartening to see such a huge smile on his face as he climbed out of the car.”
The rest of the group also had a chance to join in the fun by taking part in the parade of supercars on the famous Goodwood track. In the home’s dedicated minibus, they cruised around the circuit at a much more modest 30 mph – allowing the group to soak up the atmosphere and marvel at the incredible machinery on display.
The residents were treated to a remarkable line-up of supercars, from rare Ferraris and McLarens to high-performance Porsches and Lamborghinis. Among the highlights were a striking yellow Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale, a bright blue McLaren 720S, and a grey Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS with its trademark towering rear wing.
For the team at Waterhaven Place, the outing reflected the home’s commitment to person-centred care by celebrating each resident’s unique passions and interests. The team calls this approach “positive risk” – carefully planning memorable experiences that allow residents to get out of their comfort zone and experience a genuine sense of adventure and growth.
Cheryl Tyson explains this approach:
“For us, these kinds of activities are all about creating positive risk in the right way. While every precaution and safety assessment is taken beforehand, we believe that residents choosing to engage in thrilling activities like this can do wonders for their confidence and sense of joy. Keith’s bravery goes to show that, whatever age you are, it’s never too late to step outside your comfort zone and have a genuine adventure.”
The home regularly organises bespoke outings and experiences that reflect residents’ lifelong interests. Earlier this year, the team arranged a special birthday surprise for resident Pam at Hunters Lodge Riding Centre, where she enjoyed a gentle horse-grooming session after spending much of her life caring for horses.
The home also recently hosted a Royal Ascot celebration, with residents and relatives donning decorative hats, watching the Royal Procession, and enjoying a traditional cream tea before cheering on the Gold Cup together.
