Caleb McDuff

Caleb McDuff

Caleb McDuff (born 20 January 2008) is a British go-kart racer. McDuff is profoundly deaf, after losing 90% of his hearing as a toddler, believed to be as a result of a series of ear infections. McDuff currently uses cochlear implants to hear, though these can not be used whilst he wears a crash helmet for racing. McDuff is currently the world's youngest deaf racing driver on a professional career path.

McDuff currently races in the MSA Bambino Championship and races with team WIX Silence Racing, backed by British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team, WIX Racing.[1]

Deafness

Mcduff in full race suit with custom designed crash helmet

McDuff was born 20 January 2008 in Abergavenny, South Wales and currently resides in Pontypool. Although he passed the new-born hearing tests, it was sometime prior to his second birthday that he lost approximately 90% of his hearing, leaving him classed as profoundly deaf. It is believed that McDuff's hearing loss was caused by chronic ear infections.

As a toddler, McDuff was surgically implanted with cochlear implants. As a result of the implants, he has been able to adapt to the simulated hearing the implants give, and as such has developed aural communication, as well as use of British Sign Language.

McDuff attends a mainstream school which has a specialist hearing impaired unit for support. He uses both spoken English and British Sign Language combined to communicate, in the form of Sign Supported English.

Racing

WIX Silence Racing livery

From an early age McDuff showed an interest in cars and racing, and learned to drive electric-powered cars from the age of 18 months.[2] He had his first drive of a petrol-powered go-kart at age four.[3]

In 2014 McDuff joined the Bambino Kart Tour, a race series created by Darren Beavers to encourage children aged six to eight to enter go-kart racing. The tour takes place at seven tracks around the United Kingdom during the course of the year. McDuff currently races on a zip chassis, powered by a 50cc two-stroke engine which reaches speeds in excess of 40 mph.

Whilst racing, McDuff is unable to wear the processors for his cochlear implants that allow him to hear. This means that he races in complete silence, and this inspired the team name he races under of 'Silence Racing'. McDuff relies fully on sign language once his processors are off and has learnt to adapt other senses to compensate for this, and 'feels' the go-kart and its engine rather than hearing it.[4][5]

McDuff Welsh flag helmet design

In September 2014, McDuff received public nominations for Deaf Sports Personality of the Year (DSPY) 2014 (Young Player of the Year), and also Young Gun 2014 (under 13) by internet-based radio station DownForce UK. [6]

Sponsorship

McDuff in front of WIX Silence Racing teams Sponsor Backdrop

In February 2015, British Touring Car team, WIX Racing announced McDuff as a member of their driver line up as part of a sponsorship program. UK-based oil company Millers Oils also announced their support of McDuff's career development. At the time of announcements, McDuff was the youngest deaf racing driver in the world on a professional career path.[7]

McDuff is also sponsored by financial services comparison website Go Compare and house builders Taylor Wimpey, as well as several local businesses.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Pontypool schoolboy aiming to be first deaf Formula One driver (From South Wales Argus)". Southwalesargus.co.uk. 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  2. ↑ Editor (2014-02-05). "Inside Line: Caleb McDuff | Racingist is a fresh, new, Motorsport site that's fuelled by YOUR passions". Racingist.com. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  3. ↑ "Silence Racing - Caleb McDuff - Cochlear Implant - Deaf Kart Racer on ITV Wales News". YouTube. 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  4. ↑ 15 January 2014 10:25 (2014-01-15). "Deaf Caleb McDuff, 6, becomes top young racing driver with dreams of Formula One". Wales Online. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  5. ↑ "Pontypool pupil hopes to be first deaf F1 driver | Wales - ITV News". Itv.com. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  6. ↑ "Young Cwmbran Racer Up For Two Awards (From South Wales Argus)". Southwalesargus.co.uk. 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  7. ↑ "Young Deaf racer secures major investor (From Free Press Series)". Freepressseries.co.uk. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  8. ↑ "Deaf Pontypool boy aiming for F1 gets first sponsor (From Free Press Series)". Freepressseries.co.uk. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-05-01.

External links

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