The Dream of Racing

Hi everyone my name is Nick. I'm new to the forum and wasn't sure where to post this. I am 26 and in college. Back in 2004 I had a stroke that left me paralyzed and in a wheelchair with no feeling in my legs. That day forth I told myself that I can do anything I set my mind to and I'm sticking to that. I have been in a automotive shop since I was little and worked for my grandfather for many years at his shop. I love working on cars and want to pursue a dream of racing cars. I've been having a lot of trouble finding the right organization or club to get involved in. Trying to see if there is a entry level track or auto cross racing in Northern Virginia. If anyone can answer any of these questions it would mean a lot to me. I appreciate the time your taking to read this just need a little direction. Thanks

Check out the DC region of the SCCA. They have a good number of autocross events in the area.

We have at least one forum member who autocrosses with hand controls. Hopefully he'll see this thread and add some more information.

http://www.capitaldrivingclub.com/ (canoe fess-up, I am an organizer with them, delete if inappropriate, but just trying to help)

We will be having an autocross this Saturday in Winchester, VA at James Wood Highschool.

Come on out, it is free to spectate and we will have room for walk-ups if you are interested in running. If it is legal for the street (lisenced driver, insured car), I believe we can let it run. If you would like, I can put you in touch with the club president so you can discuss any issues over with him as it will be his final call.

We do allow passenger ride-alongs as long as you are comfortable signing a wavier and wearing a helmet (we have loaners). (I will be there rain or shine, but only running if its not rainy. I would be happy to give you a ride-along if I am running, otherwise I am sure we can find someone else who would be happy to)

We also have events at other locations throughout the year, so take a look at the website for our schedule.

Come on out and join us!

I have heard that Lemons and Chump will allow drivers to use other types of controls (hand controls for example). It will be scrutinized in tech, but it shouldn't be a big deal.

Come race crappy cars with the rest of us idiots!

Rob R.

Plus there's always IRacing, Forza, GT5 and a host of other driving sims if actual racing is too pricey for you.

It sure is for me at the moment.

Contact Michael Johnson. I met him at Skip Barber where they let him modify a formula car for hand controls. He now is racing in USF2000. He might be able to give you some leads.

https://www.facebook.com/michaeljohnsonracing

Autocross is the right place to start. Lots of clubs around and hand controls shouldn't be an issue. Go for it!

Welcome to the forum!

Autocross is always a great venue to start. Many successful (and not so successful, like myself!) track racers got their start there. I've now graduated to ChumpCar with my team, but i still get back to dodging cones a few times a year.

To get the hang of driving on track, most HPDEs (High Performance Driving Events) and schools are comfortable with cars outfitted with hand controls.

If you decide that the actual act of racing isn't for you, two of my customers are wheelchair-bound world known head porters/engine builders :)

You can do it! Google Matt Speakman. He's a paraplegic & races Porsches professionally. I, too, suffered a stroke and dream of racing. Just keep up the good fight and never let anyone convince you to let go of your dreams. My stroke wiped out the use of my left side, about a year ago. Through lots of physical therapy and sheer determination, I can walk and drive again. You will too, but you must stay focused & don't let the naysayers get inside your head. There will be no shortage of people who will try to shoot down your dreams and it's up to you to never let them.

• Brian

check out this forum - http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/forum/49-disabled-motorsports/

Stickman wrote: Hi everyone my name is Nick. I'm new to the forum and wasn't sure where to post this. I am 26 and in college. Back in 2004 I had a stroke that left me paralyzed and in a wheelchair with no feeling in my legs......Trying to see if there is a entry level track or auto cross racing in Northern Virginia.

You'll be welcome where ever you go; most autocrossers are good people. We had a guy in a similar situation to you - hand controls for his car - show up to an MSCC autocross school a few years ago, and he had a blast. I'm sure you will, too.

I'm not from your neck of the woods, so I'll let someone else tell you who in particular to contact in VA.

BTW, welcome aboard, I hope you stick around. We're an odd bunch

DC Region run at Fedex field in Landover, MD. We have an event this Sunday if you want to stop by.

Shoot me a PM if you want more details on any DC region SCCA stuff.

Here's a story about a friend of mine, a former Porsche racer who suffered a tremendous brain injury and recovered to become a track coach:

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/indomitable-pair-of-medical-success-stories-ready-to-tackle-targa/article13374977/?service=mobile

He is coaching a former ski instructor who lost the use of his legs in an accident... their goal is the Targa Newfoundland Rally. His car has been outfitted with hand controls. You can follow them on the Kidney Stone Racing Facebook Page - there are posts on their progress, the training he is doing, the obstacles they face, with videos and pictures. Good luck to you!

Mthomson22 is the GRM member who auto-x's a sweet Miata with hand controls. He is a great guy and should be able to give you some great advice. Best of luck with your dream, with the right attitude you can do anything, no doubt!

Thanks everyone for the help and support I appreciate it very much and will be posting info about my progress soon. Again thanks for your time.

Liam Dwyer ran the One Lap of America this year, with a prosthetic leg and other injuries after an IED explosion in Afghanistan, and has been running a full season of vintage racing. There is an article in GRM this month under the one lap coverage. It can be done.

I'm also interested to hear if you're converting a car you already have or starting fresh. If you're starting fresh, a car with a robotized manual gearbox (or at least manually shiftable automatic) would be a great starting point.

There are people who actually do this on the board who may have better advice, but if I had to drive such a car with my hands only, I think I'd put a knob on the steering wheel and have a combined auto-centering gas & brake lever in the shifter position, with either buttons on the lever for shifting up & down or rocking the lever left & right to shift.

Stickman, I've been autocrossing the Miata, that SlickDizzy posted the picture of above, for 6 years now. I use some basic manual hand controls, no power gadgets or gizmos, and an automatic transmission. I would second the idea that autocross is a great place to start. My local SCCA guys checked out my controls to be sure they were safe, and it's been a total blast ever since. I've got pictures of the car/controls if that would help, and info too. Please feel free to post here, or email me with any questions you think I could help answer. Your goal is certainly achievable - and I wish you all the luck getting it done!!!

Cool. The esprit de corps of this group never ceases to impress me.

Welcome! Your dream is certainly attainable and we're all behind you getting there.

Just to give you some ideas on how you could adapt a car with a manual to hand controls, check this out:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/12159/message/1179016544/18+month+project%2C+the+footless+X1-9

Pretty much a solution that could be adapted to other cars fairly easily, but more and more I'm finding automatics easier to drive in an autocross setting since you can left-foot brake and focus on controlling the car/hitting the apex, reducing wheel spin, etc.

"It doesn't matter if you're in a wheelchair or have healthy legs. If you have the will to do something, you can get it done. I race the same as anyone else does; I just don't use my feet. And, I never give up." - Evan Evans (the first paraplegic competitor to win a professional off-road racing title)

Some more of Evan Evans
http://www.off-road.com/competition/race/wsorr-round-8-kincaid-takes-pro-light-win-27671.html

I'd be chicken to run that hard

A go kart could be easily modified to hand controls, and provide lots of grins for the money spent. As most of the enablers here will say, DO EEET!

I will be attending two auto cross events this weekend in Winchester Virginia and at fed ex field in Maryland. I will be starting fresh with a new vehicle I haven't made a decision on what car to purchase. I'm in college for mechanical engineering and will be creating my own one off set of controls for the car. I'm not sure if I will go with a auto or standard transmission. I miss the feeling of slamming gears but would be a lot easier to just put my controls in the car if it had a automatic but we will see what I choose. I'd like to see ideas for the different controls people are using. I've had this idea of racing in my head for years but never really acted on it till now. this will be my first autocross events I've have attended I'm looking forward to getting ideas for what car I will go with and just looking forward to meeting people that are in the sport.