Paraplegics go karting

On Dec. 2 at Moran Raceway in Beaumont 18 disabled Adrenalin junkies tested 10 hand-controlled karts on the nation’s premier karting track.

In the midst of all the holiday cheers Joe Ramos Jr. of SSC Racing with Gimpspeed members Chris Kohler and Martin Vogel debuted a paraplegic karting clinic for all their racing friends and rookies in wheelchairs.

Ramos Jr. said, "This is an open ‘arrive and drive’ demonstration. First-of-its-kind. Non-disabled participants are welcome to challenge their skills as well at this time trial demonstration."

SSC Racing waived its $65 kart use fee for the event.

Paraplegics are defined as individuals with spinal cord injuries that limit their ability to have walking function of their legs. The area of the spine, near which the injury occurred, generally categorizes them.

Kohler is a T-2, "T" meaning lower "Thoracic" (Back) region, and "2" representing a specific location along that region.

"My injury is pretty high up. Each one of us out here on the track has our own unique issues with adaptability depending on our range of mobile ability. That’s why there are so many different hand control variations on the Karts. What works for one person may not work as well for another," said Kohler.

Kohler has been hand-control karting since 2000.

"My friends just love coming out with me to the track. This is awesome to have so many guys in chairs here."

Quadriplegics generally have spinal cord injuries that affect the mobility of their arms and upper torso. Medically categorized as "Cervical" with a "C" followed by a location specific number.

Motocross champion David Bailey of Murrieta had gone down with his bike in 1987. Bailey is classified as a T-4-5. Bailey drove his own kart.

"This is the most fun race course I’ve ever been on. It’s scary-fast. I love the thrill, concentration, and the fear factor is on the edge of the table. The only thing scarier than this would be swimming with sharks. Still safer than driving on the road," Bailey said. "It’s an addiction once you’ve raced anything. I’ll definitely be thinking about what to do next time I’m out here."

Another Murrieta resident, Ricky James Jr., 19, has spinal cord injuries at the T-6 region. While racing a national amateur MX event at age 16 he was dicing it for second place when he went down with a fellow racer.

James said, "I started racing again at 17, this time in a kart."

Ricky’s father, Rick James Sr., shared some sentiment, "It’s challenging with adaptive sports. A lot of what we are doing hasn’t been done before. Designing adaptive components to best suit the individual is the key. No two spinal cord injuries are alike; they’re all unique."

While still in the hospital from the accident, family friends, Mike Sr. and Mike Jr. LaPaglia purchased James Jr. a kart to motivate him.

"What a surprise. Ricky had only been in the hospital, uh, less than 30 days. They felt this was a great idea. Then Mike Baker, the owner of Protech, made the hand-controls and it’s still working today," said James Sr. "The biggest thing we want is to get back into the sports the way we did before. Safely and as well thought out as we can. We think."

Brad Meinzer of Sun City also helps Ricky James with his vehicles including fabricating Nerf bars for his Honda CRF 250X motorcycle to race the 2007 Baja 500, and ride around at Lake Elsinore MX Park.

James Jr. added, "The side Nerf bars keep my legs in, and safe. Plus the electric starter feature on this model helps run my electronic shifting controls. It’s like therapy."

Family friend Mikey Griffitts is filming a documentary on the everyday challenges and triumphs that James Jr. conquers.

"I’m really enjoying doing this. They’re a good family," Griffitts, a Wildomar resident, said.

Bailey commented on the James family, "Our families are very close now. Ricky is absolutely amazing in his recovery. As long as we remind ourselves [ones in chairs] to keep motivated and active with family and friends by doing the fun daily activities life becomes a great endeavor."

Bailey and James Jr. also operate hand-powered bicycles together. The weekend prior they hand-cranked across 40 miles of available bike path in Orange County through Camp Pendleton.

Martin Vogel (T-3) is a regular kart racer at Apex Raceway in the Perris Fairgrounds. While strapping himself down in Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] his new kart, Vogel roared and grunted, "I like the hand-controls! Ha Ha!"

Quickly remembering another important feature, he barked, "Oh, and, the motor too! What an experience, I like it. Got to go-moto." He is a once professional motorcycle road racer, and now; multi-time marathon wheel chair class champion.

Bailey said, "I remember when I was in rehabilitation at the hospital, and Martin came by sporting his new racing wheelchair to show everybody before leaving for the Boston Marathon. I’ll never forget it. He’s still the same today. Watch him go. An inspiring person."

Many of the guys are familiar with one another through contacts and outreach programs at local hospitals during there lengthily recovery stages. Yet they are always looking for more folks to help by either giving or receiving.

Dan Hendricks of Glendora raced motocross in the 1970s. He now trains racehorses at Santa Anita Race Track, and Hollywood Park.

"I have three boys, and we got the BMX bug about eight years ago. As the boys got older, our family got back into motocross. In July of 2003 during MX practice I just landed wrong," he said.

This resulted in a T-3 injury. "Driving these karts sure gets the Adrenalin running."

When Hendricks was asked about his choice of hand-controlled kart set-ups, he said, "I liked the motorcycle adapted hand-controls over the steering wheel adapted controls. It just fits my preference and mobility level."

Robert Scott of Fountain Valley had his first chance at motorsports fun. Shaking with excitement during suit-up he flowed smoothly on the track.

"It was awesome. These karts can hit up to 3-Gs and stick in the corners. It’s a lot faster [on the track] than it looks from the spectator area," he said.

Robert was born with spinabifida.

Ryan Nichols, a diagnosed C-6 "high function" quadriplegic also got his first turns on the track.

"I’m digging it! Used to ride dirt bikes. This is bringing out the competitive nature in me. It is nice to be back in motorsports. Wow," he said.

Nichols’ injury occurred in 1993 on the 15 freeway when he lost control of his parcel delivery vehicle and was ejected to the side of the road.

"I wasn’t wearing a seat belt," Nichols said. "I now have limited ability with one-third of my triceps and half of my chest muscle on one side.

Darryl Lair, whose younger son races BMX at Perris, while his older son is racing motocross at Starwest Motocross Park, commutes for family competition from Hesperia.

Lair gets his ‘moto-a-go-go’ on family desert rides strapping himself to his Polaris Trail Blazer four-wheel quad with a homemade hand brake.

"I’ve heard about this hand-controlled time trial racing and have been wanting to go karting for a long time now," he said.

However, comparing the off-road experience to the asphalt excitement, Lair said, "But, in the karts it’s a lot more smoother than on the off road terrain. I feel like I’m more part of this vehicle because I’m anchored in it, the center of gravity is lower, and I’m not just flopping around on top of something."

Lair has been on the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Winter Sports Ski Team for the past seven years.

Josh Barker, Moran Raceways Corporate Events Coordinator, and lead instructor at Moran Raceway, also races the King Taco sponsored NASCAR Super Truck at Irwindale Speedway.

He said, "The turnout of this demo event was much bigger that I expected. It’s such an inspiration to see these guys get out there, getting after it, and still sinking the throttle. These guys aren’t handicapped. They are totally handi-capable. That sums it up. Events like this prove our reputation as the most ‘premier kart track in country’."

Lair, Nichols and Scott were the three out of six kart rookies to hammer down with the other 12 experienced hand-control participants on this epic karting day.

"Many ‘able-bodied’ [advanced] karting sportsmen were practicing at the track also had the chance to experiment with their helm skills on the hand-controlled karts. They weren’t as good at it as they were in their personal race vehicles. It was different for them. But, that didn’t put a brake on them from enjoying the camaraderie and courtesy of our pit-crew and the hospitality area. We’re here as the center of opportunity, and organization, for future events like this. Everyone is welcome to come," Joe Ramos Jr., said.