Car Enthusiast News

Sam Schmidt: Burnt Rubber Dreams

2008-12-01T18:46:00Z

From almost before he could talk Sam Schmidt loved racing. He idolized his father's accomplishments on the track. So, it was no surprise when, at the tender age of 5 years old, he began competing in motocross events. It was also no surprise when he abandoned the track, prompted by his father's accident. But, the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber never left him. His dreams of racing were too strong.

Sam earned a business degree from Pepperdine University in California, eventually becoming an administrator for a hospital chain. However, in 1989 he used what he'd learned to buy and build on his father's auto parts business. The profits went, naturally, toward racing on the amateur circuit. He bought his first race car, a Sports Renault, and raced in local events.

In 1995, at the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, he started on track toward realizing his dream, racing in the Indy 500. He came in third place, but won the Rookie of the Year award. His first victory came in 1999 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. More victories would, of course, follow.

Hitting the Wall: Surviving a Spinal Cord Injury
Then one day while test driving a car in preparation for the Indy 200 in 2000, Sam had a life-altering accident. On the three-turn tri-oval track adjacent to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, while maneuvering through the second turn, he hit the wall.

Airlifted to a local hospital, Sam was told by doctors that he'd suffered severe spinal cord damage and had lost control of his body below the chest. For the five weeks he was hospitalized he breathed with the assistance of a ventilator. Recovery was hard and painful, but Sam credits his survival and sanity to his tireless religious faith and his strong will.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports is Born Out of Disability
It is said that in every dark period in a person's life a bright spot will eventually show itself. So it was for Schmidt, too. Out of the lessons of dealing with a new disability came a strong need to help others. The result was the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Also, while in the hospital, Sam’s own dreams found a new direction after he met Sir Frank Williams. Williams, a Formula One racing champ, happens to be a paraplegic. The meeting inspired Schmidt, convincing him that his racing dreams could continue, if in a different path.

With no movement in his arms or legs, driving was out of the question. But continuing as part of the racing culture certainly was not. He could use what he'd learned behind the wheel to help others cross the finish line. To that end, he put together an auto racing team, Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

The team started small, but rewards came quickly. In 2004, they took first place in the Menard's Infiniti Pro Series. Sponsors such as Firestone and Lucas Oil came calling. Drivers also wanted a part of the action. To date such racing legends as Davey Hamilton, Jaques Lazier and Anthony Lazzaro have joined the team.

Sam Schmidt, Visionary Leader
Not only has Sam Schmidt has demonstrated that dreams of fast cars and cheering fans can be achieved, he continues to have a positive impact on the lives around him. Because of his dedication and commitment to funding research and bettering the lives of those who are paralyzed, Sam will be awarded the 2008 Visionary Leader Award from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on December 2, 2008.

Parts for the Disabled Motorcyclist

2008-10-31T19:42:00Z

To most onlookers, riding a motorcycle appears to be a complicated ordeal, one that requires both coordination and dexterity. It looks like someone with motor impairments would have a hard time operating all the controls.

As a die-hard rider friend of mine explained it, typical motorcycle operation requires each extremity to perform a different task. While your right hand operates the front brake and throttle, your right foot is controlling the rear brake. And, while the left hand operates the clutch, the left foot operates the gear shift. Someone with weakness or paralysis on either side of his body would seem to be unable to perform all the necessary functions. But there are alternatives.

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As anyone with a disability can tell you, adaptive equipment is best designed and built by someone who needs to use it. George Niedoba, a Czech who moved to Tennessee in 1996, had been riding motorcycles without incident for most of his life.

But, four years after settling into his new home his abilities were tested by a blind left-hand turn with a guardrail. He failed the test. The crash into the rail left his right arm paralyzed from the elbow down to his hand. That was the impetus to begin a motorcycle parts company: Option Moto. Today the company designs and installs custom hand and foot controls for motorcyclists with disabilities.

In the United Kingdom, a company called Kliktronic is the king of push-button gear changers. Take their K-LEVER 2 Dual - Lever Master Cylinder, for instance. Simply put, the K-Lever is an electric shifter. What makes it great for someone with a disability is its modular design, which allows for a variety of configurations. Use it to control both front and rear brakes with a single hand. Or, if you prefer, set it up to operate the clutch and brake for easier gear shifting.

If you have weakness in your left hand, a Rekluse automatic clutch might be just what you need to get on the road. One example, the company's ProStart Clutch, allows a rider to control starting and stopping with the throttle. After you start your machine, the clutch can still be used for shifting.

Finally, most riders understand that the front brake on a motorcycle provides most of the stopping power. If your right hand (which normally controls the front brake) is weak, you might want to try using a thumb brake system. Any reputable motorcycle shop can help you find a good set-up for your particular machine.

No matter what your disability, no matter how you ride your bike, it's a good idea to get advice from fellow riders. My best advice is to get in touch with one of the following two groups: Disabled Riders of America was founded by a devoted rider and his girlfriend (who has Spina Bifida). The website provides information and direction for those who wish to ride despite their disability. The second group: The National Association for Bikers with Disabilities, a European organization, provides useful links, a chat system, and news of upcoming events.

Karting Gives Access to Any Racer

2008-10-14T06:01:00Z

Motor sports are very popular around the globe. However, for many people with disabilities the possibility to join in has been somewhat limited in the past.

Fortunately, since motor sports utilize vehicles as their primary piece of sporting equipment, they are actually one of the most accessible recreation options available to people with disabilities. This is why accessible karting has begun to develop an amazing following.

Accessible Karting for People with Disabilities
Making karting and go-kart racing accessible has actually been very easy. Nearly every aspect of a go-kart can be modified to fit the physical needs and abilities of the driver.

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For example, the harness system can be modified to provide extra support or to fit the shape of the driver's body. Modifications to the control system can also be made so that foot pedals are not required. Other modifications can also be made to improve the accessibility of the go-kart based on the driver's needs.

Motor Sports Racers with Disabilities Lead the Sport
Many motor sports racers began their driving careers with go-kart racing. Because of this, these athletes have played an important role in translating modification made to Formula One vehicles back to accessible karting vehicles.

For example, Alex Zamandi, who is a famous Formula One driver, lost his legs during a serious accident and had his car modified so he could still race. CRG, which was formally known as Kali Karts, worked with Zamandi to design accessible karts for people with physical disabilities. One of the biggest accomplishments of this team was the development of a hand-operated accelerator and braking control system.

Accessible Karting Vehicles
While it has been somewhat difficult to find accessible go-karts in the past, today they are sold across the country. CRG is just one company that manufactures accessible karts. If you are interested in getting started in this exciting new sport, you will need to find a make and model that fit your physical needs and driving abilities.

Keep in mind that professional go-karts, even the ones designed for people with disabilities, are fast machines that have a lot of power. Some of the top performers can pull 3Gs and attain speeds up to 70 mph.

Where to Race
Getting involved in accessible karting is easy. First you need to decide if you want to complete in an accessible race or a mainstream karting race. If you are interested in testing the waters with other people using accessible karts, you will want to look for karting events sponsored by accessibility organizations like Life Rolls On.

On the other hand, if you have developed serious karting skills and are ready for mainstream racing, you can find local go-kart racing events to enter. To find these events, contact your local go-kart team or organization or your local racetrack.

Remember to ask about vehicle requirements before entering a go-kart race to make sure your modifications, especially the weight of your vehicle, won't disqualify you.

See Eisla Sebastian's Disaboom member profile
See Eisla Sebastian's Associated Content profile

Keep on Rollin’ Car Show is a Big Hit

2008-07-30T16:41:00Z

This is a story of the strength of the human spirit, of turning tragedy into triumph. It’s the story of a young man who refused to give in, who turned a dream into reality. Some time ago, I wrote about Ryan Stevenson, a young Utah snowboarder who broke his back and is now in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. A classic car buff, Ryan dreamed of having a car show to help raise funds for spinal cord injury research, on behalf of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

On Saturday, July 26, I was privileged to see that dream come true, as the First annual Keep on Rollin’ Car Show kicked off at Brighton, Utah, the resort where Ryan had his accident in 2006. He was told by many that it wouldn’t work—that few cars (and spectators) would show.

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Check out more info at the Spinal Cord Injury Portal

Undaunted, Ryan, along with his wife Maggie, super-sister Kristen, and other family members and friends, proceeded to put on a hugely successful event that attracted over 200 cars, hundreds of spectators, and the local media. It also raised more than $11,000 (and counting) and provided the impetus for the founding of a Utah Chapter of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The show featured classic cars of all eras, from 32 Ford Coupes, to late model Ferrari’s, Shelby’s, Porsches, and even a rare Lotus. The Utah Corvette Club showed up en masse, with more than 20 models on display. There were custom motorcycles that would put American Chopper on notice, a Shelby Cobra (my dream car), and a late 60s Chevy Impala convertible, complete with a vintage “Car Hop” set.

The range of automotive hardware created a kaleidoscope of color and chrome, while funky jazz, blues, and rock music soared through the clean mountain air, layered with the aroma of smoked pork sandwiches. An energetic DJ called out raffle winners and emceed the awards presentation. Meanwhile, this writer had the privilege of selling Superman tags and key chains alongside Christopher Reeve’s step-sister, Utah resident Katie Johnson-Hill and her family.

All in all, the entire day was perfect. The weather, the setting, and the event combined to create an indelible memory.

After the show, a participant approached one of the committee members and asked to be the lead sponsor for next year’s show. When asked why he was so interested, the automotive supply official said, “This is the best show we’ve seen all year, and we love the cause. We want to be involved.”

It’s events like this that bring balance to life. With so much out there to bring us down, we all need the lift that comes from good people doing great things. With this kind of start, it appears that Keep on Rollin’ will do just that. That’s a great thing we can all get a lift from.

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Will Matay has a Passion for Life ... and Classic Cars

2008-07-09T19:16:00Z

It was a 19-minute “easy money” dive for Navy veteran and California commercial diver Will Matay, a brief reconnaissance dive to assess the task at hand. But when he surfaced at Stone Canyon Reservoir on May 9, 2002, Will felt his legs go numb. A nitrogen bubble had entered his spinal column. Immediate treatment in a decompression chamber was to no avail. The bubble had caused debilitating lesions on Will’s spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Today, after six years of therapy, Will manages to walk short distances with crutches, but spends much of his time in a wheelchair. Or you may find him in his lovingly restored 1968 Camaro. The diving accident didn’t damage Will’s passion for life ... or his love for classic cars. In spite of his injury, Will managed to figure out how to do everything from converting disc brakes to removing and replacing the transmission on the Camaro, which was his first project car.

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“Diving gave me a great sense of accomplishment,” says Will. “You learn to get things done. You’re down there all alone, so you figure it out.” Learning to restore cars in spite of his disability gave him the same sense of accomplishment. And it gave him the idea to start a website (called California Collector Cars) with his wife Delfina. They created the business because they wanted to help other classic car lovers find their dream cars, or as Will was looking to do—find someone who might want to buy his classic car.

“As soon as I finished the Camaro, I wanted to sell it, so I could find my next project car,” Will said. He’s currently looking for that car, another Camaro, but this time a 1969 model. In the meantime, he’s helping customers find, sell, or determine a value for their cars. “We let people know if they’ve priced their car too high, and we don’t charge people for the research we do on their behalf,” he said. They also keep the website simple, with no pop-ups or gimmicks to get in the way.

Their goal is to provide a simple, no-nonsense, service-oriented resource for buyers and sellers of classic cars. But that’s not all. They’re also giving back to the community.

Hours and hours of rehabilitation at Casa Colina Center for Rehabilitation in Pomona, Calif., made Will and Delfina realize the importance of the tremendous non-profit services provided by the Center. So they have pledged to donate 10 percent of the net profits of their California Collector Car website to the rehabilitation center. As Will said, “Before my accident, I just wasn’t aware how many people there are who have a disability like mine. But now I know how many there are.” In typical Will Matay style, he’s doing something about it.

To find out more about Will and Delfina’s passion for cars (and life), visit http://www.californiacollectorcars.com/.

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High Performance Racing Comes To The High Desert

2008-05-07T16:34:00Z

High Performance Racing Comes To The High Desert.

Utah is no stranger to high-performance sporting events. For decades, it has been the site of hundreds of world-class ski races, culminating in the Olympic Winter Games in 2002. In the world of professional sports, the American Basketball Association's Utah Stars, with Adrian Dantley and Zelmo Beatty morphed into the Utah Jazz, producing legends like Karl Malone and John Stockton. Today, the perennial play-off contender Jazz continues to draw sold out crowds. The ear-shattering crowds are considered among the loudest in the NBA.

Jazz owner and car dealer Larry Miller must have an affinity for high volume, because it was his idea (and money) that created Miller Motorsports Park, a world-class racetrack about 40 minutes west of Salt Lake City, (and perhaps not coincidentally, in the same county that is home to the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats, where world land speed records have been set). Now in its third year, the state-of-the-art facility has attracted international acclaim as one of the world's finest racing circuits, and many of the world's top racing series have made Utah a regular stop on their itineraries.

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Rural countryside that used to hear nothing but desert winds and an occasional "moo" from resident cows, is now witness to 500 plus horsepower engines screaming at 10,000 rpms. (Which, depending upon your point of view, may or may not be music to your ears.)

This is no circular stretch of asphalt. The track at Miller Motorsports Park is a 4.5-mile, 40-50 foot wide, 24-turn circuit, the longest in North America. It has four different configurations, ranging from two different 2.2-mile circuits (East and West Courses) to the 3.08-mile Perimeter Course and the 4.5-mile Full Course. The 3500-foot main straightaway allows the fastest cars and motorcycles to approach 200 mph before braking for Turn 1. The 511-acre facility also boasts a 0.9-mile paved karting circuit, one of the finest in the country, with 20 different configurations available.

May is what's being called "Speed Month" at Miller Motorsports Park, with the American Le

Mans Series (AMLS) "Utah Grand Prix" May 16-18, and two weeks later, the HANNspree Superbike World Championship (SBK).

The American Le Mans Series features the most sophisticated sports cars on the planet that embrace "green" technology. Every car in the series runs on some kind of alternative fuel. The front running Audi R10 TDIs run 5.5 liter twin turbo diesel engines that make no smoke, no noise and propel the cars to 200 miles per hour. The thundering factory Corvettes are running on E85 cellulosic ethanol (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline). Cellulose ethanol is derived not from grain but switch grass, lawn clippings and almost any other organic refuse. Other cars in the series, including Porsches, Ferraris, Acuras, and Aston Martins, utilize E10 ethanol (10 percent ethanol, 90 percent gasoline).

The HANNspree Superbike World Championship, May 29-June 1 is the third biggest racing series in the world. It features modified production based motorcycles from all the world's major manufacturers, including Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, and some the world's most renowned riders.

The SBK races will be televised live on 95 television networks to 173 countries and an estimated audience of 120 million. To put this in perspective, NASCAR's biggest race, the Daytona 500 has averaged between 17-19 million over the past three years.

If you have any interest in racing, this could be a new destination for you. It's a mere 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, so if you happen to be flying in for a vacation, business or whatever...it's worth the drive. For more information, and to check out the full racing schedule, visit http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/.

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Bob Wassom's Blog Archives

2008-04-09T15:17:00Z

June 27th, 2008: Here’s an Idea: Hang Up and Drive

June 20th, 2008: What's in a Name? Just About Everything

June 18th, 2008: Classic Car Buff, Ryan Stevenson: He Keeps on Rollin’

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June 8th, 2008: If This is a Wake-Up Call, I’d Rather Hit the Snooze Button

June 1st, 2008: The Superbikes are Coming! There They Went!

May 25th, 2008: My Connection to Magnum P.I.’s Ferrari

May 18th, 2008: I Confess - I'm Driving a Dark Gray SUV

May 11th, 2008: A Tough Time for Horsepower Worship

May 2nd, 2008: My Backyard, From Cow Pasture to Horsepower

April 29th, 2008: My Car: A Steel Box, or a Fashion Statement?

April 18th, 2008: Testosterone and Horsepower on the Silver Screen

April 11th, 2008: My Insane Love Affair With a British Model

April 4th, 2008: Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen…and Me.

March 28th, 2008: I'm Crazy About Anything that Rolls.

In the Driver's Seat

2008-03-31T18:13:00Z

In 1999, Daniel Reyes lost his right leg as the result of a car accident. A former industrial designer, Reyes was use to building flashy and stylish things, and his injury didn’t dampen his taste for luxury. In fact, in the wake of his accident, Reyes acquired a 1967 Ferrari 330 GT. Unfortunately, as an amputee, there was no way for him to operate the car’s five-speed stick shift transmission.

“Being an AK (above-the-knee amputee), I had no way to drive it,” said Reyes, adding that he was “determined to find a way.”

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Check out more info at the Amputation Portal

Less than a week after beginning his search, Reyes flew to Rome, where he struck a deal to be the exclusive distributor/installer of Guido Simplex equipment in the United States. The equipment allows drivers with disabilities to drive stick shift automobiles through hand controls. The most important features of the technology are a lever on the stick shift that lets drivers control the clutch, and an acceleration ring that attaches behind the steering wheel and controls the vehicles speed.

According to Reyes, the device, which shares a name with his business, RediAudio Sport, allows drivers to get behind the wheel of Porsches, Jaguars, Mercedes, and other high-performance vehicles they’d otherwise be unable to drive.
Reyes says that many of his clients are motorcycle enthusiasts or luxury car connoisseurs who have been recently paralyzed and still crave the action and excitement of driving fast.

“Typically, they have a lot of toys, then they get paralyzed and they have to sell them off. First go the bikes, then the trucks, and eventually they’re left with a fast car they just can’t bare to lose. That’s when they get us on the phone,” Reyes says.
Besides catering to those who drive high-performance automobiles, RediAuto Sport also offers products for automatic cars as well. Their Soft Touch Gas & Brake system combines breaking and accelerating functions in one touch-sensitive hand-control knob that’s mounted on the floor. The feature lets drivers accelerate and brake with a simple move of their finger. It’s handmade in Italy and has aluminum castings and leather coverings.
So, how do you get your hands on the devices?

Although RediAuto Sport is moving towards partnering with auto-dealerships to offer the devices on site, currently both the Sport and the Soft Touch models need to be custom installed. A list of installation dealers can be found at www.rediautosport.com . The price, after installation, of the Sport is approximately $10,000, while the Soft Touch runs about $1,800.

However, for many driving enthusiasts, the experience is well worth the price.

Last April, RediAuto Sport hosted the Victory Lap 1 event at the Irwindale Speedway in downtown Los Angeles. The event exposed many individuals with disabilities to RediAuto Sport products, and gave them the chance to race custom-made cars against paraplegic racers Carol Hollfedler and Lance Magin.
For some car and motorcycle enthusiasts, it was an enthralling experience.

“This is cooler than anything I’ve done since I’ve been in a chair,” said Steve Bucaro, a motorcycle, truck, and car enthusiast, who is also a paraplegic.