The idea for an accessible race car started taking shape after September 11, 2001. “As our troops went off to war, and then began returning home with disabilities,” Brian explained, “I wanted to do something for them. I didn’t want their return to mirror the reception that disabled Vets experienced after Viet Nam. So we came up with the idea of making a disability accessible racing car.”
Hanaford contacted Peter Ruprecht, President of Drive Master, the oldest family-owned mobility dealership in the country, and a founding father of National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Together they modified a NASCAR, and the response was overwhelming. The first event drew people from an eight state area.
The reaction of wheelchair-bound drivers shown on their website as they exit the modified race car is what keeps Brian Hanaford and Peter Ruprecht focused. Brian said, “It’s worth every penny we’ve spent, just to see the smiles on the faces of disabled Vets as they emerge from this experience.”
The accessibility modifications make the cars run around $150,000 each, and Hanaford said he’s gone through his retirement, his savings and changed his lifestyle to make this dream happen for not only Vets, but all people with disabilities. Major modifications include the driver’s door and swivel-out seats so that people in wheelchairs can easily be transported. The car has low-resistant steering and dual hand controls so that the instructor in the passenger seat can help when needed.
But this was just the first step. When Brian and Peter saw how the race car helped with rehabilitation, they teamed up with Lee Perry, President of Driving Aids Development Corporation to form VXP. This for-profit company engineered a simulator, or gaming wheel that provides the same rehab benefits but doesn’t require peddle action. The VXP gaming wheel has been well received at Walter Read Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children and is also in use at several VA Hospitals. Not only does it help with muscle memory and rehabilitation, it is a stimulating way for both children and adults to pass away the hours in a hospital or rehab center.
Like many other worth-while projects, finances and fundraising for the cars and simulators has been an issue. But Brian is optimistic and the company has come up with many “out-of-the-box” avenues for funding that can be viewed on their website. In addition, companies such as Texas Roadhouse are participating in events and donating a portion of their revenue.
Brian summed up his experience by saying, “Sometimes I question if I’m doing the right thing, but when I see these people get out of the race car and I read their testimonials it makes me wish the world was more open to it. That more people could experience it, and we could expand and deliver this type of experience to everybody. It’s not just about driving the race car or being in the atmosphere, it’s a life-changing experience. People have realized that this could be a pivotal point in their life where they stop feeling sorry for themselves. Even if they just watch the videos and see someone else doing it, they say, ‘I could do that. I could get out of myself and get into a better way of life.’ And it’s not all about driving a race car it could be about picking the kids up from soccer practice, or going to school and furthering their education so they could apply for a job. It’s about freedom. It’s about independence. It’s about mobility.”
To learn more about Accessible Racing go to http://www.accessibleracing.com/
