Brian Hanaford is just a regular guy, well not really. He's is a race car enthusiast with a difference, he's partially paralyzed, from an auto accident no less. He says that physically he is 70 percent back. As for his spirit, he tries not to take the credit for "living a miracle."
Accessible Racing
Along with Peter Ruprecht, Hanaford co-founded, a company called Accessible Racing, out of Fairfield, NJ. The company's stated goal is to break down barriers. How do they do that? It's simple really. They've created a means by which people with disabilities can have a taste of the world's fastest sport, auto racing. It's something Hanaford calls "the world's only 'Arrive & Drive' experience on autocross, oval track, and road course venues."
Learning how to drive those fast cars isn't worth anything unless you learn to drive safely. To that end, under the leadership of fan-favorite NASCAR driver Dave Dion, the company offers real-time, in-your-face teachers who have taken their licks and come back fighting.
Learning Your Adaptive Equipment
Students learn the real-world skills they'll need to survive not only on the track, but also in the asphalt jungle. Many of us were injured on the nation's roadways. Learning to drive with hand controls isn't enough! What if we could learn how to steer clear of future dangers, and take something back from the road that stole from us.
But, knowing that there are only so many qualified teachers available, Accessible Racing has taken advantage of, and developed, some of the hot new technologies engineered by Lee Perry. The company's video driving simulators, which they hope to put in Veteran's and rehab hospitals, allow people from all over the world to participate in on-line leagues. It’s a kind of therapy for the mind and body that has never been done before, according to Dave Baskin, founder and manager of the National Rifle Association's Disabled Shooting Services.
Through these machines, and based on individual safety and performance records that are monitored on-line, would-be racers can qualify for in-person driving experiences. And there are prizes for top performers too. Just imagine having lessons that can lead toward a competition license or a role in an upcoming reality show! I'm betting many people with disabilities thought they could never do that.
Accessible Racing is aiming even higher. They're trying to change the face of the racing world completely. Just imagine a theme car that is associated with an accessible race car driving school. Sponsors like Nascar, Coke, and Wal-Mart better look out! Some might call this a social cause on wheels.
