First Quadriplegic Will Compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill
02-26-2009, 02:24 AM
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First Quadriplegic Will Compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill
As I posted before, I am building, running, and sponsoring a very special Pikes Peak Hillclimb car this year, and the press release has already made the Sports Illustrated website etc.-
The official press release
First Quadriplegic Driver Will Compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill
Climb
Colorado Springs, February 24, 2009----Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
veterans Steve Bennett of Sedalia, Colorado, and Travis Tollett of Walters,
Oklahoma, will team up to compete in the 2009 Race To The Clouds.......and
make history together.
That's because Tollett will become the first quadriplegic competitor in the
event's long and storied history.
Bennett and co-driver Tollett will be charging up the mountain in the Pikes
Peak Open Division in a Mazda RX-7 TurboII, built by Don Walker of
Horsepower Research and Development LLC of Commerce City, Colorado.
The Mazda RX-7, utilizing state of the art safety equipment, will be
outfitted to handle Tollett's specific and unique needs. The Oklahoman was
badly injured in a race accident on July 1, 2007, during the Gold Camp Hill
Climb in Victor, Colorado.
Tollett went off the road at one of the worst spots on the course at an
estimated speed of 80-90 mph and suffered broken C6-C7 spinal vertebrae in
the tragic mishap, leaving him with a spinal cord injury that could have
ended his racing career and left him in a wheel chair for the rest of his
life. But he's having none of it, and views his situation in a much
different way.
"From the day they told me I'd never walk again or ride again I knew I could
prove everyone wrong. From day one I've kept the best attitude about this
that is humanly possible and continue to do that each day. I still believe I
can come back from this and be better than ever as long as I believe in
myself."
Tollett is going to meet his challenge face-to-face on July 19 on mountain
that he loves. "The chance to be a part of this race again is just awesome
and I will make it to the top!"
Bennett has competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb since 2004
and was seventh last year in the Open Wheel Division in his 1996 Wells
Coyote. Tollett has competed in the event before, but only in Quads. So the
pair will be experiencing something very different in the RX-7.
"This will be a totally new experience for me, tackling the Peak in a car
with a windshield and fenders,' says Bennett. "The Mazda RX-7 really is a
different car than the Coyote, it's low, and wide, lightweight with good
power from the turbocharged engine, and I plan on getting everything I can
out of it."
The Mazda RX-7 TurboII Bennett will be piloting has been completely rebuilt
and modified specifically for racing. Built and owned by Horsepower Research
and Development's Walker, it was originally intended to compete in road race
and drift events.
Not the actual car that will be on the Peak, but one loved by its
fans.
Powered by a turbocharged Mazda 13BT rotary engine and featuring composite
bodywork to cover wide wheels and tires, the car is lightweight and agile.
"The Mazda RX-7 is a great platform for a hill climb car" Walker says," The
rotary motor in this configuration is powerful and reliable, it handles well
and should give Steve and Travis what they need for a successful and
historical run up the mountain."
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is America's second-oldest motor
sports race behind the Indianapolis 500, conducted since 1916. The race is
run on a 12.42 mile course that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the
14,110-foot summit of America's Mountain.
This year's race has 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi
truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle
classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
The official press release
First Quadriplegic Driver Will Compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill
Climb
Colorado Springs, February 24, 2009----Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
veterans Steve Bennett of Sedalia, Colorado, and Travis Tollett of Walters,
Oklahoma, will team up to compete in the 2009 Race To The Clouds.......and
make history together.
That's because Tollett will become the first quadriplegic competitor in the
event's long and storied history.
Bennett and co-driver Tollett will be charging up the mountain in the Pikes
Peak Open Division in a Mazda RX-7 TurboII, built by Don Walker of
Horsepower Research and Development LLC of Commerce City, Colorado.
The Mazda RX-7, utilizing state of the art safety equipment, will be
outfitted to handle Tollett's specific and unique needs. The Oklahoman was
badly injured in a race accident on July 1, 2007, during the Gold Camp Hill
Climb in Victor, Colorado.
Tollett went off the road at one of the worst spots on the course at an
estimated speed of 80-90 mph and suffered broken C6-C7 spinal vertebrae in
the tragic mishap, leaving him with a spinal cord injury that could have
ended his racing career and left him in a wheel chair for the rest of his
life. But he's having none of it, and views his situation in a much
different way.
"From the day they told me I'd never walk again or ride again I knew I could
prove everyone wrong. From day one I've kept the best attitude about this
that is humanly possible and continue to do that each day. I still believe I
can come back from this and be better than ever as long as I believe in
myself."
Tollett is going to meet his challenge face-to-face on July 19 on mountain
that he loves. "The chance to be a part of this race again is just awesome
and I will make it to the top!"
Bennett has competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb since 2004
and was seventh last year in the Open Wheel Division in his 1996 Wells
Coyote. Tollett has competed in the event before, but only in Quads. So the
pair will be experiencing something very different in the RX-7.
"This will be a totally new experience for me, tackling the Peak in a car
with a windshield and fenders,' says Bennett. "The Mazda RX-7 really is a
different car than the Coyote, it's low, and wide, lightweight with good
power from the turbocharged engine, and I plan on getting everything I can
out of it."
The Mazda RX-7 TurboII Bennett will be piloting has been completely rebuilt
and modified specifically for racing. Built and owned by Horsepower Research
and Development's Walker, it was originally intended to compete in road race
and drift events.
Not the actual car that will be on the Peak, but one loved by its
fans.
Powered by a turbocharged Mazda 13BT rotary engine and featuring composite
bodywork to cover wide wheels and tires, the car is lightweight and agile.
"The Mazda RX-7 is a great platform for a hill climb car" Walker says," The
rotary motor in this configuration is powerful and reliable, it handles well
and should give Steve and Travis what they need for a successful and
historical run up the mountain."
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is America's second-oldest motor
sports race behind the Indianapolis 500, conducted since 1916. The race is
run on a 12.42 mile course that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the
14,110-foot summit of America's Mountain.
This year's race has 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi
truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle
classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
Last edited by DWalker; 02-26-2009 at 02:42 AM.
02-26-2009, 02:34 AM
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How?
EDIT- I guess my definition of quadriplegic is off, I thought it was total paralysis of all arm and leg movement. I guess he still has use of his arms?
EDIT- I guess my definition of quadriplegic is off, I thought it was total paralysis of all arm and leg movement. I guess he still has use of his arms?
02-26-2009, 02:41 AM
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Thats what I get from cupying directly from thier press release- Travis is the co-driver, Bennet is the driver. Travis is able to drive his Ford Ranger with speialized controls, but PPIHC officials have not yet given the OK for him to actually drive the car up the course.
I edited the title-
I edited the title-
02-26-2009, 12:08 PM
#4
Race Director
I'd love to read more about his use of hand controls and see detailed pictures.
I have great interest in this since I am a left leg amputee and can not push a clutch pedal. I highly enjoy DE's and have succeeded in them witha Tipronic Porsche and now my PDK Porsche. However I would like to scale down the price of the car I drive on the track and get something I fit in and that I can use a hand control for a clutch to shift gears.
I have great interest in this since I am a left leg amputee and can not push a clutch pedal. I highly enjoy DE's and have succeeded in them witha Tipronic Porsche and now my PDK Porsche. However I would like to scale down the price of the car I drive on the track and get something I fit in and that I can use a hand control for a clutch to shift gears.
02-26-2009, 12:42 PM
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Inspiring story!!!
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02-26-2009, 04:10 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
There is a paraplegic SCCA road racer in the northeast who is fvcking fast fast fast. Built his own control system. There's also a one-armed formula car drover. Think about those two things for a while....
02-26-2009, 04:51 PM
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Good on this guy. That's a good story to read aobut.
There was a paraplegic open wheel guy in the CenDiv/Midwest Council a while ago that I've heard soem great stories about as well. I've seen a couple of hand control guys at DE's in the past too.
After a crash the corner worker came up and asked if he was okay. His reply was that he couldn't feel his legs.... The corner worker was not as amused as everyone else was by the story.
There was a paraplegic open wheel guy in the CenDiv/Midwest Council a while ago that I've heard soem great stories about as well. I've seen a couple of hand control guys at DE's in the past too.
After a crash the corner worker came up and asked if he was okay. His reply was that he couldn't feel his legs.... The corner worker was not as amused as everyone else was by the story.
02-26-2009, 05:04 PM
#10
Drifting
Good luck!! Show us some pics of the RX7 you built.
There was a group of 3 or 4 paraplegic karters one time when I was at the California Speedway kart track. Their karts had been outfitted with motorcycle bars and controls and they had a strap to hold their legs in place. They were all fast too.
There was a group of 3 or 4 paraplegic karters one time when I was at the California Speedway kart track. Their karts had been outfitted with motorcycle bars and controls and they had a strap to hold their legs in place. They were all fast too.
02-27-2009, 12:12 AM
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I will post some pics of the car being built when I have had time to upload them.
Travis apparently has limited enough use of his arms/hands to be medically considered a quadriplegic, but to be honest its all a little out of my range of expertise. What I do know is he was considered one of the brightest up-and-coming quad racers before the accident. He hasnt just sat back since- he has a job, and is going to school working towards a bio-med degree.
PPIHC officials are not yet ready to let him drive- the lack of oxygen and the level of exertion is a serious concern, even with him as co-pilot.
Travis apparently has limited enough use of his arms/hands to be medically considered a quadriplegic, but to be honest its all a little out of my range of expertise. What I do know is he was considered one of the brightest up-and-coming quad racers before the accident. He hasnt just sat back since- he has a job, and is going to school working towards a bio-med degree.
PPIHC officials are not yet ready to let him drive- the lack of oxygen and the level of exertion is a serious concern, even with him as co-pilot.
02-27-2009, 02:18 AM
#13
Race Director
Check out this guy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Watt
go to 2:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvsb3r-k0WM
shows all the hand work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xe4l...eature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Watt
go to 2:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvsb3r-k0WM
shows all the hand work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xe4l...eature=related
12-28-2009, 02:45 AM
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Just a heads up, this car never ran and Don "The Con" Walker screwed over a parapalegic.
Please for the love of God and your Porsche, do NOT take it to HRD or Don Walker. He has NO idea what he is doing
(If you have any questions, I can point you in the direction of a beautiful MKIV Supra he destroyed, along with MANY other projects).
Cheers.
Please for the love of God and your Porsche, do NOT take it to HRD or Don Walker. He has NO idea what he is doing
(If you have any questions, I can point you in the direction of a beautiful MKIV Supra he destroyed, along with MANY other projects).
Cheers.
