THE ORIGINAL STOCK DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR THE DISABLED
The original stock car driving experience with NASCAR style race cars modified with hand-controls for brakes and gas, with variable resistance steering and brakes. 

The bodies will be modified including the roll-cage along with a special transfer seat base to allow people with disabilities to easily enter and exit the race car.

There are two (2) ways that people with disabilities will be able to experience the thrill and excitement of the driving experience:

First:  As a Driver - Persons with a valid driver’s license will have the opportunity to actually drive the car with a professional driver along side in the car giving encouragement and tips on negotiating the road course.  There is also a secondary braking system for the passenger just in case things get out of hand.

Second:  As a Passenger -  For those who are not capable of driving or just are not ready to jump into driving a 400 hp plus race car, will be able to go for a ride in the car with a professional driver.

New England Regional Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) invited Hanaford Associates to bring awareness & participate in Solo Auto Cross events at New Hampshire International Speedway, Lime Rock Park, CT, and Fort Devens, MA. Arrive & drive opportunities are available to anyone possesing a valid license to drive with hand controls. 

Hanaford Associates had planned to unveil the race car at the World Congress on Disabilities last November at Philadelphia; however, the car simply was not ready.  Scheduling tracks, marketing, partnering, building race cars and traveling to the trade shows was a bit overwhelming, Hanaford claims.  But we rolled the dice, everyone started working together, Union Leader Columnist Carol Nadeau shared media and professional contacts, Cheryl McHale helped plan the show and passed out literature.  ’06 NASCAR Busch East Champion, Mike Olson, towed his ‘Little Tree’s’ Race Car ten (10) plus hours to Philly.  Rob Thomas towed his Ford Mustang Race Car, modified with a zero resistance horizontal steering wheel, hand controls for brake and gas to show attendees some of the modifications that the race car would feature. 

A relationship at the show was forged with Dave Baskin, Founder of the National Rifle Association of Disabled Shooters.  Jay Doherty’s Occupational Therapist, Ed Valpey connected Hanaford Associates with New England Regional SCCA and everything started to come together.  Then the original financial backers and sponsors who thought this was a wonderful idea were more concerned about what we could do for them, instead of what they could do for us and we parted ways.

So we arrived with new mobility partners that could get the job done and talk about it later.  Richard Spencer of Motion Automotive Specialty was the first vendor to step up and ask what I can do to help.  He wanted to be part of this to see the faces of those who take part in the driving experience when they get out of the car.  Peter from Drive Master said he would be happy to help in any way he could.  Together they will make the modifications needed to make this dream come true.

Hanaford is not new at using the stock driving experience to help other people.   September 11, 2001 Hanaford Associates was at the New Hampshire International Speedway doing a stock car driving experience to raise funds for the U.S. Army Family Redlines Group.

Hanaford Associates hopes to bring awareness to a wide variety of products, services, wheelchair recreation and adaptive sports products.  Hanaford has also been thinking of all the soldiers coming home from Iraq who are paralyzed, missing limbs and desperate for an uplifting experience. 

This could also become a whole new industry with sanctioned races for those with disabilities who want to compete and the ultimate reward would be to see disabled drivers competing with able-bodied driver’s right next to each other.