Racecar Driving
Traditionally, only fully able-bodied people drove and rode in racecars,
but now times are changing.
Thanks to Brian Hanaford of New Hampshire and to Peter Rubrecht of New
Jersey, co/founders of Accessible Racing, people with disabilities can test
drive racecars on specific courses. These cars have a number of
modifications such as hand controls, dual breaks, dual gas, etc.
Hanaford and Rubrecht said that their present goal is to give people with
disabilities the chance to "arrive and drive."
"At the moment, our cars are not sanctioned to be used in races," said
Rubrecht.
Rubrecht builds the modifications while Hanaford presents these special
cars at disability EXPOS. There people with disabilities can drive these cars.
"I've always had a knack for working on cars," said Rubrecht. "After my
father had Polio in 1949, he started building hand controls in our
basement. I watched him and I worked with him, too."
When asked what inspired them to launch Accessible Racing, Rubrecht
credited Hanaford as being the driving force behind its formation.
Hanaford said that his desire to launch Accessible Racing partially stemmed
from him having gratitude for regaining the ability to walk after his auto
accident, his freshman year of college, September 1980.
"When I had my car accident, I went from being a Junior Olympic Mile
Champion to not being able to walk to the mailbox and back," said Hanaford.
"At first I was feeling sorry for myself. Then I did a lot of rehab and
exercises. Within a year, I was walking again. I had a traumatic brain
injury. Lucky thing it wasn't a spinal cord injury. If I had a spinal cord
injury instead, it would have been non-reversible. I wouldn't be walking."
At the time of his recovery, he was quite upset about not being the athlete
he was.
"I had a hard time adjusting to my new situation," said Hanaford. "I did a
lot of drinking, did drugs, and was involved with a lot of women. Too many!
I was a coward. I alienated friends, family, professional contacts and lost
myself."
Hanaford compared his conduct to someone graduating from high school with
dreams of being a Court Judge or Politician. Then unforeseen events caused
that individual to resign himself to not fulfill his ambition. "He'd end up
a security guard in the bank or prison guard, yet still in the same
profession. Maybe he'd never 'get it' and up supervised by one of those
correctional officers or probation officers because of being so out of
control and think that the World has given up on him. I missed watching my
daughter grow up. That's something I'll never get back, but I moved on and
turned my life around because I wanted her in my life. She is now."
One thing Hanaford did to turn his life around was taking an internship at
Stafford Motor Speedways.
"I was always passionate about car racing," said Hanaford. "My father raced
in Daytona. I decided to get involved in motor sports. The internship was
a good way to begin. I learned there that every driver who races has the
potential to be a champion."
While at Stafford Speedway, Hanaford was inspired to launch Accessible
Racing, after seeing a disabled acquaintance, Cameron Shaw-Doran's face
light up while riding in a racecar.
"This was about four years ago," said Hanaford. "From watching Cameron
ride, to see the excitement he got from it, drove me to launch it. I
realized I was able to come back from some things, while other people could
not. It taught me that if you have something, give it away. If you want to
be true to yourself and feel as though you're doing the right thing, you
have to be able to share that with other people."
Hanaford said that he realized that no one else was making modifications
for people with disabilities to drive racecars.
He approached a number of dealers about putting special modifications on
specific cars, but for the most part, they ignored him, or promised to help
and then renege.
Rubrecht, on the other hand, was genuinely interested, and together they
formed accessible Racing.
but now times are changing.
Thanks to Brian Hanaford of New Hampshire and to Peter Rubrecht of New
Jersey, co/founders of Accessible Racing, people with disabilities can test
drive racecars on specific courses. These cars have a number of
modifications such as hand controls, dual breaks, dual gas, etc.
Hanaford and Rubrecht said that their present goal is to give people with
disabilities the chance to "arrive and drive."
"At the moment, our cars are not sanctioned to be used in races," said
Rubrecht.
Rubrecht builds the modifications while Hanaford presents these special
cars at disability EXPOS. There people with disabilities can drive these cars.
"I've always had a knack for working on cars," said Rubrecht. "After my
father had Polio in 1949, he started building hand controls in our
basement. I watched him and I worked with him, too."
When asked what inspired them to launch Accessible Racing, Rubrecht
credited Hanaford as being the driving force behind its formation.
Hanaford said that his desire to launch Accessible Racing partially stemmed
from him having gratitude for regaining the ability to walk after his auto
accident, his freshman year of college, September 1980.
"When I had my car accident, I went from being a Junior Olympic Mile
Champion to not being able to walk to the mailbox and back," said Hanaford.
"At first I was feeling sorry for myself. Then I did a lot of rehab and
exercises. Within a year, I was walking again. I had a traumatic brain
injury. Lucky thing it wasn't a spinal cord injury. If I had a spinal cord
injury instead, it would have been non-reversible. I wouldn't be walking."
At the time of his recovery, he was quite upset about not being the athlete
he was.
"I had a hard time adjusting to my new situation," said Hanaford. "I did a
lot of drinking, did drugs, and was involved with a lot of women. Too many!
I was a coward. I alienated friends, family, professional contacts and lost
myself."
Hanaford compared his conduct to someone graduating from high school with
dreams of being a Court Judge or Politician. Then unforeseen events caused
that individual to resign himself to not fulfill his ambition. "He'd end up
a security guard in the bank or prison guard, yet still in the same
profession. Maybe he'd never 'get it' and up supervised by one of those
correctional officers or probation officers because of being so out of
control and think that the World has given up on him. I missed watching my
daughter grow up. That's something I'll never get back, but I moved on and
turned my life around because I wanted her in my life. She is now."
One thing Hanaford did to turn his life around was taking an internship at
Stafford Motor Speedways.
"I was always passionate about car racing," said Hanaford. "My father raced
in Daytona. I decided to get involved in motor sports. The internship was
a good way to begin. I learned there that every driver who races has the
potential to be a champion."
While at Stafford Speedway, Hanaford was inspired to launch Accessible
Racing, after seeing a disabled acquaintance, Cameron Shaw-Doran's face
light up while riding in a racecar.
"This was about four years ago," said Hanaford. "From watching Cameron
ride, to see the excitement he got from it, drove me to launch it. I
realized I was able to come back from some things, while other people could
not. It taught me that if you have something, give it away. If you want to
be true to yourself and feel as though you're doing the right thing, you
have to be able to share that with other people."
Hanaford said that he realized that no one else was making modifications
for people with disabilities to drive racecars.
He approached a number of dealers about putting special modifications on
specific cars, but for the most part, they ignored him, or promised to help
and then renege.
Rubrecht, on the other hand, was genuinely interested, and together they
formed accessible Racing.