[QUAD-L] About off road wheelchairs

[wheelchair]

How kewl is that!  We see Mr Gwen a couple of times a year at the Nationals (Nats) and its always a pleasure to hear that his roll is a great as his talk.  It's people like Gwen who are chair users that attract others to these types of racing venues.  We were with him in those early years, just after his accident when he refused is sign autographs.  Then a few higher quads showed him what they did and Gwen began issuing personal autographs.  He is a super guy.... on an impossible mission.  But he does it well. Thanks W     In a message dated 5/19/2006 5:42:51 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hey, The majic mobility x4 and x5 look like pretty tough chairs, but I have a Quickie p-222 special edition chair that I was given at Gateway International Raceway in Illinois and its a damn tough chair as well and parts are easy to attain. After I installed an auto seatbelt, and adjusted the front footplate high enough not to bottom out I take it in some crazy places. The main problem Ive had which is my own fault, is I get flat tires because I didnt request solid tires. I will admit the x5 and maybe the x4 could outdo my p-222 in serious offroading, but  I can take my quickie up enough grade in the grass hills that I half to lean flat against my knees to keep the chair on all fours, doesnt bog down a bit. It has five speeds, with torque adjustment knob. I bought a programmer on ebay for 30 and put the chair in the max settings. If I had any more power it would be dangerous. If I put the chair in the fifth speed with max torque and punch it I can ride a long wheelie. The top fuel drag racer that hired Quickie to build about 50 of these chairs is Darryl Gwen. He used to race for the Gwen-Steinbreiner Yankees race team. Hes a quad himself after a serious accident that turned him into a c5 with one arm. He chose one person from each state he races in to receive a p-222 chair. Im not sure how I got picked but a woman called me in 2001 and asked if I want a special power chair....I said yes....and she told me where to go to receive it. I really didnt believe it all until a Quickie vendor came and measured me and told me I could build the chair anyway I wanted for not a dime. This was luck I guess they picked me, that was a story Ill tell for years to come.   Ron c7