Look at your legs for a second. For the majority of us, they are there, have been there, and function as expected. What would you do if you lost them? How would you cope if you got into an accident tomorrow and became paralyzed from the waist down? What if you’re one of the many veterans who have an amputated leg? How would you deal with the loss…would you trick out a mobility scooter and call it a day? Would you be able to look at your car and be able to bring yourself to continue on with your hobby?
Rob Parsons found himself in that situation in 2011. Already a noted drifter, BMX rider and motocross rider at the time, Parsons found himself at the end of a bad dirt bike accident that shattered his legs, severed his spine and puncturing a lung. After recovering from the injuries and an E. coli infection, he set about figuring out how to return to motorsports without the use of his legs. Over the last few years he has been working on this hand-controlled right-hand-drive Nissan 180SX drift car. Part of it’s existence is for Rob to be able to compete again, but the other part of the Nissan’s existence is to develop better user interfaces for individuals who require hand controls for their car. The car is a basic drift build that employs a supercharged GM LS pushing power through a T-56 Magnum six-speed. Yes, the car is a manual transmission car, and no, it’s not paddle-shifted: most of the car’s functionality is routed through a main handle operated by the left hand. Pushing the handle down operates the throttle, moving it forwards operates the rod connected to the brake pedal, and there’s an electronic shifter and a motorcycle-style clutch handle that operates the electronically-controlled slave cylinder with a voltage signal, so it operates with the same “feel” that you would have with a normal clutch.
Parsons is using the car to bring light to his charity, Chairslayer, and the adaptive clinics he hopes to be able to offer to people readjusting to life without the normal use of their legs the ability to drive, allowing more self-reliance.
CLICK HERE to check out the Chairslayer web site!
NSFW notice: there’s one F-bomb early on. Just be careful with the volume.
Very cool. Ive got a buddy with spina bifida and he hates the hand controls on his car, they certainly have a lot of room for improvement.
Knowing Rob for many, many years. His attitude always blows me away. In the video he says you can’t dwell on stuff. He isn’t lying. His motivation, work ethic and ideals are second to none.
Rob started this project to help not only get racing, but to get other disabled people back into a race car. The engineering is cool, all scratch built from Robs head.
The car is loud, bad ass and bright. If you haven’t checked out Chairslayer before, I suggest you check him out on facebook, instagram whatever.