Driving with Hand Controls (Right Leg Amputee)

[maribel2509]

That's crazy...I have cerebral palsy and probably found to use the alternative gas pedal.but this is a definite cool idea

[downburst1]

Thanks for posting. Question, when you come to a junction and want to turn left. You engage gear and lift off clutch, is it easy to accelerate and turn the wheel at the same time. Am I right in saying you turn with the left hand only or does the accelerator turn with the wheel?

[HonestJack]

@downburst1 I use the left hand to steer only. It requires more planning and just making sure you are in the right gear at all times, but thats not a bad skill to pick up anyway! Its harder to accelerate if the wheel is turning as your thumb on the wheel means you have something to squeeze the throttle against, but after a very short time you become able to do it without your thumb on the wheel. I need to do some in car footage of me sliding on the track, it would make it easier to understand.

[HonestJack]

@downburst1 One other thing, its a lot easier with the ball on the steering wheel that I now use. Pride prevented me from using it before, it made me feel disabled! However now I am using it on a regular basis it has made controlling the car in a slide a hell of a lot more smooth and controlled.

[turbo2g]

Hey can you tell me where you got that hand control? I'm looking for one to drive stick too.

[HonestJack]

@turbo2g Its a modification of a system made by a company called Adaptacar in britain. They make all their hand controls from scratch. However a company called Geoff Gosling make something very similar but instead of being bespoke they are available off the shelf, certainly in the uk. Good luck with your search

[somainglove]

Watch your Revolution Per Minute(RPM) meter. If you are going to drive such high RPM, don't blame me that you have lost a lot of fuel!

[HonestJack]

@somainglove This car has since undergone ECU modifications to raise the redline, I now don't change up until 7k on the track! My other car is for economy, this one is for fun! :)

[joeyanaya]

This exactly what I want as a recent right hemipelvectomy person! Thanks for putting this video up now I know what to ask for when I start driving again.

[HonestJack]

@joeyanaya No problem, glad I can help.

[Ricerguy]

nice driving :)

[rockthedragon123]

niceee!!!

[xJAYHEROx]

Hey, do you have a link to this kit? I am a right leg amputee utilizing the C-leg. I have a crx that I built prior to my amputation that Has over 400whp and would like to be able to drive it again as well as bring it to the track. Please, please help me with some info if you can. I cannot find something this simple on the internet. Any info would be appreciated. If you don't mind emailing me as well with any info it would be great! jkbboy85@gmail.com

[HonestJack]

@xJAYHEROx Lucky man having the C-Leg! I can't afford that. This is a home build modification of a system from the UK, something like the Geoff Gosling system might be available for export to the US from the UK.

[gpapa1998]

Can a right leg amputee drive an automatic car with hand controls?

[HonestJack]

@gpapa1998 I can drive an automatic car with OR without hand controls, but the law says I must only drive it WITH hand controls. I could get my license changed so that I could drive without hand controls but that would limit me to automatics.

[gpapa1998]

Very nice video. Why do you use hand controls if you are only missing one leg?

[HonestJack]

@gpapa1998 Because I like to drive stick. Annoyingly the UK government won't let me drive stick with hand controls AND auto without, I'm allowed to do one or the other. I chose stick with hand controls as I do a fair few track events and such.

[blixtenkarting]

Cool leg ! (Y)

[HonestJack]

@blixtenkarting Its not bad, but I would rather have a real one! :)

[5Toesss]

Also what knee is that? Its sick!

[HonestJack]

@5Toesss Its made in Europe by a company I think called OrthoEurope, its called the ultimate knee

[5Toesss]

Hey I am in the same situation, how did you rig this system? As I want to be able to do this too.

[HonestJack]

@5Toesss Its a variation on a theme by a british company called Adaptacar in devon. This isn't an original adapatcar system but a variation I came up with which works better for me. Its just a rod to each pedal basically, with some slipper linkages. You can buy systems like this all over the world.

[girlbait9392]

cool

[bigbruno19]

when you drive on the right hand side, that does mean your gears are opposite as well. ? what i mean is if you go into first that would be my 5th gear here in the US? or is it the same as were your 1st gear starts by your right leg.

[HonestJack]

First gear is forward and left, just like a stick shift in the US. I visit America quite often with work, and its all the same. Clutch is on the left, accelerator is on the right.

[bigbruno19]

oh kool i always thought it was the opposite, haha i guess if visited japan or the UK i would only have to get used to driving on the right hand side. thanks for the info. by the way nice miata looks like you have it quite build up, i drive an srt-4.

[HonestJack]

Ah, they don't sell the SRT-4 in the UK, but when I was in the US I saw a few. Nice car.

[civilwarcat]

Very nice video! I've never seen the controls with just the brake? I have to drive with the full hand controls. I mash down for the gas and up and back for the brake on the same handle. I'll have to post a video of how I do it too. I was born with a birth defect called spina bifida so I've been a parapalegic all my life. It's so weird seeing you all drive on the wrong side of the road and car, LOL Just kidding. I don't know if I could drive over there, I'd get turned around :-)

[HonestJack]

I am using the controls for both brake and gas: I'm driving stick shift so the left pedal is the clutch. In the case of this system I pull towards the wheel for gas and push towards the dash for brakes. I'm working in the states right now and the Chevy Impala hire car I have has a similar system.

[Ferrari360Spyder]

awesome vid!

Wht kind of car r u driving?

[HonestJack]

Its a 1991 Mazda MX5 (or Miata if you are american). Nothing too fancy.