29 replies to this topic

[wheeels]

Edit: just noticed this article is from 1993 but still has me ranting

So I came across this article from twitter. Artical

And I have to say that I am offended, why would anyone feel they are entitled to use a motorized wheelchair in a marathon?

He wants to set personal bests? WTF get a bigger engine.

Why he feels the entitlement to join in an event that is and should be based on physical activity is beyond me.

There has to be a point when people with disabilities start using common sense.

I feel that things like this give disability a bad name what a waste of time and money.

Edited by wheeels, 04 January 2010 - 07:35 PM.

[Kodie]

I totally agree with you. That's CRAZY! If they allow THAT, it won't be too long and people will be competing in these with their vehicles!

[Denny]

Completely agree, it is not a marathon if it does not test endurance. Another example of misusing the law.

Quote

under a federal law designed to provide disabled people access to public events and facilities.

Looking forward to see some one doing gymnastics on motorized wheelchair

[greybeard]

Denny, on Jan 5 2010, 10:16 AM, said:

Looking forward to see some one doing gymnastics on motorized wheelchair

The gossip is that Scribs has been practicing for the pole vault in his chair. There's even a photo of him preparing to vault over one of his flower beds somewhere in the archives here if you have the patience to find it .

[Wheelsonfire]

He could try using this!!

[Scribbler]

I can now pole vault over GB's belly, so that must be a Gold Medal at least.....

Is this the photo GB??

[guido]

Anyone keen to get competing, get your wallet out and click here...!!! Maybe event organisers are missing a whole new category??

[Lucydog]

I dont really see why anyone should be offended. Sport is mostly about doing it for yourself and as the guy has Muscular Dystrophy he is unlikely to be able to use a manual chair. It takes nothing away from his own achievements or affects those of others. Ive done a couple of 'runs' and wouldnt be offended. I seem to remember a rugby player whose name I cant remember using an electric chair for the London marathon. So what if he comes first and last in the electric wheelchair catagory? Lots of people need assistance when participating in sport. Lets not take this away from him, there is little enough sporting opporunity for most disabled people at the best of times.

[LuckyinKentucky]

I'm with Lucy, just get in where you fit in. That guy isn't hurting anyone and he may get the same feelings of accomplishment the other runners do, or more.

[greybeard]

Scribbler, on Jan 5 2010, 05:42 PM, said:

I can now pole vault over GB's belly, so that must be a Gold Medal at least.....

Is this the photo GB??

STP81729.jpg

Yep. That's the one.

Have you tried it with a longer run up? The way your chair is positioned you seem to only have a few feet to get up speed from there.

[wheeels]

I don't have so much of an issue with them being in the marathon if he was at the start of a race with me I would not really care, my biggest issue is that they are going to file a complaint against Disney to force himself in.

The rules state that you have to run it or use a manual chair but he is complaining that he is being discriminated against um no he just chooses to or cant use a manual chair then he cant race, it would be like an AB saying my knees hurt so I will use a scooter that would also not be allowed.

A lot of people can't race for various reasons, there is no way every race can accommodate every persons needs thats what the rules are for.

He was allowed in some races that is great not every race is going to be able to accommodate him, I know of marathons that don't allow wheelers at all due to safety reasons.

I would feel a great sense of accomplishment if I could do the tour de France on a motorcycle but thats also not going to happen.

[wheelywendy]

couldnt they let him enter non competitvly but give him a certificate for finishing, was going to say open an electric wheelchair catagory but then got visions of heaps of granny and grandads on their little scooters all ramming their way through, a bit like they do in supermarkets!! hmm maybe not!!
mind you if they did i could borrow my engineers latest creation, its a cross between a tga breeze and a motorbike its electric so i could enter that catagory with it, should be an outright winner as it does at least 20mph on full power!! hehe,
or could use the manual chair with electric bike attatchment, got that up to 15mph when i test drove the prototype, was fun, hoping it works out ok as hes building it for me to do dog agilty shows

[dangerousdave]

Hey I'm up for it
I already ride the fastest chair down the dragstrip
1300cc pure magic power tool

Edited by dangerousdave, 06 January 2010 - 11:43 AM.

[wheeliebear75]

Just have a manual & electric class & like Lucy said......let him come in 1st & last place in the electric division. ;)

[dangerousdave]

Lets have no discrimination here
What about combustion engines, turbines, jets
Lets have some real fun

[Scribbler]

wheelywendy, on Jan 6 2010, 10:45 AM, said:

couldnt they let him enter non competitvly but give him a certificate for finishing, was going to say open an electric wheelchair catagory but then got visions of heaps of granny and grandads on their little scooters all ramming their way through, a bit like they do in supermarkets!! hmm maybe not!!
mind you if they did i could borrow my engineers latest creation, its a cross between a tga breeze and a motorbike its electric so i could enter that catagory with it, should be an outright winner as it does at least 20mph on full power!! hehe,
or could use the manual chair with electric bike attatchment, got that up to 15mph when i test drove the prototype, was fun, hoping it works out ok as hes building it for me to do dog agilty shows

I'd love to watch all those non disabled Granny's & Granddad's is one of those demolition Derby's with their scotters crashing into each other. Much better than Monster trucks and would make great TV...... Me and Greybeard could enter.......

Great idea WW...

[mcferguson]

Don't think my electric chair could make it to the end of a marathon. The manual says it has a range of 14 miles.

[Scribbler]

mcferguson, on Jan 8 2010, 05:23 PM, said:

Don't think my electric chair could make it to the end of a marathon. The manual says it has a range of 14 miles.

Buy a 27 mile extension lead mcfergusan...

[Apparelyzed]

Well, at least do it in style!

Simon

[mcferguson]

Scribbler, on Jan 8 2010, 11:54 AM, said:

mcferguson, on Jan 8 2010, 05:23 PM, said:

Don't think my electric chair could make it to the end of a marathon. The manual says it has a range of 14 miles.

Buy a 27 mile extension lead mcfergusan...

Better yet, I could put a generator on my lap and fire it up when my battery ran out.

[Ratticis]

Well hell, why not attach a team of dogs to pull my chair! The fact that this moron is filing a complaint is ridiculous. The're other marathons that do allow electric chair participation, so it's not like this is his only option. The organisers of the event should be aloud to set their rules. What's next? Someone going after the NBA because they don't allow wheelchair users? Get real and stop abusing a law put in place for your benefit!

[wheelywendy]

mcferguson, on Jan 8 2010, 06:33 PM, said:

Scribbler, on Jan 8 2010, 11:54 AM, said:

mcferguson, on Jan 8 2010, 05:23 PM, said:

Don't think my electric chair could make it to the end of a marathon. The manual says it has a range of 14 miles.

Buy a 27 mile extension lead mcfergusan...

Better yet, I could put a generator on my lap and fire it up when my battery ran out.

nah better still get a solar panel!!! wouldnt be so heavy as a generator!!!

[wheelywendy]

better still get a lorry to push you!!

[guido]

Hey WW - I loved this story, especially his comment that he spilled his drink!! Now if that had been beer there would have been forfeits to pay!

[LuckyinKentucky]

Alright Simon when can I buy one of your jet chars from the Apparalyzed store... and how bout the shipping to Kentucky?

[araitn]

LuckyinKentucky, on Jan 10 2010, 01:20 PM, said:

Alright Simon when can I buy one of your jet chars from the Apparalyzed store... and how bout the shipping to Kentucky?

While you're at it Simon, just ship two of the jet chairs to LuckyinKY and I'll pick mine up from him.... should save some $$$ on shipping!

You up for a jet chair race Lucky? We can have our own competitive division in the marathons!

[wheelywendy]

araitn, on Jan 11 2010, 03:37 PM, said:

LuckyinKentucky, on Jan 10 2010, 01:20 PM, said:

Alright Simon when can I buy one of your jet chars from the Apparalyzed store... and how bout the shipping to Kentucky?

While you're at it Simon, just ship two of the jet chairs to LuckyinKY and I'll pick mine up from him.... should save some $$$ on shipping!

You up for a jet chair race Lucky? We can have our own competitive division in the marathons!

I'm gonna save my money, i'll just tie a strong elastic rope to the back of LuckyinKY and araitn's flashy jet chairs they can tow me to the finish and just as we reach the finish line i'll shoot their tyres out , then as they come to a stand still that should catapult me in my manual chair over the finish line!!

Edited by wheelywendy, 12 January 2010 - 08:43 PM.

[edlee]

Very devious, Wendy,,,, I LIKE that.
ed

[greybeard]

It's called "British ingenuity" - or in other words - artfully cheating and not getting sussed !!

[LuckyinKentucky]

Alright araitn the race is on... and wendy your welcome to tie up but you better get a long rope or else start a serious tanning regimen now and stock up on some spf 1000 sunblock so you'll be able to weather the afterburner wake. And hell wheels probably wont matter much once you get the thing throttled up... hell we could probably run the race on the water just a skippin along.