Remember the first time you took your father’s car into an empty parking lot and tested her out to see what the family sedan really had under the hood? For 12 disabled athletes that experience was brought to life again through a first of its kind driving event hosted by Accessible Racing, in conjunction with New England Disabled Sports (a chapter of Disabled Sports USA), Loon Mountain and the White Mountain Motorsports Park. The “Magic in the Mountains” accessible stock car driving experience was held June 26, 2009 in Lincoln, New Hampshire. This event allowed newly injured veterans and active disabled athletes to learn defensive driving skills that they employed at the world’s only ‘Arrive & Drive’ stock car driving experience for persons with physical disabilities.

Drivers arrived at the New England Disabled Sports Facility at Loon Mountain for a classroom discussion and chalk talk given by the skilled professionals of the White Mountain BMW Car Club of America. These instructors taught defensive driving skills such as under steering, over steering, steering with the throttle and threshold breaking. These basic building blocks are essential car control skills that prepare drivers for accident avoidance maneuvers to be applied in real world situations.

Accessible Racing demonstrated their all new “VXP” driving simulator which is designed to allow disabled drivers to virtually test drive and train anywhere at any time. VXP uses iRacing.com software featuring real-time, internet based simulated racing competition for newly injured and active disabled athletes giving them the opportunity to hone driving skills, compete against other hand controlled drivers and emphasize multiple ladders of advancement. VXP competitors have the opportunity to compete online against other virtual handcontrol drivers on a NASCAR sanctioned track, in a NASCAR sanctioned league, giving them the chance of a lifetime to win a free driver skills school and oval track driving experience with Accessible Racing.

After honing their skills on the VXP simulator drivers took to the skid pad course to let drivers test the limits of the provided vehicles while under the instruction of a ride along instructor. All eyes were on the two different courses where drivers learned how to skid and regain control invarious real world scenarios. Participants waiting for their chance to drive were given the opportunity to experience the elite fleet of adaptive bicycles and hand cycles provided by New England Disabled Sports.

After the smoke cleared from burning brakes and smoking tires participants took their newly acquired skills to the quarter mile paved track at the White Mountain Motor Sports Park. The Accessible Racing crew showcased their hand controlled stock car which has dual controls for the instructor and driver. Participants experienced the thrill of driving a real NASCAR stock car in a true track experience for 15 laps while being instructed by racing legend Dynamite Dave Dion. Participants left the event with a pocket full of new found driving skills and having had the experience of a lifetime only to be topped by the next time the take control behind the wheel.

For further information, future event schedules, or how to obtain the VXP driving simulator please visit www.accessibleracing.com or www.NEDisabledSports.org.