Ricky James Paraplegic Auto Racer

Ricky James is a 21 year old from Southern Califorina. He was well on his way to becoming a professional motocross/ supercross racer when he was involved in a crash that left him with a spinal cord injury at 16 years old, just 6 months shy of reaching that goal. His injury resulted in Ricky becoming a paraplegic, paralyzed from the chest down.

He made his mind up early that he was not going to let his injury stop him from becoming a professional racer. He designed an adaptive system for his 2 wheeled dirt bike that allowed him to race the 2007 SCORE International Baja 500 becoming the 1st paraplegic to do so.

In 2007 he started looking into sports that would allow him to compete on a level playing field with non injured atheletes and he found circle track racing. In his first year of competition he recorded 3 wins, 9 top 3 finishes, qualified on pole in 10 of 12 races and set 2 track records on his way to recording a "Hat Trick" 2008 West Coast Pro Truck Rookie of the Year, 2008 Irwindale West Coast Pro Truck Champion and 2008 overall West Coast Pro Truck Champion. As if all that racing wasn't enough Ricky also won an X Games silver medal at X Games 14 in Los Angeles in Adaptive Motocross as sport which he helped to develop. He also competed in the Ironman World Championship in Kona Hawaii where he finished in his first attempt with a time of 12 hours and 44 minutes. Ricky went on to win the half Ironman distance World Championship a month later in Clearwater Florida.

2009 has been a year spent developing a new hand control system for his Late Model circle track car. We have had great success with both the design and Ricky's ability to adapt to this new driving style so quickly. He qualified 4th and finshed 11th only his 3rd time using this system at the Open Comp Late Model race in Las Vegas at the Bullring this past November.

Ricky also started racing an off road truck this past year in the Lucas Oil Off Road Championship Series where he has recorded 5 wins and a 2nd place finish in his first 6 starts.

The Goals for 2010 are to win the off road championship in the SuperLite class and to secure sponsorship and funding to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Series which he was just approved by NASCAR to be able to compete in.

You can visit his personal website at www.rickyjames824.com

1st off road race win July 2009 Lucas oil off road series

My son Ricky's 1st off road race win in the Lucas oil Off Road Series, He's pictured he with the owners of the race truck and SoCal SuperTrucks

Super Lite Truck

Celebrating another win

Back to back Off Road wins in Primm Nevada November 2009 Lucas oil off road series

Catching some air in Arizona

Here's a shot of Ricky on his way to a win in the Lucas oil off road series in Surprize Arizona

My new late model

Here's Ricky in his late Model getting ready to qualify for the Open Cmop at the Bullring in Las Vegas Nov. 2009, he qualified 4th in his 3rd outing in the new car.

Outofshape

A Little out of shape in Surprize Arizona, still kept it together for the win!!!

TheBullring at speed

Ricky doing a lap at the Open Comp, Las Vegas Bullring Nov. 2009

Irwindale September 2009

Ricky's first race in the Late Model, Irwindale Sept. 2009

HandControls

Late Model Hand Controls, you push the steering wheel to apply the breaks and pull the ring behind the steering wheel to accelerate

RickysLateModelHand Controls

Late Model Hand Controls that Ricky uses due to the fact he is a paraplegic and has no use of his lower body