When Miata really is the answer (with hand controls)

I received word over the weekend that I am repeating as SCCA Region 64 CSP points champ for 2014!!

My 'office'

And with hand controls, no less! That's impressive, congrats dude!

Congratulations!

That. Is. Awesome.

Congrats mang!

Congrats!

I don't know anything about hand controls. Would you be willing to give us a rundown?

Keith, mine are a basic mechanical affair. A straight rod to the brake pedal - applying brakes by pushing the lever towards the dash, and a 90 degree bellcrank - applying throttle by rotating the lever towards the floor.

Here's a video https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=644637578901846&set=vb.100000668293262&type=2&theater&notif_t=like

Columbus/Walesboro region, correct? Good work

Yessir!!

Keith, you guys worked on a buddy of mine's car (a blue '94) a couple of summers ago. He dropped in with some mechanical issue of which I forget....his and mine were basically identical hand control wise. Unfortunately his 94 burnt to the ground attempting to climb Pike's Peak - trans fluid puked out the filler tube and onto the exhaust manifold.

The collar thingie wraps around the steering column, the rod in the top of this picture attaches to the brake pedal, and the busy looking stuff near the collar is the 90 degree bellcrank, with the small rod attaching to the gas pedal.

Thanks Mark! You're still using your left leg for the clutch, correct?

I suspect I was out of the country when your friend's car was here. I would have remembered that.

Keith, my car's an automatic. I have zero use of my legs. I have made some minor valve body mods and added a Level10 torque converter which helps crisp up the shifts.

That is awesome. Congratulations.

mthomson22 wrote: Yessir!!

Nice, how long have you been in that region, we used to come down and crash the walesboro airport event a long time ago. Somehow we broke the 318ti down there so it had WOT or no throttle. What a hoot getting that one home

Congratulations!

I've been autocrossing there since '06

Was your's that insane turbo e30?

yamaha wrote:

mthomson22 wrote: Yessir!!

Nice, how long have you been in that region, we used to come down and crash the walesboro airport event a long time ago. Somehow we broke the 318ti down there so it had WOT or no throttle. What a hoot getting that one home

mthomson22 wrote: Keith, my car's an automatic. I have zero use of my legs. I have made some minor valve body mods and added a Level10 torque converter which helps crisp up the shifts.

Ah, gotcha. I should have noticed the lack of shifting - I had the sound turned off, so I didn't hear what the engine was doing. That's one heck of a powered wheelchair you've got there, mister Thanks for the pics and explanation. I've always wondered how it works.

Thanks Keith, you should listen with the sound on. I've got the Jenvey ITB setup and a custom header (standard units won't clear the auto's bellhousing.

Congratulations. Cool ride

Thanks guys

KyAllroad wrote: Congratulations. Cool ride

And cool driving, too. Congratulations!

On the topic of hand control Miatas, I swear I've seen, probably on here, one with a manual trans that was fully hand controlled. That or it was set up for guys with one leg. Anybody else remember that one?

Nice job!

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

There was a guy I knew in the Fiat world that built hand controls for a lady so she could drive her manual equipped Fiat X-1/9. Used air cylinders, compressors, clutch was controlled by a bicycle brake lever on the shifter, etc. Very cool project and easily adapted to other vehicles. I'll see if I can find it again.

This guy has a sweet setup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdBbY5_gr6s