TOOELE (ABC 4 Sports) - Miller Motorsports Park hosted the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series over the weekend. Ricky James was one of many drivers who took part in the inaugural event. James alone is very impressive considering the fact he has no feeling or movement from his sternum down. This was caused after tragedy struck on March 10, 2005 when James shattered his T7 Vertebrae in a motocross event.
"When I was 16 at a HAM (Hondas Amateur Motocross) event I came up a little short and went head first into a little embankment and broke my back and became a paraplegic," James said. "Before of even thinking I couldn't walk again I was laying on the track thinking I may not be able to race again."
Instead of giving up Ricky used his injury as motivation.
"I looked at it as a challenge," James added. "What's possible in a chair, you know, what hasn't been done like getting back on a dirt bike and flipping it and riding in the Baja and taking on the Ironman Challenge. They're goals I set after."
In order to get back behind the wheel a few changes had to be made first.
"I do gas, brake, clutch and shifting with one hand and that leaves my other hand to get after the steering," James said. "It's natural for me. I got hurt when I was 16 so this is how I know how to drive a car."
Ricky's good at it, too, which says a lot about his perseverance and the people who he surrounds himself with.
"They want to see it and it will give them hope in some way," James said. "That's what will make my injury OK with me if I make a career at racing like I wanted to do before I got hurt. Perseverance isn't my name but I am trying to live by that, if there is one thing I can live by."
I think everyone's with me when I say you're doing a pretty good job at it Ricky.
Hear what else Ricky has to say by clicking on the video link attached to this story.
