2015 JRRC in car with the one arm guy

[J.D. King]

I haven't posted a video in ages, but finally placed the camera so you could see that I actually only do it with one hand
I don't know why I never have before, but I guess being proud and pig headed is yielding to old age and tenderness.

The video can be viewed here.

[Steve Davis]

Nice job driving ... so how DO you shift the gears?? Or was your hand so FAST that the camera just couldn't pick it up as it left the wheel and returned ?

[Gokart Mozart]

Easily one of the most impressive things I have seen. Props to you J.D.!

[jpmacnicholl]

Very smooth, fast as usual !!!!!

[J.D. King]

Hi Steve
I use a nitrogen total loss system that uses a manifold with 4 solenoid valves that operate two cylinders which manipulate the shift linkage.
The buttons to operate the setup are located on the back side of the steering wheel near my finger tips.

Nice job driving ... so how DO you shift the gears?? Or was your hand so FAST that the camera just couldn't pick it up as it left the wheel and returned ?

[BURKY]

Hi Steve
I use a nitrogen total loss system that uses a manifold with 4 solenoid valves that operate two cylinders which manipulate the shift linkage.
The buttons to operate the setup are located on the back side of the steering wheel near my finger tips.

I would love to see a picture of the setup.

[Steve Davis]

Hi Steve
I use a nitrogen total loss system that uses a manifold with 4 solenoid valves that operate two cylinders which manipulate the shift linkage.
The buttons to operate the setup are located on the back side of the steering wheel near my finger tips.

That is way cool. Did you design this yourself? Regardless, it seems to work pretty well. Congrats. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[reidhazelton]

Awesome in so many ways. If I tried that I'd be in the wall. Very impressive and interesting - in terms of both driving and engineering.

[old 59]

Mr King,

Clearly the word "can't" is not in your vocabulary. Brilliant.

[Jtovo]

I am not sure what impressed me more. The drive in the race or the drive in you.

You made my day.

[J.D. King]

Hi Steve,
Designed myself with some help from my cousin who is an Instrument Engineer at DuPont.

We started it back in 1997 after I lost my arm in an industrial accident. We made it to be robust enough to handle the stresses of the high vibration nature of the Formula Ford.
It works very well and I have only suffered a handful of shifter related problems over the many years (around 90 races) so I'm happy with it and the ability it has given me to pursue my passion.

That is way cool. Did you design this yourself? Regardless, it seems to work pretty well. Congrats. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[Steve Bamford]

Wow, that is very impressive. NJMP has a number of slow/medium turns with a few fast ones and would put a lot of more stress on your arm. That has to be really hard to do at all let alone to be leading the pack.

[J.D. King]

Mike,
I will try to post some pics of it in the near future.

I would love to see a picture of the setup.

[stonebridge20]

First time I saw JD get out of the car was impound at a Watkins Glen short course regional race back in 04 I think. I was there with JT and his RF80 using it as a track orientation day since he had never driven the Glen and we were putting him in a Busch North stock car a few weeks later on NASCAR weekend there. JT won the race and set the CF record and JD finished second not far back. JD rolls into impound and get's out of the car, JT and I look at each other and pretty much on key we both say at the same time, That's effing impressive!

[Dennis McCarthy]

JD is no slouch, he can wheel a FF in any crowd...

[AlanVDW]

I like the new camera position. Viewers can use your mirrors.
Alan.

[Airhead]

I take my hat off to you my man. I also have a Z10 and wish to do as good as you.

[Michael Rand]

JD King is my personal FF/CF Hero and has been ever since we first ran against each other, the man makes the rest if look like pikers and with only one arm, does all his own work, no complaints, just gets on with the job, talk about desire and determination JD King personifies those attributes.
So he had this accident and then decided, hell with it, I want to race, sat down and figured out how to do it one armed. You think going is racing is hard ? Try it one armed.
Hats off to JD.
I guess I'll get my butt whipped by young Max King in June, a young JD with both arms has gotta be a rocket......

[donnie b]

wholly crap, I watched the video. The part where JD takes his one hand off the steering wheel and flags the other drivers to his right hand side of the car. Fantastic!

I think I want to put that shifter in my car ....

don

[sccadsr31]

There are not enough words to describe how impressive this is on every level.
Any chance you will at the Mid-Ohio Runoffs?
David

[Jnovak]

I am in awe. Congrats.

[billtebbutt]

Title says it all. Wow.


BT

[Steve Demeter]

There was a guy named Tom Pomeroy who raced in the 70's and 80's.

He had no right arm.

Steered with left hand and rubber banded his prosthesis to the shifter.

Crossed the line at the Runoffs first in 1978 and 1979.

The cool thing about it all is that he never thought that he was doing anything particularly special besides winning the Runoffs.

It never seemed to occur to him that he was doing what most of us can not even begin to do.

Hats off to both of you for not letting stuff stop you from pursuing your passion.

[J.D. King]

I know Tom.
I actually send him my left gloves that I have no use for.
He's a good guy, living in Texas these days.

There was a guy named Tom Pomeroy who raced in the 70's and 80's.

He had no right arm.

Steered with left hand and rubber banded his prosthesis to the shifter.

Crossed the line at the Runoffs first in 1978 and 1979.

The cool thing about it all is that he never thought that he was doing anything particularly special besides winning the Runoffs.

It never seemed to occur to him that he was doing what most of us can not even begin to do.

Hats off to both of you for not letting stuff stop you from pursuing your passion.

[wesley]

I haven't posted a video in ages, but finally placed the camera so you could see that I actually only do it with one hand
I don't know why I never have before, but I guess being proud and pig headed is yielding to old age and tenderness.

The video can be viewed here.

I don't know about the old age and tenderness part, you are amazing and an inspiration to me now as always. I remember the first time you finished ahead of me in FF, I did not know you at that point, very glad to say I do now.
Steve Fox