tough

[firko]

Check out this great shot of Dave Wilson on his 490 Maico at Washougal, Washington last year. Note the brake and clutch levers on the same side and then notice that Dave has only one arm. Awesome.

[vandy010]

a very inspirational photo firko!
by the looks of the way that front suspension is compressing, he ain't takin it to easy either.
good on him!

[Tony T]

I've seen a shot of this guy before.
Think about hard it is to hang onto an open classer at the best of times.
I'll bet he's got thighs of steel. 
Tough is a serious understatement.............

[evo550]

I don't know how old he was when he lost his arm, but If it was later in his life I can just imagine he has this overwhelming urge to reach out his right arm to grab that other grip.(even though he doesn't have one)
He would also give a new meaning to starting technique when you consider he would have to control the throttle and hold the decomp on the left while sitting on the bike and kicking the beast with his left leg.
It kind of puts my feebly gripes (like whining after sitting in the maccas drive thru for ten minutes only to be told the coffee machine is out of order) into perspective.
I might just think of this guy, before I open that hole in my face where the pie goes, to complian.
O.K. that's deep enough now back to your scheduled brenden tobin programing..........Whats the difference between a blonde and a shopping trolley?
A shopping trolley has a mind of it's own

[DJRacing]

That guy is an inspiration to anyone who believes they cant do something, what a legend.

A guy here races with one arm and I'm just amazed at how fast he goes. I find it hard enough to let go of the bars to rip a tear-off off.

[090]

I remember that guy DJ! He was at the cemetery meet that i went to. Took me a few laps to realize what he was doing.

[DJRacing]

Yeah Brad he races at Wanganui every year and he sets a fairly fast pace. Dont worry, I thought the same when I first saw him too.

[Phil]

I remember an article in one of the American magazines, maybe Racer X or MXA about Dave Wilson. From what I read he's not only racing despite his handicap, apparently he's pretty damn fast as well. 490 Maicos aren't the most gentle of bikes, even with two arms, so his effort is courageous at the least.
The next time I have a whinge about my arthritis or some other comparitively minor ailment I'll spare a thought for Dave Wilson. Very inspiring.

[GMC]

I find it hard enough to let go of the bars to rip a tear-off off.

Too right

I remember going to the Blue Light Enduro as a spectator around 79 or so, back when it was a full on tough Enduro, not the Rally everyone now knows. I was watching guys come out of the bush & ride over this 12' log when this guy does it riding side-saddle, or so I thought. Second glance revealed he had lost his leg close to his thigh. Did it with more finesse than a lot of others that day & the DNF rate was pretty high also. Found out later it was Anton Alers, who lost his leg in an accident at Christmas Hills MX in 77 at which I was also spectating.

[firko]

Let's not forget Porky Eldridge not only competing in enduros with one leg but being a regular winner. 

[GMC]

Yeah, I rode the four day in Qld in 88. It was really wet & with around 500 starters & me starting at the back in the 4 stroke class I found it too hard & DNF'd
I spectated the last 2 days & noticed Porky made it to the end. I think from memory their was only around 80 finishers.

[Freakshow]

we got 2 guys down here off at the sholders, both regular mx compeditors, i didnt belive it till i had to chase  one of them on my modern, and i mean chase.

There was also a very good road ridder on an aprilla i think was out acomplet leg to the hip and the other leg a partial thigh, let me say this guy could ride, when you watched you couldnt belive what you were seeing and he was a regular place getter.  Commitment is everythng - excuses are easy

[maicoman18]

When the "Thumpa Nats" first started up, wasn't there a guy with one arm racing in that?

[Hoony]

there is a guy in my club (Dandenong M.C.C.) with one arm, bloody tough and rides some hard trail riding terrain on 2 - 5 day rides. i am in awe of him when i see him ride, throttle /clutch & front brake all on the left hand side. i bought a new set of gloves a year or so back and lost the right hand one on the first trail ride out, i gave him the left one (i should have asked him for one of his spare right handers instead  )

there is obviously quite a few of these guys around with determination.

[dkupf]

Here's something I found a couple months ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-8Yqwq_bHU Darcy