I didn't want to hijack the 427 FE thread--so I started a new one. I guess a few of you are wondering about my comments on wheelchairs. Here's the story.
Back in November, the LDS Church invited me and my wife to the annual Humanitarian Dinner. The dinner is held every year for those who have donated to the Church's Humanitarian efforts. As many of you remember, we donated a car to the Church for the relief of the tsunami victims in Indonesia a few years back. During the dinner, there was a presentation on the Church's wheelchair project.
During the presentation, they mentioned in passing they were having problems with the quality of the wheelchairs, as they were breaking in the rough terrain and streets of 3rd World Countries. They were very concerned because they wanted to find a way to fix the problem to continue to improve the lives of the people they were able to give mobility to.
I thought to myself, "Metal? Welding? Metallurgy? Wheels? Mobility? Isn't that what Kirkham Motorsports is all about?" So, after the dinner I went up and volunteered our services to redesign the wheelchair for manufacturability and durability in harsh realities of those countries. Some of you may remember I was a missionary in Peru (until I was transferred to California because of Typhoid) and so I have lived among desperate people.
I consider this the most important Hot Rod project we have ever undertaken. I hope to have a prototype soon.
Some of you may remember I was a missionary in Peru (until I was transferred to California because of Typhoid) and so I have lived among desperate people.
Another great project! Let us know how we can help. Be safe in Haiti and send back some build pictures of the house. Peace, Darren
Thanks for the call. I appreciate it more than you know. I have been stopping people in wheelchairs at car shows, in the store and where ever I see them to ask them about their chairs--what they like, what they dislike, how can they be improved, etc. They are universally happy to give me their suggestions and input.
I got in a wheelchair (the Church left me one here in my office) and wheeled down the road, purposefully hitting all the potholes, ruts, and rocks I could find. After about 20 yards, I started yelling, THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY!!! THIS SUCKS! After 1/2 mile I was winded, my hands ached, my arms throbbed. I was mad, angry, and determined to make a better chair. I can only imagine (poorly) what it must be like to be in a chair. There has to be a better way. A customer passed me on while I was wheeling down the road and he just started laughing and smiled. When I got back to the shop he said, "So, when can we expect to billet chairs?"
When we get back from Haiti I will dive deeper into the design issues. Thank you for your suggestions--I WILL be calling you.
God bless you for the wheelchairs, I was very moved by the video, you have done a
wonderful thing. We really don't realize what goes on in the world until something
like this video bring us down to reality.
David, you just continue to impress the hell out of me.
I have been on a number of medical missions to thrid world countries around the world. in '97 or so, I went to Ariquipa, Peru. Those missions (Peru in particular) have opened my eyes to a whole differant world.
Here's an idea for a wheel chaai. Normal propulsion is with the hands directly on the large rear wheel. On the flat and level, that's fine. As you already know, rough terrain or uphill can be impossible. Maybe you could design some kind auxillary gear drive for tough travel. A smaller gear that would drop down onto another gear on the back of the wheel. Operate the gear with a crank handle. It would double or triple the their arm strength when needed. Then move it up and out of the way when not needed.
Make the gear a ratchet, so it can't roll backwards while engaged.
God bless you for the wheelchairs, I was very moved by the video, you have done a
wonderful thing. We really don't realize what goes on in the world until something
like this video bring us down to reality.
John Seagraves
The world is a big place. There is a lot more out there than most people realize. I think everyone should see the desperate poverty many people in this world live in. Some people literally live hand to mouth. Then, take away their mobility and the suffering is unimaginable. The poverty I saw in Peru (and other places) will forever be with me. There must be a better way.
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Well done David. I have worked with organisations for the handicapped for 30 years in Indonesia. Other than design, the main problems are price and maintenance. Let's hope that you come up with something that is a breakthrough.
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