On June 1st I was paralyzed in a racing crash. I've got to the point where I can continue on with more normal activities. I also passed my hand controls driving certification test earlier this week.

I plan to have more permanent hand controls installed in my vehicle but I'm wondering if anyone has used removable hand controls in their MINI? My wife's car is a Clubman S and I want the ability to drive it also.

 

Not sure if the OP of the thread can help you, but good luck:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...lp-me-out.html

 

Sorry to hear about your paralysis, I was paralyzed from the waist down in a superbike crash 17 years ago and life goes on and will become more and more normal as time goes on.

My Clubman has been one of the best cars I've ever owned as far as easy for me to get in and plenty of room to get out and a door that opens wide enough to make it comfortable and I am 6'2. My rigid frame wheelchair breaks down enough that it easily fits in the rear with wheels and seat cushion.

I used removable hand controls until I permanently installed them.

 

I can relate to that. I've raced motorbikes with WERA for 12 years. 5 National Championships and over 20 regional championships. My crash was odd because it was in practice, not pushing all that hard, and nobody around me. But, I hit an embankment at the end of run off room. Needless to say, the sudden stop caused a lot of issues. 8 bones broken in my back, 2 in my neck, 16 ribs, and my femur. I'm lucky to still be here.

I'm an incomplete T8 paraplegic. I can't move my legs but I have gotten back very slight muscle movement in a few spots in my legs so I hope it is something I can build off of over time.

My car is a 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. I can fit my chair in the passenger seat since it is small and light (I'm only 5'8" and 135 lbs.). My wife drives the Clubman and she doesn't want a permanent hand control system put in her car. I'm thinking of buying a portable system and use it if and when I need to drive her car.

 

I've got a paceman on order, and I will be putting in Menox hand controls. They're permanent, but less intrusive then most hand controls. Here's a picture of menox hand controls in another car: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attach...1&d=1290383051

I do not suggest removable hand controls, I believe them to be more prone to malfunction and failure. But, to be fair, I've heard good things about these removable controls: http://www.wheelability.com/

 

I'm going with NPD hand controls. It uses a push/rock handle and it resides just to the left of the steering wheel. I like this set up because when cruising in a straight line I can hold the handle and still place two fingers on the steering wheel and then use my right hand to change heat/AC controls if needed.

That removable setup looks similar to others I've seen. A local paraplegic SCCA racer who runs endurance uses a removable system so other drivers can race the car. I need to track him down and find out what he uses since racing is a tough battle ground for any system.

 

I've been using MPS hand controls, and I hate how they clutter up my car. That's why I'm going with menox this time around. Either way, any of the major brands like NPD, MPS, etc will not impede anyone from driving the car. My husband drives my car with no issues and ignores the hand controls. I believe NPD controls just bolt on to the pedals similar to how my MPS controls do. Just an fyi, mini does give you a $2500 rebate to adapt your car.