I have been racing something all my life, all types of two wheeling from

Motocross, flat track, hill climbing, scrambles you name it, even ice racing.

When I was around 22 years old I use to race three wheeler professional and had quite a few accomplishments. In June of 86, I was racing in Castle Rock WA. When I ran into a little bad luck. I was making a pass for the lead. When my bike grabbed too much traction and threw me in to the wall at over 80-mph, which totally severed my spinal cord in half, and left me paralyzed from the waist down. I even have it all on video.

After my 6+ months in rehab and a year getting used to my disability, I found myself working as a service writer for the Honda shop that used to sponsor me. With a connection that they had, I was lucky enough to be able to go to a Honda demo ride in 88 at Thirston County ORV Park. There I got to pre ride the first Honda Pilot 400. After that I knew I must have one! I was lucky to get the first one in the northwest in 89.

I started racing it, and I won the Woodland Winter Series two years in a row. I also had an 88 350 Warrior, which I bought for my girlfriend so we could go playing in the dunes.

Bad times hit me once again; my girlfriend left, and left me with all the bills too. So I had to sell my toys to make ends meet. But you can't keep a good man down. After a few years I started racing again, this time it was Mud racing.

I finished building a 1980 Toyota 4x4 PU with a 200 hp Buick V6, with extra 200hp NOS kit, which I started before my accident. I won just about every thing I entered with it, So then it was time for me to go faster. I built a 1500hp Blown Alcohol ProMud Bogger, and raced it a few years in the northwest. There I met a wonderful good-looking gal, who is now my wife and we have two wonderful girls. Both of whom I am trying to turn into boys, so my wife tells everyone. One of my daughters is 7 years old and the other is 14 months.

My favorite thing now days is taking my family camping and bike riding. We all have quads now. My seven-year-old has a Yamaha 125 Breeze, she has no fear! My wife had a 350 warrior. But she wanted to be able to out do all are riding buddy's. So we just bought her a new Yamaha 660 Raptor. She loves it; she even lets me ride it sometimes. My favorite quad is my 350 Warrior that I sent to Powerroll and had the 430cc Kit done to it. It pulled harder right at the very bottom then the Raptor did but not for as long. I have raced a few Honda 400ex's with slight mods up "Comp Hill" at Florence Or. and won by a couple of times by a bike length or two. I even have climbed what they call "Banshee Hill" at Winchester Bay.

On the Monday after "Sand Fest" there were 5 other big two-stroke quads that had been trying to climb "Comp Hill", they really had the hill tore up without any success. My buddy and I went for a try. Me on my Warrior, and him on his Banshee and went right up it. When my buddy got back down to where those other bikes were. They asked my buddy what kind of bike I had because they haven't seen a four stroke all day that has been able to climb that hill. He told them about the Warrior. He also told them that I was paralyzed from the waist down. They just couldn't believe it. They were curious to know how I shifted gears on the Warrior. I showed them the shifter I made and explained to them that once you’re moving you don't really need the clutch.

That's what I like the best about riding quads. Know one ever knows that I am paralyzed because I can still out ride 90% of the yahoo's out there. The fast whoops are the only thing that slows me down other then being right in front of or behind someone on a hill or down in any hole!

What I would like to do is to make a video of my racing. Take it around to some of the rehab centers to show the people that are in the condition as I am that they can still have a life and do the things they used to do before their disability. When I was first injured someone came and talked to me, but he didn't really impress me that much, because the only thing he did was wheelchair basketball. But I wanted to do the same type of things I always did not what everyone said I should do.

If you know anyone that this story would help, send it to them or I would be glad to talk to them and show them picture or something, or even take them riding! I hope that this will let some people know you don't have to do only wheelchair sports

For more info or advice please feel free to contact me

Steve Pettit @ Home Ph 360-238-5104 e-mail @ pettit@wa-net.com

Address is PO BOX 189 Cougar WA 98616