Disabled access

[neil1967]

Hi all,

Just a question i am 43 years old and have been racing since the age of 18, but for the last 4 years i have been in a wheelchair and you guessed it still want to race, but the trouble i have is no clubs have any kind of access to the rostrum at all for anyone in a wheelchair.

Now i understand this but feel that really more could be done for people in wheelchairs Lewis Hamiltion the F1 racer his brother races in nitro 1/18th and he is disabled but again he struggles onto the rostrum you would have thought that we would have some kind of help. I have approached lots of clubs by e-mail one mailed me back the others well they just ignored me i am not going to name any clubs but if they read this they would know.

I am not asking for a miracle or you would have thought i am, all i am asking for is a little understanding and maybe some access to allow me to carry on with the sport i love so much.

[Stu]

What part of the country are you at?

There are a couple of clubs up in the North West that have chair access, one 8th and one 10th.

[neil1967]

Hi sorry, i am in wiltshire west country

[sldmodels]

I mentioned wheelchair access to John @ Ardent and within a month, he had a ramp built.

I think part of the issue is, there aren't many racers who are also wheelchair users, but if you're a wheelchair user, and see the rostrum, and see no access to it, what can you do, and will a lot just not bother mentioning anything?

If this was a big business, then you should be able to expect full access, but since it isn't, all I can suggest is approaching individual clubs (as you've done already), but also following up, and looking into some kind of funding for those clubs to make the adaptions needed.

[Frecklychimp]

I was going to mention Ardent Raceway as i noticed the ramp access rostrum yesterday, a great facility if you like indoor carpet racing.

I run a club for 1/8th nitro and 1/10th electric offroad and was approached by a couple of guys last year needing wheelchair facilities to come and race, as a club we just could not afford to improve the outdoor venue safely so approached local council and Lottery funding for help, were turned down flat for any funding to help improve access

We are building a second rostrum for another integrated track so are trying to design in a raised platform which has ramped access and is high enough to give good visibility.

if i see any other clubs that cater for wheelchair users then i'll let you know

[davidmog99]

When i visited Moto arena, there was a guy in a wheelchair using the second floor (accessible by lift), as he couldnt use the rostrum.
Seemed to give a good view of the track, and i think the rest of the facilities looked wheelchair friendly.

[Dudders]

Originally Posted by neil1967

Hi sorry, i am in wiltshire west country

I'm in the process of designing a new build metal restrom for a new venue in North East Hampshire, one side will be a ramp, the other steps.

If think in time good old Health and Safety and peoples human rights will come into play soon enough.

[ch!3f]

you have to remember that it has to come out of the clubs pocket which most clubs are none profit so all there money goes on booking venues and new bits for the tracks when needed.i would try the melinda messenger method and blag a ramp free from somwhere

[Dudders]

Originally Posted by ch!3f

i would try the melinda messenger method and blag a ramp free from somwhere

Prefer to try Melinda Messenger full stop

[ollie]

Maybe this is something the BRCA could look into as there are both companies and charities out there that help and support funding to enable disabled access to leisure and sport activities within the community.

[Frecklychimp]

If anyone one knows of support available for clubs or if any r/c clubs have had help from any associations recently then please let us know,

We would happily provide the facilities but with limited funding its not possible, especially when health and safety of drivers/visitors has to be priority,

our local authorities and Lottery application were refused as we were technically a private membership driven club and governed by BRCA, told it would be down to BRCA to support their disabled members, which i would be surprised if that was possible due to number of clubs and venues associated.

[The Chef]

Originally Posted by Dudders

I'm in the process of designing a new build metal restrom for a new venue in North East Hampshire, one side will be a ramp, the other steps.

If think in time good old Health and Safety and peoples human rights will come into play soon enough.

Sorry but where in north east hampshire is your club?

2ndly my wife is in a wheel chair not that she races cars but I was thinking would it be viable to have a portable fold down ramp built for you?

of If you had one of these http://www.bentleyfielden.co.uk/prod...scopic_38.html would 7 feet be enough to get you on the rostrum? Just a thought and hope it may help.

[Dudders]

Originally Posted by The Chef

Sorry but where in north east hampshire is your club?

2ndly my wife is in a wheel chair not that she races cars but I was thinking would it be viable to have a portable fold down ramp built for you?

of If you had one of these http://www.bentleyfielden.co.uk/prod...scopic_38.html would 7 feet be enough to get you on the rostrum? Just a thought and hope it may help.

See here: http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57551

Rostrom is scratch build (will be) so will have a ramp. I just hope Neil (above, not me) pulls his weight when marshalling!!!

[David Church]

Originally Posted by neil1967

Hi all,

Just a question i am 43 years old and have been racing since the age of 18, but for the last 4 years i have been in a wheelchair and you guessed it still want to race, but the trouble i have is no clubs have any kind of access to the rostrum at all for anyone in a wheelchair.

Now i understand this but feel that really more could be done for people in wheelchairs Lewis Hamiltion the F1 racer his brother races in nitro 1/18th and he is disabled but again he struggles onto the rostrum you would have thought that we would have some kind of help. I have approached lots of clubs by e-mail one mailed me back the others well they just ignored me i am not going to name any clubs but if they read this they would know.

I am not asking for a miracle or you would have thought i am, all i am asking for is a little understanding and maybe some access to allow me to carry on with the sport i love so much.

Hi Neil,

It's very good that you have come forward and asked for help on this.
Our sport/hobby crosses all kinds of borders, physical, age, race, gender, just to name a few and when racing there is no advantage, we all can buy the same kit, and have the same opportunity, if you can get on the rostrum.
At the EIR race this year there was a guy in a wheelchair and they had to carry him up and down for every run!
As out sport is moving forward I'm sure more and more clubs will provide wheelchair access, but we do need people like you asking the question, not having a go! So good job there mate

[Dudders]

Neil,

Our new rostrum is due to be installed on Thursday morning

You'll be pleased to hear that we have a RAMP on one side that sounds like it will be suitable for you. The rostrum is 1.5m wide so you should have lots of room to wheel about Dont sell up just yet!!!.

The ramp will be about 4m long and rise up to the 1.5m height of the platform. You might need a shove to get up (you can make your own way down) be we can all lend a hand.

Hope so see you soon to test it out!

HTH, Neil

Originally Posted by neil1967

Hi all,

Just a question i am 43 years old and have been racing since the age of 18, but for the last 4 years i have been in a wheelchair and you guessed it still want to race, but the trouble i have is no clubs have any kind of access to the rostrum at all for anyone in a wheelchair.

Now i understand this but feel that really more could be done for people in wheelchairs Lewis Hamiltion the F1 racer his brother races in nitro 1/18th and he is disabled but again he struggles onto the rostrum you would have thought that we would have some kind of help. I have approached lots of clubs by e-mail one mailed me back the others well they just ignored me i am not going to name any clubs but if they read this they would know.

I am not asking for a miracle or you would have thought i am, all i am asking for is a little understanding and maybe some access to allow me to carry on with the sport i love so much.

[taz5311]

Hi Dudders,
As a wheelchair user myself it's nice to see a club look at this issue from the off, would it be possible for you to put some pic's and info up about your ramp as this may help other clubs consider installing one at some stage.
I'll be racing at all the rounds of the uk shortcourse nationals this year but will have to climb steps at all the venues. not a major issue but will tire me out a lot quicker.

[Dudders]

Originally Posted by taz5311

Hi Dudders,
As a wheelchair user myself it's nice to see a club look at this issue from the off, would it be possible for you to put some pic's and info up about your ramp as this may help other clubs consider installing one at some stage.
I'll be racing at all the rounds of the uk shortcourse nationals this year but will have to climb steps at all the venues. not a major issue but will tire me out a lot quicker.

Will do, any excuse to get out of marshalling eh?

[RedAl]

Well, despite the promises made earlier in this thread by moto arena I was hugely dissapointed when I visited yesterday to find that the promised disabled access to the drivers rostrum has still not materialised.

[RedAl]

Following my most recent visit to Moto Arena on Sunday i'm happy to report that they have lived up to the promises and can now boast a fantastic, fully accessible venue.

If anyone is looking for an RC circuit that enables a wheelchair user to compete at no disadvantage to anyone else then moto arena is that place.

• Level access into and throughout the interior of the building;
• A commercial lift up to the second floor mezzanine that connects through to the drivers rostrum;
• Fully accessible disabled toilets

There really is now nothing else I could possibly hope for. Thanks to the people behind MA for the work they have undertaken, and Matt in particular to pushing on my behalf.

My only problem now is that I have no excuse for crashing!