The car in question is a 1968 Pontiac Firebird, which Ron Heagy used to take quite a joy ride Wednesday morning at Portland International Raceway.
The Salem, Ore., resident is paralyzed from the neck down. So for Heagy, driving means controlling the car with a joystick in his mouth.
As he pulled to a stop after the final lap, Heagy was greeted by applause from the “Quad Squad”—a dozen or so employees at the Vancouver campus of SEH America who volunteered to support his effort.
That support started with Phillips, who provided the car.
“Without the Quad Squad, no way this would have come together,” Heagy said.
Another important participant was Rose Cup official Dan Halloran, who followed the Firebird around the track in a Mini Cooper to check out Heagy’s driving skills.
Still, “It’s almost like going to the moon,” Heagy said later during a celebration at SEH America’s east Vancouver campus.
Heagy was paralyzed in a surfing accident 29 years ago. He hadn’t been behind the wheel—make that the driver’s seat—of a car until a month ago.
“I mentioned that I’ve always wanted to drive something that goes more than 5 mph,” Heagy said. “Ron said, ‘I’ve got a Pontiac you can drive.”’
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