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Paraplegic Ricky James Racing in the West Coast Pro Truck Series Thanksgiving...

icky suffered a spinal cord injury in a motocross crash in 2005 leaving him a paraplegic at the age of 16. Ricky did not let his injury stop him from doing what he loved most. He is currently the West Coast Pro Truck series Champion at Toyota Speedway of Irwindale

Blythe, CA November 21, 2008 -- Ricky James, the 20-year old paraplegic from Murrieta, California will be racing his wheelchair-adapted truck in the West Coast Pro Trucks series Thanksgiving 200 at the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe, California on November 29, 2008. In his first year of racing, Ricky has taken 9 out of 10 pole positions, won the Irwindale Speedway Championship and Rookie of the Year award and closely trails the lead points within the overall West Coast Pro Truck series. With one championship title under his belt he is eager to take the title at the I-10 Speedway this season.

Ricky is like no other racecar driver at the speedway. Ricky was well on his way to fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a Supercross champion, when life took a drastic turn. At just 16 years old, he was injured in a Motocross accident on the track at one of the largest Amateur National races in the country. The blow to his T7 vertebrae left him paralyzed from his sternum down. Today at 20, he'ss deftly navigating the new terrain of his life. Since the accident, Ricky has not slowed down. Besides riding Motocross again, he has competed in the Baja 500, was recently awarded a Silver Medal in the Summer X Games and has his sights focused on a 4-wheel racing career. I think this proves that I can drive and look forward to taking the next step in 2009 towards my goal of driving professionally, said Ricky.

Ricky uses an everyday type hand control made by Monarch to race his truck around the 1/3-mile track at the I-10 Speedway. Watching him maneuver his truck around the track you would never know that he had any kind of a handicap. He races just as hard as the next driver out on the track. His skills are almost unmatched comparing them to his fellow drivers. He is also very much respected as well as a fierce competitor.

Colours Wheelchair is proud to be involved with Ricky James. John Box President of Colours says, Ricky James is part of a new movement of young disabled that are proving that they are unstoppable.

Among racing trucks Ricky is also riding motocross and competing in Iron Man Triathlons. On November 8, 2008 he clinched the Hand-Cycle Class Championship in the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 Triathlon in Clearwater, Florida.

Ricky will be racing in truck #24 on November 29, 2008 at 5:00 pm at the Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in the West Coast Pro Trucks series.

Ricky James has been a sponsored athlete for Colours Wheelchair since 2005. The Colours Wheelchair company makes the most innovative manual wheelchairs and wheelchair accessory items on the market. Colours is constantly searching for ways to improve the lifestyle of the disabled and surrounding communities. We realize the importance of mobility, but respect the need for groovy, great-stylin's manual wheelchairs. This is more than a mere wheelchair for mobility - this is a lifestyle!

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