Anthony, sports car fan and paraplegic, has allegedly been turned away from a cruise event due to his disability

Anthony came to us after becoming paraplegic in a dirt bike accident in 2008. We installed an accelerator ring and custom brake hand assisted driving control system on his HSV V8 Maloo ute which was later supercharged. These are the same controls PME installed on racing legend, Win Percy's Jaguar XF, which he raced while he was in Australia. Anthony breezed through his training and assessments and received his driver’s license.

On 28th February 2010 he attended a motor vehicle cruise event ‘Powercruise’ for the purpose of entering the event as a driver. The conditions of entry are that “All drivers must be minimum of 18 years of age”, “hold a current drivers licence” and “Entered vehicles must be road registered, unregistered vehicles at Promoter’s discretion”. His vehicle is registered and engineered. 

Anthony, however, was apparently refused a place in the event due to his use of hand controls. This was allegedly due to an accident in Darwin involving a paraplegic using hand controls. Anthony later called the promoter to discuss options for next year’s event and was met with alleged yelling and abuse. The conclusion made from this conversation was that apparently nothing would change for next year’s event and that users of hand controls would continue to be barred.

Understandably, Anthony is unhappy with how he was treated considering the expense, time and effort put into attending this event only to be turned away apparently without the promoter even talking with him or viewing his vehicle. Also understandable is the promoter’s right to discretion and his unwillingness to take further risk upon himself when he doesn’t even understand the controls that Anthony is using.

This is a matter of equal rights however and, as Anthony has proven himself a capable driver in the same way as every other driver on the day by having his driver’s license, it does not seem fair that he has allegedly been discriminated against because of his disability.

Please ensure that if you do plan to attend similar events, you call event organizers prior to the day to make sure that you will be allowed to participate and so that they can make any necessary arrangements for you.

Anthony has taken his case to the Australian Human Rights Commission. If you would like to show your support for Anthony, join his Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10150114196980179&ref=ts

Source: PME

Posted: Tuesday 16th March, 2010