1985 was the year that changed it all for Jim Cairns.
Seventeen kilometres out from Birdsville, Jim was racing across a Queensland gibber plain on his KTM600GS motorbike during the 1985 Wynn’s Safari. Racing across the dusty, windy conditions at 150km/hr , Jim was catching up to another competitor in a vehicle, coming into a tight track between two sand hills which offered little opportunity to pass one another. He recalls saying to himself, “If I could just get past this car before we enter this section…” opting to “keep the power on” in a bid to out- brake the competitor on the inside. This is the last thing Jim remembers before his “outer body experience”, telling himself to “just stay alive” during the helicopter flight, seven ambulance trips and two plane flights to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
Jim’s life with a spinal injury had begun, being classified as an incomplete T12/L1 paraplegic, later classified as a complete T12/L1 paraplegic after being diagnosed with a Spinal Syrinx, his nerves severed during the operation. Jim struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel, deeming it “the start to the end”. Following this, Jim sought to find and return to the location of the accident, see the documentary of his return in 2010 along with 2 other paraplegics and 1 quadriplegic at www.theridemovie.org.
It was at this point where Jim was encouraged by his good mate Rex Baker to enter the 2014 Australasian Safari. After selecting the 2014 Polaris XP1000, Jim crossed paths with Bill and PME, as well as Troy from TL Engineering, to bring forth the vehicle modifications needed to allow Jim to control the accelerator and brake system for the 3500+ km journey. PME installed a fly by wire throttle ring and a push brake system, as well as a 2:1 steering quickener installed by Troy simultaneously with the hand controls.
After further vehicle modifications, Jim and Rex set off for their journey, amounting to 3586.5km in total, completing this figure in 70 hours and 34 minutes in sixth place on Saturday 27th September 2014. Good on you Jim, your astounding dedication and determination is greatly admired.
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