My Odyssey Formula 400

Just a year after falling off his motocross dirt bike and sustaining paraplegia, Townsville’s Craig Disher was back doing what he loves best – competing at speedway races, albeit a little differently.

Craig sustained his spinal cord injury in February 1996 and since then, has had to use a wheelchair.

However, Craig said not getting back into competitive racing was never an option, it was just a matter of time before he started again.

“Racing’s not a hobby, it’s a disease – no blood transfusion can cure it,” he joked.

“Since I was 15 I’ve loved racing motorbikes; it’s been a huge part of my life for more than 25 years.”

In 1997 just months after returning home to North Queensland from the Spinal Injures Unit in Brisbane, Craig purchased his beloved Odyssey Formula 400 speedway car, which he races every two months at different meets throughout the North Queensland region.

“The first time I competed after my accident was very different. Good, but just different,” Craig said.

“Because of my spinal injury, which means I have no feeling or function below my chest, I have to put a strap around my waist to hold my body in place.”

As well as his Odyssey, Craig also has a Honda ST1100 trike, which he has modified with the assistance of Spinal Injuries Association occupational therapists to be able to transfer onto the trike seat from his manual wheelchair.

Next month, Craig will be part of a 100+ contingent of Townsville car and motorbike enthusiasts who will parade through the streets of the city from Willows Shoppingtown to Strand Park for the third annual Cruise for a Cause on Sunday, 7 November.

An awareness-raising event organised by the Spinal Injuries Association and sponsored by the Graduate School of Motoring in Townsville, the day highlights the fact that road trauma is the number one cause of all spinal cord injuries.

And each year, around 90 Queenslanders sustain spinal injuries – an average of one person every four days.

Craig will travel on his Honda trike in front of a Queensland Police car in the lead of the procession.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said Cruise for a Cause not only highlighted the importance of safety on our roads, but showed the community that having a spinal cord injury did not mean you could no longer drive a car or ride a motorbike.

“A lot of our members use hand controls, and hoists on the top of their cars, to continue driving,” he said.

“Driving for most people is one of the most important parts of being independent, so we do all we can to support and empower our members to continue driving.”

Issued 8 October.