[VIDEO] Quadriplegic Racer Sam Schmidt Drives the C8 Corvette at the Goodwood Hill Climb

It’s been an eventful summer for Sam Schmidt.

The latest chapter in the inspiring story of the paralyzed racer continued this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Schmidt – who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horrific high-speed accident in 2000 – drove a lap around the Goodwood Festival track using his semi-autonomous C8 Corvette.

Schmidt, now 65, and Arrow Electronics have been working on a system that allows a car to be controlled with head movements, with the ultimate goal of allowing quadriplegics like him to enjoy the freedom of driving again.

Their partnership began in 2013, and just about a year later Schmidt was driving a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Continual improvements have led Schmidt to drive faster and faster, including test runs at the Pikes Peak Hillclimb and road trips to iconic destinations as well as even receiving a driver’s license in Nevada.

But likely his most meaningful personal accomplishment came a few days ago when he used an Arrow-developed exoskeleton to walk for the first time in 21 years and dance with his daughter at her wedding.

Source:
jalopnik.com

Related:
The Semi-Autonomous SAM Arrow 2014 Corvette is On Display at the Corvette Museum
[VIDEO] Sam Schmidt Takes His Semi-Autonomous C7 Corvette for a Cruise in New York City
Sam Schmidt Drives his Semi-Autonomous Corvette Z06 to 190 MPH at Nellis Air Force Base