The Polaris ACE - proof that wishes can become reality
The Polaris ACE is a machine that's only been a dream for disabled riders like myself. Gimpman (aka Darrel Von), a member on the Polaris Razor forum lives in OR and has been a quadriplegic for over 40 years. I lived in CT for 20 years but moved to OR about a year ago and finally got to meet him. He adapted his RZR 800 to center steering and installed hand controls but since the 800 was never designed for a single rider the geometry of the whole machine is off. I was at his place three days ago and once again we were griping because there weren't any single seat ATVs available. When I heard about the ACE today I was ecstatic because I knew it'll allow thousands of disabled persons or riders who want a bit more protection to ride in safety.
I had polio when I was six and even though I regained some motor functions there were always things I couldn't do. When I was a teenager I rode dirt bikes but after crashing too many times because of poor balance & weak leg muscles I gave it up. In 2009 I bought a Grizzly 700 and invented and installed a high-back seat with a helmet backstop, a helmet restraint system that kept my head from flying forward when I hit a hump or log and I installed a four point harness. Everything worked the way they were supposed to but while waiting for a group of riders to meet me at a landing zone in Vermont I decided to take a short trip on my own. I broke the first rule of off-roading: "Never ride alone" and I ended up rolling my Grizzly onto it's side. Since I was strapped on I couldn't jump off and the only thing that kept me from continuing to roll down into a ravine was the helmet backstop. The extent of my injuries was a scratched pinky and that was because I forgot my gloves. After climbing off and looking at the Grizz' laying on it's side I had two thoughts within a few seconds; 'So, this is what the bottom looks like' and 'If I continue to ride this I'll kill myself.' I tipped it over on a Saturday and within three days I sold the quad, the trailer, a plow, a custom made log skidder, and countless dollars worth of accessories I'd installed. I lost thousands of dollars on the deal but I knew if I kept it I'd eventually kill myself.
I tried to find someone to build a 50" wide tubular steel ATV chassis with center steering & a roll cage but either the cost was prohibitive or the person claiming they could adapt a side-by-side was blowing smoke. I even wrote Polaris and asked them to either build a single seat machine or change the design of their existing SxS so it could be adapted to center steering. I have no illusion that Polaris decided to build the ACE based on my letter but thank God someone in their organization did the market research and determined there's a strong market for this product. I haven't seen all of the specs yet but for me to operate an ACE safely it'll need EPS and gas & brake systems that can be adapted to accommodate different physical limitations.
I'd like to thank Polaris for building the ACE and reaffirming to a 60 year old kid that Santa really does exist. Hopefully they'll have demo rides somewhere within a 300 mile radius of Portland soon. I'll be easy to spot because I'll be the guy banging on the door of the hauler yelling "OPEN UP!!!"
The Polaris ACE is a machine that's only been a dream for disabled riders like myself. Gimpman (aka Darrel Von), a member on the Polaris Razor forum lives in OR and has been a quadriplegic for over 40 years. I lived in CT for 20 years but moved to OR about a year ago and finally got to meet him. He adapted his RZR 800 to center steering and installed hand controls but since the 800 was never designed for a single rider the geometry of the whole machine is off. I was at his place three days ago and once again we were griping because there weren't any single seat ATVs available. When I heard about the ACE today I was ecstatic because I knew it'll allow thousands of disabled persons or riders who want a bit more protection to ride in safety.
I had polio when I was six and even though I regained some motor functions there were always things I couldn't do. When I was a teenager I rode dirt bikes but after crashing too many times because of poor balance & weak leg muscles I gave it up. In 2009 I bought a Grizzly 700 and invented and installed a high-back seat with a helmet backstop, a helmet restraint system that kept my head from flying forward when I hit a hump or log and I installed a four point harness. Everything worked the way they were supposed to but while waiting for a group of riders to meet me at a landing zone in Vermont I decided to take a short trip on my own. I broke the first rule of off-roading: "Never ride alone" and I ended up rolling my Grizzly onto it's side. Since I was strapped on I couldn't jump off and the only thing that kept me from continuing to roll down into a ravine was the helmet backstop. The extent of my injuries was a scratched pinky and that was because I forgot my gloves. After climbing off and looking at the Grizz' laying on it's side I had two thoughts within a few seconds; 'So, this is what the bottom looks like' and 'If I continue to ride this I'll kill myself.' I tipped it over on a Saturday and within three days I sold the quad, the trailer, a plow, a custom made log skidder, and countless dollars worth of accessories I'd installed. I lost thousands of dollars on the deal but I knew if I kept it I'd eventually kill myself.
I tried to find someone to build a 50" wide tubular steel ATV chassis with center steering & a roll cage but either the cost was prohibitive or the person claiming they could adapt a side-by-side was blowing smoke. I even wrote Polaris and asked them to either build a single seat machine or change the design of their existing SxS so it could be adapted to center steering. I have no illusion that Polaris decided to build the ACE based on my letter but thank God someone in their organization did the market research and determined there's a strong market for this product. I haven't seen all of the specs yet but for me to operate an ACE safely it'll need EPS and gas & brake systems that can be adapted to accommodate different physical limitations.
I'd like to thank Polaris for building the ACE and reaffirming to a 60 year old kid that Santa really does exist. Hopefully they'll have demo rides somewhere within a 300 mile radius of Portland soon. I'll be easy to spot because I'll be the guy banging on the door of the hauler yelling "OPEN UP!!!"