We caught up Ricky James to see how life has been of late. The newly 21 year old was just chillaxin at home in southern California. We see him on SPEED, ESPN, etc., plenty, but we got a chance to talk off the tv screen We had plenty to talk about. Enjoy!

Whats up Ricky? Give us a short bio

Name is Ricky James, 21 years, I broke T7 which made me a Paraplegic at age 16. Trying to persevere; I’ve been focusing on racing and that’s what persevere means to me, to keep on racing. I would really like to make a career at it

Your injury was at the Spring Nat’l @ Lake Whitey, right?

Yea. I could see my line ahead of me all the way through the flagmen…I remember I was behind (Sean) Hackley. I was only 16 so I felt it made me grow up pretty quickly. Sort of a bummer

You were riding for American Honda/HHR at the time right?

Yea, well a branch American Honda

You got back on a bike pretty quickly, right?

I rode a few laps at Lake Whitney the following year, then the baja 1000. Backflip into the foam pit. I won the X Games this year for the spinal injuries. They split the spinal cords (6) and amputees (6)

Cool. Good job!

Thanks

Any Ironman stuff again?

Nothing besides racing the car this year. I did it in ’08; I pretty much trained each day doing around 90 miles or so. David Bailey helped me prep for it. I was pretty burnt out. I knew if he were helping me I’d have a good chance of finishing. I ended up doing 3 total, Hawaii, Texas and clear water, FL. The ironman in Hawaii took me 12 hours and 44 min. all the training feels like a lifetime worth of training. So I got that off my checklist and now focusing on driving. I’ve won the first 2 rounds so I’m excited for the remainder of the series

You’ve won the first 2 rounds, congrats!

I have an amazing crew chief, that has a lot to do with it (car set-up). Adapting to the manual clutch was hard

How was the transition from automatic

Like anything else, slow. I have electronic shifting in one car, just press a button then I have an actual clutch lever in the other. Had to make it hydraulic cause the stiffness. Both have regular hand controls though

Perseverance. Where are you looking to go with that

That’s one word I can live by plus my dad put them on wristbands when the accident first happened. I had it tattooed on my leg since. Perseverance just sounded right, like affliction, or a household name like that. Start the clothing slow and build it up

David Bailey’s brother, mitch is helping me do design work, he’s got a good resume

If he’s a Bailey, he’s talented

(laughs)

Since we both share sci’s, maybe we could express the motions a little more

The toughest thing for me is waking up with a headache each morning because bladder issues overnight. Get up, shower, morning rituals take at least an hour and a half each morning. That’s one that drives me crazy. Couldn’t imagine yours or anyone else’s. after that you usually want to go do something fun or crazy so it can be irritating. Then I don’t get into the standing frame enough or the stem bike

Who does?

Its like training like a professional athlete just to be in the same shape as some kid on the couch. Especially you because you’re incomplete. I’m almost glad to be complete.

My Urinary tract gives me so many issues I could never tell what movement is voluntary and involuntary

Well, I’ll let you finish up your day. Anyone you’d like to thank

soCal Super trucks, my dad, mom, dean coon, colours wheelchairs, alpinestars, racing plus, mastershift, para pros, perseverance and Mitchell Bailey

Thanks for your time, it was good to catch up!

Yeah, I know. I didn’t recognize your number but I’ve got it now. Lets stay in touch

For sure

See ya bud