Making disabled athletes equal to all through motorsports

Torsten is a C6 Quadriplegic who had a diving accident in 1994, when he was 15 years old. While it changed his life physically, it didn't change his addiction for speed and extreme activities. Beyond racing, he is the worlds only Quadriplegic that is a Rescue Scuba Diver and completed 12 marathons in 12 months in 2016.

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His entry into Motorsports was because of a confluence of events: 1) they moved to Sharon CT, 7 miles away from Lime Rock Park, the country’s most strategic race track 2) for their wedding anniversary his wife surprised him with a track day at Lime Rock, giving him a taste of track driving 3) he was born with a need for speed. You will find him in track as much as possible doing HPDEs, TTs and very soon wheel-to-wheel.

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He lives with his wife Maggie and dog Beau, in Sharon, CT and is the Global Head of Advertising and Media at TCS.

James has always been an automotive enthusiast, but only recently started high performance driving once he discovered how easy it is to get onto a race track. He primarily drives at HPDE events with the Boston chapter of the BMW CCA on tracks in the North East.

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James and Torsten first met at a car control clinic at Lime Rock Park and a couple of weeks later they drove together at an HPDE. After a few sessions it was clear that they were evenly matched. Both were driving the same model M3 at a speed and skill where they could push each other to run their best. The camaraderie and friendship grew quickly from there and continues to this day. James is passionate about bringing this experience to anyone interested in high performance driving.

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Originally from the UK, James moved to Switzerland where he met his wife and now lives in Boston with his daughter and pup.

Andrew J. Smiley, Esq. is a leader in the field of personal injury law. He is a Past President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and the New York City Trial Lawyers Alliance. He is also a Master Continuing Legal Education (CLE) instructor, lecturer, trial team coach, and mentor.

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His podcast, The Mentor Esq., is listened to around the world. Andrew represents catastrophically injured individuals, many of whom are in wheelchairs. He brings a passion for helping people to the foundation, which naturally aligns with his enthusiasm for motorsports.

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Andrew is an active member of the Porsche Club of America and enjoys tracking his Cayman GTS 4.0 at High Performance Driving Events (HPDE) as often as possible.

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Emily has been deemed the backbone of Lime Rock Park by those that know her. If you need to get things done, she's your go-to. An occupational therapist by trade, she realized that her real passion is cars (which made sense seeing as her father is in the track business too!). Fast forward a few years and you can now find Emily as Lime Rock Park's Events Manager. She is likely the one screaming past you on her scooter.

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If you ask Emily to rank the loves of her life, it would be dogs, cars, humans. And yes, in that order.

Doug Henry brings a wealth of experience and inspiration to the board through his storied career as a professional motocross racer and advocate for adaptive sports. A multi-time AMA National Motocross Champion, Doug is widely recognized for his groundbreaking accomplishments, including being the first rider to have a premier class Supercross win on a 4-stroke motorcycle.

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After a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2007, Doug’s passion for competition and innovation fueled his transition to adaptive sports, where he continues to thrive as an athlete and mentor. His resilience and advocacy have made him a role model for individuals with disabilities, while his technical expertise and competitive mindset offer valuable perspectives on overcoming challenges and achieving excellence.

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In addition to his contributions to motocross and adaptive athletics, Doug actively supports community initiatives that empower others to embrace life’s possibilities. As a board member, Doug brings his unique blend of determination, leadership, and a commitment to fostering opportunities for individuals of all abilities.

With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, Nichole has spent the last decade working within nonprofit organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals across all age groups. Currently, Nichole serves in business operations for a local Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), where she applies her expertise in quality assurance, compliance, and financial management to ensure the highest standards of care and support for the community.

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Beyond healthcare, Nichole is deeply passionate about racing. Her journey into the racing world began just a few years ago with the excitement of dirt track racing, sparking an interest in the sport and for organizations like JustHands.

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Nichole enjoys traveling, spending quality time with friends and family, and giving back to her community in various ways, including fostering pups in need. Residing in Bantam, CT, she leads a fulfilling life with her daughter Brady and their beloved dog, Que. Whether working in healthcare or supporting animal welfare, Nichole is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of others and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.

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Chris is a T5 paraplegic due to a motorcycle accident in 2008.  He has always been an adventurous type and nothing has changed since his accident. He has done bungee jumping, sky diving, mountain biking, road cycling, alpine skiing, snowmobiling, still rides a motorcycle and much more. He has been an advocate for people with disabilities locally and also on Capital Hill. Enjoys helping others with volunteering with multiple organizations. Best motto is, “you don’t know until you try it”

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Chris grew up on motor sports and loves speed. Before his accident he use to drag race ATV’s in sand drags. Started with a simple ATV then went on to custom ones including one with a motorcycle engine and another with a 700cc snowmobile engine. So when he tried Just Hands Racing, it felt pretty natural to him and left him wanting more.

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Eric grew up in a house of automotive and racing enthusiasts, spawned from his grandfather’s racing of Model As in the fields near his home growing up and his father’s friendship with Mark Donohue in prep school.

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Eric has worked in a variety of racing series as a mechanic including the Mazda MX-5 cup, Speed World Challenge, Grand-Am, ALMS, and IMSA. He has built Spec Miatas too numerous to count, and had modest success racing them that grows with each telling. Eric recently completed a complete restoration of a 1964 MGB, and looks forward to the lifelong commitment to trying to sort electrical gremlins and leaks.

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Eric lives in Fairfield, CT, serving the whims of his dog, Ursula, and cat, Gus. When not playing with cars, he is a project manager or product owner for technology companies.

As a dedicated commercial real estate professional with experience in leadership development, business strategy, and marketing, Julie understands the value of creating partnerships and sharing actionable intelligence. Julie spends her time in the passionate pursuit of helping others become authentic leaders, emphasizing the transformative power to motivate through effective communication.  Next up is taking on the role of incoming president for CREW New York, a dominate force for women real estate professionals in New York City.  

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She hails from the Midwest where tracks are dirt and Detroit metal rules. After moving to the East Coast, she found comradery at her very first HPDE day at Lime Rock Park and hasn’t looked back. Having actively contributed to Metro NY PCA, where she formerly held a board role, Julie is passionately committed to breaking down barriers, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage in the exhilarating world of motorsports.