gregs Y62 Patrol "the mafia staff car"

[gregs]

Hey guys thanks for the encouragement, greatly appreciated, I just try to do what I do and not let too much get in my way, even at 44yo I am still as stubborn as when I lost my legs, albeit I have had to slow down a tad, 2 shoulder reconstructions will do that do you..it has been a fun 2 years thats for sure, imagine pushing a wheelchair with one hand, like a duck with one leg...keep going around in bloody circles ........

MudRunner TD, yep it has the auto box but doesn't have any paddle shift or thumb controls, mine are just the old style push pull (reben) controls, these attach directly to the accelerator and brake pedals. I pull the lever to accelerate and push the same lever to brake, it is a pretty simple thing with a couple of heim joints, rods and plates but unfortunately there is only about 3 or 4 that can do it qld and under qld transport rules they are the only ones to fit these things, I am allowed to remove them, just not fit them.
The ones with the thumb control for the accelerator are approx $7000 (thats what I was told anyway), they are a really nice unit and made in Italy (I think) but that was just a little out of our price range...by a lot actually...

[gregs]

Good on ya Greg, and another one to your list, Haven't you had like one every couple of years...LOL
I'm bloody jealous mate. The Y62 looks great and I think it will serve you well.

Congrats mate

Thanks mate, yeah have had a couple of patrols over the last few years, the last GU (2012) is now up for sale as the missus doesn't want to keep it as she has a little hyundai excel for work and much cheaper to run than either of these patrols, so one has to go and unfortunately it is the gu, it will be sad to see it go but hopefully whoever buys it will use it for what it is built for. I think it is a pretty decent price for what gear it has on it, but I suppose only time will tell!

[mudnut]

Hello, Greg and welcome to the forum. Glad you've decided to join us. Just be aware that nothing seems to be sacred around here, except the mighty Patrols

[gregs]

Hello, Greg and welcome to the forum. Glad you've decided to join us. Just be aware that nothing seems to be sacred around here, except the mighty Patrols

mudnut, cheers for the welcome, yep the patrol is a sacred item around here too, this is our 3rd patrol (unless I can count the old GQ ute I used to drive for work many years ago, wasn't mine though!) and I just can't seem to break the leash from Nissan, I have tried too, wanted to get a 200 series a few years back but with a nearly 50K changeover they were promptly told to belt it where the sun don't shine, so we bought another GU instead and now with the Y62 down in price decided to grab one while they were cheap, but the GU has to go though unfortunately.

[mudnut]

I pictured someone with one arm, trying to propel a wheelchair. The mongrels shoulda fitted a locker on it for you Seriously, I've owned a couple of Toyotas: a 4wd Corolla (ugly as hell but it climbed hills like a mountain goat) and we have a 95 spacia van with 450000 ks on the original block. They are good, but parts are way more expensive.

[threedogs]

Greg what plans or trips have you lined up in the back of your mind.

[Stropp]

Good on you Greg, I have a
mate that is a paraplegic and got pulled over for speeding, he said the cop gets out with his mirror sunnies on and walked up to the drivers door and says " the way you are driving you will end up in a wheelchair " my mate points in the back and says you are 4 yrs too late the look on the cops face was priceless he turned walked back to the car and drove off, funny as f$&k .

[krbrooking]

I take my hat off to you mate. Glad you are getting out there and enjoying your patrol.

[kevin07]

Cheers guys for the kind words. As for the hand controls, they are because I lost both legs in an accident back in 1999, left is above knee and right is just below the knee, I do have artificial legs but Qld transport say that I cannot use them to push the pedals (bloody spoil sports), they won't even let me use a pool cue........ But in all seriousness they do allow me to drive the vehicle in safety, although they do cost an arm and a leg (pun intended), I could have nearly bought a rear bar for the patrol for the price I paid, unfortunately that's the price we have to pay for medical aids and equipment.
As for asking about my disability, I have no issues with people asking at all (I wish more would ask!) and I will try to answer any question. The first question any of the blokes (my dad, brother, father in law etc etc) asked when they seen me in hospital was, so how is the old fella, still there, is it still working?? don't worry about me missing 2 vital parts of my ability to walk, nah just find out if the most important male bit is still ok... I also lost most of my dignity in hospital.....that happen when your balls are swollen that much from the trauma and a male nurse has to bandage them up (twice) to try to reduce the swelling as they were the size of a very large grapefruit, the first thing my missus said when I showed her was..you're not coming near me with that thing!! hahahaha. The swelling did go down and everything went back to normal.
As you can see I am very open minded about my disability, I have to be as I cannot change it.

Cheers

Greg

hey gregs you got a grapefruit when I had my first transplant I had a pineapple, that when I walked would sit at the back of my legs whilst everyone laughed at me cause it looked like I had a great big turd in my pants. worse still my old fella sunk inside said pineapple, and I had to squeeze him out to take a leak.

[gregs]

Greg what plans or trips have you lined up in the back of your mind.

threedogs, mate would really love to do the Tanami, Canning, Old Gunbarrel Highway, Anne Beadall and back up the Birdsville Track, we were going to do the Cape a few years ago but we went west and had a look at Lake Eyre when it had water in it instead, but no major trips planned as yet, just a couple of weekends away with friends and family, my left shoulder has started playing up after my op in June last year so I have to get it sorted before I can really start planning a big trip, really wish it wasn't so and hopefully it will only require a cortisone injection but that will be for the specialist to determine.