After Road Trip Across America, Athens, GA Teen Test-Drives "Pimped" Ride

By PATRICIA GUTHRIE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
08/15/05

A souped-up, decked-out, pimped-a-plenty, accessorized, customized, one-of-a-kind ride hid behind a curtain at Motorcars of Georgia on Roswell Road Sunday, ready to roll.

"This is my ride?" Darius Weems asked to a circle of individuals and representatives of companies and agencies that had all pitched in for the surprise.

Then he smiled ear-to-ear and prepared for a test drive.

Darius is a 15-year-old boy whose body is slowly slipping away to muscular dystrophy. He lives in Athens, where residents are sure to soon see — and hear — his wheelchair painted in "Lamborghini orange" whiz by.

"Add-ons" included: voice-activated cellphone, 13-inch television screen, stereo system, PlayStation 2 and "spinners," rims that keep spinning even when the wheels stop. The motorized wheelchair was designed with four small wheels, a seat that tilts, and a heavy-duty frame. Technicians from two companies, Mobility Designs and Quantum Rehab, built the special-order chair in three weeks — a task that usually takes three months.

"It's about a $14,000 to $15,000 chair," said Darren Roberts or Mobility Designs in Atlanta. "And that's before it was completely customized." Cliff Downie of Full Effects Auto Techniques in Decatur worked nonstop for three days adding all the "trinkets, gadgets and toys." The ultimate wheelchair ended an ultimate road trip.

Sunday was the final day of a three week, 7,800-mile trip in a wheelchair-accessible RV with a "band of brothers" — a mix of University of Georgia students and documentary film-makers. Lodging, food, gas (about $150 to fill the 60-gallon tank) and other expenses were paid for by a slew of supporters, including Children's Wish Foundation International, United Cerebral Palsy, Verizon Wireless, Ludacris Foundation, Drury Inns and many others.

In Los Angeles, Logan Smalley and his friends had hoped to convince the MTV show "Pimp My Ride" to do its magic on Darius' old motorized wheelchair (which broke down on the trip), but that didn't happen.

The "Darius Goes West" adventure accomplished many goals, said Smalley, 22, who planned the trip and led its fund-raising.

Besides showing the teenager who'd never been out of Georgia the country's natural and not so-natural wonders — Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains and Las Vegas — the trip raised awareness about muscular dystrophy and caretakers of the disabled and elderly.

It also commemorated the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The places with the best accessibility? "Beverly Hills Hilton," Darius said.

The worst? The arch in St. Louis.

Darius said his favorite experiences were floating above Napa Valley, Calif. in a hot-air balloon, and whitewater rafting on the Colorado River.

All the action was caught on video for a future documentary film Smalley intends to make.

The UGA special education major met Darius and his older brother, Mario, years ago when working as a camp counselor. Both brothers were born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative muscle disease. Mario died at age 19 from the disease.

"Quality of life is the only treatment," Smalley said. "Darius can't walk and he can't hold his arms above his head but his enormous smile makes up for it."

A fully-loaded rad, bad wheelchair helps, too.