That's a good story Gene. Phils was not handicapped. When his right arm was steamed, and he got to the point to where he was stabilized and the doctors were able to save his hand they told him it would not be like it was before. No fingers, but he would still have a hand. Phil asked them if they could shape it into a ball. They said they could. Phil did not want to have to quit racing.
I always had my steering as tight as I could get it....especially with D and F. No matter how tight it was...it always wanted to turn right when I grabbed for another position to make a left turn. It tends to muscle up your shoulders. I never asked Phil about how he was able to drive so well. When I first met him, he was winning or finishing in the upper tier. He had to do all that without being able to get a more advantageous grip on the wheel. It must have taken him some time to figure out placement for his cup. I don't know how long it took him to regain his competitive position because I never asked. It was something no one ever talked about. We just saw Phil at the races and shook hands left handed and went out and raced.
I have some pictures of when Phil almost blew over at the Eastern Divisionals at Winona, but I never posted them because it was such a quick and sudden rise, that I couldn't focus quickly enough. The hydro came back down and Phil hit the throttle again. No...Phil was not handicapped. He just had to learn a more difficult way to turn the steering wheel. And he learned very well.
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