This was the racing wheelchair that set the world of wheelers abuzz back in the 1980s.

At the beginning and for many years racing wheelchairs were nothing more than a street wheelchair modified by athletes who spent as much time with a welding torch and wrench in their hands as they did with their hands on the push-rims.

They were forever working on improvements that would give them that bit of advantage. All of that changed dramatically with the introduction of specialized racing wheelchairs and even more so with the introduction of the Halls Wheels Racer.

Developed by designer/engineer Bobby Hall, this racing wheelchair was considered to be the chair to have. Like all of Bobby Hall’s wheelchairs, the racer was a one-off made to tight custom specs. It revolutionized wheelchair racing technology and can be considered the grandfather of today’s racers.

Not only was this racer technologically ahead of the pack, but it was also considered to be an aesthetic masterpiece. This was true to the extent that the Museum of Modern Art in NYC made the racer a part of their collection.

For those not familiar with Bobby Hall- He was the designer/engineer/owner of Halls Wheels, a company that manufactured custom made rigid frame manual wheelchairs and racing wheelchairs.

His chairs, such as the Hallmark, and the racer pictured above, developed a cult like following of users who to this day long for the return of Halls Wheels.

Yet, there is more to Bob Hall than the fine lines and usability of his wheelchairs:

“Most major improvements in wheelchair technology–and in the public’s perception of wheelchair-users–can be traced to people who pushed the existing envelope. And if you ask any seasoned wheeler just who’s done that, Bob Hall’s name comes up more than most.”
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Wheelchair Hall of Famer Bob Hall is a wheelchair user with post polio who has made key contributions in mainstreaming wheelchair sports. Bobby’s lasting contribution to the disabilities community came in 1975 when he broke the ice and was allowed to enter the 1975 Boston Marathon.

“I knew that things were going to be different, not just for me but for a lot of people. It was an experience that I believe a lot of people should share and should experience like I did, in a very positive way. I had never been through something that was so positive, so rewarding. It’s opened the doors, and has opened people’s minds to the abilities and capabilities of people with disabilities.” Bob Hall
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