Racing on Four Wheels
In the days when his schedule was quite empty, he would turn to the internet to chat with his friends. It progressed to participating in forums and finally he started a blog. The World Wide Web was where is he met like-minded individuals with similar interests who soon became his closest friends.
It is obvious that friendship plays an important role in Chow’s life.
“It’s hard to meet friends with same interests, it’s even harder to meet real friends. Many are false. The world outside contains a lot of two-faced people with double standards,” his voice rang with unspoken hurt and regret.
That was why he felt lucky to have such a great group of friends who and non-disabled yet have accepted him for what he is.
He said, “I may be the only one in wheelchair, but I don’t feel any different. My friends take care of me and make allowances.”
“We will go as a group to Malacca or Genting for day trips and we also have our makan (eating) sessions. All of us are into cars, so we’re kind of an informal car club. They come from everywhere;Genting, Perak, Johor and so on.”
In fact, inaccessibility is almost a non-issue with him, because his friends are always there to lend a helping hand.
“But normally we’ll evaluate the place first,” he added.Moving on to racing, Chow recalled how his father used to take him to Batu Tiga to watch races.He said, "I have no interest in F1, as they have totally different standards, which I can say is unachievable.”Chow normally takes part in “Autocourse – the simplest and cheapest racing competition. All you need is just flat ground. This race focuses on technique. An ordinary car can be used, the other things you need are a helmet, bucket seat and seat belt.”
Naturally, as a car enthusiast and racer he has had his car modified.
“For safety reasons and more speed. Made the suspension harder too,” he explained.
His eyes shone with excitement when he talked about his dream car.
“It’s a Toyota worth RM750, 000,” Ted sighed.
When asked on how he bounced back from the accident so fast, he smiled and said, “Your life is in YOUR hands.”
It was a dark and stormy night. Ted Chow Thian Tuck was riding his motorcycle back home from the pasar malam (night market) where his parents worked. It was a distance of 5 kilometres, and he remembered feeling the rain on his face and wind against his chest. The next thing he knew, he woke up on a bed in a hospital.That was the start of a whole new chapter in Chow's life.In the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (KLGH), Chow’s mother greeted him with the bad news; that his spinal chord sustained major injuries to the C5 and C7 sections, thus effectively making him a wheelchair user for the rest of his life.
“I was placed in a student ward. My mother said my spinal chord moved, and I had to undergo an operation to remove the crushed bones and insert wires. I spent four months in the hospital,” Ted relatef during the interview.
When his love for racing is brought up, the car enthusiast is quick to stress that subject and the accident is in no way related. “Besides, I was riding a kapcai motorcycle,” he smiled sheepishly.
After the accident, it took him two years to complete his SPM examinations. Following that he had wanted to do something for himself, to make his life worth living.
“Everybody wants to rise up again, it all depends if opportunity presents itself,” Ted nodded sagely.
His family is his main pillar of strength. They had the highest concern for him, and would help him with any incovenience.
“They gave me things to do so I wouldn’t feel useless. Previously I used to do handy work around my house. Then I worked in a factory dealing with electronic parts for one year. Unfortunately it went bankrupt, so I helped out my mother at her stall. Business was slow, I had almost nothing to do for a month. Now I'm working in a factory/ It’s been six years already,” he shared.
Ted is grateful for that, as he feels that today’s world is a tough place for the disabled looking for a job.
“Especially those with physical disability. It’s not that they don’t have their strengths, and many of them are looking for work. I feel that companies can help them by hiring.”