Project “Dragonfly”

It began with a promise

A few years ago Tim Allen watched his niece, Meagan, of Saginaw, Michigan, struggle with her conventional wheelchair while negotiating rough terrain between her grandparents’ home and a lakeside cottage in upper Michigan. “When she was young, I promised her that I would help design and build a new wheelchair for her,” said the TV and film star. “And kids remember promises.”

About a year ago Allen began intensive research into wheelchair design and technology—and, turning to a number of sources, most notably the automotive fabrication coachworks of Oakland, Calif., innovator Steve Moal—he was able to christen and ship the customized “Dragonfly” wheelchair to the now 16-year-old Meagan for her 2002 Christmas celebration in Saginaw. Meagan has cerebral palsy and cannot walk unassisted. Her primary mode of movement is by wheelchair.

This is not the first time Allen has collaborated with Moal. An avowed motoring performance enthusiast who traces his hot rodding roots to his teen years in Michigan, Allen three years ago had Moal build his rakish, hand-crafted high performance “Licorice Special” roadster. Moal is an internationally-renowned builder who amalgamates distinctive motifs from the American hot rod, classic European vehicles of the 1930s and Midwest sprint car and Indy racers.

“What would happen here if hot rodders got hold of this project?” Allen mused. “You know, built it like a concept car. Well, what they’ve come up with here is completely over the top. I’m so proud to be a part of this community—and all the people to who’ve participated in this project.”

The basic wheelchair Tim selected is an Extreme 4x4 built by Vestial-Innovation In Motion of Angola, Indiana. The firm’s X4 negotiates beach sand, snow, mud and provides access to woodland trails. It traverses obstacles up to 6” and features four 24 volt four pole motors with programmable electronics.

Roger Boylan ATS/CRTS at Saginaw Medical Service, Inc., in Saginaw, conducted test drives with Meagan and provided proper hand, foot and seating measurements. The Moal team then went to work on “Dragonfly.” The metallic orange composite body, seat and arm rest modules were designed and built by Michael Arnold, Crockett, Calif. Pockets with easy-access leather flap coverings are built into arm rests. The stylized and functional machined aluminum foot pad struts, anodized aluminum foot pads and gleaming, swiveling foot pad brackets were completed by Humboldt Instrument Company, San Leandro, Calif., and long- time hot rod and motorcycle machinist Darrell Hayes, Castro Valley, Calif.

Ken and Cyndy Nemanic of Walnut Creek, Calif., completed the upholstery in black perforated insert leather. Seating material is high tech medical foam which, reacting to body heat, molds to body contours. Orange embroidery—replete with the “Dragonfly” emblem—was done by Judy Nuzman, also of Walnut Creek.

“For Meagan this now means mobility, freedom and a really cool ride,” Allen says. “I’ve had to put myself in her shoes. An hour more of accessible freedom would mean a lot to me.

“Wheelchair design is still limited, “he continued. “The chairs have to have the right motor responses. Ideally it would be great if we could get one designed that would not only go up and down stairs but would go crablike side to side.

“Hey, we’ve opened up the idea here. It’s a little scary. How is she going to use it? Well, let’s just let her decide.”