Part 1 - The Beginning

The best way for a family to escape the south Texas heat in August is to take a trip to Colorado. It's cool in the mountains and there are lots of fun things to do like hiking, biking, camping and if you're lucky, a trip up the side of the mountain on the old Durango steam train to Silverton. In 1978 I was returning from just such a great vacation and was asleep in the back seat when a drunk driver hit us. We were thrown out and scattered on the New Mexico highway. My younger brother Billy was killed but other family members received only minor injuries. My neck was broken at the base of my skull. I was fourteen years old.

"C-1 through 4, breathe no more " is emergency jargon meaning that when an injury occurs to the first four cervical vertebrae the ability to breathe is lost. Fortunately, my father had attended a "new swimming pool" party a week before the accident and a fireman had given a lesson on CPR. This knowledge enabled him to literally breathe for me for five agonizing hours while I was being transported to a hospital. I am classified as a C-1 quadriplegic. Since my injury, I have been totally paralyzed from the neck down.

During my convalescence my weight dropped to 54 pounds putting me on the brink of death. A head nurse at the hospital was so concerned about me that she did some independent research and learned about hyperalimentation. This high nutrient infusion treatment, developed to help burn victims, put me back on the road to good health.

Following my injury I was dependent on a respirator. It was clumsy to carry around, and made it difficult for me to have a normal conversation as a result of the measured pauses in my speech. I worried constantly about accidentally disconnecting my ventilator tube. In 1979, Dr. Ed Carter, of TIRR (Texas Institute of Research and Rehabilitation) in Houston thought that I would be a good candidate for the new Avery/Dobelle breathing pacemakers. They have been surgically implanted under my skin with wiring that is attached to my phrenic nerves. Time controlled electrical impulses are sent via the wiring to stimulate the nerves so that my diaphragm muscles contract.

After almost two years of hospitalization I was released to go home.

My injury had a devastating effect on my entire family. It consumed each and every conversation and consideration. Every day there was one crisis after another but eventually, the traumas began thinning out as my health improved. Looking back I feel that there were times when my injury was more of a hardship on my family than me. Today, I can honestly say that my paralysis is a very minor part of my life.

Back to School

The hospital offered little in educational opportunities. After I returned home I wanted to continue my education. It was impossible for me to attend school but with the help of a home schooling teacher I completed high school. Earning my high school diploma had given me something to do with my time but I didn't have any specific goals. About the only thing I knew to do was to continue my education.

The big news in the late '70's and early '80's was personal computers. Dad bought a TI-99/4A for me. Because I could only press one key at a time with a mouth stick my new computer had to be adapted to work on dual key commands with shift lock switches. It was tedious, but it worked. I knew it was only a matter of time before the voice recognition systems would be developed.

After convincing one of my first TRC (Texas Rehabilitation Commission) counselors, that I would do better if I had a computer with one of the new voice recognition systems, she managed to get me a first generation Apple IIe, (now known as a dinosaur). The voice command on my new computer made it possible for me to dial my telephone, operate my television and control my room lights. An internal fax-modem enabled me to handle a lot of my own correspondence.

Bill Glenn, my next TRC counselor who remained so for 15 years, had confidence that I would be able to do something productive in the computer environment and agreed to sponsor my education. Bill is truly one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable counselors I have ever known. His tough challenges were rewarding when met. Bill also made sure my equipment was upgraded as my skill level increased.

After my injury I didn't have any focus on my future. For the first few years I was plagued with infections and upper respiratory problems. At one point I thought that if I lived to be twenty-five it would be a miracle. I developed a scoliosis (curved spine) that caused constant congestion. To straighten my spinal column surgeons laced each of my vertebrae to metal rods. My health began to improve after this procedure. Between having the pacemakers and the rods I have very interesting X-rays. I didn't start thinking realistically about old age and independence until after I entered college.

Although SAC (San Antonio College) did not have a formal home schooling program, Glenn Boswell, a teacher in the Computer Science Department, and Thomas Hoy, my academic counselor, took it upon themselves to find teachers who were willing to tape their classes. I had several tutors but David Houston was the most stimulating. David worked with me once a week and would take my tests back to the campus for grading. Before he became interested in computers, David had been a crane operator, which gave him a different slant on things compared to most people involved in computer science. For fun we would have programming contests. Glenn Boswell has always said that David was the smartest student he ever taught. David, Glenn and I became and have remained good friends. I received an Associates Degree in Computer Programming from SAC in 1990.

Receiving my degree was a real confidence builder. It made me start thinking about what my options were. Inherently born a project-oriented person, computer programming although interesting, did not satisfy my need to make something. Computer aided design (CAD) programs were being developed and I was anxious to have one. What I wanted most was a way to work on a design or an engineering project. My father, who is an accomplished aeronautical engineer, gave me a voice activated CAD program for Christmas in 1988, along with a few ideas on how to get started.

Jimmy Finch and the Story of the WmegaTrac® Powered Wheelchair

Part 2 - The Project

As I mentioned earlier, I did not venture out much after my injury. The complaints about my conventional powered wheelchair were minor, but as I became more active I began to notice things I felt could be improved. Side slopes were scary because my chair always wanted to turn down hill. Response time to my joystick control was sporadic. My chair was hard to maneuver in small spaces. And if I got on an incline that was too steep I could - and did - tip over backwards on several occasions. We have property out in the country and it was impossible for me to go down the steep rocky road to the river. Bumpy surfaces were uncomfortable bone jarring experiences. The lack of power and speed annoyed me. I also had maintenance problems. I began to fantasize about designing a wheelchair that would be a cross between a Range Rover and a Porsche.

My dad and stepmother, Janet, concerned about my immediate need for a better wheelchair, began shopping and gathering information in hopes of finding one that was perfect. The search for a better wheelchair escalated to a mission.

Dad and Janet even went to medical equipment trade shows, including the Abilities Expo in St. Louis, and then to the biggest show of all, Medtrade/NHHCE in Atlanta. The Medtrade Show has over 40,000 attendees and participants and is held in the Georgia World Congress Center. In London they discovered the German and Swedish front wheel drive wheelchairs. Together we attended an Abilities Expo in Dallas. Some wheelchairs looked great and were loaded with bells and whistles and headlights but lacked the performance and maneuverability I was seeking.

In the meantime I was doing quite a bit of research on my own and came to the conclusion that the only way to get a better wheelchair was to design one.

In the spring of 1990 the National Spinal Cord Injury Association sponsored a wheelchair workshop. A sales representative from a major manufacturer was there to demonstrate his latest and greatest wheelchair. Actually it was not much different from the one that I was in and we found the $14,000.00 price tag staggering considering its quality. Dad and I described the limitations of my chair and what my expectations were. Dad also bluntly told him what he thought his company should do to improve their wheelchair. (I don't think this was appreciated.)

As soon as I got home from the wheelchair clinic I turned on my computer and stared at the blank screen. Even though I had wanted to design a better wheelchair and had taken two or three stabs at it with my CAD program I wasn't focused enough to really accomplish much. With a sense of purpose I entered into my computer three specific things that I wanted my wheelchair to do. I wanted a powered wheelchair that could travel ten miles per hour while pulling five hundred pounds up a 25 percent grade. How I was going to achieve this goal was a mystery to me, but I was intent on figuring it out.

Evidently the rehab demonstration set the wheels in motion for Dad too, because a couple of days later he called me from his car phone and told me he thought he had an idea that "we" could incorporate in a wheelchair design. He asked me to start checking on gear cutters. I didn't know what he had in mind, but I said "Sure Dad that sounds great".

Attending the University of Texas to achieve a higher degree was put on hold so that I could work on my newly inspired wheelchair project. In this same period of time Bill Glenn, whose job it was to get me integrated into the work force, arranged for me to take a course that was sponsored by IBM, TRC and San Antonio College. Through this program I was able to get a part-time job with the 50-OFF Stores as a computer programmer. I was employed there from 1992 until 1995. Working was a very fulfilling experience but I didn't let it interfere with the progress of the wheelchair design.

Every day after Dad arrived home from work, he would review what I had accomplished. Standing behind me, watching our design grow on the screen as I called commands into my computer microphone, we brainstormed. My knowledge of engineering expanded with the design. After designing, revising and revising the revised designs for three years, we completed the transaxle, which is the most important part of the wheelchair's drive assembly. Dad drafted the patent language for the transaxle and other parts. His talent in this area saved us a lot of time and legal fees. In January 1994 we received our notice of approval from the U.S. Patent Office.

My Dad

About this time, the aircraft modification company where my Dad worked for as Chief Scientist for 20 years was bought out by a foreign company. After he had finished heading up the re-engining of the Boeing 727 for UPS, he was given notice that they were "down sizing" and did not want to develop new products so they would no longer need his ingenuity. Needless to say, we all had to do a lot of praying and thinking. At this point in my story I should tell you a little bit more about my Dad's many talents. He is known for several major but diverse accomplishments. His first job was that of a welder's helper at Alamo Iron Works. It wasn't long before he advanced to the design section. From Alamo Iron Works he went into the audio business where he met audio hobbyist, Bill Lear Jr., Ed Swearingen, and Dee Howard all of whom were in the aviation business.

Dad and Ed also shared an interest in pipe organs. Dad began working with Ed on a few major pipe organ installations in Ed's R & D hangar at the airport. While there, he acquired an interest in airplanes. During the building of the pipe organs he did some work on the new Swearingen Metro Liner. As a result, he designed most of the moving parts on that aircraft, which are still being manufactured today. Dad also retained a small business that designed and sold motorcycle accessories, camping trailers and custom audio systems.

After Ed sold his company to Fairchild Aircraft, Dad went to work for Dee Howard in an engineering department with four employees. Under his supervision the department grew to 350 employees. Aircraft thrust reversers and modifications of business aircraft were Dee Howard's specialty. In 1976, Dee Howard and Jim Raisbeck wanted a product to reduce the drag on the LearJet. Dad led the effort to produce the largest drag reduction ever accomplished, on which he was awarded a patent.

On the heels of the LearJet success came the contract to complete a Boeing 747 for the King Fahad of Saudi Arabia. The largest project of its kind, it included designing a three-story elevator and a stairway to ground level. Next, Dad led the re-engining program of the Boeing 727 for UPS with the Rolls Royce Tay engine. He was awarded a patent on design of the s-duct for the center engine. He also performed a major drag reduction after Boeing had not been able to accomplish this task. These are just a few of the highlights of my Dad's prolific career as an inventor and why I feel proud and extremely lucky to have him as my mentor as well as my father.

Jimmy Finch and the Story of the WmegaTrac® Powered Wheelchair

Part 3 - A Wagon Load

Employment opportunities for Dad were limited in the San Antonio area and, as lifelong residents, none of us wanted to move. He decided that the most logical solution was to form an advanced technology development company.

"You can't sell from an empty wagon" is Dad's philosophy, so we started designing products. Aviation of course was Dad's primary interest. A landing gear for an unmanned aircraft for Alliant Techsystems was the first item in the wagon. This was followed by a thrust reverser design. Then we really got industrious and began a 100-passenger high performance aircraft.

My mind was still set on continuing with the wheelchair project. We knew that the design was better than anything on the market but we did not have a real game plan. In November of 1994, Dad and Janet returned to the Medtrade show in hopes of finding a major manufacturer who would be interested in developing our patented design. Not only were they told that in their opinion our new design wouldn't work, but also that it would probably be too expensive to produce.

Dad and Janet's disappointment was overshadowed by their own opinion, that our wheelchair design was better than any that we had seen and that there was a real need for improved stability and maneuverability. In a high-spirited mood, Janet promised a show attendee that we would be back with a new powered wheelchair in Atlanta the next year.

As soon as they returned home, Janet began a wheelchair market survey. The compiled statistics bore out our instincts that there were a enough people like myself that wanted a better performing powered wheelchair to warrant producing the WmegaTrac®.

Publishing the gearbox drawings for the mock-up became my first priority. My attendant Jimi Harr was promoted to engineering assistant. I provided Jimi with a jigsaw so that she could cut the gearbox pattern out of plywood. She then glued the pieces together to make a mockup. I can't really say that Jimi has grown into an engineer but she has been a very good sport when it comes to searching the salvage yards for blocks of aluminum, making calls and keeping my files in order (and me too).

To keep us going financially, Dad sold some of our land, the tractor, one of our windmills, cashed in insurance policies and took out his retirement fund. I reduced my attendant staff hours to save money.

Together with our longtime friend and accountant Bob Cole, we prepared a presentation and began sharing our ideas with whoever would listen. One listener was the vice president of research and development for a major wheelchair manufacturer. His arrival in January 1995 was my first real encounter with an industry leader. He very generously shared a lot of his knowledge, saying that, in his opinion, our design was excellent. He also commended us for solving the stability problem that was inherent in most wheelchairs. Unfortunately, his company did not have any investment funds. Even so, we were energized and encouraged by his compliments and well wishes.

We formed the TEFTEC® Corporation in February '95 and began an all out effort to become a powered wheelchair manufacturer. We named our wheelchair the WmegaTrac®. Dad assumed the roles of CEO, CFO and COO, I was the chief engineer and Janet filled the marketing slot. Our goal was simple; to build the best powered wheelchair in the world.

We found several investors to aid in our launch efforts.

Raising the money was a learning experience for all of us. Looking back, designing the "best powered wheelchair in the world" was easy in comparison. There was one fluke that haunted us. A group of people developed an omni-directional wheelchair in the '80s that was unforgettable in at least five counties surrounding San Antonio. Their design was impractical to the point of being almost useless, but their money raising talents were sensational. Unfortunately, a lot of people lost money. Needless to say, we were told the saga of the omni-directional wheelchair every time we approached someone for capital. Not to be dissuaded we continued knocking on doors until we had enough funding to get us started.

By June, with only five months left until the Medtrade show, we were ready to order our first parts. We recruited my brother Tommy, who is a combination computer guru, mechanic, electronic engineer, and sometimes welder, to work for us. His first major responsibility was to design a printed circuit board that would monitor the controller of the WmegaTrac®.

While Dad, Tommy and I worked on the engineering and electronics, Janet was making arrangements with SEMCO Productions, for booth space in the November 1995 Medtrade/NHHCE show.

Transitions

Tables, computers, plotters and file cabinets had transformed our living room into a CAD center. Because of its height and size the grand piano became the drawing table where design conferences were held. The hearth was used to store tires, wheels and tools. Drafters and designers were hired to finish the last minute details and help with the wheelchair assembly. We have a small shop but everybody said it was more efficient to assemble the wheelchairs in the "CAD ROOM".... I think it was because it was close to the kitchen and air-conditioned.

UPS, FedEx, Airborne and other deliveries were part of the daily events. The arrival of the gears put everybody in a euphoric state. They looked like jewelry, especially the bronze gear. The anxiously awaited call to pick up our gearbox came so Tommy rushed to pick it up. It seemed like forever before he got back. We all gathered around the table watching as Dad filled the gearbox with the shiny new gears that formed the transaxle. With no redesign time left it was crucial that the transaxle worked. After Dad and Tommy assembled the transaxle, they attached it to the piano dolly that had been equipped with batteries and a kitchen stool. It looked crude, but Dad could ride around the driveway. He even gave our dog, Buckshot, a ride.

My stepbrother, Joey Hladek, an aspiring industrial designer, worked on our models, the chair body and the display ramp for the show. Sunday Hladek, one of my stepsisters and the youngest family member, was his partner.

At the end of October the big day arrived! The first prototype was ready for me to test drive. It is difficult to explain my mixed feelings. There was an audience of family and friends all asking me at one time what I thought. The sudden elation that I had expected was not happening. I drove around the driveway hesitant about getting up any real speed. The front wheel drive felt peculiar, but the response seemed to be good. I became super critical, but Dad, Tommy and Joey kept reassuring me that the little glitches would be worked out.

After a while, riding around the driveway and sidewalks became boring so I decided to see how my new chair would handle on the grass. It did great. Encouraged, I decided it was time for the real test. The Guadalupe River runs across the back of our property. We had blasted a road designed like a switchback into the seventy-foot cliff to gain access to the river. The grade varied between twenty and twenty-five percent. Cautiously, I led the parade of spectators down the gravel road. There was no discomfort or instability as I descended. About halfway down to the river, excitement combined with pride and almost disbelief set in. I made it all the way down to the river and back to the top without any problems. Back on the driveway I was ready for a speed test. I shoved my chin control all the way forward. Wow! My new wheelchair moved faster than I had ever gone before. Plus, I knew I was in control. I ended the lap around the driveway by putting it into a perfect donut spin.

Jimmy Finch and the Story of the WmegaTrac® Powered Wheelchair

Part 4 - The Really Big Show

With the '95 Medtrade show approaching as fast as the speed of sound, we called friends, neighbors and relatives to come and help us get the last three wheelchairs ready. A big "to do list" was posted in the "CAD ROOM", the calendar glared at us as we marked off the days. We had optimistically planned a party to show off the four new WmegaTrac® powered wheelchairs a week before we were to leave for Atlanta. At this point we were in a state of panic that we might not finish all of the chairs. The second chair was completed at the party while our guests looked on. It was two down and two to go.

In the final days before the show we literally had to work around the clock. It would be a misrepresentation not to mention that as the days grew longer patience was in much shorter supply. On the 11th of November the rented Ryder truck was loaded and Tommy, Dad, Joey and Sunday headed for Atlanta. Our neighbor, Lee Folz, had finished our 510K application and it was sent to the FDA the day that we left.

I was in my van with Jimi and Robin, my attendants. This would be my first trip in seventeen years. Janet stayed behind to finish up the paper work with plans to fly to Atlanta to check us into the Omni Hotel. Terrie, my sister from Houston, would meet us there and help us set up our booth.

We arrived at the hotel fatigued from the two-day road trip. To my surprise, Terrie was standing on the curb in front of the hotel. Janet had arrived also and had checked us into our rooms. Dad and the rest of the gang would be arriving shortly.

Early the next day we all went over to the huge exhibit hall in the World Congress Center. There were GES forklifts carrying big wooden crates zooming up and down the isles. Large cranes held workers that were hanging the Medtrade banners from the ceiling. Hundreds of people were setting up booths as show coordinators rode bicycles through the maze of activity delivering messages and taking orders for the service contractors. Overwhelmed, I wondered how everything could possibly be ready in time for the show opening. My emotions were a mix of excitement, anticipation, hopefulness and a firm belief that if the WmegaTrac® was not the best wheelchair in the world, at least we could truly say that we had tried our best.

While most of my family was setting up the booth, Jimi and I took a tour of the show area to see if we could figure out who our competitors were going to be. I had never seen so many wheelchairs in my life. Some of the large manufacturers had gigantic displays, which were very humbling. There was every make and model from all over the world. But I was able to surmise that the WmegaTrac® was the only American true front wheel drive powered wheelchair.

When we arrived back at our booth, Terrie was applying the finishing touches of paint to our demonstration ramp. The backdrop was in place sporting an eight-foot by eight-foot image of Joey and Janet on a four-wheeler and me in my chair going up the road from the river. The booth looked terrific. The ramp was to be the center of attention and was designed in such a way as to show off the extraordinary capabilities of the WmegaTrac®. On one end we had a very steep 43% grade and on the other end we had a side slope that butted into a step and leveled to a straightaway. Mounted over the top of the step was a large white omega that you had to drive through. The crazy part of this story is that we were in such a time crunch that we had not test driven the WmegaTrac® on the ramp. Before the paint had time to dry we all took turns riding up and over the ramp. All four WmegaTrac® prototypes performed flawlessly.

With all of the excitement of setting up we had forgotten about eating until we were heading back to the hotel. At dinner we discussed our expectations for the next day's show opening, then went up to our rooms and double-checked the chairs. We pinned our official badges on the tee shirts that Janet had ordered to match our booth backdrop. Going to bed that night was like Christmas Eve. The wake up call came before daylight. We met in the lobby after breakfast and formed a train with our four new WmegaTrac®s. I will never forget driving into the exhibit hall and seeing the incredible transformation. It was flooded with bright lights. Fire engine red aisle carpets framed the immaculate booths that were manned with smiling faces.

We hurried to our booth anxious to meet our potential customers. All of the doors were opened at once and the aisles flooded with people. We could sense the instant excitement of our visitors as they watched the action on the ramp. And it was obvious that our future competitors were taken off guard. At first they would watch the action on the ramp and speculate on what driving mechanism the WmegaTrac® had underneath the seat. Our full suspension was not like any other wheelchair on the market and our caster wheels did not shimmy. They suspected that we had corrected the tracking instability problem and at the same time dampened the ride but they just didn't know how.

The WmegaTrac® was an undeniable hit. Dealers, physical therapists, wheelchair users and competitors from all over the world drove our wheelchairs. Every time one of the WmegaTrac®s climbed the five inch curb we reveled in the oohs and aahs. We grabbed people out of the aisles and brought them to our booth like carnival vendors. One notable thrill was when an executive from a European front-wheel drive wheelchair manufacturer that we considered our number one potential competitor, wrecked his chair on our ramp. By the second day our ramp had acquired the name "ramp from hell," The fun was infectious and new friends from neighboring booths cheered us on as our audiences grew.

Debuting the WmegaTrac® at Medtrade turned out to be more valuable than we could have hoped for. It gave us the opportunity to gather practically all of the information we needed to assess our position in the marketplace. One of the things that we were told by a dealer was that the WmegaTrac® was the perfect wheelchair for rural areas. The ArgrAbility Project representatives confirmed this and with the new focus on outdoor trail accessibility the WmegaTrac® appears to have the potential of being the front-runner.

Another surprising thing we learned was that people in big cities wanting to avoid the hassle of mass transportation used their powered wheelchairs to commute to work. The WmegaTrac® is perfect for this application. We tested it out and it will travel approximately thirty miles at over eight miles per hour on a single battery charge.

I was especially impressed at how well I could control the WmegaTrac® indoors. My other wheelchairs have been so erratic that I had to be extremely careful not to destroy furniture or run into someone. In the hotel it was very easy for me to navigate in the crowded lobby, get into elevators and maneuver effortlessly around in the close quarters of my room. Getting in and out of my mini van was a piece of cake.

Originally we thought we would see the sights in Atlanta after show hours but by the end of each day we were exhausted. As everyone knows, time flies when you're having fun, so before we knew it we were dismantling the booth and excitedly planning what we were going to do at Medtrade in 1996.

Leaving Atlanta exhilarated, we headed for Orlando, Florida to celebrate our victory and Thanksgiving at Disney. We were also lucky enough to see the landing of the space shuttle.

Jimmy Finch and the Story of the WmegaTrac® Powered Wheelchair

Part 5 - Life After Disney

Waiting for us when we returned home was a letter, from the FDA, questioning a few of our claims, in our 510K Pre-market application. They noted that it was impossible to climb a thirty percent grade without tipping over. Also the FDA did not believe the WmegaTrac® side slope capability and lastly they cautioned us about the speed limits. Southwest Research was contracted by us to perform and video tape a series of static stability tests, write a report and send both to the FDA. (We received our Pre-market approval in June, 1996.)

New designs and planning began for 1996, with a near term emphasis on displaying the WmegaTrac® prototypes in the upcoming FutureShow 96 and Resna shows in June. Long term planning for the production models to be ready for the November '96 Medtrade show was in full swing.

The FutureShow was a smaller West Coast version of the Medtrade show and the RESNA '96 show was going to be in Salt Lake City. The RESNA show focuses on the development of assistive technology.

Getting ready for the FutureShow and RESNA '96 was far less stressful. We leased the same amount of space for each show and used the same backdrop. New tee shirts were made and this time we brazenly worded them to read, "It's the best powered wheelchair in the world". Betty and Terrie, my sisters, were prepared to ride with Tommy in the truck and help with the booth set up in Reno.

The road to Reno offered a totally different landscape than the Atlanta trip. The stark desert and big red rocks looked like sculptures. We pulled into an all lit up Reno late at night and checked into the Peppermill Hotel. It was a bustling 24 hour party and I had never been anywhere like it before.

We got up early and went to the convention center to set up our booth. One of the lessons we learned in Atlanta was that the parking lots are never close to your booth site. To avoid the long walks Dad and Tommy put trailer hitches on two of the WmegaTrac®s, they hooked a homemade flatbed to one and an industrial wagon to the other and filled them up with our booth furnishings. This sight turned a few heads. We estimate that the WmegaTrac® was towing close to a 1000 pounds on level ground and shallow ramps.

Expecting a commotion similar to Medtrade we were surprised to find just a few people milling around the exhibit hall. Curious, we asked a forklift driver where he thought everybody was. He laughed and reminded us that we were in a city with no clocks but assured us that everybody would be ready for the show. By early afternoon as we were finishing up, the hall began to fill with other exhibitors.

The following morning, dressed in our new show attire, we headed our "train" toward the exhibit hall. As we traveled down the aisles to our booth we recognized exhibitors and were met with many warm hellos.

The very first person that came to our booth said that he had seen us in Atlanta and was hoping to see us at the FutureShow 96 because he had a dealer that he wanted us to meet. We had many similar visitors. This made us feel good about the impression that we had made in Atlanta. Others that visited our booth were as enthusiastic as the attendees at Medtrade. The "ramp from hell" lived up to its reputation and the WmegaTrac® continued its hit performance.

Because we had six days between the shows it gave us a chance to take a side trip to San Francisco with the excuse that it provided a terrific proving ground for the WmegaTrac®. On a single battery charge I was able to conquer Lombard Street, Taylor Street, China Town, the streetcar cable terminal and a trip down to the pier. The weather was perfect, the people friendly and the food delicious. You might say we "did the town" and checked out the trails in the Muir Woods as well.

Driving from San Francisco to Salt Lake City wasn't very exciting but I enjoyed the ride just the same. We arrived in Salt Lake City rested and ready to set up. The RESNA show was geared more for the rehabilitation prescribers than dealers. Like a de ja vu the first person in our booth said that he had seen us in Atlanta and wanted to introduce us to a prospective dealer from the Salt Lake area.

The best part of the RESNA show was that several of the big universities and research centers were represented and many of their engineering faculty and experts were there to attend the show and teach at the seminars. "Ph.D." appeared on so many nametags I hoped that I would not have any trouble conversing. This fear was unfounded and the engineers that visited our booth tested the chairs and were very appreciative of the new technology used in the WmegaTrac®.

On the way back home from Salt Lake City we decided to take advantage of the cool Colorado Mountains before going back to the South Texas heat. We headed toward Durango. It had really grown since the last time that I was there. Our campsite was the Red Lion Hotel, located just one block from the railroad station. The next morning we were awakened by the sound of the train's whistle. With great expectation we boarded the old steam train for the trip up the side of the mountain to Silverton. The whistle signals were just as I remembered but I had forgotten about the wonderful aroma of the pine trees mingled with the pungent smell of the train's burning coal.

TODAY
November 1, 1996
The making of the WmegaTrac® has opened many doors that I never dreamed possible. Attending the trade shows offers me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge of the medical device industry, meet some of the nicest people in the world, see wonderful countryside and visit exciting cities. But sharing the WmegaTrac® with others is the biggest thrill of all.

All of the WmegaTrac® prototypes have held up remarkably well through all of the repetitive demonstrations on the "ramp from hell," numerous trips down to the river and back, and many donut spins - not to mention a year of my day to day continual usage.

The TEFTEC Corporation is growing into a full-fledged medical device design and manufacturing business. The final touches are being put on the WmegaTrac® production models for their debut at the 1996 Medtrade show in Atlanta. (Hopefully Fall will always be a time when we will be rushing to get a new invention ready for the Medtrade show.) Our Web Site has just been completed. And we are ready to start taking orders from our dealers.

With a great deal of pride I am very excited about the development and manufacturing of what I truly believe is the best powered wheelchair in the world...the WmegaTrac®.