Off-Road Wheelchair Land Speed Record: 40 MPH in the Extreme Motus
Quick answer
Sam Durst set an unofficial recreational off-road wheelchair land speed record of 35–40 mph in the Extreme Motus, towed behind a Razor UTV at Knolls Recreation Area in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert. The chair stayed remarkably smooth at speed. Spoiler: the dangerous shots feature Mr. Bones (Sam’s stunt double skeleton), not Sam — though the swap fooled enough viewers that Sam’s brother called their mom to make sure she’d seen what we did.
Setting the record
Sam has officially achieved his goal of setting a recreational land speed record in his Extreme Motus off-road wheelchair.
I wanted to shoot this video at Utah’s world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats, but on the only weekend the whole crew was free, Greg and his team were already heading out to Knolls Recreation Area. Sam and I met them in the desert with a rough plan and improvised the rest.
The day before the shoot it dawned on me how perfect it would be to put Sam in an Evel Knievel jumpsuit for this video. I called 20 different costume and party stores trying to find one. Struck out completely. Not owning an Evel Knievel jumpsuit for spur-of-the-moment stunts like this is officially one of my biggest regrets in life.
What is a recreational off-road wheelchair land speed record?
Taking inspiration from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — where Clark Griswold travels at the speed of light down a sledding hill — we wanted Sam to ride his Motus to glory in similar fashion.
We didn’t crash (Sam wasn’t even there)
Because there was always a chance the chair would start to bounce or swerve while being towed behind a Razor UTV at high speed, we brought Sam’s stunt double along for the dangerous parts. Mr. Bones would be earning his money today.
Meet Mr. Bones
After filming all the slow-motion shots of Sam suiting up for the record attempt, we took Sam out of the chair and put his stunt double — Mr. Bones — in. In the first aerial shot of the Razor pulling the wheelchair, you can actually see Sam sitting in the front seat of the UTV while Mr. Bones rides in the chair wearing Sam’s helmet and clothes.
This fooled nearly everyone who watched the video. Including Sam’s brother, who was very concerned and called their mother to ask if she had seen what Sam and I had done — and whether she was okay with it.
At the end of the video there’s an outtake that reveals Mr. Bones in the chair. That was my way of showing Sam was never in danger. Plenty of people still didn’t connect the dots, including my own wife, who lectured me about putting Sam in danger after watching it.
Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair, ready for the land speed record attempt”/>How fast did you actually go?
Between flying the drone, operating the camera, and making sure I had every shot we needed, I never checked the speed in real time. Greg told me afterward we were running between 35 and 40 mph, and we were both surprised at how smooth the chair stayed at that speed. The Wheeleez tires soaked up the sand and chop better than I would have guessed.
Who’s Greg?
Greg owns Lucky W Electrical and sponsored the video. We’ve been friends for 20+ years. I love the idea of turning Greg into a recurring character — a slightly sketchy guy you’d find on Craigslist who’s the only person crazy enough to help Sam and me execute our next harebrained idea. Looking forward to Greg appearing in future episodes.
Know before you go: Knolls Recreation Area
Knolls is a 36,000-acre off-highway vehicle area in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert, about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City. Mix of sand dunes, hard-packed trails, mud flats, and rocky sections.
Activities and terrain
- OHV riding: Dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides — the area is built for it.
- Camping: Primitive camping is allowed throughout. Bring everything you need; amenities are minimal.
- Photography: Sunrise and sunset over the dunes are spectacular.
Facilities and fees
- Restrooms: Vault toilets only. No potable water on site.
- Day-use fee: $10 per vehicle. Passes available at Recreation.gov.
Important considerations
- Bombing range: Knolls borders a military bombing range. Stay within marked boundaries.
- Preparation: Remote area with no shade or water. Bring everything you need.
- Safety: Helmets required for riders under 18. Good off-road tires recommended.
Directions
From Salt Lake City: I-80 west for ~80 miles to Exit 41 (Knolls). South over the overpass, west onto the old highway, ~2 miles, then south across the railroad tracks to enter.
Frequently asked questions
Was Sam actually riding the chair at high speed?
For the slow-motion close-ups, yes. For the highest-speed shots being towed behind the Razor, no — Mr. Bones (a skeleton) wore Sam’s clothes and helmet for those shots. The end of the video shows the swap.
How fast did the Extreme Motus actually go?
Between 35 and 40 mph, towed behind a Razor UTV across hard-packed sand. The chair was surprisingly smooth at that speed.
Is the Extreme Motus rated for high-speed towing?
The Motus is built for off-road pushing, not towed high-speed runs. Don’t try this at home — we had a stunt double, a sponsor, and a controlled environment.
Where is Knolls Recreation Area?
About 80 miles west of Salt Lake City off I-80, exit 41. 36,000 acres of OHV terrain run by the Bureau of Land Management.
Is there a fee to use Knolls?
Yes, $10 per vehicle for day use. Passes available through Recreation.gov.
Since 2019, Sam and Ryan have been demonstrating that nature is wheelchair accessible with the Extreme Motus All Terrain Wheelchair. From National Parks to Skateparks, their adventures prove that a manual off-road wheelchair can offer laughter and joy while navigating diverse terrains.
Join us as we continue to share these inspiring journeys.
Light, comfortable, and compact, the Extreme Motus glides over sand, rocks, grass, gravel, and even floats in water.
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