Racing For Meaning “Despite The Loss”

I was super inspired when I first heard the story of Jason Schneider, and not just because he’s a fellow Nissan 300ZX driver (although that certainly helped)… but probably not for the reason you think. Yes, Jason is out there building engines and laying down blistering track times with only one hand. Dude is dedicated and talented and tough, there’s no doubt about that. But Jason isn’t using a physical disability to garner sympathy.

Jason is inspiring because he saw the challenges he faced – physical ones as well challenges of the mind and soul – and realized that many others were using time in the garage to both cope with and escape from problems that plagued them. It wasn’t about who had ten fingers and who didn’t, nor was it about who had worked through their demons and who was still struggling with them – tuning and motorsports brought solace to him and gave him a place to find small victories especially on days when life was difficult, and that is something he shared with thousands of greasy-fingered mechanics and Nomex-wearing late-apexers. Jason figured out what really mattered to him … and figured out WHY it mattered … while he was still young enough to pursue it wholeheartedly. And then, he was brave enough to do exactly that.

So many people will live their entire lives never finding and pursuing their passion with as much determination and resilience as Jason, and never being as true to themselves as Jason. I don’t see any disability in the way he lives at all.

There’s an excellent write-up of Jason’s self-made documentary (he’s a filmmaker also!) over on Hagerty.com. You can watch “Despite the Loss” streamed on Amazon Prime as well as Vimeo on Demand. Definitely check it out, and get inspired yourself.