Just Hands: Meeting Quadriplegic Racer Torsten Gross Changed the Way I See Driving—and Life
I've always been a fan of motorsports, but seeing the first two episodes of "Just Hands" changed everything for me.
“Everyone has a wheelchair,” Torsten Gross told me the night of the screening of his new documentary series Just Hands. “Whether it’s visible like mine, or your glasses, or someone dealing with depression.” It was then I realized what we’d just seen wasn’t simply a documentary about racing; it was about redefining what’s possible.
Until I met Torsten I might have thought my ‘wheelchair’ was trekking to upstate New York through torrential downpours and flooding so bad that state authorities warned people to stay home. It was a three-hour trip on a train that, with the rain and warnings, maybe didn’t seem so well-advised, but the plans were grand: To spend the evening catching a preview of the Just Hands: For the Love of Racing, then a meet-up Torsten and the next day, hot laps on a track in his VW GTI. The trip was well worth it, even though Mother Nature had other plans for our weekend.
What Torsten and VW shared, though, was even more moving.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was VW’s guest for this experience but all opinions are my own.
Meeting Torsten Was Purely Serendipitous
Heavy rain and flooding doesn’t make for a good track experience, so our plan for hot laps on the track at Connecticut’s famous Lime Rock Park was scuttled. However, we were invited back to meet Torsten and learn more about VW‘s newest ambassador, chosen for his spirit and accomplishments, adapting his abilities to the track and continuing to compete.
Torsten‘s role with VW is more than symbolic, however. The company recently announced a program called Driver Access that allots an up to $1,000 reimbursement for the purchase of driver adaptability equipment for VW customers.
Listening to Torsten and hearing his story made me realize that sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when plans change, for good and for bad. Luckily, this evening panned out for the good.
That’s because during the screening I spotted something familiar in one of the episodes: a flashback video of teenage Torsten wearing a Hofstra University sweatshirt. That small detail would lead to one of the most genuine conversations, connecting with someone I’d never think I have anything in common with.
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“I Don’t Want to Be Equal. I Want to Be First,” Torsten Says
The second episode of the series takes us deeper into Torsten’s racing journey as he enters his first professional wheel-to-wheel competition at Virginia International Raceway. But it’s also where the documentary gets personal, revealing how Torsten sustained his original injuries. I won’t spoil it, but bring tissues; it’s emotional. Watching him compete against seasoned professionals while carrying that history makes every lap feel significant.
What emerges is universal: fighting your inner “gremlin” to persevere, setting goals and achieving them, overcoming despite limits, and having a team of people who believe in you and push you forward.
But what struck me most was Torsten’s perspective on accessibility in racing. He explained that racing is the only sport that puts him on the same playing field as an able-bodied person. But his ambitions go even further. As he told our group later that evening, “I don’t want to be equal. I want to be first.”
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Gross’s Goal Inspires Others
As Torsten explained his motivation for creating this documentary: “Visibility is vital in every aspect of life. As the saying goes, ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’ When I first entered the world of motorsports, there were very few people who looked like me. The narratives surrounding disabled drivers often focused solely on accidents that led to their disabilities.”
His hope extends beyond inspiring those who share his background; it also encompasses those who do not.
“I aim to motivate anyone with a dream of getting into motorsports, but who may hesitate,” he explained. “The only true prerequisites for success in motorsports are a willingness to learn—and, perhaps more importantly, a willingness to fail.”
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An Unexpected Hofstra Connection
After the screening, we headed back to our hotel for drinks and snacks courtesy of VW. Torsten engaged our group with an intimate conversation, and that’s when I got to bring up something I’d spotted in Episode 2.
“Good eye!” he said when I mentioned the Hofstra sweatshirt. Turns out he graduated the year I was entering as a freshman: 2002. We spoke about the dorms where we stayed, discovering we’d both lived in Netherlands Hall. I mentioned moving to Colonial Square eventually because the Netherlands was only for freshmen. He joked that he “never left.”
It’s moments like these that remind you of the power of unexpected connections. And, that let you see someone you might not have noticed before, or thought you’d never understand. In talking I came to see Torsten’s humor and zest for life shine through in everything he does; he’s genuinely funny and full of energy. Oh, and he uses lots of colorful language.
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Cars, Racing, and a Deeper Meaning
During our conversation, I learned that Torsten’s first car was a 1994 VW GTI, which explains why ’94 appears on his race cars today. He joked that his friends said he drove recklessly in that GTI, which sparked his love for racing. He still thinks it’s the best car for racing.
After the screening, and with a pause in the downpours, we walked outside to see both his personal VW GTI and the hand-controlled Porsche GT4 Cayman Clubsport MR that he races. Standing next to them, you understand how cars become more than transportation; they’re identity and freedom. For Torsten, that first GTI wasn’t just a car; it was the beginning of a journey that would eventually redefine what’s possible in motorsports.
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Redefining Accessibility and Possibility
Torsten’s “everyone has a wheelchair” philosophy is profound in its simplicity. Whether it’s visible like his wheelchair, my glasses, or trekking through a historic rainfall, we all have something that could be seen as a limitation. But limitations are often just starting points for innovation.
The documentary reveals how accessibility in motorsports is slowly advancing. During our conversation, Torsten mentioned how snack stands were torn down and rebuilt at several race tracks to become more accessible after he’d visited. It wasn’t something he asked for—it was just done. He thought that was amazing, and it speaks to the ripple effect that representation can have.
This raises important questions for the broader automotive industry: How can we make cars and racing more accessible? What assumptions do we make about limitations that might not be accurate? Torsten’s perspective challenges us to think differently about what’s possible—and thankfully, VW answered with its Driver Access program.
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The Just Hands Foundation
Beyond racing, Torsten’s work with the Just Hands Racing Foundation is creating real change. This non-profit organization provides performance driving experiences for individuals who use hand controls to drive. The foundation’s mission is to unlock the experience of driving on a track for those with physical disabilities who rely on hand controls.
They’re working to ensure tracks have adaptable car accessories for quadriplegics, like hand controls that can be installed in less than a minute on a steering wheel, making it easier for disabled people to drive race cars—or any car for that matter. It’s about creating opportunities for others to experience what Torsten has discovered: that on the track, ability levels the playing field.
The ripple effect of representation in motorsports matters for the entire car community. When we expand who gets to participate, we expand the sport itself.
Just Hands Is More Than a Documentary
The evening with Torsten taught me volumes about resilience, community, and the power of storytelling to change perspectives. Learning about his life, his experience and how he’s helping others was worth the entire journey—and adapting our plans in the face of torrential storms.
It also reminds us that there are stories everywhere: stories of people overcoming, adapting and redefining what’s possible.
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