Sisters man wins national award

A Sisters man is the national winner in a transportation design-and-build contest sponsored by Eastwood Co.

Erik Himbert and a friend were guests of Eastwood last week during a three-day trade show in Las Vegas, where his selection as the DIY Challenge grand-prize winner was announced. Himbert's winning entry, a wheelchair that allows users to stand for periods of time, was displayed at the Eastwood booth and drew plenty of attention.

"All the time I was there, people kept wanting to talk to me," Himbert said after returning home. "There was a lot of buzz about (the chair)."

His project has personal significance because Himbert's legs were paralyzed in a 2009 snowboarding accident. He began building the prototype stand-up chair in his garage even before hearing about the contest, with thoughts of producing the chairs to benefit other paralyzed people.

He and four other contest finalists received $500 and about $2,000 worth of tools from Eastwood to use finishing their projects.

A panel of five judges made the final decision, rating each entry on originality and creativity as well as online votes from the public. The rules required contestants to make a mode of transportation, completing the work solely by themselves.

"Erik's build shows creativity in both design and execution," judge Mike Joy wrote on the DIY Challenge website. "His build required as much or more special design and fabrication than the others. This is where a do-it-yourselfer stands out and achieves 'legendary' status."

The trip to the automotive show - the Specialty Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) trade show - fulfilled one of Himbert's longtime goals.

"The SEMA show has always been on my bucket list," he said. "It's not open to the public. It's really cool to see that stuff."

Also along on the expense-paid trip to Las Vegas was Himbert's friend Paul Rawlins, whom Himbert called "a car guy" like himself. They organized the GODSPEED Car Club in Sisters.

They arrived in Las Vegas on Monday, October 31, and flew home on Thursday, November 3.

Himbert smiled while recalling the star treatment they received.

"It was awesome. They chauffeured us around."

Other finalists were from Bonney Lake, Washington; Oneonta, Alabama; Pottstown, Pensylvania; and Milbridge, Maine. Himbert admitted that winning "did come as sort of a surprise."

He added that officials from the Eastwood Co., which sells vehicle customization and restoration tools, gave him useful advice on ways to modify his stand-up chair. They also discussed partnering with him to possibly manufacture the chairs someday, he said.

Himbert explained there are physical health benefits if someone confined to a chair can stand occasionally. It also has given him a greater sense of independence, he said.

One of the best things about winning the DIY Challenge was "bringing awareness of people in chairs who want some sense of a normal life," Himbert said. "It's not about myself. I'm here for other people."