- May 2, 2024
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As Colton Lawson circles racetracks while riding with the Sarasota Area Dirt Riders Association, spectators might not notice his prosthetic legs.
Likewise, the Myakka City 7-year-old is undeterred by his physical difference, as for him, racing at high speed simply feels natural.
"It's easy," he said, explaining that he enjoys the experience of overtaking fellow racers, the thrill of traveling on his four-wheeler, and the friendships that have resulted from the sport.
He said completing his inaugural season with the Sarasota Area Dirt Riders Association, which saw him receiving the Quad Pewee B Championship, filled him with a sense of pride by knowing he could inspire others by demonstrating “anything is possible.”
In June 2018 when he was 2, Colton lost the lower parts of both legs following a mowing accident.
He had always enjoyed riding on the Bush Hog with his father, Chris Lawson, as he mowed the family’s 28-acre property in Myakka City. One day, Colton’s mother April Costello arrived with groceries.
As Chris Lawson was letting Colton down from the mower to run to her, his foot slipped the clutch, and Colton was dragged under the mower. He was then flown to Tampa General Hospital, where he had six surgeries, ultimately having his legs amputated below the knees.
Despite his setback, his passion for vehicles with wheels and engines remained steadfast from a young age, as did his desire for activity. Sometimes Colton will remove his prosthetics and shoes, and dart across the grass on just his legs.
Colton has never let the challenges he encountered keep him from his love of moving fast, said Chris Lawson.
Initially, Colton struggled to ride a bicycle without training wheels, and his shoes had to be attached to the pedals with Velcro. Then one day, amid his father’s objections, Colton surprised him by effortlessly riding a bike.
Inspired by his family's involvement in dirt riding, Colton’s serious interest in racing was piqued when Chris Lawson took him to the final race of the 2022 season at the Sarasota Area Dirt Riders Association.
That prompted them to purchase a four-wheeler and enter the world of racing.
To aid in their practice, Chris Lawson and his friends developed a track within the wooded section of their property, which soon became a popular spot for Colton’s friends as well.
As Colton embarked on his first race of the season, his nerves were still running high; at the first corner, a multi-vehicle crash took place. For a little while, the situation only continued to worsen. Two of the crashes involved Colton himself, the second of which resulted in staff having to remove his vehicle from the bushes.
Yet in the final lap of the race, as Colton was lagging behind in last place, his nerves suddenly dropped away and his love of the sport took over.
“I was thinking of braveness, proudness,” he said. “I was still a little bit nervous, and people were still crashing.”
Colton gained speed to ultimately finish in third place. In his next race, he finished first.
While racing presented its own share of challenges, Colton's determination never wavered, leading to him being promoted from a B-class to an A-class racer.
On repeat occasions, his leg passed through the vehicle’s nerf bar, a netted foot platform, and became jammed in the front tire. In one of those instances, he hit his chin on the dashboard, busted his lip and lost his shoe. He continued without his shoe and went on to finish the race.
Chris Lawson said any time Colton encounters an obstacle, he is only encouraged to push forward.
“It makes him angry, and he really pushes through,” his father said. “It makes him just try harder. It just makes him go faster.”
Another issue Colton faces is that he is not able to feel the footbrake with his leg and must use the handbrake instead. His newest vehicle will be modified to place the footbrake on the left handlebar.
Costello said due to the risks inherent in the sport, watching Colton race can be nerve-racking.
“Once he gets through the first lap, then I know he feels comfortable and that he will be OK for the rest of the time, but yes, it is definitely nerve-racking for me,” she said. “It’s the risk that you take. You know that there’s a risk. There’s a risk with anything you do.”
She also said it helps that the organization’s medic team is “top notch.”
That medic team includes a welcome face for the family. Its head medic, Donny Richardson, led the Aeromed flight crew that transported Colton after his accident.
On the last race of the season, the anniversary of Colton's accident – June 14 – Richardson brought along some guests to the Port Charlotte racetrack, the other members of the flight crew that transported Colton.
“That was a good surprise,” Chris Lawson said.
Although Colton wasn’t able to complete the race due to carburetor issues, he came away with the Quad Pewee B Championship.
Colton's sights are now set on gaining as much time on the four-wheeler as he can before the next season starts in early September. Due to moving up to a new class, he now must familiarize himself with a vehicle equipped with a motor that runs it three times as fast.
“They’re older kids, bigger kids. They’ve been riding a lot longer, so we’re going to have some competition,” Chris Lawson said.
The family has plans for a trip to Georgia in November, where they will explore the mountains and ride on dirt bike trails.
“I love mountain riding,” Colton said. “I want to be a mountain rider.”
Chris Lawson knows his son already has come a long way.
“A lot of people are surprised at what he can do,” he said.
One of those people is Colton’s sister, Taylor, who is 14 and will now be starting in dirt bike racing next season after being inspired by Colton.
Later this year, Colton will participate in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) race held outside the state.
“I’m proud of him every single day,” Costello said. “For the most part, he doesn’t let much bother him. He is one of the most resilient children I’ve ever met in my life. He’s loving, he’s kind, he’s driven. He’s a lot to be proud of.”
