CLAY TWP — With the help of a friend and some creative engineering, Jonathan Stark is back on a dirt bike and moving.

Even if his legs can't.

Stark, 26, of Penn Hills has been paralyzed from the chest down for eight years. He was involved in a horrific auto accident as an 18-year-old on his way to school.

“I broke all of my ribs, shattered my pelvis, broke my back and my left femur — and got a scratch on my nose, like that's important,” Stark said.

“I woke up after a 13-hour surgery on Friday the 13th and found out I was paralyzed. I guess 13 really is an unlucky number.”

His fortunes have since changed — at least in the form of sporting entertainment — thanks to good friend Tim Tumulty. The two have been buddies since they were 10 years old.

“I never raced dirt bikes before, but I remember riding them and quads with my buddies when I was 15, 16 ... I took all those days for granted,” Stark said.

“Once that accident happened, I figured I was done with dirt bikes and a lot of things.”

It was that way for a few years — until Tumulty got an idea.

“I told him three or four years ago that I thought there was a way we could set it up so he could ride,” Tumulty said.

Stark bought a dirt bike a year ago, but took a few months to tell his family of the purchase. He wanted to make sure it was safe first.

The two went to work on the bike, setting up straps to hold Stark in, hand controls with which he could brake and accelerate, a cage for support, suspension work, etc.

“My left hand serves as three appendages — my hand, left and right foot,” Stark said. “That's taken some getting used to. Like anything else, it's repetition. You get better the more you do something.

“It really has been trial and error. That process is still going,” Stark said.

But Stark has been riding — and racing.

He's frequently ridden at Switchback Raceway and his first-ever race was at Switchback's indoor facility. He took second place.

Stark has also competed at High Voltage in Ford City. He's had other top-10 finishes in races. And he wipes out like anybody else.

“It hurts when I fall. But that's better than running the risk of having a quad roll over me,” Stark said.

Stark isn't rolling over the competition, but he's holding his own in a competitive atmosphere.

“People go up against him on the track and can't believe he never raced before he got hurt,” Tumulty said. “He's not treated any differently when he's on the track nor does he want to be.

“There are no special provisions made for him, no announcement to 'look out for him' before the race starts. He's just one of the guys.

“There was a tear in my eye the first time I saw him out here riding. I pushed him to do this,” Tumulty added.

And Stark is glad he did.

“Riding and racing that bike makes me feel alive,” Stark said. “To me, it's important to feel alive.”

Switchback Raceway owner Scott Roskovski said he's always welcomed Stark to the track. Tumulty brings Stark everywhere he rides and races.

“Jonathan is an inspiration,” Roskovski said. “It's really cool what he's doing. He doesn't let his situation get the best of him and his message is clear. When something bad happens in life, you have to be able to just keep on going.

“People like me worry about different things, then I see him out here doing this. He makes my problems seem so insignificant.

“Jonathan's story inspires people in a wheelchair or with some other handicap to push themselves and enjoy life,” Roskovski added.

Stark has only been to Switchback twice in the past two months because he's battling blood clots in his legs.

“I just haven't felt well enough lately,” he said.

But he's got plans.

He is hoping to compete in an adaptive race Sept. 9-11 in Michigan, calling that event “my next step.”

Stark is looking to compete in a racing series of some type next season “to see how I stack up in points” — and race at Switchback often.

“They've treated me the best here out of any track I've been — like nobody special,” he said. “All I wanted was an opportunity to race and they gave it to me.”