Abstract: A drive for a wheelchair having two larger diameter drive wheels with axles, the drive with regard to each drive wheel, including inner and outer disks flanking the drive wheel and being in fixed rotational relation with the drive wheel about the axle, a lever having a lever axis, the lever rotatable about the axle and about the lever axis, a cam selectively rotatable about the lever axis by the lever to and from a contact position and a non-contact position with respect to the outer disk, and a shoe positioned for contact engagement with the inner disk when the cam is in the first position. When the lever is rotated about the axle, and the cam is in the contact position, the cam and the shoe frictionally engage the respective disks propelling the wheelchair.