RICHARD HAMMOND IN ACCIDENT - BRAIN INJURY *CONFIRMED*

[Daggernite]

Richard Hammond has had a serious crash in a Jet powered car! watch the news! hes in leeds hosiptal. He was filming for topgear. Lets all hope hes ok :cry: News is developing now as its just come on TV.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5365676.stm

better link provided by Jabba

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1234566,00.html

[Jabba]

Shit, thanks for breaking the news, and lets hope his OK...

Anyone know anymore... ??? Please post further information here !!

[Jabba]

*** YEP ITS TRUE AND SERIOUS ***

:cry: I AM SURE THAT WILL BE THE END OF TOP GEAR :cry:


http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1234566,00.html

[TopGearNL]

OMG this is serious news :shock: :cry:

[TopGearNL]

Article said he could speak when he got out, at least thats some good news :!:

[Daggernite]

I feel deeply gutted as if its one of my friends. I really hope he fully recovers, and gets the best health he can get. Lets all hope and pray.

[5vz-fe]

damn...that's sad to hear. I hope he'll recover soon

[bmagni]

omg, i hope he recovers fully and soon !!

I guess this is what you get when you deform so much a CAR show...

[blinkmeat]

:? Hope he's alright and can drive again soon - He was great

[gangajas]

He was always doing the dangerous features in Top Gear. I hope he recorvers soon.

[TopGearNL]

/\/\ He still is BLinkmeat, don't make it sound as if he's already dead please :cry:

[nthfinity]

oh man, this is terrible

http://serv2.imagehigh.com/imgss/3960671__821539_vamp300.th.jpg (http://serv2.imagehigh.com/view.php?id=3960671__821539_vamp300.jpg&path=/imgss) http://www.thule.co.uk/partners/images/BLSR2.jpg
this "vampire car" ought to be limited to owner drivers taking the risk...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/821539.stm <- story on the car in question


Best wishes from JW for a speedy recovery Richard!

[Jabba]

IMO it was just a question of time before something like this happend, they kept on pushing, pushing and pushing, and now this is just what the media has been waiting for, so they can cut Clarkson and the BBC to shreds.

[chest3r]

Ohh man!!! Really bad news!!!

I really hope he will be ok :?

[nthfinity]

IMO it was just a question of time before something like this happend, they kept on pushing, pushing and pushing, and now this is just what the media has been waiting for, so they can cut Clarkson and the BBC to shreds.

Even so, where I don't think he should've been driving that car to begin with, he knew the risks... no different then my great grandfathers' friends who died racing.

although, I'm afraid your going to end up being right

[MotorWorld]

thats very sad, I hope he has a full recovery from this :(

[jorge]

Those are very bad news

i hope nothing bad happens, i really felt bad when i read the article

[yg60m]

That's a shock ! :( Very sad, I hope news will get better soon.

[HeilSvenska]

Wow. What a shock.

[blackenzo]

this is terrible news lets hope he makes a recovery he is such a brilliant tv presenter and person my thoughts are with his friends and family.

GET WELL SOON HAMSTER!

[Toronto]

get well soon.
hope this doesn't effect the show.
wounder what JC has to say about this.

[coombsie66]

I hope he makes a full and swift recovery. :?

[saadie]

damn sad news ... :( :(

Get well soon, all your fans need you! :(

like Nth said
this "vampire car" ought to be limited to owner drivers taking the risk...

[jon_s]

I just heard on the TV!

Christ - quite a shock. 0X

It is sounding pretty damn serious at the moment. Fingers crossed

[gis]

just watched the news on this and it seems very seriosu and he remains in critical condition.

i sure hope he pulls through,fingers crossed for the hamster :(

[Skaala]

hang in there hamster!

[jakaracman]

:cry: I AM SURE THAT WILL BE THE END OF TOP GEAR :cry:

I wouldnt think so ... He just had an acciden doing a report.
Will they ban war reporting as some reporters get killed?

It's just a job, and sometimes there are accidents ...

I think it'll end with Hamster 100% and a good piece of TG fun. I'm sure he'll make a good story out of it.

[Daggernite]

Just got some new info:

According to ITV news when the parachute deployed to slow him down, the car swerved off tothe right, then overturned. It took 10minutes to cut him free. He was uncontious but came contious during the time when they was cutting him out. Hes now in hospital with his family around him and Topgear representitives. Its believe he did break the record he was attempting for topgear.

[Chaos in 1983!]

oh man this is sad...TG will not be the same without hammond. I hope he recovers.

[topgeartom]

Heard about this a few hours ago, shocking news.

This is what happens when you find the edge of the envelope, yet I hoped it would never happen.

I fear this is the end for TG now. Heatlth and safety will put an end to entertaining programming once and for all.

Seems strange he is currently just down the road from me. Literally. Leeds hospital is very near the university.

I wish him all the best.

[novass]

Like stated before, its not a huge surprise as these guys often placed themselves in danger's way. Ive seen numerous drag racing crashes at 250+ mph and the driver was okay, I just hope this car is built to the same standards.

I sincerely hope he is going to be okay and I feel somewhat selfish in wishing him to return to Top Gear or even thinking of the show, but I cant imagine the show without his presence.

Best wishes!

[fsandys]

I thought exactly the same as Jabba, that this will signal the end of TG if it had not been coming already.

The reporter for the BBC said that their thoughts 'at this time' were for Richard as if they are going to investigate, and we all know what the result of that will be. :roll:

Get well Hammond

[nthfinity]

I know in drag racing that the chute has to be perfectly allined with the center of the car, otherwise this would happen with many/ever car slowing from these speeds.

it makes me wonder if the chute was packed poorly, or a gust of wind took it with it...

[salegosse]

sad news.

[jenkF1]

Real bad news thoughts with him and family.

I think topgear have really pushed it this time.

Don't know jack about drag racers but that car does not look the safest stable thing on planet does it :| :(

[Jabba]

:cry: I AM SURE THAT WILL BE THE END OF TOP GEAR :cry:

I wouldn't think so ... He just had an acciden doing a report.
Will they ban war reporting as some reporters get killed?

It's just a job, and sometimes there are accidents ...

I think it'll end with Hamster 100% and a good piece of TG fun. I'm sure he'll make a good story out of it.

Wars are not "entertainment" Top Gear is, the difference is TG doesn't need to be done, and can be cancelled, Wars cant be cancelled and need to be reported on.

There was another entertainment show years ago made by the BBC, where someone got killed during a stung going wrong, that was cancelled and never aired again, and it was a BBC1 prime time show with massive ratings.

I get the feeling that TG was running out of steam anyway, and there were so many complaints about it, that this will be the perfect excuse to kill it off now :(

[ARMAN]

He's gonna be alright and TG will be running!

Tom get there to him in the hospital(I'd do that) and tell him to recover or a russian guy will come and kick his ass 8)

Somebody gotta go there from JW! Get him flowers, bobons.. waterever (and maybe JW Tshirt) I pay it all if needed!!!

[Shinigami]

Hope he recovers just fine, he's a cool bloke.

[Daggernite]

Medical staff have now changed his critical status to stable. Looks like hes on the mend guys :)
Lets just hope its stays that way and we should be watching him host season 9 of topgear before too long :)

[topgeartom]

I imagine visiting will be strictly limited to family and friends but il look into the situation of leaving messages and report back.

[ARMAN]

I imagine visiting will be strictly limited to family and friends but il look into the situation of leaving messages and report back.

its just few blocks from you you said... try to sneak in tell them you are a brother or anything.
Try atleast... for me :wink: As I said I'll send you money for flowers and stuff.

[topgeartom]

Daggernite has beaten me to it, but it looks like he is now in a stable condition. Good news.

[topgeartom]

Just heard from BBC News 24 looking at tommorrows papers that the Sun reports onlookers said the car flipper numerous times before landing upside down on a grass verge, and that rather shockingly, the bits of the car could be "posted through a letter box"

[Daggernite]

Good news indeed... but as Jabba says, now it's Top Gear that it's in 'critical condition' I'm afraid ;?

Indeed. But the fact that a death is now not the case (hopefully, fingers still crossed). It should be easier for topgear. The thing that annoyes me is, Hammond almost/still could be in danger of losing life, because of stunt, that, personally would be part of that show I dont take much intrest in. I like production car news, tests and so on. These little side shows like the F1 car, indoor speed record and other stunts of this nature dont intrest me.

[666fast]

Sad news indeed, I hope he makes a full recovery.

With that said, there is a reason the NHRA and such require special licenses. You don't get to just hop into one of these things and go for it. Doesn't matter how much experience you have with other cars, 300mph in a matter of seconds is no joke!

[ferrari550]

On BBC world, it says that he is suffering head injuries. not a good sign!!

[TopGearNL]

I hope no brain damage, that can be one of the worst things :shock:

[TopGearNL]

At approximately 5:45pm BST (British Summer Time) on 20 September 2006 Richard Hammond was seriously injured in a car crash while filming for Top Gear at the former RAF Elvington airfield near York. He was piloting a Jet powered "Vampire" car, capable of travelling at 370mph, in an attempt to break the UK land speed record. He was said to be travelling at 280mph at the time of the crash. He is being treated at the specialist neurological hospital Leeds General Infirmary and is currently in a serious, but stable condition.[1] BBC reports suggest that he was air-lifted from the crash scene unconscious.[1] North Yorkshire Police have said that they "received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield." [3][1].

Sky News reports that he was driving a Vampire rocket car powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus Turbo-Jet Engine; the very same car that currently holds the landspeed record at 300.3mph [4]

ITV News reported that Hammond had broken the land speed record and was on a last run, filming extra scenes for Top Gear, when the accident took place. Hammond's family are with him, along with doctors and Top Gear representatives who were there when the accident took place.

Shortly after 11:30pm, Leeds General reported that Hammond's condition was "stable."

A quote from Dave Ogden from one the emergency services present at the scene of the accident, as broadcast on Sky News this evening: "He was just doing the final run of the day - I don't know quite what happened - but the parachute deployed. There was quite a lot of smoke and the car veered off to the right and on to the grass, and it overturned several times and it came to a halt a couple of hundred yards in front of us"

[HeilSvenska]

Okay. At least his condition is stable. Hope he gets better soon.

[Mattk]

Poor guy, but it looks like he's getting better.

[a007apl]

:?

[Caplax40]

I hope no brain damage, that can be one of the worst things :shock:

That's my fear. Broken bones and injuries like that are nothing compared to damage to the brain.

[Zot09]

Good thing he moved into stable condition. I hope he has a full recovery.

[frodefe]

Must admit that I, in this setting, are not giving the future of TopGear any thoughts.
They are all with Mr. Hammond and his family.

Get well!

[ae86_16v]

Holy shit. . .

[AlienDB7]

Hope Hammond recovers from the accident. Top Gear will ge so different without him :cry:

[Toronto]

i don't see them stoping Top Gear over this. yes it is a wake up call, but he was taking a risk. as everyone who is driving @ 200mph+ is taking the same risk. He is a car nut and would do this just because of that not because he is getting paid to do it by the BBC.

[Dubai]

This is shocking for Hamster. :(

[qt50006]

OMG :| what a sad news
I hope he is OK
Please post further news ....

[Jabba]

http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1449259.jpg
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1449347.jpg

Latest updates :

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html

[saadie]

i just saw the crash site ariel view .... daaamnn .. :| .. looks like a tyre burst or maybe the aerodynamic stuff faild :(

[stmoritzer]

http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1449107.jpg

updated article on skynews
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html



A hospital spokesman said Mr Hammond is being treated in a neurological unit and is now in a serious but stable condition after showing "some improvement" overnight.

[stmoritzer]

top gear page latest news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_yorkshire/5366422.stm

[davide]

My thoughts goes to Richard and his wife and kids.

[tanelvali]

He'll recover. And it is very good to the Top Gear popularity. Audience numbers will rocket skyhigh.

So, get well hamster and stop fooling around.

[Ghostbat]

My thoughts goes to Richard and his wife and kids.

Mine too. Get Well soon Hamster.

[TopGearNL]

Any news on his condition :?:

[fsandys]

I don't know if people outside the UK can watch the BBC news video casts? But if you can, they do keep updating their reports.

http://news.bbc.co.uk

He is currently 'stable'.


Is there any way we can get a message of condolence through to him??

I suppose this might be as near as we can get:

http://skynews.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/09/richard_hammond.html#comments

[stmoritzer]

^isn't the word condolence used after somebody died only :? :?:


anyway, a nice link, thanks
dropped few lines for him :D

[Dubai]

Is there any way we can get a message of condolence through to him??


No no. Don't say that! Condolence is bad. It means "an expression of sympathy, especially on the occasion of a death "

I know you mean Good man! :cry: Todays news so saddening me.

Hamester.... Hope to see you on TopGear 4th Oct mate! Well and recovered :D

[cooperluke]

Gee.. hope he gets well, with no brain damage. Hamster is a very fun guy to watch...

[McLaren4eVa]

Damn hope he get's better especially considering this might be the last top gear series.

[Jabba]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html

[gobs3z]

Here's good video coverage of the incident.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30100-Hammond_p21310,00.html

[Smylait]

Sad sad news... I really hope he will recover soon.

[Jabba]

Sad sad news... I really hope he will recover soon.

I guess it depends on what you define as recover from a "significant brain injury".

[TopGearNL]

I hope he recovers well, at least there is no bleeding in his brain!

Bastards that work at TG, setting them up to do more and more :fist:

Many respect for JC and may for being there for Hammond and his family! Shows that they have good hearts !

[Jabba]

Bastards that work at TG, setting them up to do more and more :fist:



It was only going to stop when someone got hurt, and thats where we are now.

The sad thing about it is, I and it seems quite a few others were getting fed up with these type of "features" and wanted to see more car reviews and track tests by the stigg.

I also thought, they got away with another potentially serious accident when I think it was Lionel Ritchie that lost a wheel in the "celebrity in a reasonably priced car" slot, but they just carried on as normal next week.

[TopGearNL]

Bastards that work at TG, setting them up to do more and more :fist:



It was only going to stop when someone got hurt, and thats where we are now.

The sad thing about it is, I and it seems quite a few others were getting fed up with these type of "features" and wanted to see more car reviews and track tests by the stigg.

I also thought, they got away with another potential serious accident when I think it was Lionel Ritchie that lost a wheel in the "celebrity in a prized car" slot, but they just carried on as normal next week.

Certainly true Jabba,

it was bound to happen. And everyone says to if Hammond were to die that it would be the end of TopGear. Im wondering if it isn't already there with the whole accident? :(

[Jabba]

Coming from a die hard Top Gear fan, I am already thinking its gone a bit too far now, or at least it should be taken off the air for a few years. I cant see how they can make jokes so easily now, its always going to be such a sad and awful atmosphere.

[TopGearNL]

Coming from a die hard Top Gear fan, I am already thinking its gone a bit too far now, or at least it should be taken off the air for a few years. I cant see how they can make jokes so easily now, its always going to be such a sad and awful atmosphere.

Yeah part of me agrees with you, but all the rest of me really wants TG to continue, but as you said, it wouldn't be the same!

[Jabba]

Just out of interest, how many deaths or injurys would people consider enough for the show to be cancelled ?

I am thinking though why cant we just have TG without the dangerous stunts anyway ?

[nthfinity]

Just out of interest, how many deaths or injurys would people consider enough for the show to be cancelled ?

I am thinking though why cant we just have TG without the dangerous stunts anyway ?


the stunts have been a bit much.... and even worse on 5th gear... who wants to see a BMW wiht a trailer jump?

also, if he were to die, or not be able to come back to the show... it would be very difficult to carry on :|

[Fleischmann]

Well, considering that the damage to Hammonds brain could be permanent, I'm afraid this will be the end of Top Gear as we know it. The show may be revived, but that would happen only in a few years IMO, with a new crew and sensible features.

Poor guy :(

[stmoritzer]

^ these record things like the indoor whatever record attempt will be over for sure,
IMO a record is per definition on the edge of something (otherwise it wouldn't be a record :wink: ) and without questioning Hamster's skills, he's never able to train properly for all the cracy stuff they bring to the show.

I admit I never questioned these kind of TG-features before today.
As long as it goes fine, nobody thinks about it :bah:

Hope he'll recover well

[Jabba]

Didnt they also try and freeze the shit out of him, and I seem to remember that being quite dangerous, with various monitors attached to him, oh yeh, and also they tried to drown him in a car that was plunged into a tank full of water.

[TopGearNL]

Yeah crazy stuff that. I agree Jabba that they should stop or already should have stopped doing these things...

[Toronto]

Sad sad news... I really hope he will recover soon.

I guess it depends on what you define as recover from a "significant brain injury".

ya the wording these doc's are using are very helpfull. 'a significant brain injury'? yet with no internal bleeding??

and a 'good' recovery?

I can only see 2 reasons why they would word it like this.

1. either it isn't as bad as they are making it sound (wanting to put the show in hot water

2. it is really bad, and they are down playing it so fans of the show won't get upset.

either way with a brain injury i hope him the best.
but don't forgot that hockey players and football (american football) players come back after brain injuries all the time. so lets hope for the best @ that note too.

[r2r]

Sad news to hear!


Hope he recovers from the brain injury and gets into a stable condition.

[x-per]

Erhm why stop those "crazy" features, if they did they would only end up with another boring motoring show, like fifth gear.

Anyways, hope he recovers.

[Daggernite]

Erhm why stop those "crazy" features, if they did they would only end up with another boring motoring show, like fifth gear.

Anyways, hope he recovers.

I still think the most intresting features was the ones where they drove across europe or to france in 3 supercars. You kind of enjoyed the cars, and there friendship. The part where topgear exceeds 5thgear, is that with topgear your not just watching car reviews, but the 3 of them aswell. Freezing Hammond or drowning him, while it may be entertaining to some, it was the point where I went to make a drink.

[saadie]

brain injury is always bad :(

He was talking to the emergency crew after the crash .. sooo i hope the injury is not all that bad :(

I hope he gets well soon! :(

[Smylait]

Sad sad news... I really hope he will recover soon.

I guess it depends on what you define as recover from a "significant brain injury".

That is exactely what I mean. It is not something you can recover easily, and sometimes you loose a lot of your faculties. Brain is the most sensitive part of the body. He will be lucky if he hasn't too much damages. I hope the best for him (regarding the situation). :wink:

[McLaren4eVa]

The irony is they don't even need dangerous stunts for the show to be funny, i think there amusing in every other scene. It just woudn't be funny without jeremy and richard.

[evoWalo]

These Brits always downplay things. Brain surgery is a major thing!

[Jabba]

Sad sad news... I really hope he will recover soon.

I guess it depends on what you define as recover from a "significant brain injury".

That is exactely what I mean. It is not something you can recover easily, and sometimes you loose a lot of your faculties. Brain is the most sensitive part of the body. He will be lucky if he hasn't too much damages. I hope the best for him (regarding the situation). :wink:

Yep, I think they would have said "full recovery" if they had meant a full recovery.

A good recovery from say almost death, could mean just about anything.

[PATo355]

Fuck this is sad news , hope he recovers and comes back to top gear ... he was a very good presenter :S

[LotusGT1]

My thoughts goes to Richard and his wife and kids. Devastating news :(

[STiInYourEye]

These Brits always downplay things. Brain surgery is a major thing!

Are they going to perform brain surgery? I had not heard that surgery was needed as of yet. It seems to me that the main reason to perform brain surgery after a major crash like that would be to stop bleeding, or at least release pressure on the brain caused by bleeding. As the docs so far have said there is no significant cranial bleeding, I hope Hammond does not have to undergo a craniotomy.

[jakaracman]

Sad news indeed, I hope he makes a full recovery.

With that said, there is a reason the NHRA and such require special licenses. You don't get to just hop into one of these things and go for it. Doesn't matter how much experience you have with other cars, 300mph in a matter of seconds is no joke!
You mean you'd say no if someone offred you to drive it? I certainly wouldnt - and I wouldn+t just drive slowly either. I'd try to max it out if possible ...

[Daggernite]

My brother made an intresting point to me earlier. And I am in no way taking the piss. But the news says his head hit the ground after the rollcage actually went in the ground when he rolled onto the grass. So obviously the rollcage could not protect his head. Now Hammond was a short fella, if he had been a taller person, maybe the accident could have been more tragic. Im supersticous, made me think maybe all things are a way for some reason or another. I still find it hard to believe he made it considering the speeds and him hitting his head on the ground.

[jakaracman]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, dont be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

[jakaracman]

Bastards that work at TG, setting them up to do more and more :fist: !
I don't thing there+s any setting up for more and more. JC, Hamster and May can alwasys say no if they thinmg that's too dangerous. But they dont cause they like it.
They're enthusiasts, and people like this need other people to hold them back not set them up...

[evoWalo]

Bastards that work at TG, setting them up to do more and more :fist: !
I don't thing there+s any setting up for more and more. JC, Hamster and May can alwasys say no if they thinmg that's too dangerous. But they dont cause they like it.
They're enthusiasts, and people like this need other people to hold them back not set them up...Exactly, how many of us only dream of doing the stunts these people do for a living. If I was getting handsomely paid to drive the latest & greatest out of Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, etc then I'd quit my job now and do all those crazy things.

We get injured for the most stupid of reasons but at least Richard got hurt doing something he obviously enjoys.

[TopGearNL]

I would advise you both to read the full story in the whole topic. Offcourse they have a dreamjob and I would do it too, but with them saying no, TG would just be as 5th Gear, boring! So its not like they have to do it, but there is a bit of tension on their shoulders and the TG directors are pushing them to do it. As said in the crash story.

Im not saying your wrong guys, I just have a different opinion on it :wink:

[yg60m]

It's a very sad news, I hoped that he would be on his feet soon :?

I don't know if it's a good idea but if something is done to send him flowers or something I would contribute in the name of JW.

[TopGearNL]

It's a very sad news, I hoped that he would be on his feet soon :?

I don't know if it's a good idea but if something is done to send him flowers or something I would contribute in the name of JW.

Yeah thats a great Idea, or maybe also a big Card with all the contributing members! I will contribute too then.

Might be stupid me saying this but TopGearTom isn't that far away from where he is, maybe he can hand it over for us? Or someone else?

[fsandys]

... but with them saying no, TG would just be as 5th Gear, boring!

I don't think TG would be 'boring' without the extreme stuff, I think a huge part of my interest (at least) is based in the presenting style (banter, etc.) the way they drive, review and describe the cars and so much more. It's like your best friend and a fellow performance enthusiast standing there.

Also, TG has some fantastic post production and creative filming, I have huge respect for the guys behind that.

P.S. I'm not too far from Leeds either.

[666fast]

Sad news indeed, I hope he makes a full recovery.

With that said, there is a reason the NHRA and such require special licenses. You don't get to just hop into one of these things and go for it. Doesn't matter how much experience you have with other cars, 300mph in a matter of seconds is no joke!
You mean you'd say no if someone offred you to drive it? I certainly wouldnt - and I wouldn+t just drive slowly either. I'd try to max it out if possible ...

I honestly think I would turn it down. I've done some things most people wouldn't, but hopping into a car capable of 300mph in mere seconds is not for rookies.
My friends father drag races, the first time my friend did it he was scared shitless. As was his father. Thats in a car capable of 9 Second passes. Imagine a car covering the same distance in 4. Proper dragsters aren't something you have a go in simply because you have the opportunity.

[FoxFour]

It is very sad news and you guys will want to check on his condition regularly, as he could get better or worse. Good news is that he has no bleeding of the brain, the blood would damage any part of the brain tissue and cause permanent damage to portions of the brain. Seems to me that he is suffering from excessive swelling inside the brain and they have to control that before the brain suffers damage that way. He is also very vulnerable to infection/ pneumonia and that could cause dire consequences. They are checking his blood and urine to see that his kidneys are functioning properly. Problems with the kidneys can indicate impending problems with the involuntary functions of the brain and that can spell doom.

[Erez]

:shock: holyshit! bad news!! :shock:
I hope he'll be ok! :|

[acmarttin]

I just found out about this today, and I'm truly shocked. Screw Top Gear, I just really hope Hammond is all right. After watching so many bootlegged videos of the show online in the US I feel as if it happened to a friend of mine. I know Hamster will keep fighting and let's hope he is up and about soon!

[ae86_16v]

Holy shit. . . man, I hope he recovers.

I too, think that the show shouldn't continue if he isn't a part of it.

Question is his wife Amanda or Mindy?

[novass]

Sad news indeed, I hope he makes a full recovery.

With that said, there is a reason the NHRA and such require special licenses. You don't get to just hop into one of these things and go for it. Doesn't matter how much experience you have with other cars, 300mph in a matter of seconds is no joke!
You mean you'd say no if someone offred you to drive it? I certainly wouldnt - and I wouldn+t just drive slowly either. I'd try to max it out if possible ...

I honestly think I would turn it down. I've done some things most people wouldn't, but hopping into a car capable of 300mph in mere seconds is not for rookies.
My friends father drag races, the first time my friend did it he was scared shitless. As was his father. Thats in a car capable of 9 Second passes. Imagine a car covering the same distance in 4. Proper dragsters aren't something you have a go in simply because you have the opportunity.

Couldnt agree more. The fastest I have ever been down the track was in the low 9s coming from a low 12 sec car, it is a HUGE difference, so huge I couldnt even contemplate anything under 8 seconds. Sure it sounds like fun, but thats serious business. I think a lot of people would accept that offer, but they wouldnt make it down the whole track without letting off. The reality show featuring John Force showed his eldest daughter moving from pro comp to a funny car and it took her a while before she could make an all out pass. Sure you can say its a girl, but mind you she has drag raced for many years at the sub 6 second level. Your body will react faster than your mind will tell it not too at those speeds. My father used to be good friends with Craig Breedlove (held numerous land speed records) and he used to always tell me that when he first started they had to relocate the kill switch because he would involuntarily press it when he would go over 330-350. It definitely takes a "different" kind of person to do those speeds.


Anyway, back on topic. I just read about Hammonds condition. I hope he recovers as best as possible.

The stunts were always so-so to me, though I did like the ones where the three of them would compete against each other like in the boat building, etc. But the main reason I loved Top Gear was for the car reviews. They always had good cars and somewhat of a "reliable" test bench with the Stig which gave a pretty good idea of what certain cars were like compared to others. The only variable would be the weather and the possibility of numerous Stigs. But it was always fun to watch unlike most car shows where its just boring unless its a special car and even then it isnt always that good. The editing, the music, the way it was shot and the way the three personalities complimented each other IMO made Top Gear better than the others. We shall see what will happen.

Best wishes Hammond

[wolfster]

Question is his wife Amanda or Mindy?


Mindy is a nickname for Amanda

[666fast]

I never imagined this happening, the incident was just reported by the local news station here. They wished him the best!

[sentra_dude]

Best wishes to Hammond, I hope he makes a full recovery.

This is very bad, but we can hope he has no longterm injuries. From the emails it seems the management at Top Gear were acting rather foolishly. They should have thought more about this feature and what could happen with someone driving such a vehicle with basically no experience. What's happened has happened though, and let's just hope for the best.

[fabro_s]

Terrible terrible terrible, Hammond was the one that gave TG all the "young guy" sense of humor which I liked very much, hope everything is fine for him and his family :(

[Jabba]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, dont be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

Do you think he will be having another go in the Dragster when he recovers then ?

[stmoritzer]

just checked the news

Hamster is out of Intensive Care
looks like good news to me

I hope he keeps recovering in the same speed

Clarkson described the moment he made Hammond smile. "I said: 'The reason you're here is because you're a cxxx driver'. He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543592,00.html

[topgeartom]

/\/\/\ You just beat me to it. Can only be good news. He has been downgraded from a serious but stable to a just stable condition, and has been moved out of the neurology ward to the high dependancy unit.

Doctors are reasonably optimistic he will make a good recovery. Once again they arent saying full, and are presumably covering their backs saying "reasonably"

Positive news on the whole however

[stmoritzer]

^ Hope you're right about the doctors, IMO you are :wink: and Hamster recover FULL

@ Jabba, if hamster is doing better, you can change the header from "brain injury" to "car nut" :mrgreen:

[TopGearNL]

Yes that certainly is good news!

Thanks for the update :!:

[jakaracman]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, dont be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

Do you think he will be having another go in the Dragster when he recovers then ?
I would ...ž
And judgig from what I've heard from him, he would too ...

[jakaracman]

Sad news indeed, I hope he makes a full recovery.

With that said, there is a reason the NHRA and such require special licenses. You don't get to just hop into one of these things and go for it. Doesn't matter how much experience you have with other cars, 300mph in a matter of seconds is no joke!
You mean you'd say no if someone offred you to drive it? I certainly wouldnt - and I wouldn+t just drive slowly either. I'd try to max it out if possible ...

I honestly think I would turn it down. I've done some things most people wouldn't, but hopping into a car capable of 300mph in mere seconds is not for rookies.
My friends father drag races, the first time my friend did it he was scared shitless. As was his father. Thats in a car capable of 9 Second passes. Imagine a car covering the same distance in 4. Proper dragsters aren't something you have a go in simply because you have the opportunity.
O yes they are. Bring me a 6 sec car tommorrow and I'll have a go ... I cant guarantee that I'll go as fast as it goes, but I'll go as fast as I can manage.
If I can do 175 mph on a country road the I think I'd manage 300 in a nicem straight track (or maybe I'd crash, but hey, how often do you get a chance to do that)?

[Jabba]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, don't be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

Do you think he will be having another go in the Dragster when he recovers then ?
I would ...ž
And judgig from what I've heard from him, he would too ...

Well hopefully someone with some sense wont let him, and they will use a professional next time, that is if there is a next time, which I sincerely doubt.

[TopGearNL]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, don't be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

Do you think he will be having another go in the Dragster when he recovers then ?
I would ...ž
And judgig from what I've heard from him, he would too ...



Well hopefully someone with some sense wont let him, and they will use a professional next time, that is if there is a next time, which I sincerely doubt. Yeah me too Jabba, and indeed if they will then put a goddamn prof driver in it, don't care if you dress him like the STIG as long as he knows what he's doing :!:

[Fleischmann]

That's quite a relief, he must be much better since JC has been joking with him. I'm sure Clarkson wouldn't have the humour if Hammond was in a very bad state.

[racer_f50]

That's quite a relief, he must be much better since JC has been joking with him. I'm sure Clarkson wouldn't have the humour if Hammond was in a very bad state.
Indeed, that's some great news that Hammond responded positively to that joke (which made me laugh :lol: ). Leave it to Clarkson to break up the seriousness in the air, which in my opinion could be very important to fully recovering from such an injury. A positive outlook goes a long way.

[topgeartom]

Update:

James May says he is convinced his fellow presenter Richard Hammond is "perfectly intact" after a conversation at his hospital bedside.

Mr May said it was not a long talk "but it was a conversation".

"I'm not a doctor but I am his mate and I believe that deep inside the Hammond I know is perfectly intact," he said.

Good news indeed.

[Jabba]

Update:

James May says he is convinced his fellow presenter Richard Hammond is "perfectly intact" after a conversation at his hospital bedside.

Mr May said it was not a long talk "but it was a conversation".

"I'm not a doctor but I am his mate and I believe that deep inside the Hammond I know is perfectly intact," he said.

Good news indeed.

And some bad news for you coming up Tomboy, I hope you dont like your legs too much !

[Jabba]

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?p=708658#708658

:wink:

[Jabba]

And what about poor Tom ?

[Jabba]

Yeh thats a good point, I guess he will find out soon whats going to be happening.

[jakaracman]

Sadly he does indeed have a brain injury, and to be honest if he cant present on TG again then I dont think the show should continue without him.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543385,00.html
Guys, don't be so pessimistic. Brain injury can mean a lot of things. Many racing drivers (remember Wurz and so on) had brain injuries, even been hel in an induced coma (because of the swelling) and are 100% OK now.

Do you think he will be having another go in the Dragster when he recovers then ?
I would ...ž
And judgig from what I've heard from him, he would too ...



Well hopefully someone with some sense wont let him, and they will use a professional next time, that is if there is a next time, which I sincerely doubt. Yeah me too Jabba, and indeed if they will then put a goddamn prof driver in it, don't care if you dress him like the STIG as long as he knows what he's doing :!:
So you prefer fakes?
And besides, what's the point of having car guys as hosts if they dont drive? Then any stupid chick with big boobs who knows shit about cars and driving can do it, and soeone else drives.
No, the point of these shows is that the presenters are the heropes, the drivers.

[nthfinity]

So you prefer fakes?
And besides, what's the point of having car guys as hosts if they dont drive? Then any stupid chick with big boobs who knows shit about cars and driving can do it, and soeone else drives.
No, the point of these shows is that the presenters are the heropes, the drivers.


TBH, that isn't the point.... the point is that stunts like this shouldn't even be on the show... we want to see fast cars beaten to hell, and timed around the airfield test track by the stig.

[FoxFour]

Just got back from work and I was thinking about how he was doing for a good part of the work day.

[Toronto]

it is starting to sound like everything is going to be ok

[jakaracman]

[quote] we want to see fast cars beaten to hell, and timed around the airfield test track by the stig.
Me too ... But since you cant fill an hour with only that (as it would become boooring very quickly), you have to think of somethig spectacular.
Besides: I think you (and others) complain because it was a straight-line affair. So do I. But i like bobsled vs. rallycar or speedboat vs. bobcat (ups, another one Hamster crashes :twisted: ) and so on features ...

[jakaracman]

it is starting to sound like everything is going to be ok
Piked that up on another forum:
To bring this back on topic, Richard's actually managed to have a short conversation with James May (his co-host). So it seems he's aware of who people are, and can make reasonably rational conversation. Can't be a bad sign. Let's just hope he continues to improve, but that kind of progress within 48 hours sounds encouraging to me.

[Daggernite]

Well im relieved that things are starting to look up for Hammond. He had me worried for a momment there.

[antonioledesma]

Daaamn... came back to JW after a while... and now this very bad news.... :|

it seems he will recover completely, but he must be taken with proper care...... :(

hope he recovers 100% and still haunt us at brainiac

[Mattk]

...the point is that stunts like this shouldn't even be on the show... we want to see fast cars beaten to hell, and timed around the airfield test track by the stig.

Of course, that is a big part of the show, but doing that for a whole hour week after week, year after year, is going to get a bit dull. Top Gear is a good mix of serious car testing, as well as some light-hearted stuff, and the occasional crazy stunts.

[nthfinity]

...the point is that stunts like this shouldn't even be on the show... we want to see fast cars beaten to hell, and timed around the airfield test track by the stig.

Of course, that is a big part of the show, but doing that for a whole hour week after week, year after year, is going to get a bit dull. Top Gear is a good mix of serious car testing, as well as some light-hearted stuff, and the occasional crazy stunts.

TBH, the stunts are the most annoying part of the show; and really take away from its quality.

[fsandys]

Latest BBC News report says that now JC sees Hammond's recovery, he is battling to ensure he has a TG program to come back too!! :D (Kinda good news)

Is it really true that this is proabably the fastest car crash ever? as stated in the news report?? :?

[jakaracman]

Bit of good news:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006440306,00.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17806217%26method=full%26siteid=94762% 26headline=top%2dgear%2dstar%2dhas%2dwalked%2d%2dt alked%2dand%2dsmiled-name_page.html

Unfortunately the last sentnce ("BBC bosses have postponed a new series of Best of Top Gear while Richard remains in hospital. It was due to air on October 1.") is not so good, but as long we get Hamster back and TG stays ...

[Fleischmann]

JC's article in The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006440317,00.html


“You’ve been in a car accident,” I said. “Was I driving like a tw*t?” he asked, before getting out of bed and walking, shakily, to the lavatory.

:D:D:D

[LotusGT1]

^JC's article is brilliant.

[jakaracman]

And for all those thinking that the producers were forcing JC&co to do crazy stunts (and if Hammond was "frced" to do this one):

From JC's The Sun article:
The idea to drive a jet car actually came from Hammond. He skedaddled into the office one day and, bubbling with his trademark enthusiasm, said: “Hey, why don’t we go somewhere and drive really fast? I don’t mean supercar fast. I mean REALLY fast.”

We all liked the idea. But what we liked even more was the idea of James May being given the assignment.

James is known to his fans as Captain Slow. He thinks dawdling is reckless and practises the art of what he calls “Christian Motoring”. Mostly, this involves letting people out of side turnings and generally being Edwardian.
Putting him, and that ’70s barnet, in a 370mph jet car was a bit like putting just Jane Austen at the helm of a space shuttle.

Immediately, James discovered a prior engagement and said he couldn’t go. I, meanwhile, decided that I spent most of my thirties upside down in jet fighters and helicopter gunships, vomiting, and that these days I was far too fat.

That left Hammond, who was bouncing around like the donkey in Shrek shouting, “Pick me. Pick me”.

And so we did.

Today, people who have absolutely no idea at all of how television works, (Yes, columnist Neil Lyndon — that’s you, you sanctimonious, rent-a-soundbite little t**d) are saying that our producers push us to do more and more dangerous stunts in a bid for ratings.

Rubbish. Our producers spend their whole lives filling in health and safety forms and asking “are you sure?”

It’s the presenters who come up with the hare-brained ideas and trans-continental races . . . not the backroom boys or the suits.

ANd the part about future of TG:
Somehow I doubt it though. The campaign to have us taken off the air — sparked curiously, by the BBC’s own news website — will now be ramped up, fuelled by the environmentalists and spearheaded by muddle-headed road safety campaigners.

Richard is winning his fight. And now mine begins. To make sure that he has a show to come back to.

Maybe we should start a e-mail campaign for TG here at JW?



[email protected]

[LotusGT1]

Online petition perhaps?

[Spijker]

I hope he will be alright, I could always laugh about this guy and he gives good car reviews in my opninion...

BTW, I'm new here and I love your site, very nice and a lot of info, I hope I can provide you guys with some new stuff when I find some that has not been posted before.

[LotusGT1]

Welcome to JW, enjoy your stay.

[RC45]

And for all those thinking that the producers were forcing JC&co to do crazy stunts (and if Hammond was "frced" to do this one):

From JC's The Sun article:
The idea to drive a jet car actually came from Hammond. He skedaddled into the office one day and, bubbling with his trademark enthusiasm, said: “Hey, why don’t we go somewhere and drive really fast? I don’t mean supercar fast. I mean REALLY fast.”

We all liked the idea. But what we liked even more was the idea of James May being given the assignment.

James is known to his fans as Captain Slow. He thinks dawdling is reckless and practises the art of what he calls “Christian Motoring”. Mostly, this involves letting people out of side turnings and generally being Edwardian.
Putting him, and that ’70s barnet, in a 370mph jet car was a bit like putting just Jane Austen at the helm of a space shuttle.

Immediately, James discovered a prior engagement and said he couldn’t go. I, meanwhile, decided that I spent most of my thirties upside down in jet fighters and helicopter gunships, vomiting, and that these days I was far too fat.

That left Hammond, who was bouncing around like the donkey in Shrek shouting, “Pick me. Pick me”.

And so we did.

Today, people who have absolutely no idea at all of how television works, (Yes, columnist Neil Lyndon — that’s you, you sanctimonious, rent-a-soundbite little t**d) are saying that our producers push us to do more and more dangerous stunts in a bid for ratings.

Rubbish. Our producers spend their whole lives filling in health and safety forms and asking “are you sure?”

It’s the presenters who come up with the hare-brained ideas and trans-continental races . . . not the backroom boys or the suits.

ANd the part about future of TG:
Somehow I doubt it though. The campaign to have us taken off the air — sparked curiously, by the BBC’s own news website — will now be ramped up, fuelled by the environmentalists and spearheaded by muddle-headed road safety campaigners.

Richard is winning his fight. And now mine begins. To make sure that he has a show to come back to.

Maybe we should start a e-mail campaign for TG here at JW?



[email protected]

All very well and good, except a jet car at an airfield wa stupid.

Period.

If they really wanted to make a splash, then they should have gone to the actual locaitons used for record runs.

Not a silly grass verged runway... becuase if something should go wrong on a runway - wait, something did go wrong on a runway :P

[Jabba]

Well, I must say I thought it seemed awfully short, what if the parachutes never opened, where would he have ended up then I wonder ?

[jakaracman]

Actually, this is the same airfield used to set the still valid UK speed record (with this car, if I got it right)... This is because the record has to be set in UK and this airfield has unusually long runway.
I guess that if there were better location in UK, they (and people before them) would have used it.

What if, what of, what of ... That's a risk you have to take ... Otherwise setting a record wpuld be something anybody could do ...

[Jabba]

Just in case I read it wrong, how long was the runway ?

[ae86_16v]

Just in case I read it wrong, how long was the runway ?

Yeah, I was wondering that as well. . . I mean you cover A LOT of ground going 300mph.

[Jabba]

Well the distance I read must be BS, so I shall wait for someone to confirm it from an official source.

[RC45]

What if, what of, what of ... That's a risk you have to take ... Otherwise setting a record wpuld be something anybody could do ...

And this was proved by thise event.. right?

There is a reason people spend a lifetime of money and effort and skill-honing to set and break world records... it is not a "joke/stunt" to be carried out between the football matcha nd evening news on TV.

All in all this whole attempt sort of cheapened every other record setter and breaker out there.


After defeating obstacles which included bird strikes through their jet engines, larks smashing the windscreen, and icy temperatures drawing the protective grilles directly into the path of the jet rotors, the team succeeded in achieving 269mph at Elvington airfield, near York, in the summer of 1999. In 2000, they beat 300mph after a tense struggle which saw Mark, in Split Second, hold the record at 272.93mph for a period of less than two hours. Colin’s second – and supposedly final – run had been so close to the 300mph threshold that the pair decide to run Vampire again – to come out with an average 300.3 mph.



and


Driver Mark Newby, 45, is a qualified pilot with air racing and aerobatics experience as well a drag racer of some repute. He began working with team partner Colin Fallows after being short-listed to drive Richard Noble's Thrust SSC. He lives near Oxford with his wife Wendy and their ten-year-old son Lee.

Colin Fallows, 53, is one of the UK's most experienced drag racers and pioneer of UK jet car technology . The ex-RAF jet propulsion technician designed and built the UK Record Holding afterburning jet dragsters Split Second and Vampire. Colin lives in Northampton with his wife, Jan. He's a grandfather of four



from here ---> http://www.thule.co.uk/partners/blsr.asp

I am sort of wondering if they were even close to 300mph at all.

http://64.33.116.68/IMAGESyork/elvington-airfield.gif
Seems it was 1.92 miles 3.089km long when this photo was taken.


http://www.greenaway.flyer.co.uk/york.html

[AlienDB7]

Glad to see Richard walking again, looks like the chance of a full recovery will be very high. Let's hope after the vampire bite (pardon the pun), Top Gear will be eternal and Hamster has a home to come back to.... Afterall, Top Gear technically already died once, it cannot die again!

RC, I disagree with you on the fact that an "average" TV presenter was able to achieve the same speed as the speed record cheapens every other record breaker. The record attempt itself has more to do with people behind the scene than the actual driver. However, it does take someone with the guts to press the button :roll:

The speed your car is capable of is certainly a lot faster than the speed record from a century ago. Does that cheapen the record breakers back then?

[jakaracman]

But in one of the reports I read (or I've seen tha on Sky News) thet Vampire ovner and ex-driver set the record on that airfield cause it has a long runway, as it was used by B52s ...
Turns out the runway is supposed to be 3,1 km long (heathrow has 3,6 and 3,9 km runways)

RC: as I've written before: if I had a chance do do it, I'd do it too ... It's just a question of beliving in yourself.
Or let's put it that way: WRC drivers train years, from lower categories up to go flat out on a narrow track ... I've never had that training, went as fast as I could (had a near off twice) and survived. Same for supertouring cars, GT cars, whatever. Or going 175 on a country road ... If you have a chance, you try it, if you really want it. If you dont (and May dind not want to do that), you step away (as he did).
And it wasnt an official record attempt at all. It was just a story about going as fast as possible in Britain, that's all.
EDIT: why wouldnt he go faster? It's a question of just keeping the throttle open and keeping the car on the runway - for as long as your dare ... He could go 350, but would fly of the end of the runway. The hard part is stopping it properly ...


And Hamster gets better:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13543787,00.html

[RC45]

RC: as I've written before: if I had a chance do do it, I'd do it too ... It's just a question of beliving in yourself.

It's more thna just "believing in yourslef" - as the accident sort of shows.. ;)



After defeating obstacles which included bird strikes through their jet engines, larks smashing the windscreen, and icy temperatures drawing the protective grilles directly into the path of the jet rotors, the team succeeded in achieving 269mph at Elvington airfield, near York, in the summer of 1999. In 2000, they beat 300mph after a tense struggle which saw Mark, in Split Second, hold the record at 272.93mph for a period of less than two hours. Colin’s second – and supposedly final – run had been so close to the 300mph threshold that the pair decide to run Vampire again – to come out with an average 300.3 mph.



and


Driver Mark Newby, 45, is a qualified pilot with air racing and aerobatics experience as well a drag racer of some repute. He began working with team partner Colin Fallows after being short-listed to drive Richard Noble's Thrust SSC. He lives near Oxford with his wife Wendy and their ten-year-old son Lee.

Colin Fallows, 53, is one of the UK's most experienced drag racers and pioneer of UK jet car technology . The ex-RAF jet propulsion technician designed and built the UK Record Holding afterburning jet dragsters Split Second and Vampire. Colin lives in Northampton with his wife, Jan. He's a grandfather of four



from here ---> http://www.thule.co.uk/partners/blsr.asp

Note the effort and exepense and repetition and effort needed to actually set the record in those cars.

I am sort of wondering why they even bothered with a jet car? Piston engined NHRA dragsters already run from 0 to 330mph+ in 4 seconds and then stop in time to do a u-turn.

No doubt it was a controversial stunt to pull - great if it had worked.. but it didn't which actually proves the point about knowing the limits of a weekend warrior.

Great idea, and I am glad Hamster is recovering - but it wasn't his brightest idea this year ;)

Afterall, 133m/s and only 3000m of runway - assuming you use the first 600m to get up to speed, thats 2400m left... thats 18s to shutit down and come to a complete stop.

Seems you would want some training, practice and exposure to pull that one off.. you might deploy the wrong parachute, or deploy it too soon or too late or the system may fail or a bird might be injested.

I am not trying to cheapen the injury or spoil the moment, but if you actually sit and think abotu it, it is an awefulyl silly show to do. Then again he may have had 50 practice runs we don't know about before this day.

So its all still specualtion.

Get well soon oh short one.

[jakaracman]

RC: as I've written before: if I had a chance do do it, I'd do it too ... It's just a question of beliving in yourself.

It's more thna just "believing in yourslef" - as the accident sort of shows.. ;)

It is - you just have to accept a chence that it's going to be the last thing you do.
Plus: let's not pretend that Hamster is just an average driver ... He's driven enough supercars (and I'm prepred to bet that he's taken them to the max when he had a chance) that he knows a thing or two about high speeds ...
I agree taht a racing driver would have a higher chance of getting away without accident but Hamster obviously judged that it's worth the risk (it was his life, after all). Let's respect his decision ...

EDIT: he was doing practice runs whole day and was taught driving procedures by caro owner/driver. And he completed some hihg speed runs safely ...

If I'd have to guess reason of accident I see 2 options:
- of 2 chutes only 1 opened, that yawed the car sideways and that is it (even with a suoper driver behind wheel, ther has ben a lot of accidents like that) - I think this one is more likely
- Hamster braked with brake too soon and to hard, blew a tire and ... I guess this is less likely, as witnesess say that car wet of road righ after chute(s) was delpoyed ...

[nthfinity]

RC: as I've written before: if I had a chance do do it, I'd do it too ... It's just a question of beliving in yourself.

It's more thna just "believing in yourslef" - as the accident sort of shows.. ;)

It is - you just have to accept a chence that it's going to be the last thing you do.
Plus: let's not pretend that Hamster is just an average driver ... He's driven enough supercars (and I'm prepred to bet that he's taken them to the max when he had a chance) that he knows a thing or two about high speeds ...
I agree taht a racing driver would have a higher chance of getting away without accident but Hamster obviously judged that it's worth the risk (it was his life, after all). Let's respect his decision ...

EDIT: he was doing practice runs whole day and was taught driving procedures by caro owner/driver. And he completed some hihg speed runs safely ...

If I'd have to guess reason of accident I see 2 options:
- of 2 chutes only 1 opened, that yawed the car sideways and that is it (even with a suoper driver behind wheel, ther has ben a lot of accidents like that) - I think this one is more likely
- Hamster braked with brake too soon and to hard, blew a tire and ... I guess this is less likely, as witnesess say that car wet of road righ after chute(s) was delpoyed ...

jackerman

We've driven some very fast cars between us...
How in the world is a 6 seconds to 300 mph jet car AT ALL similar to driving a 600 hp street car? there simply are no tangable similarities.

[Jabba]

All in all this whole attempt sort of cheapened every other record setter and breaker out there.


Yeh, I have been trying to think of the right words to use to say just that, it is indeed a major piss take to think anyone could hire that dragster for the day and get themselves the britsh land speed record with the only qualification needing to be stupidity.

Then I read this which sums it up a bit better :


"Daredevil Hammond was apparently trying to break the UK’s land speed record in a jet-powered Vampire dragster when he left the airfield at a suspected 280mph and ploughed into the grass. Time was when the presenter’s job was to present, but with a stunt like this Hammond took on an altogether more dangerous role – one for which he may not have been properly trained. Most drivers of jet-powered cars are current or former fighter pilots, like Andy Green, who have lightening reactions and are used to travelling at colossal speeds. Green is the fastest man on the planet, holding the world land speed record of 763mph, set in 1997.
There’s no doubt that the dragster run – like every stunt Top Gear pulls off - is conducted under the strictest and tightest safety guidelines. But accidents do happen, despite the precautions. As viewers wanting our next fix of armchair-adrenalin, are we asking too much of presenters like Hammond or are we merely tagging along as they live out their dreams?

The company behind the high-speed challenge – Primetime Land Speed Engineering – has denied that Hammond was attempting any speed-smashing record. Perhaps this is the truth, but the facts speak for themselves. He still crashed at 280mph so does it really matter whether he was trying to break any records or not? Could it be something to do with Hammond not actually being a racing driver? Generally speaking he, like most of us, shouldn’t be within 100 miles of a car capable of these speeds.

It’s like Ferrari asking you to step in for Michael Schumacher because he’s in bed with the flu and you’ve always wanted to drive a grand prix car. There are some things we just don’t have the talent for. When it comes to setting the Top Gear power laps, why do you think Clarkson, May and Hammond take a back seat and let the Stig, a qualified racing driver, set the fastest laps? Perhaps it’s because he’s a qualified racing driver – and the rest aren’t. So when May, a novice pilot not trained to fly at night, races Clarkson in a Bugatti Veyron through Europe for a feature, or the guys play ‘caravan conkers’, the question has to be asked, is this safe? Has the quest for entertainment gone too far?
"

[jakaracman]

How in the world is a 6 seconds to 300 mph jet car AT ALL similar to driving a 600 hp street car? there simply are no tangable similarities.
Well, it still has a steering wheel and a throtle.
What I meant is tha if you're used to fast cars you'll adapt faster. And someone who drives regularli at 170 or 190 mph will know how you should steerr cars at high speeds. And so on ...
The texhnical stuff (procedure for startup, shutdown and which buttons to push in what oreder) can be taught to a chimp. It's getting the car to stay on the runway and reacting in trouble tahat is problematic.
Plus: the car is developed, Hamster knew how it drives (had lessons) and so on. I'm 100% sure that to go where car hasnt gone befpre you have to be a proper test-pilot, ahve years of expirienca. But after the car is sorted out han ha done tens of 300 mph runs, it's much easier for the driver tha try it out.

EDIT: why should anyone think that TV show presenter is just a nice looking and talking guy without driving skills?
Why do they use Stig: because he's consistent. It does not matter how fas he is, actually - if all the cars would be 10 secs slower, nobd would say anything. The problem is that a racing driver can take all cars to the limit all the time, and guys like JC all of the car just some of the time) ...
And which idiot wrote that stuff, Jabba? YOu agree with an fart that criticizes May racing JC across franbce in a plane with no night flying license although we all know that he landed at the end of the day (and lost the race) just because he was sticking to the rules? Whet a pile of crap!

[Jabba]

Plus: the car is developed, Hamster knew how it drives (had lessons) and so on. I'm 100% sure that to go where car hasnt gone befpre you have to be a proper test-pilot, ahve years of expirienca. But after the car is sorted out han ha done tens of 300 mph runs, it's much easier for the driver tha try it out.

Or obviously not as the case has proved.

[LotusGT1]

Didn't the tire blow? Not something Hamster can do something about.

[RC45]

Didn't the tire blow? Not something Hamster can do something about.

Well - if you side load a tyre thourgh inexperience you could cause a blowout.. but the one story was "parachute deployed"

That could be equipment failure or driver inexperience.

[jakaracman]

Has it occured to you guys that it might just be an accident (look upo the meaning of the word accident)? A failiure of a car or tire, something that neither the guy that uset to drive the car or maybe Andy Green could not avoid? I does happen, as a lot of top land speed drivers know (or don't anymore, as some died) ...

[RC45]

Has it occured to you guys that it might just be an accident (look upo the meaning of the word accident)? A failiure of a car or tire, something that neither the guy that uset to drive the car or maybe Andy Green could not avoid? I does happen, as a lot of top land speed drivers know (or don't anymore, as some died) ...

but it doesnt really matter though - it happened so now the "Health & Safety" nazis have all the proof and evidence they need

[jakaracman]

You're right there ... Fortunately we do not have them here ... W call the police (if necessary), they come and if that is a private sportning event (or public sporting event) and only the competitor is involved (of course) they just write it down and it's a sports accident. End of story.

[fsandys]

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Save_Top_Gear/

Does this item warrant it's own thread to draw attention? :?

[c0wb0y007]

I have seen that there is a big article of him in this weekend's newspaper, but I have found the time yet to read it thusfar.

Lets hope he will get well soon, will miss his jokes on TG.


Cheers

[Mattk]

I heard on the news this morning that he's up and walking.

[McLaren4eVa]

^^^ Yeah I heard the same, but i don't think he'll ever fully recover, let's just hope he does.

[evoWalo]

I am unsure if this was posted but Top Gear's in danger of being cancelled.


http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article1726065.ece

[yg60m]

Hum :? Fucking vultures, they would take any excuse to get it off :roll:

I just hope that we will be millions to sign a petition in favour of Top Gear and inundate the BBC under our mails of support :x

[Mattk]

They've talked about cancelling Top Gear for the past few years and they never have. They won't cancel it.

[fsandys]

http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/joan_smith/article1716411.ece

[BADMIHAI]

What a gay bitch. :roll:

[fsandys]

...We're keeping every message of support, and will make sure Richard gets to see them all. If you'd like to add your support, you can email us your message.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/richard_hammond.shtml

[jakaracman]

What a gay bitch. :roll:
Stupid gay bitch ...

[fsandys]

Some updates ...

--------------

The fate of Top Gear, the BBC motoring show, depends on whether presenter Richard Hammond can recover from last week’s high-speed car crash, its executive producer said yesterday.

Andy Wilman, the man credited with turning Top Gear into BBC2’s most popular programme, said he could not imagine the series returning without Hammond. Wilman also threatened to quit if the corporation attempts to “tone down” the programme’s irreverent attitude and relish for speed. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson said he, too, would defy critics who “don’t like Top Gear and would love to see it off the screens”.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1879669,00.html

--------------

Road safety minister BACKS Top Gear! :D

The road safety minister has defended the high-octane stunts performed on the BBC’s Top Gear programme and described the presenter Richard Hammond as an “adventurer” after he was seriously injured in a 300mph crash.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2372255,00.html

[fsandys]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2006440562,00.html

[acmarttin]

What a gay bitch. :roll:
Stupid gay bitch ...

Stupid, gay, COLD bitch!

[fsandys]

Brilliant article with some really good points in it...

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22749-2372412_1,00.html

The summary below is of this article, thanks to a site which is apparently in the banned list of words!

It therefore seems likely that soon, in a matter of weeks maybe, the Hamster will be back on his feet and ready to start work. The question is: will he have a show to go back to?

As I write, swarms of bureaucratic bluebottles are nibbling away at the crash site on a York airfield, desperately trying to find some reason why Top Gear should be banished from the screens.

Well, contrary to reports that he was put there by ratings-hungry producers, it was his idea. He wanted to know what it would be like to go really fast. And I know exactly why.

If he’d been interested in flowers and vegetables since a young age, he might very well now be standing in a pair of wellingtons on Gardeners’ World, talking about compost. But he isn’t interested in compost — he’s interested in speed.

Some people are born with a physical need to take risks. Steve Irwin was one. Christopher Columbus was another. And Ellen MacArthur is a classic case in point too. Telling her to stop sailing round the world is as daft as telling a black person to be white, or a blind person to look where
they’re going.

But of course, we have a whole industry nowadays designed to do just that. To ensure that nobody ever falls over, that nobody ever hurts themselves, that nobody ever dies. And that if someone does, then the system must have failed and a head must roll…

How can this be a problem for anyone other than Mrs Hammond and their children? Because he crashed and tied up the emergency services? Oh come on. Are we to tell DIY enthusiasts who fall off a stepladder that no ambulance will be forthcoming because they should have called in a professional plumber? Perhaps you might argue that Hammond is setting a bad example and that kids might try to copy him. What? In their jet cars? On their airfields?

In the last series, while attempting to build an entire car from scratch in one day, the nearly completed project fell from its stands onto the floor.

“Who’s fault was that?” I barked.

“Oh for God’s sake, how’s that going to help?” said Hammond.

He’s right. How can blaming someone help? We just need to make sure the little guy keeps getting better and that when he does, he can get back in a car, get back into Top Gear, and go 316mph.


Another article:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=470

And another:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5384400.stm

[fsandys]

Good news on the Top Gear front over in this thread...

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?p=710918#710918

[McLaren4eVa]

Great news, why cancel Top Gear, it's become an integral part of sunday evening for millions. The have an ME to prove it.

[Skaala]

a smiling Hammond beeing transferred to another hospital closer to his home in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.


http://www.vg.no/bilder/edrum/1159445849488_898.jpg

[Mattk]

Good news. It's good that he is on the mend.

[fsandys]

For those of you who don't know, this was taken outside Earls Court in London, it's a big arena used for various shows including motor shows.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5535/hamstershotej3.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hamstershotej3.jpg)

[Jabba]

Photoshop ?

[TopGearNL]

a smiling Hammond beeing transferred to another hospital closer to his home in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.


http://www.vg.no/bilder/edrum/1159445849488_898.jpg

That pic just made my day! very nice to see his new expensive teeth :)

[fsandys]

Photoshop ?

You think?

[stmoritzer]

^ nowadays, you never know :bah:

hopefully it's a real picture :D

[Jabba]

Photoshop ?

You think?

The posters look a bit strange, but the people holding up the letters would be hard to do I think, but then again, I am sure I would have seen it in the papers if it was genuine.

[stmoritzer]

^ nowadays, you never know :bah:

hopefully it's a real picture :D

:oops: , I meant the Hamster smiling picture and not the group photo


so the hamster picture is for sure real ?

:good:, nice to see him smiling!

[Jabba]

^ nowadays, you never know :bah:

hopefully it's a real picture :D

:oops: , I meant the Hamster smiling picture and not the group photo


so the hamster picture is for sure real ?

:good:, nice to see him smiling!

I saw that in the paper today so I would say that its real, no doubt about it.

[TNT]

i hope he is back on his feet soon, what is his status on TopGear?

[Dubai]

hehe. nice to see him smiling :D

[jakaracman]

I just read an article in The Sun (iIthink) on the plane today and it says they started filming again, so we can expect TG soon , I hope ...

[Jabba]

I just read an article in The Sun (iIthink) on the plane today and it says they started filming again, so we can expect TG soon , I hope ...

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43699&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

[coloradosilver]

He's smiling in that pic because he has brain damage and thats all he can do, like a senile old man.

JK, its great to see him in good spirits again.

Thats excellent news about the show being back in production. I was worried there for a bit that we'd never see it again. I guess TG is one luxury we can all have in our lives a little longer. I have no problem waiting as long as it takes, as long as I know it will be back again. :mrgreen:

[saadie]

he had his teeth whitened :roll: :lol:

[jakaracman]

I just read an article in The Sun (iIthink) on the plane today and it says they started filming again, so we can expect TG soon , I hope ...

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43699&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

Heh, I was on the plane reading newspaper when you posted that one ... :D