Two Smoker's Race Report/accident/Hospital stay

[Two Smoker]

Hey everyone,

The day started out as usual. It was raining so it was going to be the first time using wets. I went out first on the 400 the grip was amazing, and with modest braking points i was five seconds a lap quicker than KK and ten seconds a lap quicker than Frosty. I was hovering around 1.16 lap times with huge amounts of time i could save.

I now went out on the 600 with wet tyres. We were told that there had been an oil spill through the esses and Castrol aswell as around the hairpin. The first 2 laps i took easy scrubbing in the new tyres and seeing where the oil was. In the 3rd lap i upped the pace and started to push it harder. The bike felt good, the tyres felt good and i felt good. On the 4th lap i exited the hairpin hooked second, hooked third, short shifted to fourth and entered turn 6. As i did this the bike fell on its side at a speed of between 180-200kmh. I hit the ripple strip and saw the bails coming. The next thing i remembered it was 4:30pm on Sunday and i was in Hospital.

From eye witness accounts i hit the bails hard, and i got knocked out. The apparent reason i fell off was due to a two stroke bike having one of its carb bowls fall off dumping pre-mixed petrol all over the track not just in the previous mentioned corners. Even though i came to and was supposedly alert i cant remember anything.

The injuries i sustained were; dislocated left shoulder, five left ribs fractured three of them fractured in two places. A small hole in my left lung, bruised kidney, bruised heart and a black eye. After leaving the emergency Department i spent 24 hrs in ICU. After this i spent 4 days in a ward. After an MRI scan i have had alot of soft tissue damage done to my left shoulder including tearing three of the five muscles for my rotator cuff aswell as a ligiment. Damage was also done to some of my nerves in my shoulder controlling my left arm. I also have a nice black eye.

So the verdict is that i have to have three weeks in a sling and physio to mend my shoulder. It is estimated that it will take 2-3 months for me to get full controll of my left arm and 6 weeks for my ribs to heal.

I would like to thank Chloe (for typing this hehehe) for supporting me this entire time especially at the track. The ambo staff (sorry for yelling). All the people that offered to take the van back (Hoon, Hayden Fitzgerald, KK, Frosty and anyone else that offered). Also the people that were concerned at the track. All the visitors at the Hospital and all the texts and phone calls i received.

Special thanks to: Chloe, my family, KK, Frosty, Milky, Chris Costello and Lynette, the ambos, the nurses and doctors.

As for the bike. Its not too bad, and needs only a few things to fix it. Mainly fairings and rear sub frame.

Cheers Chris

[Marmoot]

Great to see you're still in good spirit, TS.
Good luck for the healing.

[R6_kid]

hey man, good to see you are back up and at it (sorta), scared the shit out of me seeing you hit the wall as hard as you did. And dont worry, you weren't yelling that much, but we did have to tell you that you low sided about 4 times before the morphine kicked in.

The ambo driver gave me your watch which was flashing 'recover' - now thats some wierd shit :mellow:
I had it in my jacket up until this morning, so im hoping like shit that it's somewhere at home otherwise i guess im gonna be buying you a new watch.

The figures that the hospital gives you are only estimates and im sure you will prove yourself and beat them by a mile. Take it easy, hope to see you out there again next season.

[onearmedbandit]

Shit TS, first I've heard of the crash. Hope you mend fast mate, and hey what's this with getting Chloe to do your typing!! Want some hints on living (temporarily) with one arm!!!!

[Colapop]

That's quite an impressive bin! These guys that fall over at low-ish speeds have really been given the learn. Good you are relatively ok (or at least going tobe) and you'll be back racing before too long at all. Traps of the trade eh?

[MD]

Bad news. Wishing you a quick recover there TS

[texmo]

2-3 months before you get full control? thats a while man hope it takes a lot less, good luck and heal up.

[sAsLEX]

Well you've done the first one on the 600, we all know your other bikes have had there fair share of spills.

Glad to hear you ok, and in good spirits! Good luck with the mending!

[R6_kid]

haha its his left arm, and last i saw his fingers were ok so he should be ok to do starts, will just need to do lots of :tugger: to compensate for the lack of strength in his other arm. :blah:

[Wellyman]

Hey Chris mate.
Sorry to hear about your bail and wishing you a speedy recovery and good luck for the rest of the season.If you need anything for your bike just give me a buzz mate and I will sort it for you.
WM

[Sensei]

Great to hear ya alright Chris . Sounds like you where very luck at the speed all the best & quick recovery :soon:

[k14]

Fuck that sucks man. Puts my injury in perspective, hope you get better soon man. Just another point to illustrate how much of a shit hole puke is. Sucks man big time, hope you don't have any long lasting injuries.

[SPman]

Shit Chris - the first I've heard of the bin, as well. Sounds nasty and you've taken some hard knocks there. Not what we want to hear.
Glad you are reasonably OK - well - alive is a good starting point :whistle:

Just concentrate on making a full recovery - you've got plenty of mates on here and elsewhere - we want to see you fit and up to strength for next season....hell....just fit and back to strength will do.

[emaN]

Was gonna ask "when & where?!", but K14 answered the 'where-abouts'...

when was this dude/Chloe?! (or whoever types yer replies!)
i'm glad it happened on track, even if it was dodgy Puke!

take it easy & don't rush things, yeh?

kick back & watch loads of UK road-racing DVDs!!!

[DemonWolf]

Dude.. take it easy and let your body heal itself.. Dont push too hard... and ya should be right as rain.

All the best!

[Two Smoker]

This accident happened at turn 6 at Pukekohe on the 12th of March 2006.

Cheers for the comments everyone

[SlowHand]

Sheet, that would have been one hellufa 5cent, 50cent ring piece moment.

Get well soon dude

[bugjuice]

glad to see you're out..
anything i can help with, just shout..

hi chloe ;)

[GSVR]

Hope you recover quickly. Sounds like you went into those bails dam hard.

[Shaun]

when was this dude/Chloe?! (or whoever types yer replies!) Whoops!

This guy is multi talented, do not panick, he is taking care of the MONKEY with the hand that works, other people know him better than me:drinkup:

[Racey Rider]

Sorry to hear about your off TS!

Get well soon.

[Jamezo]

ho-lay crap!

that sounds pretty damn horrific, I sincerely hope you get better in short order, and are back to handing everybody their arses.

[StoneChucker]

Sorry to hear about that Chris, but it's really good to hear you're going to recover in a couple of months. Also good to hear the bike is fixable, maybe a project you can do while you recover.

I'm glad you've got good people around you to help when&where neccessary, it makes all the difference.

[750Y]

bad luck mate, hope yer injuries heal up good & quick.
try to avoid catching a cold, the sneezes are a killer when you're ribs are broken..

[crashe]

Shite Chris, this is the first that I have heard of you having a accident..
I'm glad to hear that you will be ok... and back on the bike again in a few months time.


Mate get well soon... and do as the physio and dr's say.

:grouphug:

[FROSTY]

Chris --Fuck mate I have never in my life been so glad to hear someone groan in pain as when you did.
THAT WAS ONE FUCKEN NASTY CRASH.-
I heard the woowoomph noise as you hit from clear across the pits
Im so glad you are (basicly) ok dude :2thumbsup
Sorry I left ya van with no Juice in it -my moolah was in my van :slap:

[2_SL0]

Really sorry to hear about the accident. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Two Smoker]

Once again thanks everyone :niceone: the jokes are making me laugh and hurt my ribs at the same time!!!



Sorry I left ya van with no Juice in it -my moolah was in my van :slap:

No worries at all mate!!! big thanks for taking the van back mate :niceone:

[Firefight]

Glad your comin right, just do what the :doctor: tells you,, I will be into see you soon, must be a first that we managed to keep it hush hush for so long, new record for KB:Pokey:


F/F

[Vagabond]

Hey mate at least your'e still young and can mend quickly, not like some old bugger I know that take over a year to get back onto a real bike!
Wish you a speedy recovery.

[FROSTY]

Chris you look after that gal of yours--she deserves a night out when you're up to it. Good on ya Chloe for beeing strong for him :first:

[Two Smoker]

Hey Vagabond!!! long time no see!!! good too see you have a real bike!!! make sure you pop along to the track in a few months time and come say gidday

Dave, shoot me a text when you want to shoot over to my place for a coffee... Ive got 28 days off work so far, and probably more to come... So you have plenty of days to choose from :niceone:


Chris you look after that gal of yours--she deserves a night out when you're up to it. Good on ya Chloe for beeing strong for him :first:

Definately mate :niceone: im taking her shopping tomorrow, and it has nothing to do with bikes!!!

[erik]

Bloody hell. :(
I hope you keep your spirits up and heal quick.

[DEATH_INC.]

Definately mate :niceone: im taking her shopping tomorrow, and it has nothing to do with bikes!!!
You guys sure he's ok????
Glad to hear yer up and about again Chris, LB filled me in on what had happened, ya had us worried for a bit. I'll repeat the 'do what ya told' by the docs message, or you'll end up permanantly broken like me......:slap:
Kick back and take ya time getting better and you'll be away in no time, as good as ever.:beer:
Oh yeh, I can second the sneezing bit, do anything not too! And no more laughing..... :laugh: :doctor:

[sAsLEX]

Oh yeh, I can second the sneezing bit, do anything not too! And no more laughing..... :laugh: :doctor:

Just read this in the bog, pushing your tounge against the roof of your mouth will stop a sneeze

[Vagabond]

[QUOTE=Two Smoker]Hey Vagabond!!! long time no see!!! good too see you have a real bike!!! make sure you pop along to the track in a few months time and come say gidday

:niceone: Will do matey, take your time:doctor:

[Shade]

Stink man, hopefully you meand up quick so we can see you out on the track again!!

And as others have said - Make sure you heal properly, otherwise it'll never be right, and you'll be screwed for life.

Seu seu

Shadey

[HDTboy]

Good to see you posting again man. I first heard about this at the pub last night. Wish you all the best :wari:

[magnum]

all the best and heal fast,steve.

[Gazzar]

Its good to hear that you are geting better TS as i heard it from the pitts and it did not sound good at all.
Heal up fast mate. :spudwave:
gary

[Cibby]

bloody hell mate.. glad to hear your ok..

sorta.. :)

[avrflr]

Hard luck, mate. Get well soon.

How many people have to get hurt on that corner before they improve it? Not to mention the other very biker unfriendly corners. Every time I ride around there I'm very aware of the walls that you are heading towards at speed. All the bollocks about Puke being assessed to international standards doesn't impress me one bit.

[kro]

Glad to see you still walk amongst the living. :D

[NodMan]

Stink man, hopefully you meand up quick so we can see you out on the track again!!

And as others have said - Make sure you heal properly, otherwise it'll never be right, and you'll be screwed for life.

Seu seu

Shadey

He is right TS....you dont wanna end up like some of us has-beens!!!
take ya time healing dude and then it will back to the good ole times out the track with the boys

[SPman]

He is right TS....you dont wanna end up like some of us has-beens!!!
Or even the never-wases.....

[babyB]

hay there TS not good you take things easy & look after yourself
wishes at ya for a full recovery

[Matt Bleck]

Get well soon TS.

[Toast]

Don't know you TS, but damn dude, it sends shivers up my spine reading about a bin like you had, especially as I plan to get in to racing at some stage in the next couple of years myself. It's one thing if it's totally your fault, but truly sucks when you hit something that someone else's shit heap has dumped all over the track. All the best with the recovery mate :niceone:

[Brett]

Shit dude, from the sounds of it that was a big hit! I truly hope yuo get better somewhat quickly!

[FROSTY]

Well dude --already making plans for next season is a good sighn
As is the way ya hand is starting to work propperly again.
Might just be out there with ya next season

[ajturbo]

wow.. so i take it you didn't finish any races?..

na man,

hope you get fixed up soon as and get back out there...
take plenty of arnica


look after yourself...

[Kwaka-Kid]

Duuude! Only just caught up with this now!!! Been told about it by shadey... sorry i havnt contacted u recently, aint got no phone till like monday man-dont ask. But will say hey asap. Good to hear ya gettin better and stuff. Take it on easy now, and blah blah all that stuff about not going out there too early.. shit man, theres a club champs title at stake! thats reason enough to warrent a sore shoulder every now and then for the next 20 years isnt it? (haha somebody had to play the tune of the other side, its me! gotta be different!)

cucu!

Logan

[Motoracer]

Good to hear you are back home Chris!

I'll see you again some time next week.

I hope you get well real :soon: !!!

[Two Smoker]

Cheers everyone... ribs are sore, and i now have some nice huge bruises!!! Its been only a week, but im itching to get back on the bike!!!

[loosebruce]

Hey Chris good to hear you're out, pop up for a feed if you're up to it, or send your girl out on a mission, food on me of course mate.
To be honest i'm almost over puke altogether, too many firends and people i know having more than serious accidents and or dieing, bring on hampton downs, i'm about to throw the GSXR into race tirm but not sure if i even want to race at puke, prolly will, cause i still got little crazy streak. But seriously, the saftey standards is pretty shit at puke.

catch you up soon mate, take damn good care of that arm too, Big ups to all those that helped out.

[k14]

To be honest i'm almost over puke altogether, too many firends and people i know having more than serious accidents and or dieing, bring on hampton downs, i'm about to throw the GSXR into race tirm but not sure if i even want to race at puke, prolly will, cause i still got little crazy streak. But seriously, the saftey standards is pretty shit at puke.
Couldn't agree more there mate. I've heard too many of these stories now and it seems strange that it doesn't really seem to be a concern among other racers. As far as I'm concerned i'm never going there again, its a fun track but not worth the risk imo. Any other track in the country TS would have walked away from with a few bumps and bruises. Definately bring on hampton downs. Would be good if the powers that be dropped puke from next years nats in favor of taupo, I doubt it will happen though.

[Zed]

Get well soon Chris. That corner at Puke has taken out quite a few this past year or so! I was told of your accident the day it happened so i've been thinking and praying for your recovery mate!

I know the healing process will be long, but it will be worth the wait & effort when you get back to full strength/health, and back into bikes if you so choose! :doctor: