Richard Hammond seriously injured in jet-car crash

[Bob]

"Top Gear" presenter - and avid biker - Richard Hammond has been seriously injured driving a jet powered car at speeds of up to 300mph (approx. 480km/h)

I'm going to give a link to a BBC news item, as I don't want to cut this one down to ensure you get the full story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5367616.stm

Thankfully, it appears his condition, whilst still serious, is improving.

I know Top Gear and Hammond have a lot of fans in NZ, so thought you would want to know.

[Bob]

Sadly, it appears that Richard Hammond has suffered a brain injury:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5367616.stm

I'll try to keep an eye on this and post more news links as they appear.

[Filterer]

Hope he pulls through, seems like a nice guy and hes the only one on top gear that like bikes.

Best wishes to him and his family

[Postie]

Bob, don't you read anything on this site?

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=35940&highlight=hammond

[Bob]

Bob, don't you read anything on this site?

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=35940&highlight=hammond

Almost never get into "Rant or Rave" - pardon me for trying to pass on some NEWS (in the NEWS section)!

Chee!

In this case, isn't it more important that people might like to know about this, rather than running "Who posted first" contests?

:calm:

[Colapop]

Well, thankfully it's not a pissing contest - my keyboard would get wet!

Anyway back on topic. Has The Hampster suffered permanent (brain) injury or is that not yet known? Will this spell the end of Top Gear?

[Bob]

Anyway back on topic. Has The Hampster suffered permanent (brain) injury or is that not yet known? Will this spell the end of Top Gear?

As yet, nothing confirmed. Latest from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5369512.stm

[Ghost Lemur]

Supposedly he was communicating with emgency staff upon arrival so hopefully it's nothing serious or permanent.

What's scary is the safety nazis are now jumping up and down about the program, and fault, and people who choose to do things that are potentially dangerous.

I'm sure if they had their way we wouldn't be allowed outta the womb.

Get well Hamster then drive fast.

[bell]

Had to laugh when i read this:

(Jeremy)Clarkson reported that Hammond had smiled briefly at him when he quipped: "The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver."

[Bob]

Richard Hammond is out of intensive care. BBC latest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5369512.stm

Still no news on the severity of the injury, other than he suffered a "significant brain injury".

[Lou Girardin]

Richard Hammond is out of intensive care. BBC latest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5369512.stm

Still no news on the severity of the injury, other than he suffered a "significant brain injury".

He'll still be cleverer than Jeeza though.

[Naki Rat]

Still no news on the severity of the injury, other than he suffered a "significant brain injury".[/QUOTE]

Latest news on "Hamster" can be found here http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/1112/
Along with some interesting stuff... Check out the 'Carbage' section.
:beer:

[Highlander]

The only show on telly worth watching all week, and he is the real star.

Get well soon.

[Bob]

This has to be good news - OK, only a few steps... and they were "shakey", but real signs of improvement:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5372890.stm

I thought you might also like to see the "Have your say" section on the BBC site which has been devoted to Hammond, well wishes and comments on the whole 'Should he have been allowed to drive the car?' situation:

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3931&&edition=1&ttl=20060923134051

[Bob]

Richard Hammond continues to make a recovery - he has now been released to a general ward and has been joking with his wife:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5374918.stm

Great news. Also amazing is that in just a short time since they asked for donations to be made to the Air Ambulance service that lifted him to hospital, a website was set up by Pistonheads.com - so far they have raised an amazing £132,461.50 (381,910.13 NZD):

http://www.justgiving.com/phrichardhammond

Lets all hope Richard continues to make such amazing progress and that the donations keep rolling in for this vital service.

[beyond]

Thanks for the updates Bob, good to hear we will get our Hamster back all in one piece and by the sounds of it, of sound mind as well. :)

[The Pastor]

I hope he makes a FULL recovery.

This will be the end to alot of top gears stunts involving high speeds though....

[sAsLEX]

I hope he makes a FULL recovery.

This will be the end to alot of top gears stunts involving high speeds though....

Actually I think they are banning all cars that can go over a 100MPH........

[Flyingpony]

Actually I think they are banning all cars that can go over a 100MPH........

Then all we'll get to see is them driving around in their "reasonably priced {INSERT MODEL} car" :weep:
I'll miss the DB9, Zonda, etc.

[skidz]

Saw the Hampster walking to the ambulance today on the morning news.

[ManDownUnder]

Saw the Hampster walking to the ambulance today on the morning news.

Do you mean immediately after the accident, or to an ambulance on the way home/being transferred or something (i.e. he's walking... he's getting better)?

Cheers
MDU

[Swoop]

Do you mean immediately after the accident, or to an ambulance on the way home/being transferred or something (i.e. he's walking... he's getting better)?

Cheers
MDU
Saw the item as well. He is being transferred to a hospiddle closer to his home.
He was walking by himself but taking careful steps...

Good to see he's on the mend.

[ManDownUnder]

Saw the item as well. He is being transferred to a hospiddle closer to his home.
He was walking by himself but taking careful steps...

Good to see he's on the mend.

I reckon Suzuki UK should give him a free bike to ride around on... cars are obviously too dangerous...

It'd be great PR

[Swoop]

I reckon Suzuki UK should give him a free bike to ride around on... cars are obviously too dangerous...

It'd be great PR

So long as it's not a gixxer. They like to find ditches then scatter themselves over a wide area....:whistle:
Might be a bit hazardous to his health... A Honda would be safer for him...:whistle:

[The_Dover]

A Honda would be safer for him...:whistle:

this is a man who gets a buzz from speed and you're gonna give him a honda??

as if the crash wasn't punishment enough??:spanking:

[Swoop]

this is a man who gets a buzz from speed and you're gonna give him a honda??

as if the crash wasn't punishment enough??:spanking:
You don't punish a person by giving them a Honda...:cool:
This is a reward for setting a new record! 315mph (I believe).

I guess the jet car should of had a gixxer badge on it somewhere... It finished up in the same condition!:buggerd:

[ManDownUnder]

You don't punish a person by giving them a Honda...:cool:
This is a reward for setting a new record! 315mph (I believe).

I guess the jet car should of had a gixxer badge on it somewhere... It finished up in the same condition!:buggerd:

Dovered?

Speaking of which - did you hear Dover was going for his commercial pilot licence? All was going well till they looked at his track record on the Gixxer...

They canned it on the grounds of wanting to avoid an accidental 911

[The_Dover]

don't laugh.

my dad has an ATPL.

[Swoop]

Dovered?

Speaking of which - did you hear Dover was going for his commercial pilot licence? All was going well till they looked at his track record on the Gixxer...

I hope all the "flight time" from the gixxer has been logged...:whistle:

[ManDownUnder]

don't laugh.

my dad has an ATPL.

I'm guessing that's an "AT" Pilot's Licence (whatever AT stands for?) Airial Topdressing?


I hope all the "flight time" from the gixxer has been logged...:whistle:

Yup - an average of 2 hours, 17 mins and 5.9 seconds each.

[The_Dover]

airline transport

CPL doesn't allow you to carry more than X number of passengers. Dunno how many X is tho.

I'll have you know that number 3 is approaching 19000km in 9 months. bitches.

[ManDownUnder]

Yup - an average of 2 hours, 17 mins and 5.9 seconds each.


airline transport
I'll have you know that number 3 is approaching 19000km in 9 months. bitches.


Sorry - typo,

Should read 12 hours, 17 mins and 5.9 seconds each.

19000kms in 37 (ish) hours - that's an average of 513kph... sounds about right for you on a Gixxer... no?

Edit - ignore that... tired brain no reading shit right...

[Bob]

An article on Richard Hammond's "remarkable" (their words not mine) and a link to some video footage of him taking those shaky steps is contained in the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5390598.stm

Lets hope his recovery continues to be so remarkable.

[SN4PD]

An article on Richard Hammond's "remarkable" (their words not mine) and a link to some video footage of him taking those shaky steps is contained in the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5390598.stm

Lets hope his recovery continues to be so remarkable.

Yep, it wouldent be topgear without Hampster :weep:

[Bob]

Latest update: Hamster interviewed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6076018.stm

Amazing recovery rate - lets hope he continues to improve at this speed.

[SPman]

Actually I think they are banning all cars that can go over a 100MPH........
So its a diet of small SUV's and Daihatsu Miras now, is it? Shit - even our (Opel) Barina will do 110 mph (just)

[Bob]

Latest item I've found - Clarkson reckons Hamster is well on the road to recovery:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6088264.stm

[SN4PD]

Latest item I've found - Clarkson reckons Hamster is well on the road to recovery:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6088264.stm

Cheers for the update, he should write in for SuperBike's crash / new lid competition :D

[Bob]

Further good news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6162885.stm

[sAsLEX]

So its a diet of small SUV's and Daihatsu Miras now, is it? Shit - even our (Opel) Barina will do 110 mph (just)

I think Porsche and Vw and a few others are ruining your 100MPH SUV thing.

My mate put a V8 in to his Hilux and that does that easily as well.


Good news on the Hamster though, cant wait for the next series.

[marty]

geez my factory navara will do 0-100k in 7 seconds - cruises quite happily at 160k towing a trailer. have had it out to 190 without trying too hard