Richard Hammond (Top Gear) Critically injured in Jet-car

[Fishcop]

Fans of BBC's "Top Gear" will be concerned

At approximately 5:45pm BST 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, which is theoretically 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 jet 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 Event Fire Services, present at the scene of the accident, as broadcast on Sky News that 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."

[hatpix]

Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery

[911pcars]

Me too.

Sherwood

[911-32]

He has improved a little over night. On the plus side, he was conscious after the accident, though drifting in and out and has apparently regained consciousness in the hospital.

Clarkson and James May have both been to the hospital and are wishing him a speedy recovery.

No details on the extent of the injuries at the request of the family. He has a wife and 2 daughters. Please send all your best wishes.

[JeremyD]

LONDON, England (AP) -- Broadcaster Richard Hammond, affectionately known as "The Hamster" because of his short stature and cheeky grin, has won many fans for his light-hearted presenting style, daredevil stunts and irrepressible enthusiasm.

Best known for co-presenting cult motoring show Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May, the 36-year-old who studied photography and TV production has also hosted the Crufts dog show for the BBC.

Hammond joined Top Gear in 2002 and quickly won over viewers, some of whom had initially thought he would be overshadowed by the better-known Clarkson.

In fact Hammond, Clarkson and May developed a quirky three-way relationship with each variously the butt of the others' jokes.

One running gag directed against Hammond is about his supposed use of teeth whitener -- which he vigorously denies -- and his time hosting a daytime chat show on rival ITV called Richard Hammond's Five O'Clock Show.

Among recent stunts for Top Gear, Hammond went on a caravan trip with May and Clarkson. During filming Hammond's dog was sick in the back of the car, May hit a bollard and the episode concluded with the caravan bursting into flames.

Other episodes have seen Hammond and his presenters shooting scrap cars into a quarry using an air-cannon and playing football using cars.

Some of the stunts have also been criticized over safety fears and there have been accusations the presenters encourage high speed driving.

One show had Hammond escaping from a car after it was plunged into a water tank.

Other shows fronted by Hammond include science entertainment show Brainiac and car quiz Petrolheads. He also writes a column for the Daily Mirror newspaper

[Eric-325I]

Get well Mr. Hammond!

Eric

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

Get well soon. He puts a smile on millions of faces each episode.

[Quicksilver]

Hope this won't effect the rabid style that he goes after things with.

Now if we can just get them to show the UK version of Top Gear in the US...

[Johnny B]

A very sad day indeed.

"The Hamster" is a legend.

Positive mind and the body will recover.

Our prayers are with Richard and his family

[SCHNELE]

karma, that is for destroying the 911. I hope he recovers fully.

[jluetjen]

Schnele -- That was Jeremy Clarkson who destroyed the 911. Not Hammond!

[tastytel]

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond suffered a "significant brain injury'' when he crashed a high-speed car while filming for the show, a hospital spokesman said.

Hammond was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary after the accident at Elvington airfield near York on Wednesday.

But doctors at the hospital, where the 36-year-old is in a serious but stable condition, said they were "reasonably optimistic'' he would make a good recovery.

Hammond's co-presenters on the BBC2 show, James May and Jeremy Clarkson, were at the hospital with members of his family.

"Obviously at this time both he and his family are the most important concerns we have"
- ClarksonClarkson, said: "I would just like to say how heartened Richard will be when I tell him just how many motorists and truck drivers on my way here wound down their windows to say they were rooting for him.

"James May and I are at the hospital in Leeds where Richard remains in intensive care. Obviously at this time both he and his family are the most important concerns we have. It must be devastating for his wife Mindy and his two utterly adorable children.

"Both James and I are looking forward to getting our hamster back.''

Hammond was injured on Wednesday while driving the jet-powered Vampire, Britain's fastest car, while apparently attempting to break the British land speed record.

He was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary after the rocket powered dragster he was in crashed at Elvington airfield near York.

[PorscheGuy79]

Originally posted by SCHNELE
karma, that is for destroying the 911. I hope he recovers fully.

Jeez, you guys need to get over that. It's like you're still hung up on your ex-girlfriend who left you. lol.

[imcarthur]

I hope for a full & speedy recovery. Paul Frère was also just injured at the Nurburgring. See post in Other Topics.

The jet car:



Not a good thing to roll.

Ian

[SCHNELE]

A lilttle levity here, I can have a laugh every now and then, just good natured fun.

[sus911]

Speedy recovery mate

[Jack Olsen]

From the London Times:

[Bill Douglas]

Get well soon Richard - the world needs more 911 drivers.


By the way guys, Richard and James love 911s and both drive a SC or Carerra.

[coolngroovy]

Only found out about this this morning. Hope the hamster gets better soon.
If Top Gear would like someone to fill in for a while, i'me available! Call me anytime day or night! I don't mind!

[911pcars]

"He was piloting a jet-powered Vampire car, which is theoretically capable of travelling at 370mph, in an attempt to break the UK land speed record."

I'm playing amateur land speed record jet car engineer as well as CS investigator, but wouldn't the Vampire machine have been more stable with a wider rear track, especially if the drag chute happens to yank it off axis at 280 mph? Aero-cover the wheels so they don't interfere with the wind as much.

And do they have salt flats in GB? Much more forgiving in case of an endo I would think. In addition, the dissimilar road surfaces (tarmac and grass) and the aircraft launch path don't provide a lot of safe runoff in case of a glitch.

Talking about the car name - Vampire. It certainly bit back.

Let's hope Hammond has a speedy and positive recovery. He reminds me of a smart and witty Stan Laurel with May and Clarkson as his Oliver Hardy's. Top Gear. Great show with great on-air chemistry.

In the meantime, the US gets "Survival of the Wanna-Be Runway Models".

Sherwood