[Doofy]

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

Top Gear's Richard Hammond is seriously ill in hospital after a crash in a rocket-powered car while filming for the programme.

Send your prayers/thoughts/incantations/whatever his way folks.

[d4nth3m4n]

he should know better than to Scandinavian flick (link to a 700kB .gif) a rocket car.

seriously though, god speed hamster.

[mdc]

I read this earlier. It's terrible, and I really hope he is going to be okay.

My thoughts are with him, family, and friends.

[Face Ache]

Aww sheeeit.

[Kenneth]

That's painful to hear. I watch Top Gear religiously.

[Spook E]

Bad news! Top Gear is one of the best reasons TV was invented and he bought a lot to the show.

All the best hamster!

[IceEnclosure]

Not good.

[moodymonster]

Top Gear | Richard Hammond hurt in crash

^ says his condition is 'stable', here's hoping he pulls through.

[Mastrap]

I really hope he makes it.

[Gator Lager]

sad.

just found this funny video regarding him and the show
YouTube - Top Gear: Hammond Hypnotised

[Dakar]

I enjoyed the show the one time I caught it on american tv.

[Big Mac]

I hope the guy doesn't die, but if he does, and if celebrity deaths come in threes, who's the third? Looks like it would be a foreign celeb, to maintain the trend.

[Peter]

Hope he's ok, great presenter.

[Zeeb]

Geez, I always thought rocket powered cars traveling at 300mph were safe. Who could have thought something like this could happen?

I do hope he recovers completely and quickly.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Gator Lager

sad.

just found this funny video regarding him and the show
YouTube - Top Gear: Hammond Hypnotised

That's hilarious

Top Gear used to be on Discovery, but I think they dropped it. Too bad. I'd rather watch that than the stupid crab fishermen or motorcycle builders arguing for an hour.

[moodymonster]

you can send your best wishes here: tgweb@bbc.co.uk

[Spliff]

The latest word is that he has a "significant brain injury" but that doctors are "reasonably optimistic the 36-year-old would make a good recovery." To my ears, "significant brain injury" and "good recovery" don't go together.

[Nicko]

Yikes...I just watched the episode where they go caravaning and end up setting it on fire. Hope he recovers! In any event, I'm sure he will be avoiding rocket cars for a while.

[Peter]

I can't imagine Top Gear without him, I really really hope he gets better

[Peter]

Sky News: UK News, breaking news from around the UK.

Doctors treating Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond say his condition has improved and he has been moved out of intensive care.

Hammond is now said to be in a "stable" condition following his high speed crash in a jet-powered car.

Leeds General Infirmary said: "Richard Hammond is making satisfactory progress. This morning he has been moved from intensive care on to a high dependency unit.

[itschestercopperpot]

Sweet. I think he's cooler than the other guys. That said, I could see why a rocket car would roll pretty easy. The thrust isn't on the ground, it's ABOVE the ground. So that would make it more roll prone. But hey, at least he went 300mph. A few days in the hospital is a small price to pay for driving at 300mph. That's bad-ass.

[fhoubi]

The car looks very intact to me which confirms the rumor that he wasn't breaking/aiming at the british landrecord at all (yet). I really hope the hamster gets well soon. But anyone driving such an ugly vehicle has no taste all imho:



That thing looks unstable just be looking at it.

[esXXI]

Very sad and I hope he gets better, he's one of my favourite TV folks.

[itschestercopperpot]

Just realized... wouldn't critically INJURED be more appropriate? It's not as if he was stressed out, stayed up to late, and there's a case of 'rocket care related illness' floating around.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

Sweet. I think he's cooler than the other guys. That said, I could see why a rocket car would roll pretty easy. The thrust isn't on the ground, it's ABOVE the ground. So that would make it more roll prone. But hey, at least he went 300mph. A few days in the hospital is a small price to pay for driving at 300mph. That's bad-ass.

when it veered off of the runway, the engine had already been cut and the parachute had been deployed.

word is that they weren't trying to break the official speed record- that takes two passes in opposite directions with the two speeds averaged. they were trying to get one pass (with james, "captian slow" may in the drivers seat) that would break the record, making it an unofficial record.

for the record, May didn't puss out he wasn't available to drive the rocket car due to conflicting availability between may and the car. so hamster stepped up.

Originally Posted by fhoubi

The car looks very intact to me which confirms the rumor that he wasn't breaking/aiming at the british landrecord at all (yet). I really hope the hamster gets well soon. But anyone driving such an ugly vehicle has no taste all imho:



That thing looks unstable just be looking at it.

uh, he had it up at around 280MPH they're saying, the entire thing is frame with minimal bodywork. what did you expect it to look like?

[itschestercopperpot]

I'm wondering what steering system that thing had too.... I mean, that's a pretty damn sharp looking turn. Dragsters have steering wheels that really don't turn the front wheels much, but he front wheels on that thing look more like indy cars. I don't get that at all. They should be narrow/skinny to reduce drag, not thick and wide...that's only good for cornering. Basically seeing as how the front end looks like an old indy car, I'm wondering if the steering is just as responsive..which would be BAD at 280mph. :|

[d4nth3m4n]

the thinking is that a tire blew out and either that dragged him off the pavement or his compensation got him off.

also, had the turf been dryer he might have had even less trauma to the head, it's thought that the roll bar dug into the turf- aiding in the rapid deceleration.

[itschestercopperpot]

Hm. Yeah. Tires blowing out at 280mph can really put a damper on a speed run.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

I'm wondering what steering system that thing had too.... I mean, that's a pretty damn sharp looking turn. Dragsters have steering wheels that really don't turn the front wheels much, but he front wheels on that thing look more like indy cars. I don't get that at all. They should be narrow/skinny to reduce drag, not thick and wide...that's only good for cornering. Basically seeing as how the front end looks like an old indy car, I'm wondering if the steering is just as responsive..which would be BAD at 280mph. :|

Dude, the sister car to that thing holds the British land speed record. They probably know what they're doing.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

That said, I could see why a rocket car would roll pretty easy. The thrust isn't on the ground, it's ABOVE the ground.

A thrust force acting in a horizontal direction in a location centered above the rear axle would create a moment forcing the front tires into the pavement. It would do nothing to make it roll.

[itschestercopperpot]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Dude, the sister car to that thing holds the British land speed record. They probably know what they're doing.

First off, the british land speed records are pussy land speed records compared to america's. Secondly, they obviously did SOMETHING wrong, otherwise it wouldn't have rolled over. High speed cars should have NARROW TIRES. That hting has wide ones. It doesn't make sense.

[kick52]

hope he gets well.

[itschestercopperpot]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

A thrust force acting in a horizontal direction in a location centered above the rear axle would create a moment forcing the front tires into the pavement. It would do nothing to make it roll.

I think it could. It's HIGHER than the rear wheels, so if the car starts to slide or get funky at all, it would be very weird.... the thrust of a regular RWD car is on the ground. That one is a few feet above the ground. There'd definitely be a difference.

[Gossamer]

Well, let's say that the jet engine is putting out average thrust (about 10,000 pounds) and it's acting at a point two feet above the rear axle. That's a lot of force that the front tires have to hold up, in addition to the weight of the car. I'd be willing to bet that some people with engineering degrees know a tad better than you.

[itschestercopperpot]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Well, let's say that the jet engine is putting out average thrust (about 10,000 pounds) and it's acting at a point two feet above the rear axle. That's a lot of force that the front tires have to hold up, in addition to the weight of the car. I'd be willing to bet that some people with engineering degrees know a tad better than you.

And I'd be willing to be that since the front tire apparently blew out, it was too much force on the front tires. I also think that if one tire were to blow, suddenly the diameter of one of the front wheels is a LOT smaller than the other front wheel, and that thrust, positioned ABOVE THE GROUND, is going to drive that smaller diameter rim into the ground, forcing the car to turn, catch the rim, and rollover.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

And I'd be willing to be that since the front tire apparently blew out, it was too much force on the front tires. I also think that if one tire were to blow, suddenly the diameter of one of the front wheels is a LOT smaller than the other front wheel, and that thrust, positioned ABOVE THE GROUND, is going to drive that smaller diameter rim into the ground, forcing the car to turn, catch the rim, and rollover.

So skinnier front tires capable of holding less weight/force would be better?

[itschestercopperpot]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

So skinnier front tires capable of holding less weight/force would be better?

Hrm. Good point. I suppose that's why they went with wider ones. But I still stand that having the thrust ABOVE the wheels will definitely make the car act a lot funkier than if it were driven by the rear wheels.

[itschestercopperpot]

HOWEVER, wider tires are only connected to the rim at the edges... the wider they are, the more likely they will 'balloon' at high speeds due to centrifical (?) forces.... and that flexing generates a lot of heat, plus they have a ton of force downward on them, which forces them to be flat again...that bending back and forth between a more rounded balloon shape and a flat shape can't be good for the tire. Lots and lots of heat buildup.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

And I'd be willing to be that since the front tire apparently blew out, it was too much force on the front tires. I also think that if one tire were to blow, suddenly the diameter of one of the front wheels is a LOT smaller than the other front wheel, and that thrust, positioned ABOVE THE GROUND, is going to drive that smaller diameter rim into the ground, forcing the car to turn, catch the rim, and rollover.

I see what you mean here too. I suppose it would all depend on how quickly the thrust could be cut and parachute deployed. Anyone who's watched World's Wildest Police Chases knows it's quite possible to drive on the rims at some pretty good speeds, but probably not ~280mph. I bet there's a safety tech out there looking for a new job now.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

First off, the british land speed records are pussy land speed records compared to america's.

Maybe you should go look at which country holds the World land speed record.

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

Secondly, they obviously did SOMETHING wrong, otherwise it wouldn't have rolled over. High speed cars should have NARROW TIRES. That hting has wide ones. It doesn't make sense.

And then perhaps you should go look at the relationship between the people behind the World land speed record and the people behind this vehicle.

When they want advice about handing wet wipes to a dentist, I'm sure they'll ask you.

[Mastrap]

You realize that you're arguing with Ca$h, expert on absolutely everything?

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

First off, the british land speed records are pussy land speed records compared to america's.

Try again, expert.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Try again, expert.

I think he was talking about land speed records set in Britain maybe, not sure though.

[Mastrap]

I know. But the reality is that the land speed record is being held by a British team. The only reason why they come to America to attempt it is that there's no salt desert in the UK.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

You realize that you're arguing with Ca$h, expert on absolutely everything?

Yep. Hence reference to dental assistants.

[fhoubi]

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n

That thing looks unstable just be looking at it.

uh, he had it up at around 280MPH they're saying, the entire thing is frame with minimal bodywork. what did you expect it to look like?

1) Ladder (space?) frame over the complete car esp. in the middle of the car approx. only 20" high!
2) Worse aerodynamics.
3) Worse balancing (or fear for flipping). Look at the (yet) small spoiler and wide nose at the front. How steep can you get? Therefor big wheels at the front, and I agree with Ca$h about the wheel issues at the front completely.
4) Rear axle not behind the fat engine.

EDIT: simply not with a snow shovel at the front.

But hey it is easy to criticize.

[itschestercopperpot]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Yep. Hence reference to dental assistants.

??? I haven't worked there since... Nov of 2004.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally Posted by fhoubi

1) Ladder (space?) frame over the complete car esp. in the middle of the car approx. only 20" high!
2) Worse aerodynamics.
3) Worse balancing (or fear for flipping). Look at the (yet) small spoiler and wide nose at the front. How steep can you get? Therefor big wheels at the front, and I agree with Ca$h about the wheel issues at the front completely.
4) Rear axle not behind the fat engine.

EDIT: simply not with a snow shovel at the front.

But hey it is easy to criticize.

i meant what did you expect it to look like after the crash? ... the thing is nearly all frame, there isn't much to break. thus- it looks rather intact despite the speed he was travelling.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by itschestercopperpot

??? I haven't worked there since... Nov of 2004.

I forgot that you've been working for a land speed record engineering company since then.

[Doofy]

BBC NEWS | UK | Hammond 'has taken first steps'

Jeremy Clarkson, one of Mr Hammond's co-presenters on the BBC show, told the Sun newspaper his colleague had got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday.