UKers - Richard Hammond

[Oberon]

Just to let guys from the UK and those abroad who may have seen the shows. Richard Hammond, co-host of Top Gear and presenter of Brainiacs, has been seriously injured in a vehicle accident whilst testing out a jet car for Top Gear at an ex-MOD airfield in N.Yorkshire. He was airlifted to hospital and reportedly arrived unconscious (though there are conflicting reports on his state when he entered the helo) and is described by doctors as being in a 'critical' condiction.

More news and updates at:

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


Being a big fan of Top Gear, I hope he recovers soon!

[Winston]

I wish him all the best, see him quite often on the TV. In fact I was just watching a rerun of topgear whiles eating my tea and I found out about this. Very sad, hope he pulls though.

[STEED]

TOP GEAR :rock: :rock:
let's hope Richard Hammond is ok.

[Bort]

I wish him all the best, see him quite often on the TV. In fact I was just watching a rerun of topgear whiles eating my tea and I found out about this. Very sad, hope he pulls though.

I wish him the best as well. No doubt when he gets better he will be the target of endless ribbing from Jeremy Clarkson and James May about how he got all busted up but his expensive new teeth are fine!:rotfl: BTW, it's this American's opinion that Top Gear is the best TV show to come out of Britain since Fawlty Towers, it never fails to be entertaining and hilarious!

[Linton]

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/update-sky-news-reports-top-gears-richard-hammond-driving-vampire-jet-car-at-280-mph-at-time-of-accident-202054.php
Picture of the car and what he was trying to do.Best wishes to him on a speedy recovery!

[snowsub]

Sorry to hear about Richard, I saw him as a natural replacement for Jeremy when clarkson retires.

Hope he get's well soon

[The Avon Lady]

Is that the show that once pitted an Apache helicopter pilot's targeting system against a Porsche or similar?

[XabbaRus]

Yea against a Lotus Exige though,,,quite cool.

Hope this doesn't mean that they stop Clarkson et al doing daft stunts.

Hope he gets well soon.

[Konovalov]

Yea against a Lotus Exige though,,,quite cool.

Hope this doesn't mean that they stop Clarkson et al doing daft stunts.

Hope he gets well soon.

What about the episode of him driving a 4wd vs a Challenger II mbt? That was :|\\ . Oh how I love that show on a Sunday night. I hope he makes a full recovery. I also hope this doesn't mean the end of Top Gear as an entertainment/car show. Has anyone seen ITV's rubbish car show or just as bad if not worse the Sky clone of Top Gear titled Vroom Vroom. Total rubbish IMO. It's Top Gear or nothing.

Get well Hammo! :yep:

[joea]

I hope he gets better too. Love the show as well, especially the races. Will never forget the onw where a car (fancy Italian one) driven by Clarkson beat a small Cessna flown by Hammond and James May from Northern Italy to London. Granted the plane could not fly over the Alps and actually doesn't cruise much faster than some cars can drive but still.

[Konovalov]

You know when you think about it, these three co-hosts Clarkson, Hammo, and May are a bit like the Three Stooges. They all work off each other and compliment one another so well. For the show to change personel in any way would detract from it in a major way.

[CB..]

fingers crossed he makes a full recovery:ping:

[bradclark1]

Well, thats two. Croc Hunter and this guy. Who is the third going to be? Comes in three's.

[XabbaRus]

No it's not three, it's still one. Hammond hasn't died yet and is said to be a bit better.

[Bellman]

Yes its great news that there is some improvement in his condition and we can only hope his recovery continues.

While respecting Hammonds stuff I have to say that I hope this the BBC now drops this series. It has become increasingley bizarre with the trios feature of the Caravan Sketch competing with some of the best comedy. Very funny. But.....C'est magnifique mais ce n'est pas la guerre !'

Let Clarkson rerun the rocket-car speed attempt ......................the sooner the better ! Some chance - the BBC love him even more than eggcupman himself............the definitive GOM (Grumpy old man) the sainted John Humphreys. Bah !!:arrgh!::damn:

This household cant wait until both of 'em are put out to grass !

[STEED]

I hope this the BBC now drops this series.

What are you on?

Top Gear is great and funny it rocks.

[Bellman]

Yeah I know its a minority view but I just cant stand Clarkson and the sad bunch of nerds that stand around in the show hanging on the
big fa**s every word.

But I guess he's on borrowed time - surprised if BMW have'nt taken out a contract on him ! ;) :rotfl:

[STEED]

The Majority give it the :up: for winning all those awards:rock:

[Godalmighty83]

Yeah I know its a minority view but I just cant stand Clarkson and the sad bunch of nerds that stand around in the show hanging on the
big fa**s every word.

But I guess he's on borrowed time - surprised if BMW have'nt taken out a contract on him ! ;) :rotfl:

then dont watch it, the rest of us dont want to be stuck with all the other ****e on tv with no entertainment at all. go back to watching neighbours and leave the rest of us to enjoy ourselves.

top gear has been the best show on TV for a few years now. the caravan piss takes are especialy great, they should be banned from the roads.

[Bellman]

Yep as I said above the Caravan Sketch was very funny :D Just going from petrol to clockwork power here ie. A bit of a wind-up ! Sorry.

The show just needs a new frontman - anyone but Clarkson.
A new format.
A less sad audience.
Less 'Super Car' Kitsch.
Some attractive female presenters - what happened to Vicky Butler-Henderson ? A racy racer (in her day !)
I mean what is it with these guys are they afraid of the other sex ?
A half-hour spot - heck they know how to bore.
Cars for the Celeb time trial that have'nt been doctored - you know it makes sense - think of the potential claims that could be placed even in spite of Liability exclusion agreements. When did one of them role ?

Oh yes and please get Richard back fit and well asap - he makes it all worthwile !

[TteFAboB]

Don't love this show like the rest of you.

I just watch it for the cars. :D

[Godalmighty83]

Yep as I said above the Caravan Sketch was very funny :D

The show just needs a new frontman - anyone but Clarkson.
A new format.
A less sad audience.
Less 'Super Car' Kitsch.
Some attractive female presenters - what happened to Vicky Butler-Henderson. I mean what is it with these guys are they afraid of the other sex ?
A half-hour spot - heck they know how to bore.
Cars for the Celeb time trial that have'nt been doctored - you know it makes sense - think of the potential claims that could be placed even in spite of Liability exclusion agreements.
!

-clarkson while being a twit brings most of the humour and controversy

-the format is spot on

-the audience are only seen for a couple of minutes.

-there should be more super cars 'ooh mildred they havent reviewed my 1.6 toyota corolla biege edition, iam going to phone the bbc to complain!'

-VBH left to do fifth gear along with the old top gear crew, unknown contract but she wont be coming back too soon.

-the show is too short, if you find it boring watch something else, at 8pm on a sunday antiques roadshow is probably on or celebrity love island or even big brother!

-doctered cars for the stars? what has the poor thing been fitted with a V8???

[Bellman]

''Clarkson while beeing a twit..............'' We agree ! I am happy to rest my case on that point. :ping: Nuf said here !

On a serious point though, it seems Richard stood-in for May** ! How well was he prepared for the unique challenge of driving a vehicle like that ?
Why did the run go ahead in strong winds - particularly dangerous for high speed vehicles with light front-end loads ?

Sorry but the producers/directors of this show have a lot of questions to answer. They have fed the cult of the immature boyracer so let them reap a whirlwind of criticism if they have psyched the presenter/s to take on one challenge too many, underprepared and in unsuitable conditions.

**Corrected 09-22

[Ramius]

Yeah I know its a minority view but I just cant stand Clarkson and the sad bunch of nerds that stand around in the show hanging on the
big fa**s every word......

Guess thats why theres at least 4 other channels you get to "choose" to watch...

Its fairly simple - you dont like it = turn it over or turn it off :yep:

[Godalmighty83]

'

On a serious point though, it seems Richard stood-in for Hammo ! How well was he prepared for the unique challenge of driving a vehicle like that ?
.

more prepared then the other team members if anything (hammo?? who? richard hammond, the guy who drove?), clarkson is a 'casual' driver, hammond actualy has race licenses i believe. anyway the only way to prepare or get used to 300mph runs is to do them, there isnt a simulator that can teach you.

it was the last run of the day, filming had stopped it was a final run just for fun, at the moment the rumour mill is saying a tyre popped if thats the case i doubt the bbc could do much to help out.

there is no indication at all that they pshyched hammond (who by nature is up for everything) and certainly no indication that conditions were bad or unprepared. were there strong winds? the weather report for yesterday was pleasent.

it seems you have an axe to grind against top gear, like some groups (the idiotic transport 2000 lot for one) you seem to be making accusations with no evidence.

does this mean that we will now see boyraces attempting land speed records with 4500 lb thrust engines? if we do i will finaly believe that millions of boyracers copy topgear.

[Bort]

Update to the story, apparently Hammond has suffered a "severe brain injury" I hope he pulls through...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/north_yorkshire/5367616.stm
It does suprise me that Hamster tried this stunt, usually if something really dangerous is tried on Top Gear, a professional stunt driver and not one of the hosts is the driver. Frankly, I don't understand why the Stig (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stig) wasn't driving the jet car, after all, thats what he's for!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/TopGearStig.jpg/300px-TopGearStig.jpg

Also, according to Wikipeida (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hammond), Hammond had broken the British land speed record prior to the accident.

[Bellman]

83:''It was the last run of the day, filming had stopped it was a final run just for fun''
ITN News reported that Hammond had broken the British land speed record and was on a last run, filming extra scenes for the show. But Primetime Land Speed Engineering, said Hammond had been taking the dragster "up through the speeds, getting faster and faster each time" before the accident.

Mates and the Styg did not step up to the plate for this feature. Richard bravely did ! But an important question is how irresponsible was it of the BBC to set this up. PLSE observed how remarkable it was that Richard apparently quickly mastered the driving techniques which their driver acquired over a long time.

The BBC has serious questions to answer and politicos and safety organisations who have long opposed the programme will call them to task.
I dont think that Top Gear will survive in its present format.

[XabbaRus]

I really don't see what questions need to be asked other than why the dragster went off the runway, not why was he allowed to do the stunt.

Ah the cotton wool state beckons.

[Bellman]

Xab: If you choose to be myopic on this issue thats your bag.

1) Enquirey to focus on two issues:
Andrew Norfolk writing in todays Times: ''The police and the Health and Safety Executive are seeking to establish whether BBC producers should have allowed Hammond to take the wheel of the 300mph jet powered dragster. Accident investigators want to know what training he received and how much planning went into his unofficial attempt to break the British land-speed record on Wednesday.''

2) Hammonds jet-car was For Sale !
Others likely to come under investigation are Primetime the owners of the vehicle and Elvington Park Ltd the company which owns and rented out the runway to the BBC crew. Vampire and its sister car Split Second are up for sale and Primetime hoped to use the Hammond film as a shop window for the vehicles.

[HunterICX]

:doh: it's already amazing that he survived the accident

Hope that he gets well soon.

[XabbaRus]

No Bellman it is in response to your assertion that you hope due to this the show's format will change. A change that you want explicitly because you just don't like Clarkson et al.

I think Clarkson can be an arsehole though I'd rather him than many others. Top Gear is a fun show, yes entertaining. So do I think it encourages boy racers? No, why? Because most boy racers are sad gits who drive souped up Novas and Corsas and have underaged girlfriends, where as Top Gear pretty much drive everything that they can't afford and most other people. A bit more sophisticated.

As for the "sad nerds" in the audience. Are they only sad nerd because you don't happen to like motoring and cars in the way they do. I guess I am one of them as I watch Top Gear and like cars and would love to do some of the things that Clarks, Hammond and friends get up to. I guess that is why people watch it.

OK there should be an investigation but I fear it will be taken over by the PC brigade.

I hope the BBC doesn't change the shows format and bow to the pressure of those who want it taken off simply for the reason THEY DON'T LIKE Clarkson.

[Godalmighty83]

he DID NOT break the land speed record, there were no AA officials there.

take wikipedia with a bit of salt, on thursday they were reporting hammonds death.


and the BBC didnt set this up, the whole company (the dragster group) make a living out of these runs and have been touring the country for the past 5 years doing so.

[Bellman]

1) The BBC set up the feature in commissioning the use of the airfield services and PLSE.
They agreed to Richards participation and the near fatal extra 'take' run.
2) I was a fan of Top Gear for years but dislike the direction the programme has taken recently !
IMO Clarkson, the principle script writer has ruined the show.

:lol: Not too seriously:
3) What next Clarkson going solo in an F16 ? On second thoughts - yes bring it on as his bilious last trip aloft
was a great laugh ! :lol:

Just heard the good news that Richard is out of Intensive Care and his condition is 'satisfactory.'
May says that he has had a conversation with him .:rock:

[Bellman]

3.30pm
Top Gear told to slow down.

Leigh Holmwood
Friday September 22, 2006
MediaGuardian.co.uk

The BBC will have to tone down Top Gear's "boyish irreverence" and obsession with speed if it is to carry on following the accident
involving presenter Richard Hammond, a former executive with the show has said.

Top Gear has won over a new generation of viewers following a revamp that has seen it become more laddish.

Top Gear's preoccupation with speed has been criticised by viewers and MPs, but the production team -
particularly the lead presenter, Jeremy Clarkson - has always shrugged off the complaints.

[Linton]

If anybody is thinking of sending flowers his family suggest a donation to the Yorkshire air ambulance instead.

[Godalmighty83]

Top Gear's preoccupation with speed has been criticised by viewers and MPs, .

some viewers and some mps.


a return to the old format will send the show the same way as the old top gear or under like so many other motoring soes that bored the viewers away. we dont need to see comparisons between dull mondeos and vectras, we see them on the road and have plenty of choices to choose for ourselves. now seeing a mcmerc hammer around the race track or a ferrari Vs lambo dragrace, you dont see awesome like that every day.

[Godalmighty83]

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

article from jeremy clarkson, very interesting read.