Top Gear's 'Hamster' in stable but serious condition day after crash
Top Gear's Richard "Hamster" Hammond is in serious but stable condition today in the Leeds General Infirmary, with his family and Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson and James May in attendance.The 36-year-old Hammond was driving a jet dragster, similar to the British land speed record-holding Vampire, in the neighborhood of 300 mph when he crashed on Wednesday. Observers said that Hammond had successfully completed several runs when a possible problem with the car's drag chutes caused the car to veer off the airport runway onto the grass verge and crash. The BBC and the government's Health and Safety Executive have already begun crash investigations.
It's likely that the accident will renew criticism of Top Gear and its high profile car stunts. In 1999 a group of Members of Parliament slammed the popular show for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed," while only last year a lobby group demanded that the show be shut down, saying it was "glamorizing speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads."
Even by Top Gear's liberal standards, 300 mph in a jet car seems an extreme assignment for any journalist. Everyone here at Autoblog wishes Hammond a full and speedy recovery.
[Source: BBC]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hamud 1:08PM (9/21/2006)
The higher the speed, the bigger the likelihood of s**t to happen.
Hope he gets well soon.
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Dr. Woo 1:11PM (9/21/2006)
He'll end up just fine, come back to the show, and they'll show the video and make fun of him for it.
Just like always.
Get well soon, mate.
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Ferguson_McSqueege 1:15PM (9/21/2006)
If lobby groups controlled the world, we'd spend all day sitting in our bubble-wrapped living rooms...because the world is a dangerous place.
Hope Hamster gets well soon, and Top Gear (probably the best TV show, period) continues to run.
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James 1:27PM (9/21/2006)
I hope you're right #2. My co-workers and I are keeping an eye on this and hoping for the best. I look forward to seeing him back on the set of Top Gear - by far the best automotive TV show there is on the planet.
Best Wishes mate - we're all pulling for you!!!
James
http://www.CarTV.com
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Alex R 1:34PM (9/21/2006)
I hope he has a speedy recovery.
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pavster 3:42PM (9/21/2006)
He's my favorite Top Gear (and Brainiacs) host... Hope he does indeed recover and is brave enough to continue with the show. Good luck!
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Sean Flanagan 1:58PM (9/21/2006)
Dr. Woo, I hope you're right. And it would probably go sometyhing like this:
Clarkson: And that does it for this week's news!
Hammond (walking toward camera from corner of studio): Right. So. Let's say you're an automotive journalist who will do nearly ANYTHING for his audience. And let's say they offer you the opportunity to break a land speed record. If you're James May, you scurry off with your tail between your legs. *laughter* But! If you're someone like, oh I don't know, me... you'll risk life and limb for the honor of your country.
(cut to segment of crash)
(end of segment)
(Clarkson, May, Hammond hanging out in front of crashed up land speed car)
Clarkson: The honor of your country?
Hammond: Well, in a way, I suppose yes. Unlike some other presenters I know *cough* May *cough*
May: Listen, I recognized the danger and removed myself from the situation before it escalated too far. *laughter*
Clarkson: Before it escalated too far?! You chickened out before you even saw the car! *laughter* (to Hammond) And you! you only did that so the high speed winds could polish your teeth some more. *laughter*
Hammond: Well, that didn't really happen, now did it.
Clarkson: Regardless, it's good to have you back, mate. I hope all is well and you have made a full recovery. *applause*
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matt 2:17PM (9/21/2006)
get well soon richard were all pulling for you
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matt 2:16PM (9/21/2006)
get well soon richard
we all have our fingers crossed
as jeremy said we want our hamster back
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matt 2:16PM (9/21/2006)
get well soon
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John B 6:00PM (9/21/2006)
300 mph you say. If Captain Slow had been driving, that speed may have been a relatively safe 290 mph.
Get well soon you short little bugger. Your daytime audience will miss you too.
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Hamud 2:42PM (9/21/2006)
News at BBC reported he had "significant brain injury". Thats really sad...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5367616.stm
Hope he survives at least, even if he can't be the same or leaves the show.
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Finished Law School 6:20PM (9/21/2006)
This sort of thing is exactly what makes Top Gear the only show on TV worth watching.
It helps that the hosts do not kiss the asses of the auto companies - something that would be a problem if this show were to be produced in the US - not to mention how much of the more entertaining aspects of the show would be outright killed if it were produced in the US.
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Eric L. 4:21PM (9/21/2006)
Big applause for #6.
Ah man, "significant brain injury." We're all pulling for you over here, Hamster.
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TSW 5:23PM (9/21/2006)
Get well soon, Richard.
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Simon 5:30PM (9/21/2006)
This happened only 1 mile from my house. I live very near to this test track. The F1 cars are always there.
I hope he has a speedy recovery. Top Gear would not be the same without him.
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desertkarma 8:49PM (9/21/2006)
Get well soon hamster! =(
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ZoomZoomin' 3:17AM (9/23/2006)
That was some very saddening news, particularly the brain damage part...I've been too occupied with work lately to pay attention to the news, so it was quite a shock to hear about this. I definitely hope he recovers. The ironic thing for me is that I was usually far more concerned about him being injured during his stunts on Braniac rather than Top Gear.
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Kwyjibo 11:49AM (9/22/2006)
"glamorizing speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads."
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The people who casue that danger on the roads are the ones who DO NOT watch shows like Top Gear. Car guys understand how to drive, and control a vehicle. We know to look before changing lanes, use our signals and not drive like morons.
On another note, I'm sure he understands the dangers of his job, and had he perished in the crash, I bet it would have been with a smile on his face from ear-to-ear....everyone dies, to die doing what you love is probably the best way to go...
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Jeff Anderson 3:07AM (11/06/2006)
# 6 was great and perfect. I miss the show here in the States when it used to be on Discovery. Wish it would come back or at least end up on DVD or the US!
Sorry to here about The Hamster. Get well soon! I want to see you behind the wheel of that new Charger, even though I agree with Clarkson about what rubbish American cars are.
JA
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