Top Gear - Page 4 - SV650.org

29-01-07, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithd

owner of the car is partly blaming the hamster...

Quote:

The owner of the jet car in which Richard Hammond was nearly killed has suggested the Top Gear presenter was partly to blame for the crash. Dramatic of the 288 mph crash has just been screened for the first time.

It clearly showed the car's right front tyre shredded after a blowout as Hammond tore down an airfield runway.

He appeared to lose control of the Vampire dragster, which veered off the runway on to the grass before overturning.

In The Sun newspaper, Colin Fallows implied Hammond was to some extent responsible by "failing to adhere to the briefing".

He said: "Mr Hammond had a puncture and carried on with the tyre deflated", adding he "stood on the brakes" after the blowout.

Mr Fallows added: "Once these cars are in motion you don't touch the brakes. You stay on the prescribed line and should always be aware of the unexpected.

"By failing to adhere to the briefing, what would have been a controllable incident ended in a major accident."

The crash occured while 36-year-old Hammond was filming a stunt at Elvington airfield in York last September.

He suffered brain injuries and there were fears he would not survive. He says he has no memory of the accident.

Hammond, nicknamed Hamster, watched it on last night's edition of Top Gear with co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

The father-of-two was asked by Clarkson why he had attempted a final run after reaching speeds of 314mph - the fastest anyone has ever travelled on land in Britain.

Hammond said: "I dunno. That run we just watched was at about five o'clock and we had the runway until 5.30pm.

"I suppose it's like when you were playing outside as a kid and then your mum called you in for dinner. You'd always stay out for a bit longer..."

Interesting. There is no mention of a puncture anywhere else and the degradation of the tyre happened in 0.4 of a second. I fail to see how Hammond could have spotted it.

Going from the interview last night, I thought there were no brake pedals?

29-01-07, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithd

owner of the car is partly blaming the hamster...

Quote:

The owner of the jet car in which Richard Hammond was nearly killed has suggested the Top Gear presenter was partly to blame for the crash. Dramatic of the 288 mph crash has just been screened for the first time.

It clearly showed the car's right front tyre shredded after a blowout as Hammond tore down an airfield runway.

He appeared to lose control of the Vampire dragster, which veered off the runway on to the grass before overturning.

In The Sun newspaper, Colin Fallows implied Hammond was to some extent responsible by "failing to adhere to the briefing".

He said: "Mr Hammond had a puncture and carried on with the tyre deflated", adding he "stood on the brakes" after the blowout.

Mr Fallows added: "Once these cars are in motion you don't touch the brakes. You stay on the prescribed line and should always be aware of the unexpected.

"By failing to adhere to the briefing, what would have been a controllable incident ended in a major accident."

The crash occured while 36-year-old Hammond was filming a stunt at Elvington airfield in York last September.

He suffered brain injuries and there were fears he would not survive. He says he has no memory of the accident.

Hammond, nicknamed Hamster, watched it on last night's edition of Top Gear with co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

The father-of-two was asked by Clarkson why he had attempted a final run after reaching speeds of 314mph - the fastest anyone has ever travelled on land in Britain.

Hammond said: "I dunno. That run we just watched was at about five o'clock and we had the runway until 5.30pm.

"I suppose it's like when you were playing outside as a kid and then your mum called you in for dinner. You'd always stay out for a bit longer..."

Interesting. There is no mention of a puncture anywhere else and the degradation of the tyre happened in 0.4 of a second. I fail to see how Hammond could have spotted it.

Going from the interview last night, I thought there were no brake pedals?

i think there's a brake pedal which is applied when the car is stationary and released at time of igniting the engines but thats all its used for. i'm sorry but surely its human reaction, something goes wrong with you car and first instinct is to look for the brake...? maybe i'm wrong

29-01-07, 12:56 PM

I'd say a blowout at that speed on a front tyre and its game over whatever. I loved the Jade comment, and I can't see how she didn't deserve it, she is a nasty dumb woman, and she made her own bed so to speak.

I think the issue with the drifting is how to convey how a car "feels" to drive. Clarkson was just saying how it was utter fun to drive, trying to convey that stats don't mean everything about a car. Otherwise the car with the biggest hp would just be the best surely?

29-01-07, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warthog

I'd say a blowout at that speed on a front tyre and its game over whatever.

Agreed, you just have to watch Drag racing to see how bad it can go, and that's at lower speeds!

northwind · 29-01-07, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudge32

Wednesday BBC2 7pm

Good man

29-01-07, 03:08 PM

Not classic TG last night, but glad to see it back with all 3 of them. Kinda feel like they wont be taking those sorts of risks again though.

Top comment about Goody - how she earned her millions shows everything wrong with Britain at the moment.

When it came to the crash scenes and talking about it, both Hammond and Clarkson were clearly emotive. The piece itself was dealt with well.

Shameless and TG only programs i look forward to

29-01-07, 07:25 PM

That crash was really nasty. Good to see hammond back though!

I noticed the dark strip of tyre rubber on the left hand side of the right tyre (got that?) on the first onboard shot of his first run.

Perhaps the sidewind was forcing the car to put more weight on that tyre, hence higher friction and more heat causing the blowout?

Matt

29-01-07, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kate

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithd

owner of the car is partly blaming the hamster...

Interesting. There is no mention of a puncture anywhere else and the degradation of the tyre happened in 0.4 of a second. I fail to see how Hammond could have spotted it.

Going from the interview last night, I thought there were no brake pedals?

i think there's a brake pedal which is applied when the car is stationary and released at time of igniting the engines but thats all its used for. i'm sorry but surely its human reaction, something goes wrong with you car and first instinct is to look for the brake...? maybe i'm wrong

precisely....if the jetcar people had one of their regular pilots/drivers on board he may have been able to react correctly through training and familiarity. Hammond was a novice for that sort of thing so the jetcar lot owed hammond a higher duty of care, so try as they might, they will not be able to say it is legally his fault. there is a h&s investigation ongoing so they will be trying to explain their way out of it.....that is possibly where this comment came from.

Biker Biggles · 29-01-07, 07:41 PM

I hear the safety fascists have already started bleating about TG.

fizzwheel · 29-01-07, 07:44 PM

Tell you want I wish I was a driving god and could spot a tyre delminating at 280 odd mile an hour. When I only had .4 of a second to realise what was going on before the tyre exploded off the rim...

How's anybody supposed to spot that ? Accidents happen, get over it.

29-01-07, 07:41 PM	#39
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,071	I hear the safety fascists have already started bleating about TG. __________________ On a clear day we stand there and look further than the ordinary eye can see.

29-01-07, 07:44 PM	#40
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Tell you want I wish I was a driving god and could spot a tyre delminating at 280 odd mile an hour. When I only had .4 of a second to realise what was going on before the tyre exploded off the rim... How's anybody supposed to spot that ? Accidents happen, get over it. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Gear Shift Rod bent - Gear Changing problem	Thaleshwar	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	13	05-06-10 06:28 PM
Gear change problem-can't get past 2nd gear	muzikill	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	8	14-03-10 10:10 PM
Gear change problem-can't get past 2nd gear	muzikill	SV Ecosse	8	13-09-07 07:45 PM

29-01-07, 12:56 PM	#33
Warthog Guest Posts: n/a	I'd say a blowout at that speed on a front tyre and its game over whatever. I loved the Jade comment, and I can't see how she didn't deserve it, she is a nasty dumb woman, and she made her own bed so to speak. I think the issue with the drifting is how to convey how a car "feels" to drive. Clarkson was just saying how it was utter fun to drive, trying to convey that stats don't mean everything about a car. Otherwise the car with the biggest hp would just be the best surely?

29-01-07, 03:08 PM	#36
rob13 Guest Posts: n/a	Not classic TG last night, but glad to see it back with all 3 of them. Kinda feel like they wont be taking those sorts of risks again though. Top comment about Goody - how she earned her millions shows everything wrong with Britain at the moment. When it came to the crash scenes and talking about it, both Hammond and Clarkson were clearly emotive. The piece itself was dealt with well. Shameless and TG only programs i look forward to

29-01-07, 07:25 PM	#37
Alpinestarhero Guest Posts: n/a	That crash was really nasty. Good to see hammond back though! I noticed the dark strip of tyre rubber on the left hand side of the right tyre (got that?) on the first onboard shot of his first run. Perhaps the sidewind was forcing the car to put more weight on that tyre, hence higher friction and more heat causing the blowout? Matt