BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Oct 06 - 01:29 PM

This little weed who wasted many medics time when he drove one ego trip too far, appears to be trying to get back into the public eye again, not nice when the public forget you. A great hero among the boy racers, and middle aged wannabe boy racers ! With a little luck he will do the stunt again !

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 08:37 PM

So glad to see the news today. First week is so important regarding prognosis. Man done so well, Hard work and fustration for half a year though. Can this thread regain the original plot!!

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 05:48 PM

Cyclist deaths up 10%?

Hard to figure when about 70% of the cyclists in this country ride on the pavement (sidewalk, for our American friends).

Round where I live, elderly, slow moving pedestrians are safer walking in the road.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,a killjoy lefty whiner
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 01:53 PM

plenty !!!


Bastards
Undermining
Public
Amenities


.. couldn't think of a better one for "A" at the moment..

it'll 'ave to do..

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 01:37 PM

Hammond has been moved to a BUPA hospital today nearer home. So now what can the whiners find to moan about?

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 12:50 PM

another way to view these statistics is;

"most road injuries and deaths are caused by drivers'
lack of attention and speeding"

to paraphrase a BBC TV news announcer earlier this evening.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 12:28 PM

It may be only a small percentage of the deaths cause, but it's a very large percentage of the fine revenues raised. Oh what a milch cow the motorist is to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
G.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 12:14 PM

SPEED UP AND MOW DOWN CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS AND LIVE!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 12:07 PM

"...excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes...."

GEEZIZ!!! 26% of all fatals are the result of excessive speed. Hmmmmm...So that means 74% happen when you're going slow. Just as I always thought....A lot of people just drive way too damn slow! Personally, I'm going to speed up and live....What a great slogan!

SPEED UP AND LIVE!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 10:41 AM

BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5388296.stm


"Six month recovery' for Hammond

Richard Hammond is making good progress in his recovery

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, who crashed in a jet-powered car, could be "back to his old self" within six months, according to his neurologist."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5387568.stm


"Road casualty figures falling

Road casualties in Britain fell last year, although figures show the decline in deaths has now reached a plateau.

The Department for Transport released contributory factors for the first time, showing drivers' failure to look properly featured in 32% of accidents.

But in fatal crashes, loss of control was most common, with 35%, and excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes.



The government has a target to reduce death and serious injury figures by 40% by the year 2010, compared with the average figures between 1994-1998. While there has been a major drop in serious injuries, deaths have remained relatively static.


Numbers of cyclist deaths rose 10%.."

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:14 PM

ps.. dunno 'Giok' ??


you'd have to ask my mrs..!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:12 PM

ah.. talking of piss-taking..

25 odd years ago when i was subsidising my punkrock band playing activities

by working as an orderly in an amputees hospital ward..

one of my daily duties was helping blokes of all ages

go to the lav when they needed to..

either wheeling in the legless and giving them a disposable bottle..

or 'helping' the armless to aim & empty their bladders..

[i think thats as much as needs to be detailed in a family friendly website]

a very humbling and embarrasing situation for myself at the age of 20

and for the guys around the same age as me
who must have truly believed they were invincible road warriors.

and who would now need to spend the rest of their lives
disabled and dependant
on professional health workers
and their families..

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:59 AM

Gosh matey,what's it like to be perfect and infallible?
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: Trevor
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:56 AM

None taken Doris and punkrockfu... ronkfupocke..... oh, can't be arsed on account of the fact that my advanced years, thinning crown, jeans with no arse(?)and all those other things that I apparently must have, have also resulted in some significant brain damage, so I obviously can't help myself laughing like a drain at Top Gear, enjoying the enthusiasm and non PC piss-taking of the presenters.

Maybe I'll turn into a big responsible grown-up one day, and find somebody on whom to wish brain-damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:48 AM

..i haven't gone out yet..

still finishing off a nice mug of tea [no milk.....]


yes kerbs are a theoretical risk..

[at least one recorded instance of impact of stubbing the toes causing death
from percussive brain damage..!!!]

and thanks for the reminder...

but..

i've already so far survived nearly 1/2 a century
as an active and fit pedestrian and cyclist
by learning to keep eyes and ears wide open
monitoring
for approaching halfwits in vehicles too powerful
for their limited driving abilities, social awareness.. or inteligence..


BTW.. last night me and the mrs watched a movie double bill
for a bit of a laugh

"the fast and the furious"
and its sequel "2 fast and 2 furious" ..

..we both fell asleep during a monotonous extended car chase
in the 2nd movie..

but at least the producers payed lip service to including
a 'disclaimer' road safety advice message
in the closing titles..

we'll try to finish off watching it tonight..

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:39 AM

Yeah, by all means don't trip off the curb! I'd hate to see a fast moving Kawasaki jammed up your ass.....I mean, who would pay?

........gimmee peace.............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:28 AM

Don't trip on the kerb.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,punkfolklrocker
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 10:03 AM

do we realy feel any sympathy
for the multitude of affluent
inexperienced mid-life crisis noobie bikers..
spending their big fat corporate bonus's on harlys
and/or other exotic
top of range speedster road bikes..

who are aparently now

[ie. theres probably statistics somewhere, but i cant be arsed looking atm..]

a significantly increasing serious road injury/death casualty demographic group..


oh well.. i'm off now for my regular walk of a couple of miles to the gym..

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: The PA
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 07:36 AM

For those who dislike Top Gear and anything remote associated with it the answer is simple, switch to another channel. You can drive in the manner you prefer, in the vehicle you prefer at the speed you prefer. For goodness sake stop moaning on about those who may choose to do things differently! Any just to really hack you off, I drive a great big gas guzzling, air poluting Range Rover. Its my vehicle, my choice and nothing to do with anyone else.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 07:27 AM

And on reaching your century too
G

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 07:27 AM

Doris may I extend my sincere condolences on your loss.
G

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 06:57 AM

Doris, what is truly sad is seeing someone using such an opportunity for generalising, grumpy-old-person-ing and venting. My daughter and wife would both disagree with you, because they have enjoyed the programme regularly over the years; and guess what - they look or behave nothing like the descriptions you provided.

In the end, someone was hurt. Whether man or woman, stupid or clever, unknown or famous. Be glad that he is getting better now, and that the charities are £170,000 richer, and leave it at that.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,Doris
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 06:50 AM

So there we have a stupid bloody programme which is watched by men in their late 40 plus and a few 17 year old dreamers. The 40's plus brigade (who can now afford a 10 year old sports car) see themselves as cool, dispite a thin crown, chest to stomach the same width and a dodgey walk,sorry almost forgot the jeans, minus an ass.

They think this will get the young girls looking at them. The programme is "must see" viewing for this crew. They go down to their local and over a swift half, tell the guys about some sports car well outside of their price range as if it was sitting at their front door.

Then they talk about some second rate presenter, who half the country never heard off until he almost produced a widow, as if he was some kind of hero ! Yeah, Hammond is a great guy, would I or would I not love to get a chance at the wheel of something like that ! Then go into a rant about what he did wrong, as if they knew the pit falls of the accident.

Boys, sadly you only get money in your pocket (for that ten year old Z3)when too many birthdays came first. Settle for a drive to the car wash on a Saturday morning and a look through the car mags, when your wife is in another part of the store getting the weekly shop.

Sad really.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 06:09 AM

BBC news last night said it was over £170,000.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 06:04 AM

Over £150,00 has now been donated by Hammond fans,the air ambulance charity is considering using it to buy a new helicopter and name it after him. He'll love that!

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: Keef
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 05:58 AM

Excuse slight thread power drift. Those er invalid trikes, when I was a lad we used to call them Spastic Carriages/Chariots, with characteristic teenage sensitivity. They looked like they were designed to create disabilities more so than assist with them.
Are there any websites that show anything of the history and performance of these strange conveyances?

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:02 PM

Ben Hur !

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:12 AM

Boy racers have been around alot longer than cars. People have probably been blaming each other for going too fast since someone first fell off a horse....

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 10:44 AM

I'm afraid that you'll have to do it on radio, as there is no Head of Light Entertainment on TV only on radio, and he is Paul Schlesinger. Car crashes sort lose their impact on radio don't you think?
So you may be a figment of your own imagination ☺
G ☻

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,Head of BBC Light Entertainment
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 09:35 AM

Please desist in leaking confidential information
regarding future BBC programme schedule highlights.

Thank you.


Btw, vote lines will be open at £1.50 per minute from the end of this week.
Star contestants will be announced very shortly.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 09:28 AM

Cynical but predictable lapse of taste there.
G

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammond
From: GUEST,TV Addict
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 09:16 AM

oh so it was just another grand BBC publicity stunt appeal for charity..

maybe it can become an annual event just like red nose day..


perhaps the audience will be encouraged to vote in mass
on a premium rate phone line

to select next years celebrity they most want to see crash at over 300 mph..


yeah !!!!


Clarkson next..

or maybe Johnathon Ross..


or who's that realy irritating woman on .. errmm you know
that show with all those annoying women..

oh whats her name..???


anyway heres to next years BBC "Celebrity Skid'n'Crash" charity day event..

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:17 AM

A news summary just announced that the amount so far given to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service following Richard Hammond's accident is £130,000.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 03:54 AM

George is right in saying that the blame culture is eroding many people's sense of self responsibility, and the tendency to blame irresponsibility and thuggery on an unhappy childhood is laughable.
One side bleats about poor little Johnny who was brought up in poverty with a drunken father, and it's not really his fault that he turned out as he did, and they mentally spread the blame.
Another side blames one person like Maggie Thatcher, for the sins of a whole system of government, which is patently misguided, and possibly just a tad prejudiced.
So it goes with Richard Hammond, he's now being held up by some as epitomising a certain type of antisocial driver behaviour, for making his living on private land with safety and rescue people on standby, he is blamed for yobbos driving stolen cars through council estates! That's some extrapolation!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: Bernard
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 07:29 PM

The wording was changed from 'Educate' to 'Entertain' at the recent licencing review...

The people who manufacture such vehicles for use on the Public Highway have a far greater responsibility, I believe.

No-one can argue that Hammond's 'vehicle' would ever be seen anywhere but on a special track...

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 07:13 PM

I think your expectation is unrealistic. The days when the Beeb was educational are largely gone. I wonder (don't know) even if it is stated anywhere in their goals or objectives to educate (though it should). Nowadays it's just another group of ratings-chasing channels, and little more beyond that. So, not too much to ask; but probably too much to expect.

Before the Beeb, others have even higher responsibility to educate; and I fear they don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 06:38 PM

no sorry george..

did anyone here say top gear is the sole primary causal factor
for these halfwit speedwanks..

nope..

does anyone here even think anything that simplistic or misguided..

again.. nope..



but is it not too much to ask that the producers of an extremely popular BBC light entertainment show

should maybe just take a teensy weensy bit extra responsibility
in attempting to 'guide' and educate these impressionable daft young chaps
who forever lust after faster street racer deathtraps

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 06:01 PM

No, that is precisely not the point, GUEST.

To blame any one TV programme - or indeed TV as a whole - for the existence of the "boy racers" is not just wrong; it is extremely simplistic and misguided (& -ing). It may sit well with the prevalent "find someone to blame" culture, of course. But it does not wash parental responsibility away - the prime driver - or that of education or surrounding culture and peer pressure, all much more significant factors in the creation of these so-called "fuckwits".

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 05:44 PM

point is though;

neither does Top Gear accept any responsibility
to actively discourage fukwit lethal boy racers

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: HuwG
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 05:31 PM

Recognising that "Top Gear" has little relevance to everyday motoring, I wish the Hamster well, and am pleased that he seems to be recovering.

Top Gear gnerally restricts itself to playing with toys few people can afford, in exotic locations most humdrum wage-slaves can only dream about (not including Elvington, of course). In my opinion, it does not encourage "boy racers" nor advocate the purchase of unduly expensive, thirsty and obstructive SUV's.

The programme did once take issue with the proliferation of speed cameras, pointing out that a 150 percent increase in revenue from speeding fines could claim statistically to have saved only four lives. (There are of course lies, damned lies and statistics.)

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:56 PM

Have you seen the cage that the driver sits in?
G.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:22 PM

Great news and what a remarkably 'safe' car. How did he get out of that alive????

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: Firecat
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:06 PM

Latest update on Hamster (I was reading the Teletext news pages): He's been moved to a general ward.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: Firecat
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 11:12 AM

Good news that Hamster is able to walk. I just hope that he recovers quickly. It must be horrible for his wife and kids to have to see him like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 08:14 AM

I liked Clarkson's comment to him: "The reason you're here is because you are a crap driver". I had to smile at that, and the obvious camaraderie that allows him to say it - typical Clarkson. And Hammond of course smiled back. Nevertheless, I wonder how long it will be before someone registers an objection to Clarkson's statement labelling him "insensitive"...Any takers?

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 07:51 AM

According to the Beeb Richard has taken his first steps since the accident on Thursday and has talked and is smiling.

Onwards and upwards Richard!

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: Bernard
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 06:52 AM

Explorers are a breed apart from the rest of us. Without them, the world would be a boring place. They do what we would like to do, and enable us to do it 'by proxy' via media coverage.

Everyone makes mistakes, as the hedgehog said climbing off the scrubbing brush...

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 06:05 AM

Indeed, Richard, in my view anyway. Though you might want to argue that the market for jet-powered 300mph cars is rather small ;-) - but the market for his TV programme is bigger.

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 05:58 AM

Is that what Hammond was doing?

Subject: RE: BS: Top Gear's Richard Hammonds
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 23 Sep 06 - 04:31 AM

When you buy a car, you want it to have been tested to its limits for your own safety. When you are given advice about a car, you want the same rigorous and sometimes extreme testing to have preceded it - for your own sake.

When you buy a medicine, you want it to have been tested on (volunteer) humans, for side effects.

To then turn round when things go wrong and accuse such testers or volunteers of being irresponsible seems a tad off to me. They take a calculated risk, supervised by professionals, and all for some gain that inevitably will never outweigh loss of life or permanent damage to their health or well-being.

My hat off to them.