Comments on: Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond

handee — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:18:09 -0800

Richard Hammond, much loved daredevil top gear and brainiac presenter, is seriously ill in hospital after trying to break the UK land speed record.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:31:02 -0800

I wish him luck and a trouble free recovery. However, given the irresponsible nature of Top Gear, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. I wonder if Clarkson is going to trivialise and make fun of Hammond's injuries. Given his almost sociopathic lack of respect for anyone who isn't Clarkson.

By: StuMiller

StuMiller — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:31:54 -0800

Bit of a UK-centric link, don't you think? And also a bit newsfilter-ish too. Don't get me wrong - I like the guy, and I wish him well. I don't really expect to see these sort of things in the blue though.

By: the cuban

the cuban — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:35:13 -0800

Not really. Top Gear is shown worldwide.

By: handee

handee — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:38:19 -0800

There've been a few top gear posts here in the past, so it's not without precedent... personally, I have a love/hate relationship with the show, but think Hammond is by far the best thing on it. Looks like Brainiac is shown outside of the UK too.

By: StuMiller

StuMiller — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:46:31 -0800

I think the interplay between the three of them is what makes the show. Since the other presenters all buggered off to Channel Five to make the Fifth Gear clone, they've managed to turn Top Gear into something genuinely different, thereby keeping the popularity. It's more a comedy sketch show featuring the bickering between the three presenters, which just happens to built around cars, than the stale old review-a-car format which Fifth Gear and its ilk continue to air. Brainiac, on the other hand, is absolutely dire.

By: Cyclopsis Raptor

Cyclopsis Raptor — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:59:37 -0800

I see Braniac here in the "Good Ol' US of A". I really love this guy. In a normal way.

By: MrMustard

MrMustard — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:01:21 -0800

Bugger me. If he pops his clogs is he going to be the UK's answer to Steve Irwin? Did he ever drive really fast with his infant son in the passenger seat? When I've accidentally flicked on to Top Gear and he's been on it's been almost bearable. And then Clarkson's appeared and I've had to throw something through the screen.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:23:49 -0800

Bit of a UK-centric link, don't you think? And also a bit newsfilter-ish too. You're being sarcastic, right? As for this, I hope he makes it out alright. He's my favourite presenter on Top Gear, and I can't imagine how much money they must throw at him to keep doing Brainiac, which is pretty horrible all around. And I can't understand all the Clarkson hate. He's a jerk, and revels in being a jerk. He's the Simon Cowell of the car set, although presumably with much less money.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:27:52 -0800

Hope he's alright, but yeah, saw it coming a mile off. Top Gear is the best motoring show on TV but they really can be a bit flippant about safety. I don't really expect to see these sort of things in the blue though. Why though? I know metafilter is mainly American but I ike fnding stuff out about Americans I've never heard of so why not vice versa?

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:45:13 -0800

Shame. I'm hooked on Top Gear, despite finding all of the presenters, including your man, mind-blowingly annoying - I think it's because they really, really love cars, and their enthusiasm filters through the patented Clarkson shouty style they all deploy. Bit of a UK-centric link, don't you think? Nothing from outside the US could possibly be of interest, eh? Twit. And get your jingoism precise: Poles love Top Gear and Clarkson, much more than British people do.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:46:32 -0800

Oh. You're from Leeds. How confusing.

By: patricio

patricio — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:51:54 -0800

but they really can be a bit flippant about safety. The guy was in a jet car* attempting the land speed record - I think it's unlikely that the crew wasn't all over the safety aspect. Those kinds of vehicles are prone to getting airborne, right? *I know it's now the standard way to get speed records, but the phrase 'jet car' really sounds great, like a 1950's dream of the future has finally come true. I expect the Mekon to arrive shortly.

By: StuMiller

StuMiller — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:52:16 -0800

Got you there. Anyway - I stand corrected. I hadn't realised just how wide the appeal of Top Gear is.

By: runkelfinker

runkelfinker — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:02:24 -0800

I don't really expect to see these sort of things in the blue though. Metafilter can't all be about Steven Colbert and Bill O'Reilly...

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:10:14 -0800

Did he get the stomach flu from that crash, or can "seriously ill" mean something other than "really sick" in the UK?

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:18:28 -0800

Did he break the land speed record? That is what he was risking it all for after all. [and yes brits seem to use ill to include injured]

By: twine42

twine42 — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:28:16 -0800

In this context "seriously ill" tends to mean somewhere between "intensive care" and "prepare the coffin" - a surprisingly large group. Most comments about Top Gear's attitude are probably pretty valid, but this wasn't something they'd lashed together from a spare get engine and some spares from Unipart. Theis was a proper record attempt on a recognised strip during which a tyre blew out. That's firmly in the "recognised by uncontrollable incidents" category not the "pissing around and should have known better" one. I hope the guy gets well soon. But if they were filming for Top Gear, that probably means there's a series on, or due soon... I'll have to go look...

By: Wilder

Wilder — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:31:33 -0800

Reports are that he had hit 315 miles per hour when a wheel burst (as they do) and the car flipped a number of times. He actually regained conciousness for a time and his condition is no longer critical, it's listed as stable, which is really amazing. I wish him the best If he is the UK version of Steve Irwin don't expect his fans (or should I say followers?) to start smashing up jet cars. Cars are a religion here, almost as important as the footie!

By: flashboy

flashboy — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:34:08 -0800

Hammond is far and away the best thing about Top Gear, a show I love very dearly even though I hate cars, people who like cars and (most specifically) people who like cars and are called Jeremy. Hope he pulls through and recovers quickly - the latest reports sound like good news, with his condition "improving". I can't imagine how much money they must throw at him to keep doing Brainiac Actually, as of a week ago, he isn't the presenter of Brainiac any more.

By: flameproof

flameproof — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:41:18 -0800

I always thought the new version of Top Gear was basically a laddy version of Blue Peter. You know, a visit to a factory, a star guest, a 'make' ...and then this series they got a dog, too! I was sending in a drawing of a Veyron to see if I got a badge. Get well soon Hamster.

By: magullo

magullo — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 04:48:12 -0800

I think the interplay between the three of them is what makes the show. Its superb cinematography and a few great script ideas don't hurt either. I think what makes the show is that it is the ultimate guy's show: very funny and very well done, but kind of dumb and fairly useless. I watch it at every opportunity I get and have turned several of my friends (including some Americans) into instant fans. And I don't specially like cars - I certainly don't own one.

By: parmanparman

parmanparman — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:01:56 -0800

Get better soon Hammster, we miss you sparring with Jeremy already.

By: penguin pie

penguin pie — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:15:47 -0800

Yep, I've been getting quite addicted to Top Gear recently, and the mutual piss-taking is the joy of it, I really don't care about the cars. Bit of a shiver down my spine when I heard the news as just a couple of weeks ago I was thinking "God, one of them is going to get seriously hurt soon. As long as it's not that cute little Hamster fella..." At the time I was watching them setting fire to a caravan and throwing burning cushions out of the window, thus burning down half a campsite. Speedy (heh) recovery, mate.

By: bink

bink — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:22:24 -0800

Another American car-hater here who loves the show and who was also thrown by the use of "ill" in this case. I hope "stable" condition means something good in England. It's better than the rumo(u)rs that were going around last night.

By: biscotti

biscotti — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:25:21 -0800

I think what makes the show is that it is the ultimate guy's show: very funny and very well done, but kind of dumb and fairly useless. ??? I love Top Gear, I don't agree it's a guy's show at all. It's not dumb so much as insane. In a good way. I hope he gets well soon, although I disagree with him about Porsches on a regular basis. And "UK centric"? Who cares? The whole point of MeFi is to show people things they might not otherwise have seen.

By: SteveInMaine

SteveInMaine — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:41:50 -0800

What's fun about watching Top Gear is predicting how many seconds it will take between the mention of an American car and somebody in the cast declaring it rubbish.

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 05:43:18 -0800

Bit of a UK-centric link, don't you think? Oh, you're right. Are there any Americans available at short notice to balance things out at tonight's London meet-up? Otherwise, well, I guess we'll have nothing to talk about, being as nothing happens outside America...

By: econous

econous — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:19:49 -0800

He's the only actually like-able presenter on the show. True enough Clarkson is a funny guy, though funny in Fred Phelps sort of way. Bit of a UK-centric link, don't you think? Holy fucking Mohammad on fire.. is that some sort of absurdist humor thing you have going on or are you a long stay resident at a secure state run home for the mentally defective? In anycase I lol-ed. Cheers for that.

By: bonaldi

bonaldi — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:25:04 -0800

But American cars are rubbish. I love Top Gear. It's clever and funny and beautifully shot. I get the Clarkson hate, but I've never been one for it. Yes, they're completely anti-green, but everything needs opposition. I've met Hammond before, and he seems like a top lad. It does seem a stupid way to die, but if he doesn't pull through I expect this is exactly how he would have wanted to go.

By: Joeforking

Joeforking — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:31:29 -0800

The car in question

By: StuMiller

StuMiller — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:31:44 -0800

TheDonF. I'm English. I live in Leeds. In England. And I've already stated that I stand corrected, as I didn't realise Top Gear was so successful outside of the UK.

By: octothorpe

octothorpe — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:37:58 -0800

In this context "seriously ill" tends to mean somewhere between "intensive care" and "prepare the coffin" - a surprisingly large group. Is that a brittishism? I've never heard someone who's been injured being described as "ill" in the US. You'd only use that for someone who has the flu or cancer or some illness, not broken bones from a car crash.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:43:01 -0800

But if they were filming for Top Gear, that probably means there's a series on, or due soon... I'll have to go look... October 8, according to the Wikipedia page. I can't believe how short the seasons are.

By: nielm

nielm — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:52:13 -0800

Seriously ill : yes of course its a britishism -- what do you expect in a post about a brit, posted by a brit, linking to british news sources :) British medical press release terminology: Seriously ill == near deaths door (for any reason: car crash, terrorism, cancer, heart attack, stroke, old age, as well as actual bacterial/viral bugs). Critical condition == intensive care, probably having emergency surgery, actually knocking at deaths door... Stable == not getting any worse. Probably not having surgery any more, most likely still in intensive care. with lots of machines that go 'Ping'. Remember that the british are notoriously understated in their language.

By: flashboy

flashboy — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:55:50 -0800

Additionally: "Comfortable" = sedated so heavily they're only breathing once an hour "sitting up" = propped up with sticks "sharing a joke with the nurses" = screaming obscenities at anything that moves

By: Flashman

Flashman — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:05:31 -0800

"fit" = able to jog for several blocks without getting tired

By: infidelpants

infidelpants — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:13:10 -0800

As a Top Gear fan in the US, I'm amused to find that the general attitude here in-thread seems to fit with mine -- Hammond's good, Clarkson's annoying though sometimes entertaining. (Nothing about May, though? Well, I like him.) Get well, Hammond, I miss you already. Oh, and good job getting out of Braniac. Let the useless Vic Reeves do it, it's rubbish anyway.

By: 13twelve

13twelve — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:22:20 -0800

As long as his new teeth are ok...

By: ninebelow

ninebelow — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:26:45 -0800

It is a sad day when Richard Hammond is held in greater esteem than Vic Reeves.

By: peacay

peacay — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:40:41 -0800

I'm not an avid fan by any stretch but I quite like the show occasionally and particularly Mr May. The other 2 are twats but I nevertheless hope Hammond comes through ok.

By: MrMustard

MrMustard — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:45:06 -0800

Couldn't agree more ninebelow. I've never seen nor heard of 'Brainiac', but it sounds as though that may be a blessing. As for Clarkson, I can't help wishing this had been him. Although I guess squeezing his lardy, obnoxious carcass into an aerodynamic jet car may have been beyond even the BBC.

By: infidelpants

infidelpants — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:51:26 -0800

ninebelow: in fairness, I've only seen Vic Reeves on "Shooting Stars". Perhaps he's a genius in other venues, but I found him unwatchable on that. But what the hell do I know?

By: ninjew

ninjew — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:51:43 -0800

There's nothing about this that doesn't suck. Get well soon, Hamster. I want to see you and James beat Clarkson in one of those continental races, just for the look on Clarkson's face.

By: jontyjago

jontyjago — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 08:01:23 -0800

Ninjew, I have mentally put a full stop after the word Clarkson in the third sentence of your comment. That does me.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 08:19:09 -0800

"fit" = able to jog for several blocks without getting tired Fit can also mean general attractiveness. I've heard it said about Keira Knightly who is most likely not physically fit other than being very slim. The b3ta take There's nothing about this that doesn't suck. Not quite true. I am betting that the footage will be spectacular even if the ride was a bit bumpy and the handling a little poor. Of course in this current climate it will probably self-censored.

By: Skorgu

Skorgu — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 08:31:48 -0800

This has been the second Top-Gear related scare. I'm an absolute Top-Gear whore, I love JC and Hamster, and May. I love the stunts, the complete lack of political correctness, the ranting, the bad jokes and the exotic scenery. What I love most, even more than the absolutely stunning camerawork is the honesty of the show. Top Gear isn't afraid to ruthlessly skewer a car, brand or company when they so richly deserve it *cough*GM*cough* Man, now I can't wait two weeks, I want my Top Gear NOW dammit!

By: clevershark

clevershark — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:05:10 -0800

That's terrible... then again if there's a show where you would expect something like that to happen, it's Top Gear, that constantly takes this sort of risk while checking out insanely hot cars. That's why it's such a great show. I for one certainly hope "Hamster"'s going to be OK.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:27:26 -0800

Does this mean that Hammond has secretly been The Stig all along?

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:30:06 -0800

Youtube vid of some news coverage

By: stumcg

stumcg — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:33:09 -0800

Oh dear... Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has suffered a "significant brain injury" after crashing a jet-powered car at speeds of up to 300mph during filming.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:39:23 -0800

I am firmly on record here as being a huge fan of Top Gear. The camera work is great, as is the musical choices, but hands down the best aspect is the interplay between the hosts. As I described it when I first saw it, they could be talking about gardening equipment and I would still be riveted. I never got the Clarkson hate, I mean isn't he essentially playing a character? He's the asshole, Hammond is the charming one, and May is the geeky one. If they all acted the same the show would be boring. Hell, I didn't even like cars till I started watching the show, now when I see a DB9 in the wild, I hop up and down like an excited kid. This is a tragic turn of events. Get well soon Hammond.

By: handee

handee — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:44:55 -0800

There's a justgiving page for the Yorkshire air ambulance which brought him to hospital (yes, our helicopter ambulances are run by charity).

By: hatchetjack

hatchetjack — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:02:56 -0800

I too love the TG. One of the reasons I find it so compelling is that they have no compuction about telling you they think this or that is absolute and complete crap, and why....(see the reviews of the Viper and Corvette[leaf springs for chrissakes! buckboard technology!]) something that television shows produced in America can't do. Here, negative reviews are couched and qualified and dumbed down. I suppose in the land of the free and the home of the brave we are afraid to produce something that mind offend advertiser dollars or something. Insert shockingly insightfull comment about corporate overloards here. Compare Top Gear to something like the show Motor Trend Magazine and you get the idea. It is a tiny mind-fuck to think that while our reputation for being rude, obnixious, and blunt preceeds us, so much of our TV is so damned milquetoast.

By: nielm

nielm — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:25:03 -0800

From stumcg's link... Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary said they were "reasonably optimistic" the 36-year-old would make a good recovery. (regarding the vampire 'car') Fuel economy: 7-10 gallons per mile Ouch -- thats almost as much as a hummer! Clarkeson is one of those characters people love to hate -- and although I also find him irritating repetitive and sometimes obnoxious, the show would not work (and would not even exist) without him! However, regarding James May... Lock up your daughters!

By: clevershark

clevershark — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:33:39 -0800

I think that if I were a Top Gear presenter I'd probably be James May, content to amble along on country roads in a 70's Aston-Martin, going down to the pub for a pint of bitter. But to be honest if he were the only presenter on the show it just wouldn't be as exciting as it is now with Clarkson and Hammond flanking him. Still, hurray for Captain Slow, I say!

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 10:34:50 -0800

Understandably, no-one is saying anything concrete about his condition, but it's eerie and possibly significant that there are "Profiles" of Hammond popping up all over the major news sources, such as this one. And StuMiller, I don't want to beat a dead horse, given that you're British and have already considered yourself corrected, but I still can't help but point out how puzzling I found your first comment: I post about Euro- , UK- or Holland-centric stuff all the time, and people generally like it. If people stopped posting about the French government or or Little Britain or villages in Mongolia or Soviet-era jokes, I probably wouldn't come here anymore. (Except for the Bush-bashing, Mac-sturbating, Bush-bashing, Daily Show-quoting, Bush-bashing, Google-gushing, Bush-bashing and the Bush-bashing, of course. Us Euros love that shit.)

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:10:13 -0800

(regarding the vampire 'car') Fuel economy: 7-10 gallons per mile Ouch -- thats almost as much as a hummer! A show on recently said that a top-fuel dragster burns 60 gallons per mile. Of nitromethane.

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:47:57 -0800

I was just on a YT binge of TopGear videos this weekend and wondered what would happen if something happened to one of them; what with all the risk-taking. Question answered! Now to see how the show handles it. Maybe the Stig can take over Hamster duties and sort of pantomime his reaction to various cars. "As for Clarkson, I can't help wishing this had been him." I was waiting for that.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:05:14 -0800

I'm really hoping we don't have to find out what Top Gear would be like without him. On the show, he's the embodiment of the excited little kid who just likes cool stuff (cars, in this case).

By: SteveInMaine

SteveInMaine — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:08:13 -0800

I agree that Top Gear's a great show. Hell, my wife even likes it, and Hamster is the most likeable guy on the show. The great thing is they're all car nuts, expecially evident with that shit eating grin on their faces whenever they drive a car they really like. Like the Veyron.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:33:33 -0800

I usually try to refrain from doing this, but: For the win.

By: corvine

corvine — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:54:03 -0800

I adore Top Gear, too. It's practically the only thing on TV that I make a point of watching. And I generally have very little interest in cars beyond my little Peugeot (although I do lust after an MG convertible...). I'm keeping everything crossed that he'll be okay. Spat my tea on my laptop twice in this thread. Well played, Joeforking and person at b3ta.

By: verisimilitude

verisimilitude — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:17:42 -0800

Yep. Should have been Clarkson.

By: Shinkicker

Shinkicker — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:47:27 -0800

Love Top Gear, and all the presenters. My favourite piece ever is the bit where Richard Hammond drives a Pagani Zonda through a tunnel in the Swiss Alps, and says that you know when you were a 10 year old kid and imagined what it would be like to do that - well, it's that good. Get well soon mate.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:10:23 -0800

God, he's got a wife and two little girls. Godspeed for his recovery.

By: malusmoriendumest

malusmoriendumest — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:18:17 -0800

So Hammond got crushed. Frankly, if you drive at 300mph then you deserve to have your back snapped. He's not dead though, right? Pity. The only slightest feeling of actual pity I feel is for his family. They have to deal with this on a regular basis. Though it'll only be so long before one of the presenters dies. Hopefully it'll be Clarkson. Grinning inanely to myself, Malus P.S Couldn't stand Steve Irwin either. Arse. P.P.S Hope I'm not getting flamed for this. Oops.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:51:52 -0800

If for no other reason malus, you should be flamed for signing your post. And there are many other reasons too, but I'm too lazy. Dick.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:56:35 -0800

By: penguin pie

penguin pie — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 12:04:18 -0800

Clarkson's account of the past few days at Hammond's bedside: he says the first glimmer of hope was when the patient looked at James May and said "Hello, Cockface". Vive l'Hamster.

By: quin

quin — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:01:36 -0800

Thanks, penguin pie. That was an excellent account and the news brought a much needed smile to my face.

By: quin

quin — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:29:50 -0800

Crap!! It looks like BBC is using this as an opportunity to pospone the next series. Hammond is said to be 'infuriated' by this move. On a good note: Just three days after being critically injured in a jet car, he was moved to a general ward and is walking, talking and eating. So, Yay he's getting better quickly! Boo, BBC is being a bunch of fuckers.

By: antifuse

antifuse — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:40:22 -0800

Clarkson's account is brilliant. Thanks for that, penguin pie. It's crazy to think they were thinking of putting May in the car first :)