track day

First topic message reminder :

Just to let everyone know, Chris had an accident yesterday at Silverstone, He is currently in Cambridge hospital, from what Katie tells me its not too serious, but serious enough. He has badly injured his right hand, and was due to have a skin graft op. today. As and when I know more, I'll post up.

Aye, still in Cov. Hopefully out tmw, depending on what state my arm is in once they remove the dressing in the morning.

Thanks for the offer Tony but I'm piss-poor company at the minute. Full of morphine, sore and sleepy.

Yikes, sorry to hear mate. Get well soon and keep us posted.

Right peeps, a wee update.

I'm out of hospital and back at work, no rest for the self-employed ;-)

I did a lot of damage to the soft tissues and joints at the base of my thumb, lost around 30% of the thumb and palm and smashed a few bones in the hand/fingers/wrist. Lost the tip of my ring finger too.
After being initially treated at Silverstone and Northampton they sent detailed photos out to several trauma/plastics teams around the midlands area. An incredibly talented surgeon who specialises in hand and lower arm injuries requested my transfer to his department in Coventry where they spent a week performing miracles.
They've managed to not only save all of my fingers and most of my hand but have pinned, plated and rebuilt to the point where the likely outcome will (eventually) be 80-90% recovery of function. It won't look pretty but neither do I so who cares ;-)
I'll likely have a few more ops in the future to iron out some mobility/strength issues and once it's as good as it'll get they'll tart it up to look 'normal'.

I lost grip right at the apex of Copse at around 85-90mph, just as I was coming back on the power. Watching the video back I lose the rear first and it escalated from there, not a big, spectacular highside but enough to flick me off and make me lose control.
Freak accident really, I was just unfortunate to get caught up with the bike as we slid. Not sure but it looks like my right hand side gets trapped under the bike and I may have had my hand caught up in the front wheel. The marshals and medics seemed to think that was the case, there were a lot of burn marks (discs?) and rubber on my forearm and hand.

No gloves/leathers in the world are good enough to stop that from hurting! I'm convinced that the quality of my Alpinestars gloves have saved my hand. My Furygan leathers were trashed too but the rest of me was just grazed/bruised. I'll never consider skimping on cheaper gear again!

Bike is in great condition, GB Racing protectors did their job perfectly. New footpeg and new brake lever and she'll be good to go.

I've cancelled all trackdays between now and October. I'm due to go to Jerez in Oct and if I can I'd still like to go. Will just have to see how recovery goes as I may never be physically able to safely operate throttle and brakes again. It's early days yet but as those who know me will no doubt corroborate, once I set my sights on something I'm pretty determined.

Eddie990 wrote:Aye, still in Cov. Hopefully out tmw, depending on what state my arm is in once they remove the dressing in the morning.

Thanks for the offer Tony but I'm piss-poor company at the minute. Full of morphine, sore and sleepy.

Sorry I missed you but being full of morphine and sleepy is the best way to see Coventry....

Sounds pretty horrific Chris, glad you are recovering though mate & I'm sure you're determination will get you back to full fitness. Keep us informed how you're getting on.

Paul

Ouch! Not so good Chris, I hope the operations go well for you, keep us posted...

Davie...

Just been reviewing the video footage, was doing 2:30s before I binned it. Fastest I've ever been round there!

Update:- Official transponder data shows 2:29.7.....that'll do

hope all goes well chris & you get back on the steed just look after your self & take it easy the best you can

Footage finally uploaded to youtube.....

Ouch!!!
You hung on for a while there Chris!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing... Or a bitch?

robertcains wrote:Ouch!!!
You hung on for a while there Chris!
Hindsight is a wonderful thing... Or a bitch?

It's not a crash until you let go of the bars ;-)

I was stuck underneath it mate, couldn't free myself. I think that is why the injuries were so bad, bike was pressing my right hand side into the track.....

You can just see my boot as me and the bike separate, I'd been kicking it for a while trying to get away from it!

Ouch indeed, you were going quick mate, probably of been fine if not stuck under the bike though. How are the injuries healing?

Paul

Some people (non-riders) might look at that and think it's nothing, but you were belting it at times mate.

Wooster wrote:Some people (non-riders) might look at that and think it's nothing, but you were belting it at times mate.

Thanks buddy, it's a respectable lap and I didn't really feel I was pushing my luck so I reckon I could comfortably drop a few more seconds next time. 2:25 should be doable. (Just need bigger balls and a bike with traction control   )

As a comparison, in similar conditions (cloudy but dry) the fastest lap in this years Superstock 1000 race was a 2:08. The back of the grid were doing consistent 2:19-2:20.

Got one of these now too.....

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If I recover enough and my bottle hasn't gone I may very well take the next step and start racing. My RC390 race bike is eligible for some of the sub-500cc classes and my laptimes on it this year would have seen me as a regular top 10 finisher.

Oooh nice
Do you get air miles with that Gold Card

0ldcat wrote:Oooh nice
Do you get air miles with that Gold Card

If you highside enough times

Fell out of my Coco Pops box the other morning.....

Eddie990 wrote:If you highside enough times

Fell out of my Coco Pops box the other morning.....

Good Man I see your sense of humour has healed up very nicely in deed Yes Sir'ee

Who you gunna go to for sponsorship in the racing career ?

0ldcat wrote:

Who you gunna go to for sponsorship in the racing career ?

Some shady company called Eddie Oil & Gas Engineering are looking for a young, talented rider to throw money at as part of their advertising campaign