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Richard Hammond Accident
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:01 pm
by Matt
Hi Guys
On another forum someone found the HSE report for Richard Hammonds Accident in the jet car:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/releases/richardhammond.pdf
Part way through it gives the name of someone who does a lot of high speed driving and consulancy on the subject. Ben Collins. After a very quick google it seems very likely that he is the Stig!
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:50 pm
by bigginger
One of the more likely candidates for one of the people who make up 'The Stig'. Can anyone else hear a can of worms opening, or was it a tin of old chestnuts?

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:56 pm
by Matt
I would suggest that the content of this official goverment report makes it far far more likely!
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:01 pm
by bigginger
I would suggest that it's true, just as I have before, but would equally suggest that there's more than one person involved ;)
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:21 am
by bmcecosse
As usual - HSE are more concernd that the 'paperwork' before the accident was not quite correct -because it didn't detail exactly how RH was to be trained. Yet all including RH agree the training was excellent. Ok - when it went wrong he stood on the brakes a fraction of a second before he pulled the parachute release - but then they agree that it was all so quick it didn't matter anyway - and indeed he is congratulated in having done both. And also they criticise that the Risk Assessment was 'generic' - yet it was exactly for the type of test that was being run that day! They almost completely ignore the tyre problem - other than to say they may have been slightly 'old' - and to suggest (which from HSE means MUST DO) that tyres should be less than 2 years old in future. No mention of carefully inspecting the tyres after each run - or of perhaps discarding tyres after a fixed number of runs !! And since this tyre seems to have been damaged on the previous run at 314 mph - fresh tyres would have avoided the accident. But - Good old HSE as usual - I suffered their interference for many years at work - and to them, paperwork is ALL IMPORTANT , especially after an event when they can use it (or lack of it in their eyes) to persecute some poor devil!!
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:38 pm
by superchargedfool
hse is more about crossing t's and dotting i's than being safe and sound.
As for stig, well, the info is out there if you want to know, but isn't it more fun speculating?
I think there have been 4 stig's so far!
And if we knew who, when and so forth it would remove the mystery and entertainment value.
I know all 4 names but am not going to put them up. I am certain of 3 of them 100% but it all adds to the fun!
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:08 am
by 8009STEVE
As for stig, well, the info is out there if you want to know
On the last show of the season, they were racing in Germany. For the last race,they told the germans who was in the Stig costume.
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:28 am
by Peetee
For the last race,they told the germans who was in the Stig costume.
Were they trying to frighten them? Who did they say it was, Douglas Bader?
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:22 am
by 8009STEVE
No Captain Slow.
Douglas Bader
They were told not to mention the war, so all 3 turned up in either a hurricane or a spitfire
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:07 pm
by dalebrignall
they were all 2 seat spitfires two of them from duxford one owned and flown by caroline grace,the third one is from east kirkby and was probally flown by pual day
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:01 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - well they only mentioned the War a few times. The spits were great! And of course it was James May in the Stig suit - wasn't it ???????????
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:18 pm
by Alec
Hello BMCE,
HSE, yes, how they managed to turn the principle of English law on it's head where, with them, you have to prove that you are innocent rather than they prove that you are guilty?
Alec
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:51 pm
by bmcecosse
Exactly Alec - guilty until you prove your innocence! Fortunately - I never got into any difficulties with them - but the stress/sleepless nights they caused me at times! Safety Manager in an Explosives Factory (as well as Facilities Engineer and responsible for all Environmental aspects too!) - it was a nightmare. They would not give any direct advice - just criticise. When asked if doing ABC would satisfy them - they would agree, and then at next visit say it's NOT satisfactory!! What a relief to walk out a year ago on early retirement. I hear the Quality Manager - who reluctantly took on the job from me - has nearly blown his head off twice now!!
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:30 pm
by The-Mog-Warden
I picked up on one comment made on the last episode of top gear- when they were talking about their "New Stig".
So they have obviously replaced the guy mentioned in the HSE report- or at least- want everyone to think that!
Regardless of that, Some say that his voice can only be heard by cats, and that he is banned from the city of Chichester.... All we know is, he is called THE STIG!
(See the theories on WIKI folks!!)
Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 3:58 pm
by teenoes
or the cut together videos on youtube
Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:28 pm
by Lou

It's Damon Hill. I thought everybody knew
