61 replies to this topic

[loki]

From news inside another thread John Force’s injuries are worse than previously known.  He’s been moved to a neuro ICU (from a trauma ICU) and according to the family will require a “long road to recovery”.  Brittany is sitting out the next race to remain at the hospital with her mom and three sisters.  That explains the delay in assessing the injuries.  When you’ve got head trauma like that you need to be fairly stabilized before you start probing other parts of the body.

 

https://apnews.com/a...3c3493048d00f62

[BarryinIN]

That’s not good sounding at all.

[Nathan]

Childhood icon.  Get well John.

[404KF2]

Best wishes to him.

[krapmeister]

Keeping fingers crossed the GOAT can pull through this, and come out the other side of it ok.

[JohnH]

Huge fan. I volunteer at the NHRA museum and am very saddened by this. Hoping for the best. 

[jonpollak]

Hang in there JF !!!
Jp

[OvDrone]

True Motorsport Legend - he can pull through.

Saw the horrid shunt earlier in the week and I have hoped for good news since then

All the best to John and his family 💜

[JacnGille]

Get well soon!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dmitriy_Guller]

That’s not good sounding at all.

Definitely sounds concerning when someone is alert and talking after the crash and is then in trouble with traumatic brain injury.  My mind goes to bleeding in the brain when hearing that.

[loki]

Definitely sounds concerning when someone is alert and talking after the crash and is then in trouble with traumatic brain injury.  My mind goes to bleeding in the brain when hearing that.

Yep.  That’s exactly how that happens.  Right after the brain hasn’t swollen yet.  Between wars and sports injuries they know much more about TBIs and how to treat them these days.

[SophieB]

@JennaFryer

New John Force update:

 

 

[B Squared]

Overall, and not being a doctor, it seems to me like he has a decent chance to come out of this eventually.

A friend of mine was an attending emergency room doctor at Indianapolis Methodist Hospital in 1987 when Roberto Guerrero had his testing accident at the Speedway. If I remember correctly, Roberto was out for 17 days and ended up coming back being able to race. I know John is quite a bit older, but I think it would be difficult to find a stronger 75-year-old. Get well racer.

[BarryinIN]

@JennaFryer
New John Force update:

That sounds a lot more hopeful than I’ve been feeling. Thank you.

Edited by BarryinIN, 30 June 2024 - 14:57.

[krapmeister]

Well that does fill me with a lot more optimism - keeping fingers crossed his recovery continues 🤞

[Dolph]

His accident reminds me a lot of Mansell's Le Mans crash. A nothing looking sideways clonk to the armco resulting in a bad injury. Mansell wasnt able to speak properly for a year or so. Alonso also had a similar sideimpact to the armco in Barcelona testing that resulted in him missing the first race.

Edited by Dolph, 30 June 2024 - 15:46.

[FLB]

His accident reminds me a lot of Mansell's Le Mans crash. A nothing looking sideways clonk to the armco resulting in a bad injury. Mansell wasnt able to speak properly for a year or so. Alonso also had a similar sideimpact to the armco in Barcelona testing that resulted in him missing the first race.

Mansell had a history of concussions, though (Paul Ricard 1985, Suzuka 1987, Phoenix 1993).

[loki]

It sounds like they had to window his skull to relieve the pressure.  It’s common in severe TBIs.  The swelling is the likely cause of the inability to respond until now.  That would also explain why he was sedated for five days.  Good news he can recognize his wife and kids.  Hopefully his motor skills other memories and cognitive skills also recover.  It’s a positive start. 

[absinthedude]

While I am not into drag racing, John Force is one of those names known well beyond his own sphere. I hope that the latest, more positive update is an indication that he is able to make a good recovery in the coming months. Certainly good signs. 

[Secretariat]

I have been following John Force for 40 years (wow), and can remember when he was regularly a bride's maid. To then watch the avalanche of titles, the development of his children into professionals, and overcoming other previous crashes was satisfying. Hopefully he will make another recovery. He never was my favorite, but always had my respect. No pun intended, but he is like a force of nature. Good Luck. 

[eibyyz]

Definitely sounds concerning when someone is alert and talking after the crash and is then in trouble with traumatic brain injury.  My mind goes to bleeding in the brain when hearing that.

 

About twenty years ago a spectator, a young pre-teen girl, got hit in the head by a hockey puck at a Columbus Blue Jackets game.  She walked into the ER.  And didn't walk out.  That's why there's netting to keep pucks out of the stands now.  

[William Hunt]

He's quite a character, and a legend in drag racing. Hope he recovers.

[FLB]

He's out of intensive care: John Force out of intensive care as he continues recovery from traumatic brain injury | RACER

 

He's apparently been talking and he can walk with assistance, but there's still a long road ahead:

 

 

 

According to family, the next step for the man whose career has spanned six decades likely will be a move to a long-term facility specializing in TBI and associated symptoms. A time frame for that move has not yet been determined.

[PlatenGlass]

I don't follow drag racing at all but he's one of very few people I've heard of - Tony Schumacher is the other one I could spontaneously name. Hope he recovers well.

[B Squared]

FLB, thanks for sharing that update.

[paulb]

I have been following John Force for 40 years (wow), and can remember when he was regularly a bride's maid. To then watch the avalanche of titles, the development of his children into professionals, and overcoming other previous crashes was satisfying. Hopefully he will make another recovery. He never was my favorite, but always had my respect. No pun intended, but he is like a force of nature. Good Luck. 

When I lived in Anaheim, I was about 15 min from his racing shop and drove by there often. It was in an area with big box stores and small businesses. Like a knucklehead, I never went to any of the events there.

 

The man and his legacy are remarkable. I hope he recovers well.

Edited by paulb, 06 July 2024 - 11:56.

[krapmeister]

Update on John Force: https://racer.com/20...o-rehab-center/

[William Hunt]

I've asked this question before, a couple of years ago, on this forum.

- Why is it that we never had a dragster NHRA thread on this forum?

- Why is there so little (results per year for example) to be found on wikipedia about NHRA drag racing?

[BarryinIN]

Update on John Force: https://racer.com/20...o-rehab-center/

Good to keep reading progress.

[red stick]

Update on John Force: https://racer.com/20...o-rehab-center/

Somewhat encouraging, entirely sobering.

[loki]

Good news!

 

Here’s another piece, this one from Jenna with some pics from Britany’s IG.  He looks well.  Apparently a fractured sternum and a cast on his right arm.  Laurie was with Graham and Courtney at Laguna when it happened.

 

https://www.ocregist...rba-linda-home/

[JacnGille]

   

[krapmeister]

I've asked this question before, a couple of years ago, on this forum.
- Why is it that we never had a dragster NHRA thread on this forum?
- Why is there so little (results per year for example) to be found on wikipedia about NHRA drag racing?

We have had NHRA/drag racing threads on here before but they gain little traction. Even I for instance, would consider myself a fan but I don't follow the series religiously.

As for the lack of historical event results on Wikipedia, no idea - I am sure the information is out there but there doesn't appear to be the ease of access to the depth of record keeping that something like F1 has...

[krapmeister]

Good news!

Here’s another piece, this one from Jenna with some pics from Britany’s IG. He looks well. Apparently a fractured sternum and a cast on his right arm. Laurie was with Graham and Courtney at Laguna when it happened.

https://www.ocregist...rba-linda-home/

Thanks loki - that fills me with a lot more optimism than the update that I posted

[Jim Thurman]

I've asked this question before, a couple of years ago, on this forum.

- Why is it that we never had a dragster NHRA thread on this forum?

- Why is there so little (results per year for example) to be found on wikipedia about NHRA drag racing?

European forum dominated by British posters/F1 fans to the exclusion of much else. There have been some drag racing threads, but as krapmeister pointed out, they don't gain much traction

 

NHRA fans don't use/bother with Wikipedia? Considering how much on American motorsports is inaccurate on Wikipedia, perhaps that's a blessing.

[loki]

Everything NHRA is at NHRA.  Straight from the horses mouth. Specs, rules, history, records.  In terms of getting young people into motorsport it’s up there with drifting and likely more than Time Attack and solo.

[OvDrone]

What a legend   

Maybe we can start a NHRA thread in the future hmmm ? I'm down for it - especially as I'll start returning to the Nascar thread as well, not just the Indycar ones.

[B Squared]

John Force has returned to his home and will continue outpatient speech and memory therapy. Let's hope he's soon back to his old self.

https://www.nhra.com...outpatient-care

[FLB]

John Force has returned to his home and will continue outpatient speech and memory therapy. Let's hope he's soon back to his old self.

https://www.nhra.com...outpatient-care

That's fantastic!  

[MattPete]

European forum dominated by British posters/F1 fans to the exclusion of much else..

Shhhh.. AtlasF1 was originally American: http://www.atlasf1.c...iew/kaizar.html

[paulb]

Shhhh.. AtlasF1 was originally American: http://www.atlasf1.c...iew/kaizar.html

That is such a cool find.

[jonpollak]

A basketball fan.

Jp

[SKL]

Atlas F1.... hadn't seen that on screen for a LONG time!  Guess that dates me!

[motorhead]

We should have topic for drag racing, or have we already? I know this is Autosport and mostly british forum nowadays. Is there any british in drag racing? 

[krapmeister]

Yes! Plus Santa Pod is one of the most famous drag strips outside the USA

Lots of European drag racers as well - Scandinavian countries seem to be particularly well represented

Edited by krapmeister, 27 July 2024 - 07:28.

[FLB]

Yes! Plus Santa Pod is one of the most famous drag strips outside the USA

Lots of European drag racers as well - Scandinavian countries seem to be particularly well represented

The FIA championship we dont't talk about here: European Drag Racing Championship | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (fia.com)

[B Squared]

I'm glad that Mr. Force is doing well enough that in a thread about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury, he is soon forgotten.

[Newtsche]

Atlas F1.... hadn't seen that on screen for a LONG time!  Guess that dates me!

This site is still listed as "Atlas F1" in my bookmarks after migrating data from one pc to the next over the years. 

[Mark521]

This site is still listed as "Atlas F1" in my bookmarks after migrating data from one pc to the next over the years. 

 

lol, me too

[B Squared]

John's daughter says he will soon return to the track with the team.

https://racer.com/20...ack-again-soon/