Ben Bray Injured

[Melz]

Hey guys, just read this on the Team Bray website...

8th November, 2006
BEN BRAY INJURED IN FREAK WORKSHOP ACCIDENT .

Young drag racing star Ben Bray and a crewmember of Team Bray, Australia's best known Top Doorslammer team, have been seriously injured in a freak accident while loading a car into a transporter at the team's workshop yesterday. Another crewmember luckily escaped with minor injuries.

Ben was in the car and Mark 'Choc' Richmond and Anthony Vloedmans were on the transporter's tailgate, which had just reached its full extension some three metres off the ground when the tailgate lifting mechanism failed, sending the tailgate and the vehicle crashing to the ground.

After being stabilised at the scene, all three were taken by ambulance to Royal Brisbane Hospital, Ben with extensive injuries to his back and Mark to his leg. Anthony's injuries will require bed rest and he was released the same day after being examined by doctors. Ben and Mark are expected to be in hospital for some time, while the full extent of their injuries is determined.

"We'd like to thank everybody who has rung us expressing their concern," said Ben's father Victor. "Ben would like to apologise to all his fans in Perth, particularly, because he now won't be able to make the upcoming Top Alcohol event at Kwinana and at this early stage were not sure when Ben will return to racing, it all depends on the doctors and how quickly he recovers.

"Everyone at Team Bray is hoping Choc makes a quick recovery too because he's been a valuable member of the team for five years and we're also grateful that Anthony wasn't badly hurt."

Hope both of the guys make a speedy recovery (excuse the pun). Such a shame when Team Bray hasn't been having the best of seasons...

[Allen]

Not good.... I hope they both recover 100% as fast as they race

[The Monty]

Gee, thats no good. I hope he makes a nice speedy recovery.

[SpoolMan]

A very much loved family in the world of drag racing, I hope there injuries are not to serious and they are all back on the black top soon.

[347_XR8]

I wish a speedy recovery

[LUXO_8]

cripes....not good!.
i echo the sentiments above

[wiseguy]

terrible news wish for speedy recovery to all involved. great family and team for the sport. hope bens injuries arent too bad and he gets back soon he has a great career ahead of him,awesome drag racer.

[Dezza]

Hope he gets well soon. Drag Racing wouldn't be the same without him

[chief]

That is a freaky accident. You would think the drag racing would be more dangerous than loading the car on the trailer.

My thoughts go to the Bray family.

[LUXO_8]

saw this on the recalls list, wonder if its connected at all??

http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13868

[xagsjoe]

WOW 4 team bray members hurt this year already!

Not a good year

[Melz]

Some news going around the traps is that Chock (Team Bray truck driver) has had a couple knee operations and Ben has smashed a couple vertebrae and won't be racing for a couple of months....

An update from the site

11th November, 2006
BEN BRAY MAKING STEADY RECOVERY FROM BACK INJURIES.

After suffering fractured and chipped vertebrae in a freak workshop accident last Tuesday, dual Top Doorslammer champion and reigning Top Alcohol champion, Ben Bray, is making a steady recovery and is slowly on the mend, his father Victor said.

"Ben's come a long way now that the initial pain has subsided. The first few days in hospital weren't that happy for him, laying flat on his back, but they've put a back brace on him and allowed him to tilt his head up 30 degrees and he said it felt like winning the Nationals; he was a lot happier.

"The physios are showing him how to use the brace and what he can and can't do and Ben's being as good a boy as he possibly can because he's looking forward to getting out of hospital. He's still facing a fairly long recovery period, though, and he'll need home rest and to learn how to use the brace at home, because he's not allowed to bend his back at all at the moment.

"He's got to let his back repair, he can't risk injuring it further, but it'll keep him out of the Funny Car a lot longer than the Doorslammer because when the Funny Car shakes, it's a lot worse than the Doorslammer. Ben's missing preparing the cars but at this stage racing isn't the number one priority, for a change."

Crewmember Mark 'Choc' Richmond also remains in hospital. Choc, who was already an amputee, suffered a badly damaged ankle and has already undergone two of three operations to clean out the wounds and reattach ligaments, Vic said.

"Choc's hoping his final operation will be today (Saturday) but he's doing well; he's an old hand at this after going through a lot when he lost his other leg after a motorcycle accident. He's had a lot of trauma in his life and he just handles it; nothing phases him."

[cedric]

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

saw this on the recalls list, wonder if its connected at all??

http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13868

WELL SPOTTED BUT YOU SERIOUSLY NEED A HOBBY :

[xr8ute]

Ouch, that sound like a pretty freaky accident. Laying up in hospital with a broken back sounds seriously uncomfortable... :(

Hope both make a speedy, and complete recovery.

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by cedric

WELL SPOTTED BUT YOU SERIOUSLY NEED A HOBBY :

lol, i was looking at other things and the bray accident was in the back of my mind...i was like..oh gee... wonder if

[tel408]

Just go's to show, moving your race car can be just as dangerous as racing it! How many of us have heard stories of people geeting hurt loading, unloading race car's, driving to and from the track?

[Sledgehammer]

Originally Posted by cedric

WELL SPOTTED BUT YOU SERIOUSLY NEED A HOBBY :

what he said.....

[82XD393.3v]

wonder if anyone saw Brett Stevens running from the scene

[R0BD0G]

Originally Posted by 82XD351.3v

wonder if anyone saw Brett Stevens running from the scene

lol........hope he gets bak to racing soon.......hows the car

[Melz]

I wouldn't imagine the car would be in too good of condition. Latest update says Ben & Choc are both back at home. Ben has to be in a back brace for a few months and choc is in a wheelchair until his ankle mends.

[ebxr8240]

Post your best wishes here....
http://www.victorbray.com/newsite/Co...add-wishes.php

[Sledgehammer]

Latest I have heard is that he may not drive a race car again here.

[1970galaxie]

He said publicly on Saturday night at the Doorslammer round that he would be back in a few months.

[Sledgehammer]

Originally Posted by 1970galaxie

He said publicly on Saturday night at the Doorslammer round that he would be back in a few months.

OK Thats good news then.