Lotus Club Queensland
Dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of the Lotus experience
Login
Register
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Membership
    • Member Login
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Motorsport
    • Lakeside DTC Timed Laps
    • LAKESIDE DTC RESULTS
  • Magazine
  • For Sale
    • Merchandise
    • Classifieds
  • Posts
  • Galleries
  • Directory
    • Suppliers & Parts
    • Advertisers
  • Archives
helmet-banner

$10 HEAD/$10 HELMET

Anne Blackwood.

For many years in various areas of motorsport there have been discussions about helmet design. I’d like to update you about a recent episode in the Blackwood/Hogan families about the value of top quality helmets and what a wonderful country this is.

July 3, 2022 saw CLA members Jen and David Hogan (my daughter and son-in-law) competing once again at Hattah Desert Race near Mildura. This is an event they love and have competed in a number of times. This year they headed off with their Gang of Two (Penny and Lincoln) along with David’s parents who babysit as well as pit crew.

Saturday’s prologue/qualifying showed a new track layout including straights 2 km+ long that were not usually in the event. David was getting to 131 kph and Jen 112 kph on their KTM’s. Please bear in mind this is through fine red bull dust.

Sunday was fine and dry and they headed off to the spectacular start – which is an epic event and should be seen via YouTube – of hundreds of riders. David was expected to do 8 x 37 km laps (4 hours of riding) and Jen 4 x 37 km laps (2 hours of riding.)

I’m not sure when everything turned to shit for David but he came off his bike and was rag-dolled down the track resulting in eight units of blood transfused, broken hip, ruptured spleen, shattered collarbone, broken ribs, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia – but no concussion. Here lies the story of the $10 helmet.

Jen having worked in the motor bike industry for 20+ years has always been a stickler for top quality helmets – usually Arai or Shoei. David’s helmet was destroyed. For a few weeks following the accident he was still expelling red bulldust from his eyes, ears, throat and nose and I repeat, no head injury.

The spleen was removed at Mildura and he and Jen were airlifted to The Alfred in Melbourne where he stayed for two weeks which was difficult being in the time of Covid. David’s parents returned to Sydney with the bikes and kids. David and Jen were eventually transported via road ambulance from Melbourne to their home in East Seaham. Flying was out of the question because of the embolism which doesn’t like altitude.

Now for the quirky/warped-humour-Anne-bit. I’ve always joked that if Emergency Departments sold souvenir spoons I’d have quite a collection. So, I thought, copulate them! I’ll make my own by collecting town spoons at op shops – 18 needed in total. This is a family that has been airlifted three times; suffered three major hip injuries, etc. I give a meagre regulation donation to Careflight and am thrilled that I receive a Christmas card from them which is treasured.

How’s David doing? He’s doing great. Medicine in this country is amazing. Never underestimate it and never skimp on that helmet.

Lakeside DTC Timed Laps August 2022 DTC

Related Posts

mp-banner

Events, Gallery 2022, Homepage, Racing

Morgan Park Sprints R4

kevs-banner

EMRs, Gallery 2022, Homepage

Kev’s Big Day Out

duratec-banner

Articles, Homepage, Technical

Duratec Elise – better late than never

Random images

image_142 go-fast-red MG_9498 IMG_6516 IMG_3901 IMG_8405 IMG_4452 IMG_6546 image_268 image_173 newer-elan image_134 image_088 IMG_6223 Elfin IMG_7636 IMG_7633 IMG_8921 IMG_3707 vintage-royal-enfield-and-sidecar The-Lotus-Six Keep-those-wheels-turning_gw Greg-Chris-Craig-Rob Grid Guys Decisions, decisions Artistic Arrival at Mavis's Kitchen MG-8191 Sevens Ploughman's Lunch Car 313 on the bend Jon and fans Clive emr-3 _MG_4775 as Smart Object-1 IMG_4903 waiting-for-rest-of-the-group 27-Liam-following-Ken-onto-the-eastern-loop A-day-at-McLeans-Bridge-at-Lakeside 122_2264_IMG IMG_3669 Mar-main-63 main-6 Passing-open-paddocks-and-man-made-lakes Greg-Brays-Elan-climbing-up-the-mountain Gathering-at-OReillys-1 At-the-Mountain-Cafe-1 11e Greg-in-the-Lotus-61 20130630_130410 IMGP2239 Fastback_Elite F1000011 LCQ_EMR_July_2009 P1060090 IMG_0465_copy P9190091c1 08a PICT7283 Climbing_Mt_Cootha 20090822_091 194_194 IMG_5632 P1050535 P1050440 IMG_3944 P6220117 P5250017 IMG_6310 IMG_8120 DSC03864 IMG_8590 image_073 20181109_155734 Lotus Crew The-quick-group-ready-to-roll-by-Bridie-Moran The-BMW Elevens Martin-OBrien-reckons-hes-cooler-with-his-pants-down-by-Bridie-Moran IMGP8276 image0-1 IMGP8309 Clive-and-run-organiser-Justin-gw the elise contingent 09192021-copy2 matts-scura Mt-Alford-area_GW Green Machine IMGP8564 The Loxtons Mal Dick e-types main-33 Old fashioned milkshakes Lotus-Cars-Qld-Display-2 joe's-1947-alfa-6 main-62 IMAG5945 20170709_104556

Recent Articles

  • Morgan Park Sprints R4
  • Kev’s Big Day Out
  • Duratec Elise – better late than never
  • Gold Rush Hill Sprint – 2022
  • Marburg Pub Run – 4 Sept 2022
  • Unique +2 Road Trip to Brisbane
  • Leyburn 2022
  • August 2022 DTC

Latest Gallery Images

20220220_093834 20220220_093818 20220220_093827 20220220_093743 20220220_093812 20220220_093730

Search articles by category

Archived articles

Lotus Club Queensland
© Lotus Club Queensland   |   Site by Black Eye Studios