Billy Monger

[PTRACER]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Billy Monger in hospital, looking at a book signed by dozens of his hero racing drivers

[kals]

What a conflicting image. A sad image of reality but also happy to see him alive with the support of the racing community around him.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Indeed. Hopefully he maintains the enthusiasm to make the best of a bad situation when the reality really sets in. He has a great support network of specialists and the community in general. I look forward to hearing some positive progress in his dream to return to motor sport.

[MonteCristo]

Yeah, he's in as good a place as any for someone in his situation. Plenty of good will behind him from powerful people, plenty of money behind him to get what he reasonably needs, he's young and strong (and if he was chasing a motorsport dream presumably he's motivated and driven - so can overcome adversity).

On the other hand, the poor bugger is like 17 years old and has no bloody legs with his whole life ahead of him.

Wishing him all the best.

[PTRACER]

On the other hand, the poor bugger is like 17 years old and has no bloody legs with his whole life ahead of him.

in 2017, losing your legs is no longer the end of the world. You see those guys with their kangaroo-style prosthetic limbs running in the Paralympics as fast as any able runner. And the strides that have been made in the last 10 years that enable disabled drivers to compete in motor racing has been remarkable. I was in total disbelief when I saw that French guy with no arms or legs being lowered into his car via a crane at Le Mans last year.

Yes, it's horrible to lose your legs. No I wouldn't want to lose mine. But these days, legs are probably one of the 'easier' things to lose.

[MonteCristo]

Absolutely. It's (almost entirely) no barrier to leading an otherwise normal life. And like I said, he can afford to get the good stuff that allows that to happen.

But then there's that mental element. And given that ordinary people suffer depression, mental health and other behavioural issues in droves (when, from the outside looking in, they have no 'reason' to), to be in a situation that is truly traumatic - like the one Billy found himself in, you never know how people will respond.

[PTRACER]

I think being a kid makes you more adaptable to such situations as well. Not to undermine his mental strength, but an older person might find it much more difficult. I bet his parents are besides themselves as well.

I guess it does put it into perspective when you see all these other whiny kids complaining they have "anxiety" just because they get nervous talking on the phone. This lad lost his legs and look at how positive he is.

[MonteCristo]

Never know what goes on in a person's head.

I mean, look at this guy:

Paris Hilton's younger brother Conrad arrested for stealing car in Los Angeles

Paris Hilton's younger brother, Conrad Hilton, has been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly stealing a car and violating a former girlfriend's restraining order.

Police say the 23-year-old Hilton Hotel heir was arrested shortly before 5am on Saturday at a home in the Hollywood Hills.

...

Hilton has had a series of run-ins with the law. He was arrested two years ago inside his former girlfriend's home.

He also received probation for threatening British Airways flight attendants.

Last year, he spent two months in jail for violating that probation by using cocaine and other drugs.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifesty ... vznqu.html

At face value, is the guy just an effing tool, pond scum from the shallow end of the gene pool trying to throw away everything that he did nothing to earn? Or was he fiddled with as a kid or it was an abusive household and he has troubles stemming from something like that?

Hopefully Billy makes the most of what he's got, and realises that he still does indeed still have a lot.

[PTRACER]

At face value, is the guy just an effing tool, pond scum from the shallow end of the gene pool trying to throw away everything that he did nothing to earn?

He's related to Paris Hilton. Enough said

[erwin greven]

[PTRACER]

Aww. Seems like a lovely lad.

(By the way, topic split)

[erwin greven]

Good idea. Wonder if he already got messages from Zanardi and Sausset.

[Everso Biggyballies]

I read that he had heard from Zanardi, although no mention of the level of contact beyond best wishes.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Billy Monger has been out in a race car for the first stage of his recovery / return to motor racing. Only a Beetle but this was more of a 'systems run', getting him behind a wheel and using adapted control steering wheels upon which his future plans will revolve around.

Billy Monger has driven a car again for the first time since his horrific British Formula 4 crash in April, in which he lost both his legs.
At Brands Hatch Monger drove a specially adapted Fun Cup car, which is campaigned in that championship by a team of injured servicemen called Team BRIT.
“It’s been really good just to get back behind the wheel,” said Monger.
“Massive thanks to Team BRIT for sorting out today, I can’t wait to be back again.”
He also hinted that he could be back with the team and in the Fun Cup in the future.
“Team BRIT have got two steering wheels for me to try out today,” Monger added.
“I’ve decided which one I prefer, now it’s just about perfecting the technique so that when I come back I’m up the front winning races.”
Team BRIT founder Dave Player, a former Army engineer, designed the Fun Cup car’s controls.
He said the aim of the day was to give Monger a chance to gain his racing license again and get him comfortable in the car.
“The aim of Team BRIT is to be able to have drivers of all different disabilities compete on a level playing field,” said Player.
“The whole idea of today is first of all give Billy his first time out on track, secondly to get his race licence back [to] help him get back on his journey.”
Andy Searle, Tony Williams, Jimmy Hill and Warren McKinlay are the current drivers for Team BRIT, which this weekend is heading to compete in the 25 Hours of Spa for the Beetle silhouettes. The team is hoping to compete at Le Mans in 2019.
Last month, it was announced Monger will make his racing return with Fredric Sausset, the disabled driver who completed the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours in an LMP2 car.
Monger and Sausset are set to share a Group CN Ligier-Honda JS53 Evo 2 at the Estoril round of the VdeV Endurance Proto Series on November 4-5.
Like Team BRIT, Monger also has plans to race at Le Mans, in 2020, as part of Sausset’s scheme to help disabled drivers.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2017/07/05/mon ... -f4-crash/

[kals]

This is great news, especially as it is such a short time since his accident.

BTW @Everso Biggyballies "Only a Beetle" isn't how I would describe a VW FunCup car.

[DoubleFart]

No, PT will tell you about Beetles, their performance and how much a front end costs...