So we’re 6 weeks removed from the big wreck and it’s time for a progress report:

We just went to the spine clinic for a check up.  New x-rays were taken to compare with the originals and the Physician’s Assistant reports that everything appears to be healing up well.  Cogs has started doing some physical therapy with his legs; the right one is particularly weak which is also the result of some nerve damage.  It is anticipated that this will be corrected with physical therapy. 

Weeks of convalescence and poor appetite dropped him from his normal 135 lbs to a measly 120, but with the help of many friends and fellow racers who contributed via “the Casserole Brigade” he has gained 10 lbs back.  The last couple of weeks has brought about further improvement in the digestive tract as well. 

There is still a fair amount of abdominal pain although it has improved somewhat.  The pain is best described as “visceral”: a general, undefined  amalgam of nerve pain, internal swelling and  general discomfort.  It is normal and consistent with the amount of trauma in this area (broken sternum, ribs, bruised lungs, lacerated liver, slow bowel) to experience this pain and it will probably continue for some time

The surgical incision has completely healed and looks good despite having developed some infection the week after surgery.  The infection was quickly knocked out with a prescription of Keflex, a very strong antibiotic.  The back itself is doing pretty well; since the thoracic portion of the spine is the least mobile, there is not much need to worry about overextending it, particularly in light of the other broken bones that are very sensitive to being worked.

The ribs and sternum are still painful and cannot bear much weight, it will be a few more weeks until he can start building strength in the back and upper body.

Cogs is still wearing a “Miami-J” collar for the broken C7 neck vertabra and the avulsion fracture at the base of the skull .  This will continue for another 6 weeks.  It is uncomfortable but necessary for the continuing process of healing up these sensitive areas. 

The avulsion fracture was one of the more frightening injuries.  These fractures usually result in fatality as the skull essentially becomes dislocated from the spine.  This occurs when the ligments that connect the skull to the spine actually break off a piece of the skull due to the hyperflexion of the spine.  The hyperflexion of Cogs’s spine is what burst his T9 vertabra and tore other small ligaments that stabilize the spine.

Cogs has gotten out and about several times the last 2-3 weeks and is good for about 2-3 hours a day.  Stretches of over 3 hours are particularly taxing and he gets crabby, but his stamina should improve in the coming weeks as he is able to do more therapy. 

There is a long way to go but we are all thankful to everyone who has pitched in, donated, come to the benefit parties or just called to wish him well–it has made a huge difference and means a lot!

Bones took some great shots of Tamra and Cogs on 5/10/09 at Pacific:

http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/8271616_Tjis8#541479923_xdU74

http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/8271628_pSFHp#541759093_tD8fy

You can download any photo from these galleries onto your computer and view them in huge, poster-size detail!

Some of my Cretin brethren came by the shack to cheer me up…

The WMRRA Round 3 Race weeked ended in frightening fashion on lap 2 of the 2nd heat.  While riding in 2nd place, Cogs crashed out trying to avoid an orange safety cone that had been clipped by another rider and subsequently flipped into his path.  The crash occurred on the exit of Turn 11, a high-speed left-hand sweeper that funnels the rider back on to the the main straight.  Speeds at this part of the track are about 70-75 mph.  

Cogs suffered multiple rib fractures, broken sternum, an avulsion fracture at the base of the skull, bruised lungs, laceration of the liver, a broken neck (Cervical vertbrae #7), compression fractures of the Thoracic spine vertabrae #7-8, 10.   Vertabrae #9 is completely “exploded” and a titanium rod has been inserted to fuse the spine together.  Various other contusions and lacerations were suffered.  

Cogs was held for observation and stabilization at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane for a couple days while orders to airlift him to Harborview in Seattle through.  Eventually, those orders came through and surgery was completed in Seattle. Cogs was released from Harborview on 6/1/09 and has bveen recouperating at home ever since, making good progress.  It is difficult to estimate how long the recovery time will be, but 6-8 months seems to be accurate so far.  Cogs can get out of bed and move around with aid of a walker.

Prior to the wreck, Tamra and Cogs had been enjoying a typical hot Spokane weekend.  Tamra had begun to figure out the track after the Saturday practice session and had even survived her first crash–a small 10 mph spill into the dirt after overshooting Turn 6.  She finished last in the first heat allowing Ian Johnston by when the shift linkage broke and she had to finish the last lap in 3rd gear.  She ended up 9th of 11 overall on the weekend. 

Cogs had overcome some practice session mechanical woes by changing jet sizes and scored an excellent 2nd place finish in the first heat.

 Cogs and Tamra would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped out in this time of crisis!

After the first two WMRRA rounds, Cogs’s 3rd and 2nd overall finishes puts him in the point lead with a total of 58.  He has benefitted from some of the top racers’ hard luck, but it’s not all from charity by any means; he’s also raced very cleanly and consistently.  That’s what it takes to finish top 3 at the end of the season. 

“It doesn’t mean much; there are some faster guys that are going to knock me off the top–probably next round–so I’ll enjoy it for now!” 

Tamra is in a 3-way tie for 11th with Simon-Pierre Smith and Shelly Matthews.  We’re hoping for her to maintain a healthy mid-pack position.  As the grid sizes increase, we don’t think it’s going to change her finishes too much, especially at the rate she has improved–it just gives her more racers to beat!

Here are the current (unofficial) standings:

1st  A. Michael Collins     58

2nd  Joel Crabtree            46

3rd  Tim O’Mahony          40

(tie) Mick Hart                  40        

5th  Tom Deem                38

6th  Arash Nadershani     34

7th  Mark Etheridge         30

8th  Tim Fowler               24

(tie)  Don Marr                 24

10th Troy Knapp              22

11th Tamra Ancona         18

(tie) Simon-Pierre Smith  18

(tie)  Shelley Matthews     18

14th  Todd Kalamar         16

15th  Brian Skehean         12

16th  Jesse Dosher          10

17th  Ian Johnston            8

 The weather was excellent and Cogs rode solidly, benefitting from (#500) Tom Deem’s  mechanical issues and a big Turn 3 bobble from (#99) Joel Crabtree.  Goes to show that all it takes is one mistake to cost you a position on the podium in this competitive class!  Cogs also sliced through the pack and managed to keep several 500’s behind him which is a hoot!

 Vintage racing elder statesman #771 Mick Hart took the wire-to-wire wins and was living in the 1:58’s all day.  Mick had a huge wreck in Canada a couple of years ago that resulted in a broken back, among other injuries; it was great to see him return in such a fashion. 

 Tamra was the real star of the show finishing as high as 6th in the first heat, edging out verterans Don Marr and grandaddy-of-’em-all Tim Fowler.  She photo-finished 9th just behind Don and Tim in the second heat for an overall place of 8th out of a field of 12.  For Tamra, keeping up with such wily vets as Marr and Fowler is invaluable experience and quite an achievement.  She has definitely earned a new level of respect! Tamra reported great improvement in the mechanical aspects of the bike that Cogs addressed the night before: tighter, smoother shifting with a better feel, improved braking power, no scary engine noise and no leaky forks.  4-for-4 in the repair department!

 Cogs’s best lap of the day was 2:00.189 while Tamra notched a personal best of 2:10.681, down a whole 4 seconds from last round–way to go! She has gotten to the 2:10 mark in half as many races as Mr. Collins, so Cogs look out–she’s gunning for ya!

 Next round marks the triumphant return of the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association to Spokane County Motorsports Park–tune in Memorial Day Weekend for more exciting results!

Here’s a look at the track sans straightaway, which was being worked on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B8O94CX4Og

This past weekend I had occasion to be in Spokane, WA so I decided to pay a visit to our old 2.5 mile long friend.  Neither WMRRA nor anyone else has been able to race there due to the years of financial, political, and legal troubles which finally came to a head in 2006.

Ultimately, unlikely and fortunately, Spokane County bought the property and decided to keep it a racetrack.  Other interested parties would surely have plowed it under, divided it and turned it into a housing development.

Even better is that the County is making much needed improvements in an effort to recieve an NHRA sanction for drag racing which will attract bigger-time events.  This equals more revenue which obviously is a good thing!  Furthermore, the request for the NHRA sanction has been approved!

Let’s hear it for the preservation of a great track!

This is hot off the wire from F-160 top dog Tim O’Mahony:

ALERT!!!!!!   August 8-9 Seattle “Sounds of the Past” Vintage Weekend! 

Headed into T4 it’s #440 Tamra Ancona, the Wheelie-n’ Sicilian.

Dang, she’s hot!

…and fresh out of the Bus Stop

Courtesy of http://www.jaytphotos.com

Here’s a shot from John Porter (a.k.a. “Chops”) in which Tamra strikes a retro pose in front of a few of her street bikes: