G Squared/Star Racing's Ken Johnson seriously injured in freak accident
Courtesy Jerry Battle
Longtime Star Racing employee Ken Johnson was seriously injured Saturday (June 4) in an accident at U.S. 19 Dragway in Albany, Ga. He is currently in stable but guarded condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Phoebe-Putney Hospital in Albany.
Johnson, who was not a participant in the event, was in the Dragway's campground aboard a four-wheel "mule" when the vehicle began tipping over during a turn. He instinctively put his leg down to keep the four-wheeler upright but the weight and momentum of the turn caused the "mule" to flip over causing severe trauma to his left knee and leg.
George Bryce, owner of Star Racing and partner with George Smith in G Squared Motorsports, was immediately notified and rushed to the scene from the drag strip. By the time Bryce arrived, Johnson had lost a considerable amount of blood, but Bryce was quick to note that unidentified bystanders were already administering life-saving first aid to Johnson.
"When I arrived, several campers had applied a tourniquet to Ken's leg," said Bryce. "Also, the sheriff was nearby and immediately called the EMTs who arrived within minutes and rushed him to a local hospital. The combination of these individuals helped save Ken's life.
"Ken has been with me over 20 years. He had been by my side for every race and was a huge part of Star Racing winning six championships with John Myers and Angelle Sampey. He worked with me on the bikes of Reggie Showers and Fred Collis and now is an important part of the G Squared/S&S Cycle Buell program, with Chip Ellis.
"Ken needs everybody's prayers and support at this time. He's tough but will have a long road to recover. I sure he'll have to undergo additional surgery and long term rehabilitation. All of us at G Squared and Star Racing will be by his side every step of the way."
Johnson underwent four hours of vascular surgery on Saturday to repair a severed femoral artery and to stabilize the knee and leg.
"It was a freak accident," added Bryce's wife Jackie. "What actually popped it backwards and broke everything was the roll bar on the four-wheeler. I feel he would have been hurt no matter what but it seemed that the roll bar was exactly even with his knee when it rolled over. This caused more damage. It was bad. The whole knee was blown out.
"Ken has built every motorcycle we have ever raced and has been to every single race we have competed in. It's going to be an adjustment now not having him here during his recovery time. But Star Racing and G Squared are strong and everybody will pull together during these trying times.
"Ken's our guy. He's always been there for us and we've always been there for him. I've always been the Star Racing, and now the G Squared, mother and consider all the employees my children. Ken has been here the longest, so he's like the oldest child. That's what makes this accident so much harder."
The G-Squared team will be putting the G Squared/S&S Buell through qualifying and eliminations at the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals in Chicago this weekend without Johnson in attendance.
"We'll miss Ken this weekend and at future races but we'll do everything we can to win. The team is pumped up. We plan to make Ken proud of us while he's out," said Chip Ellis, who will be aboard the G2/S&S Buell at Chicago.
G Squared Motorsports was formed in 2003. Both George Smith and George Bryce knew if they collaborated on the project, joining the resources, knowledge and talents of S&S Cycle and Star Racing, they could produce a competitive bike to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The G Squared/S&S-powered V-Twin Buell debuted in 2004.
FURNISHED BY:
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz
Longtime Star Racing employee Ken Johnson was seriously injured Saturday (June 4) in an accident at U.S. 19 Dragway in Albany, Ga. He is currently in stable but guarded condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Phoebe-Putney Hospital in Albany.
Johnson, who was not a participant in the event, was in the Dragway's campground aboard a four-wheel "mule" when the vehicle began tipping over during a turn. He instinctively put his leg down to keep the four-wheeler upright but the weight and momentum of the turn caused the "mule" to flip over causing severe trauma to his left knee and leg.
George Bryce, owner of Star Racing and partner with George Smith in G Squared Motorsports, was immediately notified and rushed to the scene from the drag strip. By the time Bryce arrived, Johnson had lost a considerable amount of blood, but Bryce was quick to note that unidentified bystanders were already administering life-saving first aid to Johnson.
"When I arrived, several campers had applied a tourniquet to Ken's leg," said Bryce. "Also, the sheriff was nearby and immediately called the EMTs who arrived within minutes and rushed him to a local hospital. The combination of these individuals helped save Ken's life.
"Ken has been with me over 20 years. He had been by my side for every race and was a huge part of Star Racing winning six championships with John Myers and Angelle Sampey. He worked with me on the bikes of Reggie Showers and Fred Collis and now is an important part of the G Squared/S&S Cycle Buell program, with Chip Ellis.
"Ken needs everybody's prayers and support at this time. He's tough but will have a long road to recover. I sure he'll have to undergo additional surgery and long term rehabilitation. All of us at G Squared and Star Racing will be by his side every step of the way."
Johnson underwent four hours of vascular surgery on Saturday to repair a severed femoral artery and to stabilize the knee and leg.
"It was a freak accident," added Bryce's wife Jackie. "What actually popped it backwards and broke everything was the roll bar on the four-wheeler. I feel he would have been hurt no matter what but it seemed that the roll bar was exactly even with his knee when it rolled over. This caused more damage. It was bad. The whole knee was blown out.
"Ken has built every motorcycle we have ever raced and has been to every single race we have competed in. It's going to be an adjustment now not having him here during his recovery time. But Star Racing and G Squared are strong and everybody will pull together during these trying times.
"Ken's our guy. He's always been there for us and we've always been there for him. I've always been the Star Racing, and now the G Squared, mother and consider all the employees my children. Ken has been here the longest, so he's like the oldest child. That's what makes this accident so much harder."
The G-Squared team will be putting the G Squared/S&S Buell through qualifying and eliminations at the CarQuest Auto Parts Nationals in Chicago this weekend without Johnson in attendance.
"We'll miss Ken this weekend and at future races but we'll do everything we can to win. The team is pumped up. We plan to make Ken proud of us while he's out," said Chip Ellis, who will be aboard the G2/S&S Buell at Chicago.
G Squared Motorsports was formed in 2003. Both George Smith and George Bryce knew if they collaborated on the project, joining the resources, knowledge and talents of S&S Cycle and Star Racing, they could produce a competitive bike to race in Pro Stock Motorcycle competition on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The G Squared/S&S-powered V-Twin Buell debuted in 2004.
FURNISHED BY:
G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz
posted by David @ 10:29 PM
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