LandspeedLarry Down!

[entropy]

steve knecum, suzukihayabusa.com
http://www.suzukihayabusa.org/forum/index.php?topic=158840.0

"A young kid was backing out his driveway and plowed into him.  Larry has a1 or 2 broken ribs and punctured lung and 3 broken vertabraes . Also his foot is real bad and is bolted together at the heel. It is possible he could lose it.  He is in the ICU right now I will be visiting him early next week and will tell him everyone is wishing him well.    Thank you everyone one for your thoughts and prayers.."

[hawkwind]

My prayers go out to you Larry .... though we have never meet, you have been a great help and inspiration to me a true gentleman of our sport .... Godspeed in your recovery

[Gu11ett]

Larry will be in our thoughts and prayers.

[Glen]

Sorry to hear he is hurt, Prayers going out to him for a speedy recovery.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Let me ask - and clarify just who is Landspeed Larry.  I've known Larry Forstall for years - but haven't heard him called "Landspeed Larry" before and want to make sure it's him that's been injured.  I'm sorry to hear it - not only for him and his close people, but for all of the racers out there.  He's personally done so much for me - and for Nancy - and for everyone - that we'll keep him foremost in our thoughts during his recovery.

Best wishes, Larry.

[entropy]

...just who is Landspeed Larry?...

you guessed correctly, Larry Forstall

[ol38y]

Hate to hear that. Thoughts and prayers for his speedy recovery.

[Stainless1]

I posted over on SH.org but you can not say get well soon or pray for a speedy recovery too much.  Larry is one of the real deal guys in LSR.

Larry, like everyone else I hated to hear about your accident.   My prayers are on the way as well, please recover quickly and completely. 
You have always helped others, if there is anything any of us can do to help you please ask, we are your extended LSR family
Steve, keep us posted please and be sure Larry knows we are all praying and thinking of him.
Stainless

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Larry has always helped others, you say?  Well -- here's my story on that.

A handful of years ago I had qualified for my first-ever record.  On that qualifying run I blistered a tire, though, and the spare I had was a different size, so I had to re-gear, and then the chain wasn't the right length.  So the guy pitted next to us offered a chain.  He knew I was gunning for a record and he wanted to see me get it - so I ran on his chain and did back it up.

Yup, it was Larry Forstall.  That's when Nancy and I first met him, followed by many meets at Bville and Maxton and a few banquets, too.  Larry is a great guy, and obviously - - a true-hearted racer.  Why do I say that?  Because it was his record I was trying to break - and he knew it when he lent me the chain.  He certainly set a fine example of how Bonneville (and other places, too) racers relate to the rest of us.

Get well, heal fast and completely, and know that Nancy and I send our good wishes to you, Larry.  I might have to borrow another part from you.

[dw230]

Sorry to hear about this. Get well soon Larry.

DW

[racer]

Here's to a complete speedy recovery.

See you on the salt.....

Ray

[Dr Goggles]

Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery from us over here Larry.

[JackB750]

Thought I'd take the chance to share an update on Larry's situation. As many of you know, Larry is a mentor as well as a dear friend to me as he is to so many of you. Unfortunately I was traveling when all this happened but I'm back home now and I've just returned from a hospital visit (With the possible exception of Mark DeLuca, I'm the LSR whack-job who lives closest to Larry - 4 miles!) I've also been talking to his wife Elaine regularly since Friday.

My hour long visit this afternoon isn't exactly what you or I might have hoped. He basically slept the entire time but there is considerable information I can share. First, Larry is now out of ICU and in a regular single patient room. His chest tube is removed, and his neck / collar brace is off. His upper body is basically unrestrained and although he was "sleeping" he moved around quite a bit - head from side to side, lots of arm movement. His breathing seems to me to be almost normal and not particularly labored so I suspect that the lung. rib,and the vertebrae injuries are just going to require time. There are no medical "appliances" on his upper body save the sensors for vital signs.  I put "sleeping " in quotes because he is quite effectively sedated. His sleep does not appear to be particularly restful, but nonetheless I don't think he even knew I was there the entire time. Elaine has had conversations with him and has said he's "crabby" which I actually take as a good sign! His color looks pretty normal and he was wearing his glasses so, when's more alert he obviously can see what's going on. Most importantly, the glasses allow him to see the picture of his beloved dogs which are on the wall!     

The injuries to his right ankle and foot are more complicated. The entire foot/ankle is immobilized by a collection of devices that go together a lot like the scaffolding that painters use to work on the exterior of a building. Tubes and joints all  bolted together. Lots of em, as well as rods and such that disappear into his heavily bandaged foot. While  some substantial risk remains, the doctors have told Elaine "so far so good." Time will clearly tell on this one too.

He's getting very good care at an excellent facility which is the only certified Trauma Center in our county. He's not likely to be going anywhere in the next few days (at least) so, if you wanted to send a card or whatever, the address is:
Laurence Forstall
Room 3219
Paoli Hospital
255 W. Lancaster Avenue
Paoli, PA 19301

I don't think he's quite ready for a bunch of phone calls yet but I will keep everyone advised. I'll be back to the hospital again tomorrow (and daily for the forseeable future) and my hope is to be able to read to him all the online posts of prayers, well wishes and encouragement. Check back here for updates or IM me here if you have specific comments or questions.

Jack Broomall

   

[wheelrdealer]

Larry, wishing you a speedy recovery.

Bill

[dw230]

Scott Guthrie wrote today to remind me that Larry was the first member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in this century.

DW