Robbie "Wacka" Stevens Seriously Injured in Tyre Explosion. ...
 

Robbie "Wacka" Stevens Seriously Injured in Tyre Explosion.
by John Burton.

With less than 6 days until he convenes his next speedway meeting at the Westline Speedway, Whyalla in South Australia, local speedway owner / identity, Robbie Stevens has been rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, after almost completely severing his right arm, and sustaining broken ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries in a freak accident at his home in the Adelaide Hills.

"Wacka" was fitting a brand new racing tyre to a super sedan rim when the beadlocker appears to have broken away.

Jenny Lemar, Robbies partner told me today "I heard a loud explosion and I called out to Robbie.."Did you hear that?", but he never responded." Jenny said she went outside and heard a call for help and found Robbie laying on a pathway leading to the home.

"All he said was, I think I've lost my right arm"...Jenny said, and when she saw the amount of blood, she then realised how serious his injuries were and immediately called an ambulance.

Robbie was taken to the RAH Monday (May 10th) and admitted.

I spoke to Robbie today and he sounded the usual "upbeat" Wacka, but knows that he has a way to go to be back to reasonable health. "I can't tell you what happened, 'cos it was so bloody fast and loud" he said and continued with .."They intend to operate tomorrow on my arm. I thought it was a goner but I have movement in my fingers, and even though the bone between my shoulder and elbow is shattered, they can't believe that I have both feeling and movement in my fingers".

It would appear that either over inflating of the race tyre, or a fault with the rim / bead locker is to blame. but Robbie was adamament that he had done hundreds of them and never inflated them above the 40 PSI recommendation.

Westline Whyalla Speedway will go ahead this Saturday night, as Jenny has plenty of volunteers offering her assistance in doing so. "Its marvellous that even the Modified Sedan guys have cancelled running as they are going to help me run the show, in liew of racing"..Jenny said.

Obviuosly everyone involved with speedway wishes Robbie a speedy recovery and to everyone offering the assistance to Jenny, a big thankyou.