YORBA LINDA, Calif. — The lengthy physical therapy sessions he is undergoing five days each week are beginning to pay big dividends for drag racing icon John Force as he tries to recover from injuries suffered in a Sept. 23 crash at the Texas Motorplex.
That was the assessment Dec. 12 of physical therapist Robert Ortmayer, who has been working with Force since the 14-time NHRA Funny Car Champion returned to his California home after 27 days in a Texas hospital.
The 58-year-old Force, whose goal is to be back in a Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Funny Car when pre-season testing begins in mid-January, was cleared Tuesday to commence light strength training with the left hand and left foot. He already had started strength work on the less severely injured right foot and hand.
Force suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a dislocation of the left wrist so bad that it required the insertion of pins and a hard cast, broken bones in the right foot and hand, a severe laceration of the right knee with ligament and tendon damage and mangled fingers and toes involving significant tissue loss.
“Attitude is everything in these types of recoveries,” Ortmayer said. “John is exceptional in that area. He has done everything we’ve asked. It’s been difficult, but he is one of the most motivated people with whom I have ever worked. Considering the severity of the accident and the injuries, his range of movement already is remarkable, and he’s making more progress every day.”
Ortmayer toured the John Force Racing, Inc., facility Dec. 11 so that Force’s teammate Robert Hight, could orient him to the cockpit of a Funny Car and explain what occurs during a typical quarter-mile run.