Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Brian Livengood broke his back in two places when he crashed at Road Atlanta May 16, and he will undergo surgery next Tuesday, May 27, at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

That’s the word from Livengood family friend and Roadracing World contributing photographer Vicki Sulpy, who wrote in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com that Livengood’s back injuries were discovered by a CT scan taken yesterday, with results delivered today.

Livengood’s crash was set off when the Dunlop radial slick on the rear wheel of his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike failed at an estimated speed of over 160 mph, in the back-straight kink at Road Atlanta.

Livengood slid across the racetrack and into a concrete wall. He was originally diagnosed as having a concussion and bruised lungs, and is still on a respirator. Emergency crews performed a tracheotomy at the track to ease his breathing, and the tracheotomy was redone when he arrived at the hospital.

Sulpy is asking racers and race fans to contribute to a medical expense fund for Livengood, anticipating that his expenses will exceed his insurance coverage.

“We are not yet sure exactly how long Brian’s recuperation period will be,” wrote Sulpy. “Brian has insurance but as we all know, insurance doesn’t pay for everything.

“I am asking all of you, as fellow racers and friends, to make a contribution to Brian Livengood from your heart and wallet. All monies will go towards Brian’s medical bills. After Brian’s medical bills are paid, any monies that are left will be donated to the Roadracing World Action Fund.

“You may make a donation to Brian Livengood via Pay Pal (www.paypal.com) at [email protected] or checks may be made out to Brian Livengood and mailed to 2834 Shane Drive, Snellville, GA 30078. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.”

Sulpy wrote that she had donated $200 to start off the fund-raising campaign.

Racer Woody Deatherage also hit a concrete wall and broke his back at Road Atlanta during the AMA National last weekend. Deatherage fell on Saturday on the other side of the road course, in the esses past the new chicane, but hit the wall at a lower impact speed and did not suffer additional serious injuries.

Deatherage was scheduled to be fitted with a full-body cast and may or may not require surgery.