Richard Allen "Dick" Hammer, the versatile motorcycle racer who excelled at road race, TT and flat track, is born in Los Angeles, California.
Dick Hammer was a leading AMA Grand National racer during the 1960's who specialized in TT racing, but was comfortable on anything with two-wheels and a motor. As a novice aboard a Triumph T100R he once won 15 races in succession, in 1959 Dick finished as the high-point flat-track Novice in the country at Ascot Park on a Fred Moxley sponsored BSA Gold Star.
Hammer finished as the high-point TT rider in California's heavily competitive District 37 in 1960 and 1961. His riding ability began to open eyes in Milwaukee, and in 1962 Harley offered him a sponsored ride through H-D of Long Beach with the highly skilled Jerry Branch as his mechanic. With that support, Dick won the Peoria TT, the only national victory of his career.
In 1964, he suffered injuries while practicing for the Peoria Tourist Trophy that left him semiconscious in a hospital for 27 days. The front wheel had been installed improperly, and when Dick went over his first jump, the wheel fell off and he hit the ground head-first.
"One of the toughest guys I have ever met." Fellow Hall of Famer, Skip Van Leeuwen said of Hammer. "A lot of people thought he'd never ride again. But after being out cold for a month, he got out of the hospital and, the very next Saturday, there he was signing up for a race at Ascot. His eyes were still bloodshot, but he rode that night," Van Leeuwen said.
Hammer finished as the high-point TT rider in California's heavily competitive District 37 in 1960 and 1961. His riding ability began to open eyes in Milwaukee, and in 1962 Harley offered him a sponsored ride through H-D of Long Beach with the highly skilled Jerry Branch as his mechanic. With that support, Dick won the Peoria TT, the only national victory of his career.
In 1964, he suffered injuries while practicing for the Peoria Tourist Trophy that left him semiconscious in a hospital for 27 days. The front wheel had been installed improperly, and when Dick went over his first jump, the wheel fell off and he hit the ground head-first.
"One of the toughest guys I have ever met." Fellow Hall of Famer, Skip Van Leeuwen said of Hammer. "A lot of people thought he'd never ride again. But after being out cold for a month, he got out of the hospital and, the very next Saturday, there he was signing up for a race at Ascot. His eyes were still bloodshot, but he rode that night," Van Leeuwen said.
In his 12 years on the pro circuit, Dick Hammer tallied one national victory, 12 national podium finishes and was ranked in the Top-Ten in the AMA Grand National Championship points three times, with a high ranking of fifth in 1963. He also was a leading rider in the early days of the Lightweight Class before it became a National Series as 250 Grand Prix in the mid 1970's. Winning the first-ever Lightweight Class at Daytona aboard a Harley Sprint in 1963. Then repeating in 1964 and was runner-up to Gary Nixon in '67.
Dick Hammer retired from professional racing in 1972. He was inducted in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.
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