Hammer Racing.Com

KEITH Costello took his place on the rostrum a few years ago in the Ultra lightweight Manx, and his first cousin David 'Hammer' Lumsden stood proud last September when he took his 600 Yamaha to a brilliant third place around the most gruelling motor racing course in the world.

Just before Christmas, I nominated David as my top local rider of the year, and like I said at the time, it was a hard decision. To get to a rostrum place over the TT mountain course is an achievement that didn't really get the applause that it deserved.

This year David is once again aiming to be back on the 'Island' for his last go at the Manx, as he feels that it is his best chance of getting a better result, and leaving the memories of the Manx behind and progressing to the TT.

The sport of Real Road Racing has been going on in the Skerries area over 70 years, from the old running of the Leinster 200, right up to the modern Skerries Road Races. Like every race held up and down the country, local young lads become fixated with the speed and adrenaline, and where there are races there are a bunch of local lads racing.

The Skerries/Fingal area is slightly different, as there are that many lads racing, you could run a race meeting just for them on their own.

David 'Hammer' Lumsden is one of that gang, and like the multitude of other 'Fingallians' he has craved for the sport since a very young age. In 2004, he decided to have a go, bought a 400 Kawasaki and took to the circuits, and the popular breeding ground – the Clubman's Championship.

After competing in his first season on the 400, David purchased a 600 Yamaha from Inch McAleer and took to the Clubman's again to qualify for his road licence in 2005.

After qualifying for his Road Race licence towards the end of 2005, David held on to the 600 Yamaha for the 2006 season, used the older bike to learn the roads and took it steady for the season. Just before the last race at Killalane, a new R6 Yamaha was purchased and given its first airing at the local event.

The 2007 season saw David get a good run in the support class, but in the back of his mind was the major goal, the Manx Grand Prix in the Isle of Man over the famous mountain course.

On the home front, 'Hammer' had his best result at the Faugheen Road Races near Carrick-on-Suir, where he recorded a fifth place.

The amount of hard cash that is required to compete in the Isle of Man is amazing, and all the fund-raising that goes on just to cover the two weeks – with fuel, tyres, accommodation and engine rebuild – can run to more than e4,000. This did not deter the young Skerries rider, and he was delighted to be able to compete over the arduous course.

In the newcomers, David was lying third after the first time check, but over the mountain section the mist was terrible and he ended up with 13th place and a treasured replica. The senior race later in the week had to be cancelled due to the bad weather.

The final short circuit of the season is the popular Sunflower meeting, but this event did not prove popular to David. He had a heavy crash and his R6 burst into flames and destroyed the bike, thankfully without serious injury.

With a lot of hard work during the winter, Team Hammer were back in business for '08, and after being upgraded to the Open class by the Road Race Committee, he knew that he would have to start at the bottom again.

Track time was important, and David decided to focus on finishing as many races as possible, with the Manx Grand Prix again top of the agenda.

Riding in the Open class is tough going, and with the top riders competing at all events, Hammer had to wait until Athea, held over the tough road circuit on the Limerick Kerry border. There he scored his first championship points. This was followed by a good weekend at Skerries, where he was invited into the Grand Final, and a fourth place in the B race at Walderstown was the confidence he needed in the run-up to the Manx.

With the funds raised, the trip to the 'Island' proved a fruitful one. The first race was the junior, run over three laps, and David decided to make a splash and dash after the second lap for fuel. A mis-calculation in the refuelling almost cost him a finish in the race.

'I was flat out down the Sulby straight, when the fuel light came on I kept shortshifting the gears just to get to the finish.

'I knew this cost me a few places. I was praying that I would get to Governors Bridge; then I knew I could push it home, and just as I came out of the dip it stopped and I was able to freewheel to the finish line and I finished 18th.'

The senior was cut to two laps after a large oil spill on the first lap, and from starting number 68 he finished a creditable 15th with a fastest lap of 114mph, despite having to go to hospital with a chest infection and taking a lot of antibiotic the night before.

The 2009 season was to be David's best, with a win in Kells after a tremendous battle with Andy Farrell. After practice week at the Manx, he only got in one fast lap during Wednesday's practice owing to the bad weather.

'It was like starting all over again, as it was a week between that good lap and the race. I got Michael Dunlop to show me around the day before my race, and he gave me some valuable pointers which really helped me. Now I know how he can go so fast!

'This help from Michael paid off, my lap times went up to 118mph and I was thrilled with my podium position.'

After the race, the top three riders have their engines stripped by the organisers to make sure there are no irregularities. When David got home from the Manx, he couldn't afford to have the engine rebuilt and was not able to race at Killalane, but he was delighted to ride the R1 JMF Millsport Yamaha that was built for Martin Finnegan in the 25th Anniversary parade lap.

'The engine is still in bits in the garage, as I still can't afford to fix it.'

David is still unemployed, and is hoping that his hard work getting a sponsorship portfolio together will bear fruit.

I believe 'The Hammer' will be one of the top riders at the Manx this year, and I hope that there is somebody, or business that will be able to sponsor the talented Skerries rider, and I know they will get the return for the money they spend.

David is grateful to Joe Seigman from Apache Pizza in Drogheda for his sponsorship, and wishes to thank the following for their help:

'If I leave anyone out I apologise,' he said.

Anyone wishing to help David can contact him at 0861613618, or teamhammerracing@hotmail.com.

Keep 'er lit.

Jack CORRY