The Humble Legend
Here’s to a humble motorcyclist who often referred to himself as “an everyman’s motorcyclist”. Malcolm Smith combined professional success with a genuine passion for the sport and its community. His life story truly reflects this idea.
Early Life
Malcolm Smith was born in 1941 on March 9 at Ganges Hospital on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. His family had an extraordinary beginning. His dad was 81 when he met Malcolm’s 33-year-old mom while traveling in Alaska. They ended up getting hitched after hiking together.
Malcolm Smith 2017 Edison Dye Award by Daniel Sanchez
First Motorcycle Encounter
One day, while Smith was walking to school, he spotted an abandoned Powell scooter. At that time, it wasn’t about riding for him but about mechanics, born from years of building go-karts. When the owner refused to sell, his mother, Betty, bought him this 125cc scooter.
Malcolm's Bike Stories by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
The Lambretta Scooter
Smith was only 13 when he was given a 1953 Lambretta scooter. While living near the San Bernardino National Forest, Smith often roamed the area on his scooter. Along with a friend, he even modified their scooters by adding cleats from football shoes to the tyres.
Malcolm Smith - 1953 Lambretta by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
First Steps In Racing
His family moved to the United States during his youth, where Smith pursued his passion for motorcycles, which would shape his future. At the age of 15, he bought a vintage 1949 Matchless 500cc motorcycle in 1956, which marked the beginning of his racing career.
LEGENDS - Malcom Smith pt 2 by SCORE International
First Steps In Racing (Cont.)
It is said that Smith sold his old scooter to buy the 1949 Matchless 500cc motorcycle. In terms of riding it, apparently, at first, Smith would struggle with kickstarting the large bike due to its size relative to his own. He often had to push it up hills to roll-start it.
1956 Matchless 500 G80cs Scrambler by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
Desert Racing Foundations
So, his first-ever race was a hare scramble at Riverside, California. During this time, he adopted a strategy of holding the throttle wide open. This aggressive technique brought in many crashes as he struggled to control the bike while maintaining high speed.
Malcolm Smith 2017 Edison Dye Award by Daniel Sanchez
Desert Racing Foundations (Cont.)
Even though there were many crashes and challenges, Smith efficiently managed to secure a second-place finish in the race. On his way home from the race, Smith realized that he had utilized a more controlled riding technique. That way, he likely could have won the event.
Malcolm Smith 2017 Edison Dye Award by Daniel Sanchez
Work And Racing Evolution
He became a seven-day-a-week motorcyclist, as he worked during the week at K&N Motorcycles and went racing on weekends. Smith used to race various motorcycles, including Matchless, BSA, and Greeves. He then established a partnership with Husqvarna.
Malcolm Smith for President Campaign Commercial (30 sec) by Pipeline Digital Media
The Husqvarna Partnership
Smith’s relationship with Husqvarna began in 1966 when he met Edison Dye. Dye brought the Husqvarna brand to the United States and promoted off-road racing. In 1967, Smith officially signed with Husqvarna, and it was indeed a successful collaboration.
Malcolm Smith - 1971 Husqvarna 360 by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
First Race Success With Husqvarna
Of course, from 1967 onwards, after signing with Husqvarna, Smith began racing on their motorcycles. The motorcyclist reportedly achieved third place in his first race with Husqvarna. He quickly adapted to the new bike and even won his second race here.
Malcolm Smith - 1971 Husqvarna 360 by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
International Six-Day Trial Dominance
Between 1966 and 1976, Smith literally dominated the International Six Day Trial (ISDT). The ISDT is often referred to as the “Olympics of Motorcycling”. It is one of the oldest annual competitions to be sanctioned by the FIM, dating back to 1913.
Malcolm's Bike Stories by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
International Six Day Trial Dominance (Cont.)
He won his first ISDT gold medal in 1967 while competing in Poland. Then, over the span of ten years, Smith collected a total of eight gold medals in the ISDT. He earned his seventh gold medal on the Isle of Man, while his eighth medal came in Austria.
Malcolm's Bike Stories by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
Baja Racing Legend
Smith scored a big win at the first-ever NORRA Mexican 1000 back in 1967. This worked as the precursor to the Baja 1000. He teamed up with J.N. Roberts and rode a Husqvarna motorcycle, which won him first place in the motorcycle division and second overall.
Malcolm's Bike Stories by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
Baja Racing Legend (Cont.)
He celebrated his win again in 1971, taking the top spot in the motorcycle category. This time, Smith teamed up with Gunnar Nilsson. However, after a bad motorcycle accident in 1975, he was forced to switch gears and started racing four-wheel vehicles.
Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, Wikimedia Commons
Baja Racing Legend (Cont.)
That same year, he won in the Baja 1000, as he was co-driving a buggy with Bud Feldkamp. He then achieved the same success in 1977. Over his career, Smith won his class at the Baja 1000 six times—twice on motorcycles and four times in cars.
Malcolm Smith and Bud Feldkamp's SCORE Baja 1000 Moments by SCORE International
Diverse Racing Achievements: Mint 400
This man tackled all sorts of racing challenges worldwide and won a couple of races, one of which was the Mint 400 in Nevada. He won the Mint 400 twice and was seen as a top competitor in off-road racing. He won first in 1970 and then in 1971.
Malcolm Smith - 1973 Bel Ray Bullet by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
Roof Of Africa Rallye
This victory in Lesotho is seen as one of the many things that contributed to Smith’s legendary status. This biker won the Roof of Africa Rallye, a famous off-road event known for its rugged terrain and challenging conditions, twice, in 1970 and 1971.
Malcolm Smith For President Video by Dealernews
Paris-Dakar Rally
Smith took part in the Paris-Dakar Rally two times. In the year 1988, he ended up snagging an awesome fourth position overall. This made him the highest-placed American that year. Smith basically drove a Range Rover alongside his navigator, Alain Fieuw.
Hitchhiking with Malcolm Smith by RideDunlop
Hollywood Beginnings
This man really hit the spotlight when he teamed up with Steve McQueen in Bruce Brown’s 1971 motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday. The film, which got an Academy Award nomination, became a classic and inspired a whole generation of motorcycle riders.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Foundation Of Charity Rides
In 1995, he, along with his wife Joyce, started the “Malcolm’s Seven Days of Baja” charity ride to help kids in Baja, California. Malcolm Smith Adventures puts together the rides, which has sponsored an eight-day Peninsula-long ride down Baja yearly since 1996.
Business Venture
Apart from his active racing career, Smith set up Malcolm Smith Gold Medal Products, which eventually became known as Malcolm Smith Racing (MSR). The company’s goal was to create high-quality, protective riding gear that modernized safety equipment for off-road riders.
Hall Of Recognition
The racing world recognized Smith’s worthy impact when he was inducted into the 1978 Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame. His legacy was further strengthened by his entries into the 1996 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Malcolm Smith: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend by American Motorcyclist Association
Humanitarian Efforts
In 1995, this biker and a couple of motorcycle fans started humanitarian work in Mexico. They set up a non-profit organization, The Malcolm Smith Motorsports Foundation. It was created to provide shelter and support to poor children, especially the El Oasis orphanage.
Malcolm Smith Racing - Desert Limited Edition Helmet by msrseventyone
Health Issues
Smith found out he had Parkinson’s disease about eight years before a 2010 interview. It seems that he looked at different treatments for his condition, including stem-cell therapy in Europe. However, Smith described the therapy as a “waste of time and money”.
Malcolm Smith - 1973 Bel Ray Bullet by Malcolm Smith MotorSports
The Final Chapter
Malcolm Smith peacefully passed away at his home in Riverside, California, on November 26, 2024, with his family by his side. After a tough fight against Parkinson’s disease, he left us at the age of 83. He surely left behind an amazing legacy in the world of motorsports.
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