Off-road legend Malcolm Smith, 2024

Jack Wright/SCORE International
178 shares
share
post
emailBy Marty Fiolka | November 27, 2024 4:11 PM ET

Malcolm Smith, a true off-road icon on two wheels and four, died on November 26 at the age of 83 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on March 4, 1941, in British Columbia, Canada, Smith was a pioneering figure in the sport of motorcycle racing and desert off-road competition. Considered by many to be one of the best riders of all time, Smith parlayed an early career into legendary status with decades of winning performances, becoming of North America’s most beloved motorcycle superstars in the process.

The talented rider won eight gold medals at the International Six Day Trials in Europe from 1967 through ’76, making him the most successful Americans in the event’s history. Smith also found great success on North American soil, winning his class at the Mexican 1000/Baja 1000 on both motorcycles and open-wheel buggies.

That list of accomplishments included the inaugural NORRA Mexican 1000 in 1967, where he teamed with J.N. Roberts on a Husqvarna to win the motorcycle category and take second place overall. He repeated his first place NORRA Mexican 1000 motorcycle overall finish again in 1971 teamed with Gunnar Nilsson. By 1975 Smith made the switch to four wheels, taking the Baja 1000 race victory with Bud Feldkamp. It was a performance they would repeat at the 1977 Baja 1000. Under the watchful eye of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports,” Smith and Bob Gordon took another Baja 1000 class win and second overall in Gordon’s Chenowth-Porsche.



The role that made Smith the most famous, however, was as a co-star with actor Steve McQueen and others in Bruce Brown’s classic documentary film “On Any Sunday.” Released in 1971, the movie would inspire motorcycling for generations to follow, as Smith’s talent on two-wheels was on display in movie theaters around the world.

Shortly thereafter Smith purchased a motorcycle dealership in Riverside, California that today stands as one of the most successful in the country. He also founded the Malcolm Smith Racing line of motorcycle apparel and accessories.

Smith was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1978, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1996 and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

Always anxious to give back to his beloved Baja peninsula, his non-profit foundation supported the El Oasis Orphanage, home to approximately 50 children.