Malcolm smith racing gear

Malcolm Smith is considered to be one of the best off-road motorcyclists of all time. He has found great success in desert racing in both buggies and motorcycles, winning his class at the Baja six times and finishing second in his class four times. His father had purchased a sheep ranch on the Island with the earnings he had made as gold miner in north region of the province.

In the family ready for a change returned to their native United States and settled in San Bernardino, California. At thirteen years old Smith purchased his first motor scooter, a Lambretta. Smith lived close to the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest and would regularly explore the area on his scooter along with a friend. The boys converted their scooters in to off road machines by screwing in the used cleats from the local high school football team into their tires.

Two years later Smith purchased his first real dirt bike, a Matchless. Small for his age he had difficulty kick starting the large bike and would push the bike to the top of a hill in order to roll start it.

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Despite his difficulties getting the bike going, he took it to enter his first race. His strategy was to hold the throttle wide open. The technique lead to numerous crashes yet Smith finished in second place. It occurred to him on the way home from the race if he had utilized his normal riding technique which did not involve a lot of crashing, he probably could have won the event.

In Edison Dye of the Swedish Husqvarna motorcycle company found Smith at the shop and offered him a sponsorship deal. The deal included a new dirt bike and an all expenses paid trip to the International Six Day Trials in Sweden. The event is now called the International Six Day Enduro. Smith took second place at his first event racing on unfamiliar muddy European soil.