A look at the incredible motorcycling journey
that was the life of Malcolm Smith.
WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY
Malcolm Smith was one the most influential motorcycle riders of all time. He was an elite racer and an engineering entrepreneur, building his own tools, gear, and equipment for the purpose of being lighter, going faster, saving time, and making it to the finish line. His name is synonymous with dirt bikes, based not only on the film On Any Sunday, but his successes both on and off the track. The motorcycle shop he founded in Riverside, California, houses many of his artifacts, from his motorcycles to the innovations he helped bring to the sport. Malcolm passed late last year, and a celebration of life was held at Malcolm Smith Motorsports that brought thousands of his friends and fellow riders. A museum in his honor was already starting to take shape, and the items you will see on the following pages were on display. We asked one of Malcolm’s sons, Alexander Smith, to tell us more about some of the things that meant so much to his father and spoke of his extraordinary life.
We are deeply rooted in Moto—We’ve been here all our lives. Back in 1998 when we turned an underground newspaper into a shiny color magazine, it immediately changed the game with its unprecedented depth of coverage, sense of humor, and access to the sport’s biggest names. Today, our readers know they can go to Racer X Online for all the news, race results, and event coverage they need, and then enjoy even more detail and perspective in the pages of Racer X Illustrated. The mag offers a chance to learn something new on every page and stay connected with the people and personalities that shape our sport—the competitors out on the racetrack, as well as the ones behind the scenes—through our exclusive deep-dive stories and columns.
Our trademark has always been insider knowledge from the experts who are at the races and around the sport. We have long prided ourselves on our unparalleled race reporting and detailed storytelling. We go deep with the riders and teams to provide comprehensive coverage you won’t find anywhere else—all with first-class photography and design. It’s a full education in motocross past, present, and future.
Davey Coombs
Editor-in-chief & Founder
Racer X Illustrated
Subscribe Now
to continue reading Evidence of Malcolm Smith's Extraordinary Life in Motorcycling
and other premium content from the pages of Racer X magazine
Get immediate access to this issue + 12 more issues
Subscribe or Renew for your FREE Racer X windshield sun shade and air freshener! (Subscribe now!)
Already have a subscription?
Login to your Account