Smith first raced in 1956 atop a 1949 Matchless 500cc motorcycle. Later, he was associated with Husqvarna motorcycles. His renown grew as he won races in the 1960s and 1970s. Smith won eight gold medals between 1966 and 1976 in the International Six Day Trial. The International Six Day Trials, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics, is the oldest annual competition sanctioned by the FIM dating back to 1913.[3]
Following his racing career, Smith began developing tools and riding gear. Malcolm Smith Gold Medal Products later became Malcolm Smith Racing (later MSR). MSR was eventually purchased by Tucker Rocky Distributing. He later owned a motorsports dealership in Riverside, California, with his wife Joyce and two of his four children, daughter Ashley and son Alexander.
He continued to appear in motion pictures, including Naturally Free (1975), Dirt (1979), and On Any Sunday II (1981). Smith was later featured in the 2005 Baja 1000 documentary, Dust to Glory, co-starring Mario Andretti and Robby Gordon.
Off the track
In 2000, Smith created a non-profit foundation dedicated to giving back to Mexico. Every year, Smith hosted a six day charity ride to raise money for his schools and orphanages.[citation needed]
Smith was married three times and had four children. He died November 26, 2024, from complications of Parkinson's disease at his home in Riverside, California, aged 83.[6]
