SCORE Racing Legend Malcolm Smith Passes away Nov. 26 in Riverside, Calif.

Truly a legend in his own time, Smith was one of the early stars in SCORE motorcycle racing and then switched to become a SCORE champion racing in Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars.

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Gabriel Garcia, Gabriel@SCORE-International.com OR Dominic Clark, SCORE Historian, Dominic@SCORE-International.com

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Gabriel Garcia, Gabriel@SCORE-International.com

OR Dominic Clark, SCORE Historian, Dominic@SCORE-International.com

 

November 27, 2024

 

SCORE Racing Legend Malcolm Smith

Passes away Nov. 26 in Riverside, Calif.

 

     ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico- SCORE remembers SCORE champion and legend Malcolm Smith, who passed away after a long illness on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Smith, who was 83, lived most of his life in Riverside, Calif., but was born in Canada.

     Truly a legend in his own time, Smith was one of the early stars in SCORE motorcycle racing and then switched to become a SCORE champion racing in Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars.

     Smith is one of a very few icons who is in three motorsports Hall of Fame: Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (1978), Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1996) and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame (1998).

     A mentor to many, Smith had eight career class wins in the SCORE Baja 1000, five of them overalls—two on motorcycles and three in Class 1.

     In the SCORE Baja 500, Smith had five class wins and four overalls, one on a motorcycle and three in Class 1.

     Competing in a variety of events on a motorcycle, Smith also won eight gold medals between 1966 and 1977 in the International Six Day Enduro Trials in Europe.

     Smith's talent on two wheels earned him a starring role in Bruce Brown’s classic motorcycle documentary, On Any Sunday, alongside screen legend Steve McQueen and AMA Grand National Champion Mert Lawwill. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1972 for Best Documentary Feature.

     Former SCORE owner and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Sal Fish remembers, “Malcolm was one of the first big stars in off-road racing, especially SCORE Baja racing. He was first class all the way, always approachable and seldom at a loss for words. And, of course, he was nearly unbeatable on the race course. Over the years, Malcolm introduced many people who would become stars themselves into desert racing.”

     “I will always remember how he always gave back to the people of Baja, supporting many charities and being a founder and long-time of the El Oasis orphanage along the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico. His life has been an inspiration for all of us. Malcolm Smith will be remembered and honored as long as there is a SCORE. Vaya con Dios, Malcolm!”