AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm
Smith to serve as Grand Marshal for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- One afternoon in the mid-1960s, a man walked into
a Southern California motorcycle shop looking for someone to race an
unproven motorcycle with a foreign-sounding name. Lucky for that man, he
walked into the right shop and found the right racer. Malcolm Smith took
Edison Dye's offer, and their partnership would help establish the
Husqvarna motorcycle brand as a force in American off-road.
In recognition of Malcolm Smith's contributions to the success of
Husqvarna, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Husqvarna
Motorcycles North America are pleased to announce that Smith will serve
as Grand Marshal at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this
July 9-11 in Lexington, Ohio. Husqvarna is the Marque of the Year for
2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
"Even today, decades after Malcolm Smith's racing prime, his fan base
rivals some of the top names in the sport," said AMA President and CEO
Rob Dingman. "To anyone who has met him, the reason for that is clear:
Malcolm Smith is synonymous with everything positive about motorcycling
-- fun, sportsmanship, and excitement. He will serve as an exceptional
Grand Marshal at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as we celebrate
the brand on which he became famous: Husqvarna."
Added Husqvarna National Sales and Marketing Manager Scot Harden: "When
it came to honoring a Grand Marshal at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,
Malcolm Smith was the obvious choice. We look forward to celebrating the
storied history of Husqvarna with Malcolm, as well as a large number of
other past Husqvarna legends and champions on July 9-11."
Smith says he's looking forward to meeting fans and enjoying the
activities himself at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
"I was last at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days three years ago and had a
wonderful time," Smith said. "I particularly liked walking around the
large field where they sell all the old bike parts, buying a truckload
and then figuring out how to get it all back to California. I'm spoiled.
I like to ride new bikes, but I really enjoy working on old motorcycles.
I work on them every day."
Smith said that he remembers the day he was introduced to Husqvarna
motorcycles like it was yesterday.
"When Edison Dye brought me the bike, we laid out a track and some trail
that went up into the hills," Smith said. "When I came back from that
ride, I said, 'Mr. Dye, you have yourself a rider.' The bike was so far
ahead of anything else available at the time, and so reliable."
Following his encounter with Dye, Smith's success and influence wasn't
limited to the track. Smith's positive evaluation of those first
Husqvarnas also persuaded Dye to become the U.S. Husqvarna importer in
1966. That decision paved the way for Dye to bring in reigning Swedish
world motocross champion Torsten Hallman to race the bikes in the United
States. Not only did that move further advertise the quality and speed
of Husqvarnas and help Dye sell a lot of motorcycles, but it also
established the sport of motocross on American soil.
In his role as grand marshal, Smith will participate in numerous
fan-friendly activities, from autograph signings to discussions of his
history with Husqvarna. This will be a rare and unique opportunity for
Smith's thousands of fans to meet and greet the off-road legend.
As a racer, Smith gained fame for his accomplishments in the Baja 1000
and for his gold-medal-winning rides in the International Six Day Enduro
competitions, but his notoriety reached well beyond the motorcycling
community as the star of the influential 1970s motorcycle movie, "On Any
Sunday." The scenes of Smith play-riding with his buddies, which
included popular actor Steve McQueen, showed people across the country
just how fun motorcycling could be. The movie helped launch an explosion
in the popularity of off-road motorcycling in America.
Held at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage
Motorcycle Days features vintage and post-vintage competition in
motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track, AMA
Vintage Motorcycle Days features North America's largest motorcycle swap
meet. Also on tap: educational seminars, bike shows, demo rides of
current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new
product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and
regional clubs.
Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle
Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the AMA Hall of Fame, located on the
campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio,
is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit,
passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping
the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information,
call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum's website at
www.MotorcycleMuseum.org .
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and
promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of
life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the
same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest
motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists'
interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the
committees of international governing organizations, and the court of
public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA
sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational
events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive
money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle
services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and
more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the
heritage of motorcycling for future generations.
