SCORE Legends! | Malcolm Smith

Action photo courtesy Malcolm Smith.

Portrait by Jack Wright

Malcolm Smith

Motorcycle Icon Who Inspired a Generation

By Dan Sanchez
Excerpted from SCORE's "Racing Into History - Vol.1 & Vol. 2"

Anyone riding on two-wheels knows of the legendary motorcycle racer Malcolm Smith, who began his motorcycle racing career in 1956. He began winning motorcycle events earning him induction into both the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame and the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. His accomplishments in SCORE Baja racing began when he won the Motorcycle Class at the first NORRA Mexican 1000. Smith continued winning on motorcycles until the 1970’s when he transitioned into four-wheel vehicles and earned five class wins.

Racing in a Funco buggy called the Bel-Ray Bullet, Smith and longtime friend and ORMHOF Inductee Bud Feldlkamp, drove to an overall SCORE Baja 500 victory in 1978 and 1979, that also included overall and class wins at the SCORE Baja 1000 on four-wheels. Smith would retire from racing buggies and motorcycles in the late 1980’s after a fantastic career that still earns the admiration of motorcyclists today. Smith’s last SCORE race was on the 2004 Class 50 team of AMA Hall of Famers Chris Haines and Jack Johnson, who won the class with Smith riding the last section to the finish line of the SCORE Baja 1000.

SCORE Baja 1000 & 500 50th Anniversary Books!

New books celebrating the SCORE Baja 1000 & 500 50th Anniversary. Racing into History Volumes 1 & 2

  • Pictorial Celebrations of Both Races
  • Capturing the Historic 50th Anniversary race weeks from set-up to the finish line.
  • Massive 416 page & 432 page Commemorative Hardbound Books listing all entrants and finishers.
  • Race History highlights of the SCORE Legends.
  • Historic Vehicle Overview.
  • Historical Reference with SCORE Baja 1000 & 500 statistics for the past 50 years.