What a legend. Myself, my dad and one of my best riding friends were at San Antonio at the famous “Let Brock Bye” race in 1976. Marty was just steady and fast, great times. RIP Marty and Nancy
As a young guy growing up in South Florida, Marty was indeed a superhero to me. I never made a Winter Series race but my father did take me to Daytona in '75 to see him race. I mostly remember running home from school in '76 cuz it was "Popular Cycling" magazine in the mail day and that's when I could get caught up on Marty's adventures in Europe. Man, there was no internet then, so that magazine was like GOLD. Ride Red Marty and Thanks!
I also enjoyed growing up in south Florida in the 70's I remember knowing when the magazines were coming. I rode dirtbikes where the Hard Rock stadium is today. We would go back home on Saturday afternoon to see if motocross was on the ABC wide world of sports.
American MX was one of the reasons I got into bikes, here in the UK! I bought my 1st bike in 1976, a Yamaha DT125, started reading Dirt Bike and MX Action mags just before then and the US scene seemed so wild and exciting!! The star riders of the time seemed like superheroes, Smith, Hannah, Lackey etc, etc!! In 1979 I walked into a bike dealer in the UK and saw that years new Honda, the CR250 Red Rocket, I'd read about it in Dirt Bike but to see it in the metal was stunning!! All that suspension travel, the all red engine, just so exotic! I decided to buy one and get into MX there and then!! First time I rode it, in a local disused quarry, I was just blown away by the power!! I'd dreamt of being able to do wheelies off the power alone like this, but still found it incredible!! To think now that just 7 or 8 years before this the US MX scene had just started to get big is amazing! I only did 3 seasons on the Honda before life got in the way and I had to quit MX due to lack of time, and I was never going to be another Graham Noyce anyway!! Don't regret it though, they were great times and I've followed MX ever since and have ridden bikes ever since. RIP Marty and his wife, a tragic loss.
Thanks so much for these interviews!!!!! These guys were my mx idols when I started riding at 12 years of age in 1975!!! I've got my own pieces of MX history sitting in my garage now that I ride from time to time. They are one 1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore, one 1979 Suzuki RM250N and one Kawasaki KX250 A-5. Each passing year makes these machines even more dear to my heart and now with your interviews, I get to hear the back stories of how these machines came to be!!!!! On a very sad note, RIP to Marty and his wife. So utterly tragic.
Got to talk with Marty in 2019 at the Carlesbad MX reunion. While folls we're running around reconnecting and telling stories. Marty was quietly sitting by himself and i went up and started talking with him. He was so casual and easy going it was like talking with an old friend. Yet here was a guy who was truly a world MX champion, just being a regular guy.
That is not surprising to me. I don't think any of the pro racers, maybe even today, have a "better than thou" attitude, especially after retirement and life reflection. I bet, in the same conditions, you could have "sat and chat" with any of them. IMO, this sport was a stand out and special for the people who did it. It was a pretty friendly bond overall.
My brother worked for the city of Anaheim I was able to go to practice on the floor and met Marty and weinert but I was so mesmerized by Marty he gave me a pair of goggles and an autograph. My brother got tickets to the race My first race 1976 had the king Kong jump it was the finals and Marty won the race and I've been a honda only guy ever since. I'm 60 now and moto is still the most important aspect of my life so rip peace Marty and thank you for a life long love of motocross/ supercross
I grew up in Point Loma, a San Diego community. My sister went to Point Loma high school and was in the same graduating class as Marty Smith, the class of 76. He called my sister "clutch" and I don't remember her name for him. Anyway, he was always very nice to me and it's really sad what happened at Glamis. Great video and fond memories.
My first experience was also on a Honda step through at eleven years old in 1970’s Saskatchewan. 27 bikes later and at 65 years old ,I still ride off road enduro events. Marty was my hero and inspiration back then.
I took almost 20 years off, (running a 2-stroke engine building business), and got a 2019 YZ250 2 stroke in 2020. Super tall, top end type of engine (to try to feebly keep up with a 450 on a modern MX track, ain't happening) and Batman school of art plastic had me working on it for 3 years, to get the bike the way I want it. I have never had to do so much work on a bike, to make it god for something, as the new YZ 250 2-stroke is not really good for anything, (too tall and bad power curve for off road stuff, and too slow for MX.). 1.75" shorter (seat and .75" off the suspension), got the height perfect for a 5'-9" tall rider, with good motor mods for much better low end power, some Ronnie Mac work done on the plastic (with a 2014 front fender,---do not buy OEM in that case,--total junk twisted.), and finally, the bike is great for something,--the woods. Motor mods if anybody is interested,----- in boosting the lower end to make this a much more fun bike to ride. You will love the power, strong and controllable, still revs pretty good. Probably lost 500 top rpm. Wish I would have put a tachometer on it before and after, but I didn't, like a dummy: :) 1) V-force reeds. More and lighter tension pedals allow them to open earlier, for better crank case fill at lower rpm's. The stock reed upper "reed pedal stop place", block off the 5th transfer port (the reed port) about 50%. With out that you get better cylinder filling at the back of the cylinder, and if you are not running enough octane (at least 93 for the stock bike), that will be the first area to be damaged by detonation because of the hot lingering exhaust gasses still there. I also opened up the tunnel to that port by 1mm on the sides to help flow a bit more and, but did not change any port window shapes. friendly
2) FMF Gnarly pipe. A friendly lower rpm pipe than stock. so the bottom end does not have a ht that is too much. 3) Lowered the cylinder by not using a cylinder base gasket (used "3M Nitrile rubber/gasket adhesive #847 brown" through a syringe for a good bead, on clean surfaces, to seal the cylinder.). This lowers the exhaust port to better match the lower RPM FMF pipe, and adds more compression. Needs 100 octane fuel or better. 4) stock jetting on the stock engine is so rich, I am surprised I was not fouling plugs, (always black and wet). These mods, (most likely from the hotter, higher compression mostly, but other engine mods effect jetting too.), with the stock jetting is pretty close to perfect here in Michigan. The lower end power also---makes the MX14 scoop tire work a lot better. By the time the stock engine made power, you were already moving pretty good, and just about any decent tire will work. But with more low end power, you can really see/feel the difference on acceleration, short shifting with no bog even in the sand, (and pulling the front end up a bit in the sand for the next gear, which I have never had happen with pout a paddle tie in the past, even with great engines.). The mods are easily reversible,----so give them a try. Doug @ ESP, (Earth Surfer Performance) in Michigan
I was riding Practice Laps at Red Bud on my 1978 Yamaha YZ-100-E and Marty Smith more or less flew over the Top of me on a Honda RC-500 on an Uphill Jump. Why there were Pros and Armatures on the Track at the same time, I can't recall. They didn't have an Armature Track back then, but they had a TT Track where the Armature Track is now .
Where is part 2 or did it not happen because of his untimely death....he was so much a part of my world, as well as my dad, riding and racing in the CMC days even before honda when he was on his Monark and team Mettco with Bower and McDougal ruled the 125 expert class on their Pentons.....love that picture of Marty on the CR125 #16, still has the Bell from racing the Monark...the best of times...RIP Dad and Marty
I would not say that Monarch was an Unknown Brand. It was the Brand to beat in the 125 Class before the Honda Elsinore CR-125 Came out . They were Made in Sweden .
I remember at a Mid Ohio national, Marty showed the world what double jump looked like.1st double jump anybody had ever seen. Really big air. The game changed that day.
initially his dad put him on a dirt bike to help him with his timid nature, that was it! edit i knew marty from a friend that i knew that raced and went to point loma high school! some of the desert riders knew the old man .... i watched marty race a few times he was so smooth in doing it it didnt even look like he was going fast... trabuco canyon was my home track ... he was out there riding when we came out of the desert and hit the track. I remember the monarch and penton when he got the elsinores he was gone, he had the first few.. everybody was taking about that. jon rosenthal was warren reids dad they live just across the city line from me!! small world...i have a picture of a semi full of factory bikes just in from japan in 1975 that fkn RC 125 just flew! that thing was faster than a stock 250 .... i have pictures of reid riding it in a field in westminister that damn thing would rooster tail ten feet high in fourth out of the box. it was there they didnt have room at the factory for the bikes believe or not they hadnt made room they just started the team program in late 74!! so they parked the semis in the field and had security 24 hours until they could unload. lol
I used to call him my ‘Rockstar’ He was handsome, cool (duh) , Fun, gentle , hardworking, modest!!! and his family was his lifeblood…. He loved Nancy so much and all his children and growing grandchildren . I never saw he or nancy argue or bicker ….. I miss them so much. Life will never be the same. I used to call him the BRAD PITT of Motocross before I met him
Yea, in my late 70's starting days, the Police just started caring that we used dirt roads sometimes (now they charge us for a extra ORV to ride secondary roads in MI.). By the late 80's we all had trucks and just went to a neighbors track, (about 8 of them then, none now in MI.). That is when I met Hershal Smith (Kelly Smiths Dad, last Michigan factory rider over 2 decades ago, and Kelly was just starting riding a YZ80, but not with the rest of us spodes. lol). Hershal (who had a pro license), was the first to introduce big jumps in our area, and he had a neat track on the corner of his property, on a dirt toad corner. He had some neighbor complaints about noise, but they went nowhere legally as it was a rural area I assume. One day, a Police officer pulled into the entrance for the track while we were doing laps, and we thought there was some kind of trouble. He was just there watching, (he never saw the big tall jumps before either I bet). It was cool. That is what Marty experienced,---a bit before my time. But it still happened in Michigan, in 1989. :)
I believe its was Marty o nDonnie Emlers (FMF) 125 Pendap at what was once Arroyo Raceway (Glen Helen) back in mid 70's for a big race. Famous photo of he start Marty was about 10 bike lengths ahead into first turn. A friend myself visited the new shop, FMF, talked to Donnie and told him we wanted to replicate that Pendap. Asked if he would build same pipe for us. He turned back and grabbed the original pipe hanging behind him and said " here's the original". He said he would build one for us, thing had like 20 cones that made up the pipe. We asked him "so it will be exactly like the original pipe " ? He said " well not quite the original" lol
Donnie Emler might not have meant the pipe would be slightly de-tuned. There is variance in part dimensions from any manufacturing process, and when you make 20 cone pipes by hand, the chances are they have a hard time controlling the variance from pipe to pipe, knowing the tuned length can vary maybe 1/8th inch if he is good.
Whatever happened to the dual interview of Smith and Hannah sitting down together on a TH-cam video? .They showed almost a friend ship, or at least the respect they had for each other.
I remember hearing Marty Smith, Bob Hannah and Brad Lackey constantly at my grandparents house when my uncle raced factory for Maico. My uncle was Furman Gray, he raced mostly the 500 class. But his biggest rival was Marty. I have a news article where he said that. They had some great races at Burnt Hickory and in the Florida winter AM’s. Those guys made it what it is today. They took what they had and went fast. I made this video thinking back to my early childhood. th-cam.com/video/m-1JaHPfNLs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A7kskmxh-5GjO16c
Can I buy your book, "Motocross, the golden era", from you? I am an old school check guy mostly. Doug in Michigan My Doctors tell me I am dying of cancer at the age of 60. Riding since 74 myself starting at the age of 10, I would love to read it.
What a great, humble guy, and at the same time, a legend. We miss you Marty. Thanks for all you did for the sport.
What a legend. Myself, my dad and one of my best riding friends were at San Antonio at the famous “Let Brock Bye” race in 1976. Marty was just steady and fast, great times. RIP Marty and Nancy
As a young guy growing up in South Florida, Marty was indeed a superhero to me. I never made a Winter Series race but my father did take me to Daytona in '75 to see him race. I mostly remember running home from school in '76 cuz it was "Popular Cycling" magazine in the mail day and that's when I could get caught up on Marty's adventures in Europe. Man, there was no internet then, so that magazine was like GOLD. Ride Red Marty and Thanks!
I also enjoyed growing up in south Florida in the 70's I remember knowing when the magazines were coming.
I rode dirtbikes where the Hard Rock stadium is today.
We would go back home on Saturday afternoon to see if motocross was on the ABC wide world of sports.
Same for me MXA magazine from 1979 forward. Except for me it was Brad Lackey.
We say Marty at the Melbourne Australia supercross in 82 from memory... truely "next level" stuff....AWESOME...!
As you commentary, I do now expect.....A state of privilege you have....Thank you for sharing.
I've always been a Honda guy. 1971 SL70, 1975 CR125, 1980 CR250, and on and on! Marty was always an inspiration.
American MX was one of the reasons I got into bikes, here in the UK! I bought my 1st bike in 1976, a Yamaha DT125, started reading Dirt Bike and MX Action mags just before then and the US scene seemed so wild and exciting!! The star riders of the time seemed like superheroes, Smith, Hannah, Lackey etc, etc!! In 1979 I walked into a bike dealer in the UK and saw that years new Honda, the CR250 Red Rocket, I'd read about it in Dirt Bike but to see it in the metal was stunning!! All that suspension travel, the all red engine, just so exotic! I decided to buy one and get into MX there and then!! First time I rode it, in a local disused quarry, I was just blown away by the power!! I'd dreamt of being able to do wheelies off the power alone like this, but still found it incredible!! To think now that just 7 or 8 years before this the US MX scene had just started to get big is amazing! I only did 3 seasons on the Honda before life got in the way and I had to quit MX due to lack of time, and I was never going to be another Graham Noyce anyway!! Don't regret it though, they were great times and I've followed MX ever since and have ridden bikes ever since. RIP Marty and his wife, a tragic loss.
Thanks so much for these interviews!!!!! These guys were my mx idols when I started riding at 12 years of age in 1975!!! I've got my own pieces of MX history sitting in my garage now that I ride from time to time. They are one 1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore, one 1979 Suzuki RM250N and one Kawasaki KX250 A-5. Each passing year makes these machines even more dear to my heart and now with your interviews, I get to hear the back stories of how these machines came to be!!!!! On a very sad note, RIP to Marty and his wife. So utterly tragic.
those bikes are some of my dream machines. 1979 was the first year i fully got into MX and i was crazy about those bikes,,readind Dirt Bike and MXA.
Got to talk with Marty in 2019 at the Carlesbad MX reunion. While folls we're running around reconnecting and telling stories. Marty was quietly sitting by himself and i went up and started talking with him. He was so casual and easy going it was like talking with an old friend. Yet here was a guy who was truly a world MX champion, just being a regular guy.
That is not surprising to me. I don't think any of the pro racers, maybe even today, have a "better than thou" attitude, especially after retirement and life reflection. I bet, in the same conditions, you could have "sat and chat" with any of them. IMO, this sport was a stand out and special for the people who did it. It was a pretty friendly bond overall.
Great video.. Yes Marty was my idol... 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
My brother worked for the city of Anaheim I was able to go to practice on the floor and met Marty and weinert but I was so mesmerized by Marty he gave me a pair of goggles and an autograph. My brother got tickets to the race My first race 1976 had the king Kong jump it was the finals and Marty won the race and I've been a honda only guy ever since. I'm 60 now and moto is still the most important aspect of my life so rip peace Marty and thank you for a life long love of motocross/ supercross
Met him at monster mountain years ago. Truly a class act.
I grew up in Point Loma, a San Diego community. My sister went to Point Loma high school and was in the same graduating class as Marty Smith, the class of 76. He called my sister "clutch" and I don't remember her name for him. Anyway, he was always very nice to me and it's really sad what happened at Glamis. Great video and fond memories.
My first experience was also on a Honda step through at eleven years old in 1970’s Saskatchewan. 27 bikes later and at 65 years old ,I still ride off road enduro events. Marty was my hero and inspiration back then.
I took almost 20 years off, (running a 2-stroke engine building business), and got a 2019 YZ250 2 stroke in 2020. Super tall, top end type of engine (to try to feebly keep up with a 450 on a modern MX track, ain't happening) and Batman school of art plastic had me working on it for 3 years, to get the bike the way I want it. I have never had to do so much work on a bike, to make it god for something, as the new YZ 250 2-stroke is not really good for anything, (too tall and bad power curve for off road stuff, and too slow for MX.). 1.75" shorter (seat and .75" off the suspension), got the height perfect for a 5'-9" tall rider, with good motor mods for much better low end power, some Ronnie Mac work done on the plastic (with a 2014 front fender,---do not buy OEM in that case,--total junk twisted.), and finally, the bike is great for something,--the woods.
Motor mods if anybody is interested,----- in boosting the lower end to make this a much more fun bike to ride. You will love the power, strong and controllable, still revs pretty good. Probably lost 500 top rpm. Wish I would have put a tachometer on it before and after, but I didn't, like a dummy: :)
1) V-force reeds. More and lighter tension pedals allow them to open earlier, for better crank case fill at lower rpm's. The stock reed upper "reed pedal stop place", block off the 5th transfer port (the reed port) about 50%. With out that you get better cylinder filling at the back of the cylinder, and if you are not running enough octane (at least 93 for the stock bike), that will be the first area to be damaged by detonation because of the hot lingering exhaust gasses still there. I also opened up the tunnel to that port by 1mm on the sides to help flow a bit more and, but did not change any port window shapes.
friendly
2) FMF Gnarly pipe. A friendly lower rpm pipe than stock. so the bottom end does not have a ht that is too much.
3) Lowered the cylinder by not using a cylinder base gasket (used "3M Nitrile rubber/gasket adhesive #847 brown" through a syringe for a good bead, on clean surfaces, to seal the cylinder.). This lowers the exhaust port to better match the lower RPM FMF pipe, and adds more compression. Needs 100 octane fuel or better.
4) stock jetting on the stock engine is so rich, I am surprised I was not fouling plugs, (always black and wet). These mods, (most likely from the hotter, higher compression mostly, but other engine mods effect jetting too.), with the stock jetting is pretty close to perfect here in Michigan.
The lower end power also---makes the MX14 scoop tire work a lot better. By the time the stock engine made power, you were already moving pretty good, and just about any decent tire will work. But with more low end power, you can really see/feel the difference on acceleration, short shifting with no bog even in the sand, (and pulling the front end up a bit in the sand for the next gear, which I have never had happen with pout a paddle tie in the past, even with great engines.).
The mods are easily reversible,----so give them a try. Doug @ ESP, (Earth Surfer Performance) in Michigan
I was riding Practice Laps at Red Bud on my 1978 Yamaha YZ-100-E and Marty Smith more or less flew over the Top of me on a Honda RC-500 on an Uphill Jump. Why there were Pros and Armatures on the Track at the same time, I can't recall. They didn't have an Armature Track back then, but they had a TT Track where the Armature Track is now .
@@2011buddylee oh yeah, "Magoo" was crazy fast. I believe that was before his Honda day's ?
@@2011buddylee I don't think that contract with Honda lasted that long if my memory serves me right. Can't remember what bike he was on after that ?
Where is part 2 or did it not happen because of his untimely death....he was so much a part of my world, as well as my dad, riding and racing in the CMC days even before honda when he was on his Monark and team Mettco with Bower and McDougal ruled the 125 expert class on their Pentons.....love that picture of Marty on the CR125 #16, still has the Bell from racing the Monark...the best of times...RIP Dad and Marty
I would not say that Monarch was an Unknown Brand. It was the Brand to beat in the 125 Class before the Honda Elsinore CR-125 Came out . They were Made in Sweden .
I started riding in 1967. This was very interesting.
Awesome!
My hero
I remember at a Mid Ohio national, Marty showed the world what double jump looked like.1st double jump anybody had ever seen. Really big air. The game changed that day.
As a young pup in those days even I knew who Marty Smith was. He was literally as popular as Elvis.
initially his dad put him on a dirt bike to help him with his timid nature, that was it! edit i knew marty from a friend that i knew that raced and went to point loma high school! some of the desert riders knew the old man .... i watched marty race a few times he was so smooth in doing it it didnt even look like he was going fast...
trabuco canyon was my home track ... he was out there riding when we came out of the desert and hit the track. I remember the monarch and penton when he got the elsinores he was gone, he had the first few.. everybody was taking about that.
jon rosenthal was warren reids dad they live just across the city line from me!! small world...i have a picture of a semi full of factory bikes just in from japan in 1975 that fkn RC 125 just flew! that thing was faster than a stock 250 .... i have pictures of reid riding it in a field in westminister that damn thing would rooster tail ten feet high in fourth out of the box. it was there they didnt have room at the factory for the bikes believe or not they hadnt made room they just started the team program in late 74!! so they parked the semis in the field and had security 24 hours until they could unload. lol
I used to call him my ‘Rockstar’ He was handsome, cool (duh) , Fun, gentle , hardworking, modest!!! and his family was his lifeblood…. He loved Nancy so much and all his children and growing grandchildren . I never saw he or nancy argue or bicker ….. I miss them so much. Life will never be the same. I used to call him the BRAD PITT of Motocross before I met him
Yea, in my late 70's starting days, the Police just started caring that we used dirt roads sometimes (now they charge us for a extra ORV to ride secondary roads in MI.). By the late 80's we all had trucks and just went to a neighbors track, (about 8 of them then, none now in MI.). That is when I met Hershal Smith (Kelly Smiths Dad, last Michigan factory rider over 2 decades ago, and Kelly was just starting riding a YZ80, but not with the rest of us spodes. lol). Hershal (who had a pro license), was the first to introduce big jumps in our area, and he had a neat track on the corner of his property, on a dirt toad corner. He had some neighbor complaints about noise, but they went nowhere legally as it was a rural area I assume. One day, a Police officer pulled into the entrance for the track while we were doing laps, and we thought there was some kind of trouble. He was just there watching, (he never saw the big tall jumps before either I bet). It was cool. That is what Marty experienced,---a bit before my time. But it still happened in Michigan, in 1989. :)
Awesome
I believe its was Marty o nDonnie Emlers (FMF) 125 Pendap at what was once Arroyo Raceway (Glen Helen) back in mid 70's for a big race. Famous photo of he start Marty was about 10 bike lengths ahead into first turn. A friend myself visited the new shop, FMF, talked to Donnie and told him we wanted to replicate that Pendap. Asked if he would build same pipe for us. He turned back and grabbed the original pipe hanging behind him and said " here's the original". He said he would build one for us, thing had like 20 cones that made up the pipe. We asked him "so it will be exactly like the original pipe " ? He said " well not quite the original" lol
Donnie Emler might not have meant the pipe would be slightly de-tuned. There is variance in part dimensions from any manufacturing process, and when you make 20 cone pipes by hand, the chances are they have a hard time controlling the variance from pipe to pipe, knowing the tuned length can vary maybe 1/8th inch if he is good.
Whatever happened to the dual interview of Smith and Hannah sitting down together on a TH-cam video? .They showed almost a friend ship, or at least the respect they had for each other.
I remember hearing Marty Smith, Bob Hannah and Brad Lackey constantly at my grandparents house when my uncle raced factory for Maico. My uncle was Furman Gray, he raced mostly the 500 class. But his biggest rival was Marty. I have a news article where he said that. They had some great races at Burnt Hickory and in the Florida winter AM’s. Those guys made it what it is today. They took what they had and went fast. I made this video thinking back to my early childhood.
th-cam.com/video/m-1JaHPfNLs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A7kskmxh-5GjO16c
You made an excellent video, memories, thanks.
Do you remember Jeff Vidic?
When Electric Bikes take over, I'm gone! Have followed SX since 1985!
Yup old school duct tape holding the bandage on his finger
Fantastic video, thank you.
Marty was my first moto hero , RIP
And "the first" 125 Hero.
Can I buy your book, "Motocross, the golden era", from you? I am an old school check guy mostly. Doug in Michigan
My Doctors tell me I am dying of cancer at the age of 60. Riding since 74 myself starting at the age of 10, I would love to read it.
I remember seeing him go by me mid race all alone at Unadilla & slam a berm left turn.
A shame that he lost his life due to a bit of misjudgment.
Way better than dying in a hospital. With a body full of tubes.
Elsinore