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!

@mikesims8054

29 күн бұрын

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.

@LBrawn

29 күн бұрын

Same for me MXA magazine from 1979 forward. Except for me it was Brad Lackey.

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

Back in 1975 at age 13 I had a 1975 Honda Elsinore CR 125, and Marty Smith was my Hero. Those were some great days back then lots of fun!

@minnesotamarine9861

29 күн бұрын

My very first of now forty bikes was a 1975 CR 250 Elsinore crime and red tank. I got it in the fall of 1981. What a wonderful time

I've always been a Honda guy. 1971 SL70, 1975 CR125, 1980 CR250, and on and on! Marty was always an inspiration.

Yup old school duct tape holding the bandage on his finger

Great video.. Yes Marty was my idol... 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Met him at monster mountain years ago. Truly a class act.

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.

@LBrawn

28 күн бұрын

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.

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

Fantastic video, thank you.

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

29 күн бұрын

Good stuff you never forget things like that, back in the late 70s I was racing a local race at Hangtown. In the morning they had an open practice with 250cc pros and intermediates combined. At that time, I was a top 3 250cc intermediate MX racer in Northern California. In the open practice I was clipping around the track at what I thought was a pretty good pace and I was going down this one big downhill in 3rd gear wide open on my 1979 YZ 250. On one lap about halfway down the hill Danny Magoo Chandler flew by me on his 250 Maico like I was standing still, and he was riding on the rear wheel doing a wheelie almost completely vertical with his bike as he zipped past me. Man did he serve me up a big slice of humble pie, I remember when I got back to the pits, I told my dad about it and I said that guy is an absolute lunatic.

@TrailRat700xc

29 күн бұрын

​@@2011buddylee oh yeah, "Magoo" was crazy fast. I believe that was before his Honda day's ?

@2011buddylee

29 күн бұрын

@@TrailRat700xc Right that was before he started racing a Honda, I always loved watching him race never a dull moment, crazy fast when he was on it and absolutely fearless. I remember watching a vid with Ricky Johnson being interviewed several years ago and he said that he didn't like it when Magoo was anywhere near him on the track, because of Danny's crazy wild intense riding style.

@TrailRat700xc

29 күн бұрын

@@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 ?

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 .

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

Awesome!

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.

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. kzread.info/dash/bejne/n2FlrMOBgMm0fNY.htmlsi=A7kskmxh-5GjO16c

@sambananas4513

25 күн бұрын

You made an excellent video, memories, thanks.

@halseyknox

25 күн бұрын

Do you remember Jeff Vidic?

Awesome

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. :)

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.

@EarthSurferUSA

20 күн бұрын

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.

I started riding in 1967. This was very interesting.

As a young pup in those days even I knew who Marty Smith was. He was literally as popular as Elvis.

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.

When Electric Bikes take over, I'm gone! Have followed SX since 1985!

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

@EarthSurferUSA

20 күн бұрын

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.

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.

God Bless'''

Marty was my first moto hero , RIP

@EarthSurferUSA

20 күн бұрын

And "the first" 125 Hero.

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.

@daves996

29 күн бұрын

Way better than dying in a hospital. With a body full of tubes.

Iv'e never really been clear on the circumstances of the fatal dune buggy accident, did it flip and get covered with sand,causing asphyxiation?