The ACU are very sad to report the passing of Jeff Smith MBE at the weekend at his home in Wisconsin, USA.
Jeff was born in Colne, Lancashire on the 1
st of January 1934. By the age of nine years old he was riding a motorcycle, a 125cc BSA Bantam. In 1953 he was hired by Birmingham Small Arms - BSA – to serve an engineering apprenticeship. On BSA machinery he would start to make an impression in the off road world winning the ACU British Trials Championship in 1953 and 1954, Scottish Six Days Trial in 1955 and the Scott Trial in 1954 and 1959.
In the Scrambles world, or motocross as it would later become known he was a true ‘Racer’ in every sense. Starting in 1955 he would win the ACU 500cc British Motocross Championship on a further nine occasions with his last win in 1967. He would win the ultimate goal, the FIM 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1964 and 1965. He also proudly represented his country in the Motocross Des Nations on nine occasions.
He also had eight Gold Medals to his name in the ISDT, such was his all-round ability on a motorcycle. After his retirement from racing in 1972 he emigrated to Canada to work for Can-Am during the seventies before moving to the USA in 1978. In 2000 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
From the slow speed sport of motorcycle trials to the fast action of Motocross Jeff Smith became a household name during the televised motocross meeting in the seventies. He will always be remembered for his soft welcoming nature and also his tales of motorcycles which will live on for ever. Are thoughts are with his family.
Pictures
1: 2018 Jeff Smith at his book launch. Picture Credit: John Hulme – Yoomee Archive.
2: 1969 Jeff Smith (BSA) Motocross Des Nations. Picture Credit: Alan Vines – Yoomee Archive.
3: 1971 Scott Trial (BSA). Picture Credit: Malcolm Carling – Yoomee Archive.