MARTY

I'll never forget seeing him on that fire engine red CR 125 for the first time at the MIdland Michigan National in 1975. He was a living legend already and he lived up to his reputation that day by taking the win. RIP Marty.

I took this photo of Marty in 1978 at Mid-Ohio Trans USA...One of my all-time great heroes. R.I.P.

Terribly sad to hear that one, how unlucky to wipe out in a dune buggy & both die from their injures. wtf were they doing.
another one of our MX great's gone but wont ever be forgotten.

He always looked like the typical 60`s or 70`s American surfer type that you wish you could have been half as cool as, RIP Marty & Wife

My cousin (yr older) had one as a kid as well in the mid seventies & I remember wanting one, but we couldn’t afford one. He would also wear his to school.
We wanted to be like Marty as kids since he was someone we looked up to.

First time I saw Marty Smith race was in the 250 support class @ 1974 Road Atlanta TransAMA. He was already a 125 and American legend in mine, and many eyes. I still remember it like yesterday ... that fire engine red #522 and Marty in red white and blue blistering the field! Godspeed Marty Smith

Terrible news. My lasting memory of Marty was on the 500 Honda at High Point in '78. 1st Moto win was epic, though Burgett got the overall.
RIP Marty & Nancy.

Reading all of the similar experiences that we had as a result of Marty Smith is only more of a tribute to him.
Don't forget that we were all mostly kids and young adults with no internet and pretty much zilch as for ever seeing him on TV.

Pretty impressive that without all these modern influences that so many of us in all parts of the country wore our red, white and blue jerseys to school! My best buddy in 4th grade had an XR-75 and I had an XR-75, so on our class picture day we both showed up in our Honda jerseys and stood next to each other... Too funny now and thanks Marty!

I also remember seeing him in person for the first time ever at Unadilla at a Trans-Am probably about 1977 as a young kid. At that point, he had only ever been leaping out of the pages of MXA. I definitely still recall the feeling and the hair standing up on this young kid's back seeing, hearing and feeling an all-red RC500 plowing up that sod being piloted by a red, white and blue Marty Smith (complete with long blonde hair flying in the turbulence he had just created). It was totally a mind blower and left a lifetime impression.
Lots of kids only get to see their heroes in movies, etc.- as they are only a fabrication.
Seeing Mary Smith race was the chance to see your hero in real life and I'm fortunate that I got that chance.

Years later he would come to Budds Creek to do one of his MX Schools and rather then split for back home right afterwards, he hung around the next day and just hung out and wandered around the track available and talking to anyone that said hi or engaged him. I was sitting on the starting line and he passed by chatting with us in his shorts and sandals! Just a totally awesome and all round great guy for anyone that came in contact with him... (I'll never forget being almost equally impressed that he was wearing sandals around an MX track!)

I'm really sad that we lost this hero and his best friend and partner- his wife Nancy. My wife and I toasted them and their lives last night with a glass of wine and I'm praying for their family and friends.
Thanks Marty and fly on.

I had the 73 Elsinore, wore the red white and blue Honda jersey to school and years later was in pro motos with him.

Class act.

God Speed Marty and Nancy.

The vehicle had full harnesses at all four locations. Marty was wearing no belts. His wife was was wearing just the lap belt. Both the Ramages buckled all the way up suffered no serious injuries. Of all people, your would expect an ex motorsports pro to understand the importance of safety gear.

Looks like a “Weapons Grade” buggy!!

I re watched the Whiskey Throttle Show episode from last year that had Marty on it. He mentions during the show that Marty and his wife's favorite thing to do for fun was to out and ride that dune buggy out in the desert. Sad that such a simple thing as buckling up would have made all the difference here.

In one of the published pictures (Selfie in the buggy), it looks like no one has a shoulder strap on.

knowing this just makes it even sadder....really wanted it to be one of those 1 in a million things that just happen, but cant be planned for....RIP

He and Nancy were friends, like so many others that got the chance to get to know them....A blessing.

Marty Smith, woman wanted him, men wanted to be him. Anybody that raced mx back then more than likely shouted dibs when racing yer buddies on yer stingray bmxers and you all had to pick a racer for imitating . Just like in football everybody wanted dibs on Bart starr or Joe Namath etc. It was always Marty, Roger, lackey or Robert.