Moto Legend down??

plowboy
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plowboy 4/28/2020 2:15pm
4/28/2020 2:15pm
I can only add to the praise that's already been said. He was my American hero. I can fondly say I got to hang with him in 1976 at Rio Bravo. I have no idea why he gave me the time of day but he let me tag along all day/evening on Saturday before the race on Sunday. He was just so cool, confident and in control. I was a stud by proxy as we walked from van to van, room to room...he threw out friendly jabs, "What happened to your face...did ya catch it in a door or get a massage with a bag of nickels?" Needless to say, from that day, I understood what COOL was.

Talented, self aware, and unpretentious. That's a rare combination and fully explains his many lifelong fans. Godspeed.

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wtnotch
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wtnotch 4/28/2020 2:24pm
4/28/2020 2:24pm
Man, this just sucks. Marty was just such a cool guy. I did a class with him at Carlsbad, BS’d after class and then went down to San Diego from NorCal ... it must have been 30-40 times ... for private lessons. We hit Palm Ave, some place in Ramona, Perris, Elsinore ... just about everywhere. From the first time I met him, it was like we were buds since were Kids, not lije someone I idolized from a distance. He taught me that no matter how much of a moto god that he was, he was just a normal guy. He will be missed, and not many days will pass without me remembering him.
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BobbyM
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BobbyM 4/28/2020 2:25pm
4/28/2020 2:25pm
Goddamn fuggin shame, look up the definition of a Legend. No doubt in my mind that an image of Marty Smith pops up at the top of the list. Hang in there family and friends of these two great people.
I remember keeping these legends apart at a moto party a few years back.
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KYFHO699
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KYFHO699 4/28/2020 2:32pm
4/28/2020 2:32pm
RIP champ you will be missed. Prayers to the family during this trying time.

The Shop

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Sierra Ranger
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Sierra Ranger 4/28/2020 2:37pm
4/28/2020 2:37pm
Tragic and horrible. Can we just roll the calendar back to the beginning of 2020 and redo it?
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ocscottie
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ocscottie 4/28/2020 2:41pm
4/28/2020 2:41pm
I remember Sears Point in like '78, i was just a kid and roaming the pits, stood outside his box van about 20ft away just in awe of seeing my idol in person, probably had a dumbfounded look on my face like seeing a ghost, and he waved me over and asked if i wanted an autograph. Man...i was in shock. Wish i could find my old photo albums, they were misplaced in one of our moves over the years.
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FortyHat
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FortyHat 4/28/2020 2:49pm
4/28/2020 2:49pm
Sierra Ranger wrote:
Tragic and horrible. Can we just roll the calendar back to the beginning of 2020 and redo it?
2020 really blows. One of the people I lost was a father figure of mine, who was a huge fan of Marty Smith and other moto and/or desert racers from that era.
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KYFHO699
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KYFHO699 4/28/2020 2:57pm
4/28/2020 2:57pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 3:03pm
FortyHat wrote:
2020 really blows. One of the people I lost was a father figure of mine, who was a huge fan of Marty Smith and other moto...
2020 really blows. One of the people I lost was a father figure of mine, who was a huge fan of Marty Smith and other moto and/or desert racers from that era.
2020 has seriously sucked balls! (With the exception of Supercross, that has been epic so far)
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sclark309d
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sclark309d 4/28/2020 3:00pm
4/28/2020 3:00pm
dirtbikemike wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/28/423997/s1200_Hangtown_1976_38.jpg[/img] 1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the...


1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the pits. Didn't throw it down, didn't wait on his mechanic, just pushed his bike back through the crowd. The fans loved it, I loved it. A real motocrosser in my book.
I was there that day - we were all stunned that anyone could beat Marty - we thought he was unbeatable.

He was a class act all the way tho.
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YZ302
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YZ302 4/28/2020 3:13pm
4/28/2020 3:13pm
Terrible news. R.I.P.

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Ramrod
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Ramrod 4/28/2020 3:17pm
4/28/2020 3:17pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 5:36pm
Such a legend, so sorry to hear about Marty and his wife. RIP
BobbyM
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BobbyM 4/28/2020 3:48pm
4/28/2020 3:48pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 3:50pm
ocscottie wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/28/424017/s1200_www.instagram.com_20_04_28_15.11.jpg[/img]

Dude was in shape too. Back in the day when men were men, it was standard motocross with 40 plus 2... and they were brutal 😁.
When I raced the 500 nationals the 1st time I was in OK shape but after seeing marty and Hannah dice It out, full bore wfo.. I knew I was in trouble and could never last the whole race like they did. Afuckingmazing...
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DC
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DC 4/28/2020 3:53pm
4/28/2020 3:53pm
dirtbikemike wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/28/423997/s1200_Hangtown_1976_38.jpg[/img] 1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the...


1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the pits. Didn't throw it down, didn't wait on his mechanic, just pushed his bike back through the crowd. The fans loved it, I loved it. A real motocrosser in my book.
DirtBikeMike, what a very cool photo! Did you shoot that? That's the epitome of Marty's class and grace right there, and on a horrible day to boot...

DC
Racer X
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EngIceDave
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EngIceDave 4/28/2020 3:55pm
4/28/2020 3:55pm
I remember all of these photos, every one

I worshiped him and his style that much
I wanted to be him that much
It tried to emulate him that much

I'm now sorry I didn't tell him when I had the chance. I've never been a "fan boy" or anything like that.

I should've, gently, quietly, said "thank you"

I'll remember that going forward.
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Avisdo54
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Avisdo54 4/28/2020 5:38pm
4/28/2020 5:38pm
Push thought the crowd Redbud 75 or 76 I think
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psychcle
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psychcle 4/28/2020 6:03pm
4/28/2020 6:03pm
I AM gutted to hear this news... but I AM also thinking how grateful to have crossed paths with this eternal spirit... thankful for the time and memories and I AM hoping to see him getting more holeshots one day on the otherside... wherever that may be.

A "true legend" in his accomplishments... the sport or my life would have not been the same without him... so again "thank you".

Sending Love and Light to anyone & everyone who has love for them with a heavy heart.

With sincere condolences to the family and close friends.

Pit Row

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Sully
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Sully 4/28/2020 7:14pm
4/28/2020 7:14pm
wtnotch wrote:
Man, this just sucks. Marty was just such a cool guy. I did a class with him at Carlsbad, BS’d after class and then went down...
Man, this just sucks. Marty was just such a cool guy. I did a class with him at Carlsbad, BS’d after class and then went down to San Diego from NorCal ... it must have been 30-40 times ... for private lessons. We hit Palm Ave, some place in Ramona, Perris, Elsinore ... just about everywhere. From the first time I met him, it was like we were buds since were Kids, not lije someone I idolized from a distance. He taught me that no matter how much of a moto god that he was, he was just a normal guy. He will be missed, and not many days will pass without me remembering him.
I never met him in person, but from listening to him in interviews, I got the impression that he never met anyone who instantly wasn't his new best friend.

RIP to him and his wife.
Phantom 661
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Phantom 661 4/28/2020 7:27pm
4/28/2020 7:27pm
dirtbikemike wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/04/28/423997/s1200_Hangtown_1976_38.jpg[/img] 1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the...


1976 Hangtown at Plymouth….First National of the year and Marty Smith had the #1 plate. His bike broke and he pushed it back to the pits. Didn't throw it down, didn't wait on his mechanic, just pushed his bike back through the crowd. The fans loved it, I loved it. A real motocrosser in my book.
Marty also lost the last national in 75 at Hangtown to Tim Hart in that crazy mudder. Tim told me about that experience not long before he passed away. Cool seeing Marty push his own bike back to the pits. Legend.
My condolences to all family members and friends. R.I.P.
Yzf916
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Yzf916 4/28/2020 9:14pm
4/28/2020 9:14pm
My first and favorite Moto hero. Think it was 1977 or 78. New Orleans SX. Met the whole team. Had like a press conference at hotel near Superdome. Smith. Tripes. Wise. Pomeroy. Ellis. What a memory as a kid MX fanatic.
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C.Worthy
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C.Worthy 4/28/2020 10:11pm
4/28/2020 10:11pm
RIP Legend. My condolences to the Smith family and friends. What a loss!

WOW this news made the Yahoo home page and TMZ. His legacy has made such an impact not only on the moto community but also the “regular world.”
If only we could be more like Marty.
Yahoo Link

TMZ Link


Bearuno
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Bearuno 4/29/2020 1:13am
4/29/2020 1:13am Edited Date/Time 4/29/2020 2:47am
I think the title of this thread should should be Moto Legends Down.

I'd say most of we old timers here would be aware of the team that Marty and Nancy were. Childhood / High School sweethearts, that journeyed through life together, to pass away together. She appeared in so many pictures with him / supporting him.

This is such sad, sad news. RIP, Marty and Nancy Smith .
2
Ted722
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Ted722 4/29/2020 6:04am
4/29/2020 6:04am
Ted722 wrote:
I saw this photo in Tony Blazier's flickr collection (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tblazier/sets/72157635535913911/), then realized they're both gone and Nancy. Both vehicle accidents while other passengers received minor injuries...
I saw this photo in Tony Blazier's flickr collection (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tblazier/sets/72157635535913911/), then realized they're both gone and Nancy. Both vehicle accidents while other passengers received minor injuries. That is all.


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Bluelion
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Bluelion 4/29/2020 8:05am
4/29/2020 8:05am Edited Date/Time 4/29/2020 8:05am
I took this picture of Marty at the 1978 Mid Ohio trans USA race... he was one of my all-time great heroes. Sadly missed.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 4/29/2020 8:52am
4/29/2020 8:52am
Man this one really sucks to hear. I mean , any time someone we knew and looked up to passes away, it just really sucks. Marty was a special dude in this sport for sure. RIP Marty and Nancy Smith.
randy valdez 4/29/2020 8:57am
4/29/2020 8:57am
So sad to hear this news, my prayers go out to his family and friends
H4L
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H4L 4/29/2020 5:15pm
4/29/2020 5:15pm
Damn ! So sad to hear the news. A true legend & icon of this sport. My condolences to both the families.

RIP Marty & Nancy. 🙏🏽

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