Jeff Smith, 1934–2026

March 25, 2026

British motocross legend Jeff Smith, who helped develop Can-Am’s motorcycle arm and led the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, passed away on Saturday. He was 91 years old.

As a factory rider for Birmingham Small Arms, Smith won the 500cc Motocross World Championships in 1964 and 1965. He was hired by BSA as an engineer in 1952, after which he won back-to-back British Trials Championships in 1953 and 1954. He made his MXGP debut during the latter season, going on to compete in the 500cc class until 1969 and racking up 30 wins. Arthur Lampkin, one of his rivals and teammates at BSA, passed away in February.

Smith also claimed nine British motocross titles in 500cc (1955–1956, 1960–1965, and 1967) and represented Britain at the Motocross des Nations. Team GB won the latter seven times with Smith on the roster in 1956–1957, 1959–1960, 1964–1965, and 1967, as well as the 1962 and 1962 Trophée des Nations.

He was also a star in enduro. Smith won his first gold medal at the 1950 International Six Days Trial at just 16 years of age, and would go on to claim seven more golds throughout his career.

His accolades led to his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1970. He later moved to the United States, where he helped develop Can-Am’s motorcycle division as a test rider and starring in AMA motocross.

After retiring to Wisconsin, he became the executive director of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association in 1990, helping the vintage bike sanctioning body get out of financial insolvency. He retired as executive director in 1999, when the AHRMA had boomed from hundreds of members to over five thousand.

“Jeff Smith MBE was more than a champion. He was a cornerstone of our sport’s past, present, and future,” AHRMA board chairman Greg Tomlinson stated. “His influence on motorcycle racing and trials is immeasurable, not only through his extraordinary achievements on the bike, but through the passion and integrity he carried into everything he did.

“As a founder and Executive Director of AHRMA, Jeff helped build a living bridge between generations of riders, preserving the spirit and history of our machines and our community. His legacy is woven into every event we hold and every rider who shares in this tradition. We have lost a true giant, but his vision and impact will endure for decades to come.”