I was deeply saddened this week to learn that motocross legend Marty Smith and his wife Nancy were recently killed in a dune buggy accident in Southern California on April 27. I have been reflecting on Marty and how much of an influence he had on me - and the future development of my film company Hemmings House Pictures Ltd.
Marty won his first motocross championship when he was 17, in 1974, three years before I was born. He went on to win championships in 1975 and 1977 making him the ‘Wayne Gretzky of moto’ to so many kids at the time. I got to know Marty and his wife a number of years ago. Neither of them would know how they inspired me over the years, but now is the time to share how and why.
A bit of my motorbike history.
It was the summer of 1982. I was six years old when my dad brought home a little green dirt bike for my brother and I to learn how to ride. I remember the mini bike being really small with what looked like a little Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine in it. My dad used to take us to the sand pit on the East Side of Saint John, New Brunswick to rip up and down the dunes. I remember exploring forest trails on the Kingston Peninsula and we even had a little dirt bike track in our backyard and spent hours puttering around the corners and hopping over the berms. This was the beginning of my love for motorbikes. After the mini bike we graduated to a Honda 50, then a rare Yamaha YZ-60 (yellow) and then in University I purchased a 1977 Suzuki GS 550 from my dad’s friend. Interestingly, I remember very well my dad taking me out on this very motorbike when I was probably 6 years old. I rode that street bike for years and only recently sold it to a friend.
It was probably 2004 when I got a call from my friend Dean Roberts. Dean and I used to work on feature film sets together, he as a grip / electric, me as a camera assistant. Dean told me about one of his motocross buddies, Steve Belyea. He told me that Steve had developed a friendship with Marty Smith, and that they were hoping that I would be interested in producing an instructional motocross DVD with them. It was perfect timing, as only a few weeks prior, my friend Andrew Tidby and I, along with Glenn Ingersol had just incorporated our video production company. This was going to become our very first paid gig!
As a motocross nerd myself, I was thrilled to say yes on behalf of our brand new company. So Tidby and I hopped onto a plane and flew to San Diego to meet up with Steve Belyea, Toby Bourque, Dean Roberts and the legend himself, Marty Smith. It was an incredible experience hanging out with these guys and bringing Marty’s educational program to life as a DVD.
During the same time I was also in the middle of producing my latest passion project, a music film about the band Grand Theft Bus. It was a mock rock docu-drama called Rubarbicon. As a mockumentary, I needed as many legends as possible to hilariously speak on camera and help, so I asked Marty to be an actor for a quick scene in that film. You can watch the film here.
A few months after returning from that first trip, I went back to get a little bit more footage that we needed for the DVD. This time I went alone. Marty and his wonderful wife Nancy hosted me and invited me to stay at their place while I finished up capturing the footage we needed. I felt like I had a chance to really get to know them as people on that trip.
A year after the release of the DVD, the Marty Smith Motocross Clinic DVD was nominated for an X-Tremy award at Long Beach, California. I bought a suit, hopped onto a plane and asked my friend Cayman Grant to be my date to the awards ceremony. It was a good night because our DVD won the prize in the instructional category! I remember calling Marty when I was there to tell him, he was so proud.
A few days ago, before hearing the tragic news, I found that award and actually placed it on my shelf. A week ago I felt it was time to re-release Rubarbicon and was so happy to see Marty’s cameo appearance (you can watch that film on our channel here). Then the next day I was told he and Nancy had passed.
I have a heavy heart for all who were closer to Marty and Nancy. For the masses who Marty inspired over the years i can tell you that he was a solid human and his legacy as the world’s best motocrosser will be etched into history forever.
I didn’t get to know you that well Marty (and Nancy) buy I am so blessed to have been able to cross paths and collaborate with you back in the early days of my career as a professional filmmaker. Thank you for everything you two did.
Rest in Peace.
17 июн 2020
