A special factory built Husqvarna 395cc, 8-Speed engine is shipped to one, Malcolm Smith.
The story goes, that one afternoon in 1965, Malcolm Smith was working in a shop in San Bernardino, California, owned by Rush "Pappy" Mott, when a gentleman came in and asked to talk to Malcolm. That man was Edison Dye. He was importing a kinda odd-looking, Swedish-made motorcycle called Husqvarna and he wanted him to race the bike. At the time Malcolm had a "sponsored" ride with Greeves and was reluctant to accept Dye’s proposal. But, two things changed his mind, one: after riding the Husky he was blown away by it's supreme power and handling and two: Edison Dye promised to pay Smith’s way to participate in the International Six Day Trials (ISTD), something Smith had been dreaming about for years (haven't we all?!).
Smith was successful on the Husqvarna from the getgo, so much so that his name would become synonymous with the Swedish manufacturer.
In 1966, Smith participated in his first Six Days in Sweden. Being strictly a Southern California rider up to that time, Smith had never ridden in the conditions that awaited him in Sweden, complete with mud, rocks and roots. He crashed what felt like a hundred times and nearly damaged his bike beyond repair. But he persevered and earned a silver medal.
The next year the ISDT was in Poland where Malcolm would earn his first gold medal, something he would do seven more times during his racing career, making him the most successful American rider in the history of the Six Days competition to that point.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
