Irwin "Smitty" Smith

[kval]

Smitty left us on Sunday March 6 2011.
he was a long time AMCA member, and anybody that followed motorcycle racing of the past, knows that he was a tuner for many of the greats.
if you were lucky enough to have met Smitty, you will surely miss him. I know I will.
right now he is probably tuning a big base Indian in heaven

[Red Fred]

Ouch! Thanks for the news Kevin. Glad he was able to see the trailer for the Wrecking Crew movie at the Davenport Banquet last year.
Thanks, RF.

[T. Cotten]

A loss I feel personally, as well as a loss to us all.

...Cotten

[Dkgoz]

What a shame! I saw him give a couple of seminars at Davenport, and it was great listening to him share his knowledge with others.

Rest in peace, Smitty.

Dave
AMCA 9757

[bselph]

Is this "License Plate" Smitty from Massapequa, NY?

[kval]

Is this "License Plate" Smitty from Massapequa, NY?

NO!!!!!!!!

[silentgreyfello]

Smitty will be missed. I took my first job out of school in Muscatine, IA. I bought an old '48 chief from Bob McClean and would ride it along the river to the Quad Cities on weekends. Occasionally, I would swing into Smitty's shop in Rock Island to listen to his stories, or if my bike was running a little rough, have him take a look. He was always willing to help. Later, I bought an R69 from him. He was a good man. RIP, Smitty.

[duffeycycles]

I talked to Smitty at the Blackhawk Christmas party , he talked about doing R&D on overhead valve conversions for flathead Fords in '36--'39. Raced overhead T '36 -'38 , '32 roadster in '39 hitting 133mph at Elmuroc--4cyl? When I met him he helped me rebuild a littlebase racer.-april '06 American Iron cover-I took my race progragm collection to show him . He told me stories about the races and racers ,wish it was recorded.His brother Lyle showed up in some of them.He was the Indian Dealer in '41 Rock Island, again after the war. BSA BMW in 53 & 54. Too many stories fitting it was Bike week . one of his favorite things . Smitty we love you --Roger

[servicardenise]

A real sweetheart of a man. May he rest in peace and may the Lord's perpetual light shine upon him.
Denise

[J Wall]

Smith,
Smitty was a kind sole. I once had a conversation with Smitty about factory 1/2 mile tanks for a 648 and how it would be nice to have a set. A few weeks later a box showed up on the stoop with a set of factory 1/2 mile tanks that needed a bit of work but not so bad they could not be saved. No bill no nothing just a return address from TRI City aka Smitty's shop. What a treasure to have known the man... Wish I had lived closer he would had been real tired of me.
Jim