Paul Smart, short circuit motorcycle racer and Honorary Member of the TR3OC, tragically lost his life in a road traffic accident while riding his motorcycle on 27th October 2021. Paul was well-known for his famous victory riding a Ducati 750 at Imola in 1972, inspiring Ducati to launch a limited edition Paul Smart 1000 LE and for racing a Triumph triple in the Transatlantic trophy races in 1971.
Paul learned the racing ropes at a Charles Mortimer race school at Brands Hatch in 1965. He was a highly versatile rider, successfully racing a number of motorcycles of various capacities from several manufactures including Bultaco, Greeves, Cotton, Aermacchi, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Norton. Paul raced Triumphs, winning the Hutchinson 100 Production race at Brands Hatch on a 750 Joe Francis Commando in 1969. He rode a works Trident to 5th in the 1970 Hutchinson 100, a race won by Phil Read.
Paul raced a Triumph triple in the Transatlantic TrophyAnglo-American Match Races in 1971 and was joint top points scorer on 76 with Ray Pickrell in the winning UK team.Other riders in the 1971 UK team were Percy Tait (Triumph), Tony Jefferies (Triumph) and John Cooper (BSA). In 1973 and 1974 he was captain of the winning UK team, riding a works Suzuki 750 two-stroke triple and in 1977 he rode a Yamaha.
In the TT in the Isle of Man, Paul rode a Norton Dominator to second place behind the Triumph of John Hartle in the Production race in 1967 and in 1969 on a Commando behind Malcolm Uphill (Triumph), with Darryl Pendlebury(Triumph) third. Paul placed third in the Junior TT in 1970 ahead of Uphill in fourth. Paul raced 250cc and 350cc Yamahas in Grands Prix in 1971. Paul was 5th in the final standings in the 350cc World Championship which was won by Agostini. He was outside the top ten in the 250cc championship which Phil Read won.
Paul rode a factory Trident prepared in the experimental department in the Bol d’Or at Montlhéry in 1970 winning the race with co-rider Tom Dickie by 9 laps over the second placed team. He rode the same machine, after an overhaul, in the 1971 Hutchinson 100 (Brands Hatch) and the Production race at Silverstone, placing second in both races. His versatility was evident in his win at Ontario Speedway, California, riding a Kawasaki H2R in the early 1972.
Paul married Maggie Sheene, Barry’s sister, in 1971. He is survived by Maggie and their children Scott and Paula. Paul had recently won his battle with cancer. The TR3OC sends deepest condolences to Paul’s family and friends.
Photo legend: Paul Smart pursued by Ray Pickrell, Race of the South, Brands hatch 1970
Photo Credit: Bill Riley
