Jeff Smith (motorcyclist)
After racing
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In the wake of the [[1973 oil crisis]], sales of recreational vehicles decreased significantly and Bombardier was forced to reduce their snowmobile and motorcycle production.{{cite web|url=https://bombardier.com/en/who-we-are/our-history |title=Bombardier: Our history |publisher=bombardier.com |accessdate=9 May 2025}} As a result, investments in product development were reduced substantially and, Can-Am was unable to keep pace with Japanese manufacturers as motocross technology began to develop rapidly during the 1970s and 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://www.canned-ham.com/the-demise-of-can-am/ |title=The Demise of Can-Am |publisher=canned-ham.com |accessdate=12 May 2025}} Bombardier then shifted its priority from recreational products towards the transit equipment industry and then, several years later, into aircraft manufacturing. When Bombardier management made the decision to discontinue motorcycle production, Smith persuaded them to allow him to negotiate a contract with [[Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles]] to take over production.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/canam/jeff-smith.htm |title=Jeff Smith and Can-Am Motorcycles |publisher=cybermotorcycle.com |accessdate=9 May 2025}} In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong-CCM of Lancashire, England. 1987 was the final year Can-Am motorcycles were produced. |
In the wake of the [[1973 oil crisis]], sales of recreational vehicles decreased significantly and Bombardier was forced to reduce their snowmobile and motorcycle production.{{cite web|url=https://bombardier.com/en/who-we-are/our-history |title=Bombardier: Our history |publisher=bombardier.com |accessdate=9 May 2025}} As a result, investments in product development were reduced substantially and, Can-Am was unable to keep pace with Japanese manufacturers as motocross technology began to develop rapidly during the 1970s and 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://www.canned-ham.com/the-demise-of-can-am/ |title=The Demise of Can-Am |publisher=canned-ham.com |accessdate=12 May 2025}} Bombardier then shifted its priority from recreational products towards the transit equipment industry and then, several years later, into aircraft manufacturing. When Bombardier management made the decision to discontinue motorcycle production, Smith persuaded them to allow him to negotiate a contract with [[Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles]] to take over production.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/canam/jeff-smith.htm |title=Jeff Smith and Can-Am Motorcycles |publisher=cybermotorcycle.com |accessdate=9 May 2025}} In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong-CCM of Lancashire, England. 1987 was the final year Can-Am motorcycles were produced. |
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Smith spent his retirement years living in [[Wausau, Wisconsin]] where he served as an AMA director and Treasurer and was involved in [[Historic motorsport|vintage motorcycle racing]] as an Executive Director and Assistant Treasurer of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association [[AHRMA]]. Smith led the AHRMA with the same hard-nosed attitude he had displayed as a racer, and this approach proved contentious among his peers, including the owner of Team Obsolete, Rob Iannucci.{{cite web |url=https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1997/5/1/vintage-vitriol |title=Vintage Vitriol |work=Cycle World |access-date=20 April 2026 |last1=Thompson |first1=Jon F. |date=May 1, 1997}} A series of disputes over Smith's leadership of the organization led Iannucci to file a lawsuit against Smith and the AHRMA on 12 March 2001.{{cite web|title=Iannucci|url=https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/team-obsolete-iannucci-et-al-claim-rico-and-sherman-anti-trust-act-violations-sue-ahrma-ama-and-individual-ahrma-directors-officials-and-lawyers/#:~:text=The%20complaint%20details%20a%20series,Team%20Obsolete%20as%20a%20sponsor.|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date= April 3, 2001|access-date=2026-04-20}} The legal expenses in fighting the lawsuit forced the AHMRA to file for bankruptcy.{{cite web|title=Updated: After Resigning From AMA Board Of Directors, Jeff Smith Says He Feels "Some Responsibility" For Expense-account Scam And Resigns As Treasurer Of AHRMA|url=http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/updated-after-resigning-from-ama-board-of-directors-jeff-smith-says-he-feels-some-responsibility-for-expense-account-scam-and-resigns-as-treasurer-of-ahrma-/|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date= February 21, 2008|access-date=2017-10-26}} Smith resigned from the AMA on 15 February 2008, followed by his resignation from AHRMA, as a result of irregular expense-account claims submitted by the then AMA Chairman.[http://www.ahrma.org/whatsnew.htm From the AHRMA Board of Trustees: Statement by Jeff Smith] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317034700/http://www.ahrma.org/whatsnew.htm|date=17 March 2008}} |
Smith spent his retirement years living in [[Wausau, Wisconsin]] where he served as an AMA director and Treasurer and was involved in [[Historic motorsport|vintage motorcycle racing]] as an Executive Director and Assistant Treasurer of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association [[AHRMA]]. Smith led the AHRMA with the same hard-nosed attitude he had displayed as a racer, and this approach proved contentious among his peers, including the owner of Team Obsolete, Rob Iannucci.{{cite web |url=https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1997/5/1/vintage-vitriol |title=Vintage Vitriol |work=Cycle World |access-date=20 April 2026 |last1=Thompson |first1=Jon F. |date=May 1, 1997}} A series of disputes over Smith's leadership of the organization led Iannucci to file a lawsuit against Smith and the AHRMA on 12 March 2001.{{cite web|title=Iannucci|url=https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/team-obsolete-iannucci-et-al-claim-rico-and-sherman-anti-trust-act-violations-sue-ahrma-ama-and-individual-ahrma-directors-officials-and-lawyers/#:~:text=The%20complaint%20details%20a%20series,Team%20Obsolete%20as%20a%20sponsor.|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date= April 3, 2001|access-date=2026-04-20}} The legal expenses in fighting the lawsuit forced the AHMRA to file for bankruptcy in November 2006.{{cite web|title=AHMRA Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|url=https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/ahrma-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy/#:~:text=By%20newspaper,AHRMA%20Trustees%20election%20were%20closed.|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date= November 11, 2006|access-date=2026-04-20}}{{cite web|title=Updated: After Resigning From AMA Board Of Directors, Jeff Smith Says He Feels "Some Responsibility" For Expense-account Scam And Resigns As Treasurer Of AHRMA|url=http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/updated-after-resigning-from-ama-board-of-directors-jeff-smith-says-he-feels-some-responsibility-for-expense-account-scam-and-resigns-as-treasurer-of-ahrma-/|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date= February 21, 2008|access-date=2017-10-26}} Smith resigned from the AMA on 15 February 2008, followed by his resignation from AHRMA, as a result of irregular expense-account claims submitted by the then AMA Chairman.[http://www.ahrma.org/whatsnew.htm From the AHRMA Board of Trustees: Statement by Jeff Smith] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317034700/http://www.ahrma.org/whatsnew.htm|date=17 March 2008}} |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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