Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126960
Husqvarna's Dan Smith. known as "Unbeatable Dan," is the undisputed King of California desert racing, Interview: Desert King Dan Smith "Unbeatable Dan" tells how it's doone By Anne and Tom Van Beveren Photos by Tom Van Beveran There is a new obstacle In the desert. As if endless miles of rugged terrain, blistering heat and the physical exhaustion of racing for hours aren't enough, the desert has produced an even bigger threat to racers - an obstacle almost , guarant~ed ~o k eep anyone from takmg fIrst place overall. The desert's newest obstacle to winning is Dan Smith. Riding for Team Husqvarna, Smith's domination of the desert began four years ago when he captured the number one plate 10 southern California, District 37 desert racing. Since then, Husqvarna's 23-year-old superstar has reigned supreme in the desert, earn- ing f~ur District 37 number one plates. ill a row. ." QUiet and unassummg, Unbeatable Dan" remains unchanged by his role as the dominant force in the desert. . "A superstar? I don't think so," Smith said with a laugh. "I've been on a real winning streak the last couple of years, that's for sure. Things have really come together for me, but I'm no big 'star - just a regular racer. I think I'm a good rider but there are a lot of people that can do that." Aftel' taking the checkered flag in almost every District 37 desert race he has entered in the past two years, coupled with wins in such presti-' gious events as tthe 1983 Baja WOO, Whiskey Pete's World Championship Hare &: hound, and last year's AMA National Hare &: Hound Championship Series, Smith would find few competitiors who would agree with such a modest description of his ability. As arch rival and ex-Husky teammate Dan Ashcraft put it, "He's so smooth and consistent and just never makes a mistake. There's no way his bike is that much faster than everyone else's. It's all in the way he rides. I don't know how he does it." Smith didn't achieve his success overnight. His current reign in the desert is the result of years of dedication to racing - a dedication that is finally paying off. . Smith got his first bike, a 60cc Yamaha Mini Enduro, when he was seven year old. After trying his hand at motocross, he began riding in the desert at age 11, and began racing soon after. ' "I don't think I was any good when I started," he said. "I just like to ride. For us, the desert made riding more of a family sport. Everyone could get on their bikes and run around and not just have to sit and watch like they did at motocross events. "Once I ,got into racing, though, that was it," he said. "Back then I had a job and all my money went into motorcycles. Doing it that way is good. It teaches you that things don't come free; you have to work for it. You appreciate life a little more. "I remember my toughest time in racing was getting transferred from Amateur to Expert in the district. I think I got 15 transfer rides. I was up there in the point standings and wanted to be an Expert because they got extra points, but my steward thought I was too young to move up. I think I was 15 when I got to be an Open Expert." . Smith's performance in the desert soon caught the attention of Husqvarna. He was put on Husky's support program in 1981 and started riding for Team Husky full time two years later. "It all started with the Frontier 500," said Smith. "Dan Ashcraft and I decided to enter as a privateer team. When we were out pre-running that race, Husky got hold of us and we flew down to Anaheim to meet with them. They had a contract waiting. It gave us bikes, parts, the lot. What a deal! I said, 'Hell yeah, I'll sign that.' Everything took off from there. Now it seems like all I do is race." But there's more to Dan Smith's life than just racing, as is apparent from our recent conversation with him. What has made you so succeSsful? Things really started happening for me just over a year ago and one of the main reasons was that ,I started putting a lot of time into racing. I changed my regular job so I could work less and have more time to spend racing. Before that, I was working in San Francisco all week. I'd come home and tear my bike apart straight after a race to get a part list together, then I'd go to San Francisco to work. I'd come home Thursday and work all night to put the bike back together in time for the next race. I lived without sleep for a year. Getting to that stage meant making some pretty big decisions about what was important. My racing needed a lot more time so I got a job with a mechanical contractor out of Visalia. When I went in to get the job, I just laid it on the line. I told the boss, 'I race motorcycles. I'd like to be a professional some day and I'd like some time off work to go to the races.' He said we'd try and it worked out to eight to 10 weeks off a year. Putting a lot of time into my racing made all the difference. As of about last October, I don't have a regular job at all My racing and everything else to do with it just took off and now I'm so busy I don't have time to do anything else. Now that it's a full time thing, it's a lot easier. I have a lot more 'time to pay attention to my racing. To get on top you have to be . dedicated. I think the up-andcoming racers in the desert have. to g<;t a lot more serious about what they're doing. Their attitude toward it has to change. They have to start working at it. It's the only way to get to the-rop. What role has Husqvama played in your success? Husky pays me. We don't make anything like they do in motocross where they can pack a stadium with 70,000 spectators, but the money is nice. I would do it even if I wasn't paid, but not quite so seriously. Rather than race all the time, I'd do a few other things too. In the winter . I'd go skiing. The thing I couldn't hack without