Led Szmek grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon before moving to Prince George, BC in the 1960s. Led was a typical 60’s hot rodder, modifying cars and motorcycles with a passion and ability that he still possesses. He left high school early to get on with life and, as it turns out, that would have no bearing on his genius for understanding the dynamics of all things mechanical, design, fabrication and just plain how to get it right.

Led was one of the original and founding members of the Prince George MC club that was formed in the mid-sixties to promote motocross, cross country and bring together riders and enthusiasts of the sport. Led was a solid supporter of all club activities.

Shortly after his move to Kamloops, Led started a small backyard machine shop, learned how to tig weld, offering frame and suspension mod-ification as well as machining services. About this same time, Led became interested in flat track racing and started modifying motocross bikes to perform as flat trackers. He played with frame geometry and suspension settings until the bikes started to handle closer to the way he thought they should. Led intuitively knew how to improve their performance on the track.

He began competing in short track, ¼ mile, ½ mile and ice racing throughout BC, Alberta and Washington state. Led had consistent podium finishes gaining more insight into what was working and how they handled.

In 1973 he moved to Vancouver area and partnered up with Dennis Curtis at Curtis Mfg. Led refined his understanding of proper frame jigging, geometry, machining and developed his legendary “every bead perfect” tig welding skills. The shop not only produced complete frame kits but offered modifications to racers looking for an edge on the competition. He was the driving force in developing the frame building process with his innate ability to visualize what had to be done, then make it happen. He began to include some of his now signature innovations and design concepts that have endured for over 50 years as the pinnacle of flat track frame performance. Led was a driving force in frames and complete race bikes that won or placed well at Daytona, Houston TT/short track, Ascot and all the Pacific Northwest TT tracks.

When Curtis Mfg. closed their doors, Led seized the opportunity and created his now historic “Panther Racing Frames” brand. He set up a machine shop and often burned the midnight oil to get a frame or build completed for countless numbers of racers and rarely charged what he should have.

Led was tracked down by Rick Hansen (man in motion) to design and build Rick’s first marathon race wheel-chairs that took Rick to several international wins.

Around 1980, Led opened Cycle Associates with Bill Hilland offering collision repair, performance engine tuning with frame design and fabrication through Panther Racing. His racing frames continued to evolve, produce more fans and become the top tier flat track frame design that endures today. Racing was still the main focus of the business and often there would be a “closed, gone racing” sign on the shop door. After 10 years, Cycle Associates was wound up and Led once again was going solo. Building and selling motorcycle frames was not a money maker and Led continued to offer welding, alloy wheel and frame repair services to pay the bills through his new name, Ledco Welding.

Led moved again to a shop in Langley. Ledco Welding offered a variety of services. At this time Led got involved in building and racing mini sprint cars at local ovals. His cars were impeccably prepared and handled as good if not better than others on the track.

Wishing to get out of the congestion of the Fraser Valley, Led moved to a rural property West of Quesnel, and yes, built another machine shop. He started building hot rods, marine components and offered a variety of related services. Shortly after the move to Quesnel, Led was tracked down by Don Galloway, Carl Blomfeldt and others begging him to once again build his legendary flat track frames which he has been building ever since.                           

Now in his mid-70s, Led still takes on new prototype projects utilizing Yamaha, Triumph, Rotax, can am, Godden, Honda and many more motors for racers across the world, shipping frames to Germany, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Each frame project starts with the selected motor and concept then progresses to full sized detailed drawings that include appropriate wheelbase, rider height, head angle, engine mounts, shock and fork geometry. Design then is transferred into building the jig that will keep all the frame members correctly aligned throughout the assembly. This is about as “hand made” as it gets. Each frame takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete the build.

Led and his wife live in rural Quesnel where he still “goes down to the shop” daily to create his masterpieces of art, design and performance.

Led has built frames for – Jon Cornwell, Chris Evans, Peter Grant, Kurt Bieger, John Parker, Doug Sehl, all champions inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame, thanks to Led!!