Cycle News Staff | February 1, 2022
It was another celebration of motorcycle racing with fun stories, bench racing and renewed friendships as two-wheel legends and icons rejoiced Saturday night, January 29, at the second annual “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame Motorcycle Industry event at the Las Vegas’ Notoriety Theatre on the famed Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience.
Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Honorees pose for a group photo in Las Vegas.
The popular affair saw motorcycle racers, sponsors and fans come from around the United States to honor many of the stars from the 1960s to 2000s as well as witness over a hundred “Hot Shoes” of worldwide competitors at the Hall of Fame located at the Gene Woods’ Racing Experience in Las Vegas.
“It was another great experience for all of the motorcycle industry here in Las Vegas,” said Woods, founder and curator of the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame. “I want to thank everyone for their attendance in bringing to our annual party a special night of renewing past relationships and telling racing stories. The question-and-answer session host by our friend Peter Starr was so much fun and very popular with the group this year. There were so many stories never really heard before in that setting. We hope everyone had another great night with old friends.”
Starr, the famed filmmaker, played host to the crowd and also brought his popular Take It To The Limit feature film for the attendees to view throughout the evening.
Rob Morrison had plenty of stories about this Ron Wood-built Norton 750 he raced at Ascot in the 1970s.
After some 200 Hot Shoe Hall of Fame honorees were awarded last May in the inaugural festivities, Saturday’s event served to honor over 80 of the 2022 Hot Shoe class which included dirt track stars such as Joe Kopp, Rick Hocking, Jimmy Odom, John Gennai, Dave Hansen (Flat Track) and Ivan Mauger MBE, Greg Hancock, John Cook, Lance King, Sonny Nutter, Larry Shaw and Mike Konle (Speedway). Many of the honorees were part of Saturday’s celebration, taking photos with Las Vegas Show Girls.
Famed racing announcer Larry Huffman was awarded the 2022 Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Maely Lifetime Achievement honor for his decades of entertaining the racing fans. Unfortunately, Huffman, who served as emcee in last May’s Hot Shoe event, could not make Saturday due to rehabilitation on his leg. But many spoke of Larry’s legendary career and having him announce their name. Huffman joined Judy Maely (2020) and Kenny Roberts (2021) as Lifetime Achievement honorees.
Announcer Larry Huffman was honored but could not attend.
Highlights of the night saw Steve Baker talk about his famed Yamaha TZ750 flat track machine and Rob Morrison describing the historic Ron Wood-built Norton 750 he rode at Ascot Park and other tracks in the 1970s. Other storytellers included Roberts, Keith Mashburn, Tom Horton, Scot Harden, Jim Fishback, Rod Lake, Bryan Farnsworth, Garth Brow, Bruce Porter, Nutter and Odom.
The “Hot Shoe” is the symbol that recognizes the cream of the crop of motorcycle racing stars who used a very specialized tool, the steel shoe, to assist them in navigating the dirt track corners at very high rates of speed. Steel shoe-equipped riders quickly became known as Hot Shoes in local and national events and markets where they competed. CN
