The third annual Hot Shoe Hall of Fame (HSHoF) induction ceremony brought a packed house of inductees new and old, legends from around the world and fans to the Notoriety Theatre in Las Vegas’ Fremont Street Experience, January 28.
Photos by Mark Kariya
While the highlight was the presentation of the 2023 Maely Lifetime Achievement Award to 1982 500cc Motocross World Champion Brad Lackey, one of the 2021 HSHoF inductees, he wasn’t the only legend feted.
The evening proved rich in laughter and memories from those inductees interviewed onstage by Larry “Super Mouth” Huffman and Jerry Bernardo, both former honorees. But just as compelling was the opportunity to walk up to and chat with the many others present as well as ogle some of the history-making bikes on display.
Among the former and 2023 class of inductees present: Ricky Brabec, Johnny Campbell, Donnie Cantaloupi, “Fast” Eddie Castro, Pati and John DeSoto, Mike Faria, Bert Harkins, Mike Kidd, Jimmy Lewis, Larry Langley, Brad Oxley, Kenny Roberts, Joe Root, Bubba Shobert, Dennis Sigalos and many others. But the HSHoF also includes a category for industry icons like former Cycle News staffers Skip Johnson and Karel Kramer. They joined other icons for the evening like FMX star Seth Enslow, AMA Golden Wrench award winner Chris Haines (who is one of the winningest Baja racers as well) and leather racing suit creator Donna “Dee” Johnson, among others.
All of this is the result of former racing champ (speedway as well as cars) Gene Woods, who “…thought it would really be cool to have a hot shoe collection.”
After fellow racers Faria and Jim Fishback donated their steel shoes, Woods posted a picture showing his fledging collection. Boom! He was instantly besieged with offers of 50 more and in 2020 the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame was born.
But it quickly evolved to become more inclusive, with the idea that even those who didn’t wear the trademark steel shoes (a must for speedway and dirt track racers) share a love for two wheels be they motocrossers, off-road racers, drag racers, trials riders, whatever.
“Motorcycle people are motorcycle people, right?” Woods said.
Thus, the HSHoF became more encompassing, including non-racing notables who also figured highly (though often behind the scenes) like Miss Camel/Winston Pro trophy girl Lynne Griffis, Cycle News founders Chuck and Sharon Clayton, former CN Editors Jack Mangus and Charlie Morey, promoters Casey Folks and Stu Peters, PR queen Penny Nicolai and more.
As the HSHoF grew, Woods decided to make it even more community serving; he created a board of directors and established the organization as a 501(c)3 entity. And rather than set up a fund to assist injured riders (admirable and needed as it is), Woods saw a need locally for helping the homeless, so he settled on the idea of Heart Shoes, providing brand-new footwear for the needy from the heart and soul of the motorcycle industry.
“I had a thousand pairs of shoes made and we started to give them out,” he said. “To see the people that you give shoes to [so happily receive much-needed yet often overlooked items], it’s really heart-warming.”
All in all, it was a memorable evening, not only for the opportunity to rub elbows with legends but to help the less fortunate of Las Vegas.
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