Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Induction
T
he 3rd 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.
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 opportuni-
ty 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, Don-
nie Cantaloupi, "Fast" Eddie Cas-
tro, 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 win-
ningest Baja racers as well) and
leather racing suit creator Donna
"Dee" Johnson, among others.
All of this is the result of for-
mer 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
IN
THE
WIND
P36
Surprise guest Gerrit Wolsink
(left) joined 2023 Maely Lifetime
Achievement Award winner Brad
Lackey (center) and Master of
Ceremonies Larry Huffman.
PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA
