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/1532121
Motorcycle Legends Highlight 2025 Hot Shoe Hall of Fame T he stories were plentiful from some of the greatest motorcycle racers to ever throw a leg over a two-wheel machine on Saturday night, February 1, at the fifth annual Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Museum and Motorcycle Industry Celebration in the Las Vegas Fremont Street Experi - ence at the Las Vegas' Notoriety Theatre. Saluting over 50 new mem - bers to the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame, the bench racing and experiences had the big crowd in laughter, tears and many smiles with hosts Keith Mashburn, Terry Clanton and Jerry Bernardo directing the on-stage activities with names like Chris Agajanian, Bubba Shobert, Brad Lackey, Dave Aldana, Brad Oxley, Fred Hoess, Suzy Moody, Robie Peter - son, Jack Penton, Doug Dubach, Billy Gray and Ty Davis. In the crowd relating to the stories and giving out their own were the likes of "King" Kenny Roberts, Garth Brow, Ralph White, Jimmy Odom, Norm Fran - cis, Gerrit Wolsink, Billy Grossi, Mike Konle, Miguel DuHamel, Jean Fink, Dave Joiner, Brian Uchida and Scott Rousseau. With famed motorcycles from champions Robie Peterson (Hillclimb) and Joe Kopp (AMA Grand National) on display, Mashburn, Hall of Fame Presi - dent, opened the festivities with some great stories and the presentation of the Hot Shoe Lifetime Achievement Award to the late, great Malcolm Smith, which longtime Yamaha repre- sentative Ed Burke accepted on Smith's behalf. A popular theme for the night was "Remembering Ascot Park," with Agajanian giving some ex- periences of his childhood at the famed Gardena dirt track and watching riders compete in flat track, motocross and speedway events from 1957 to 1990. "My brothers and I had an amazing time growing up watch - ing and working with some of the greatest racers in two-wheel and four-wheel action at As- cot Park," said Agajanian, the youngest of the three sons of promoter/ race car owner J.C. Agajanian. "I think between the Agajanian family, that we pro- moted between 3000 and 4000 events. My dad was the ultimate promoter who had the biggest motorsports racing names at his events. And Ascot Park was always the crown jewel." White, nearly 90 years of age, was the oldest of the Ascot Park racers on hand, and the 1963 WIND IN THE P32 Gene Woods (left) and Chris Agajanian reminisced about Ascot Park during the fifth annual Hot Shoe Hall of Fame celebration in Las Vegas.