The sixth annual Hot Shoe Hall of Fame Museum and Motorcycle Industry Celebration played out at the Gene Woods Racing Experience and Las Vegas’ Notoriety Theatre on January 31.
Established by three-time U.S. Open National Speedway Champion Gene Woods and a board of directors, the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 2020 to pay tribute to motorcycle racers and their colorful careers and achievements, as well as motorcycle industry leaders and icons. Past inductees include Malcolm Smith, Kenny Roberts, Brad Lackey, Greg Hancock, Wayne Rainey, Roger DeCoster, Scott Parker and many others.
Woods, whose Racing Experience karting track, located in the Neonopolis portion of Las Vegas’ Fremont Street, houses all the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame steel shoes and icon plaques.
The Hot Shoe organization says, “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. Steel shoe-equipped riders quickly became known as Hot Shoes in local and national events and markets where they competed.”
This year’s event again featured Las Vegas showgirls, an Elvis Presley tribute artist, the Hot Show Inductees Go Kart race, an awards presentation, and, of course, plenty of bench racing.
Some of the 2026 inductees included Jay Springsteen, Jeff Emig, Guy Cooper, Kevin LaVoie and Rick Miller. Taking center stage this year was Road Race World Champion Eddie Lawson, who was honored with the prestigious Maely Lifetime Achievement Award. (Ken Maely was the originator of the steel “Hot” shoe.)
Another annual award that recognizes members of the media, “The Zeckie Award,” named after longtime media member “Hardhat Howie” Zechner, was presented to television announcer Ralph Sheheen.
The Hot Shoe Inductees Go Kart race is always a highlight of the event, and everyone was looking to knock off back-to-back winner Jimmy Lewis, but as hard as they tried, no one could, making Lewis a three-time champ. Jerry Bernardo, one of the night’s emcees, came close but had to settle for second place. Finishing on the podium was famed AMA flat tracker Garth “Gonzo” Brow, who was inducted into the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame in 2020. Cooper and Mike Johns rounded out the top five.CN
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