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Veteran Racing Announcer Terry “Ike” Clanton to Host 2024
Motorcycle & Auto Racing Pro Speaker will lead Two-Wheel Legends Interviews
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec. 4, 2023) – Veteran racing announcer Terry “Ike” Clanton, with some four decades of calling auto and motorcycle races, will serve as the host for the popular 2024 “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame and Motorcycle Industry Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Las Vegas’ Notoriety Theatre on the famed Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience (450 E. Fremont St., 3rd Floor). The event is FREE to all of the attendees.
Clanton’s announcing resumé includes a “Who’s Who” of major motorsports events including the Long Beach Grand Prix (for nearly 40 years), St. Petersburg Grand Prix, Denver Grand Prix, Surfers Paradise IndyCar Grand Prix, Costa Mesa Speedway, Industry Speedway, Pomona AMA Half-mile and various motorcycle races. He also served as the PA voice at Ascot South Bay Stadium, Perris Raceway, Victorville Speedway and International Long Track races.
Clanton, a 2021 “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame inductee, will be interviewing a variety of motorcycle icons, including legendary Mert Lawwill (2024 “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award winner), in the fourth annual presentation on Jan. 27 along with former ESPN X Games announcer Jerry Bernardo. In addition, the “Hot Shoe” presentation will feature some of the most famous motorcycles ever raced.
Clanton’s announcing style comes from years of competitive two-wheel action in both motocross and speedway before turning “behind the mic” since 1984 when he called his first motorcycle event, the Arizona State Speedway Championship. The Southern California native began his racing career in motocross at Irwindale Raceway, OCIR and Saddleback Park and, at age 15, rode in the pro classes for Whittier Honda and The Race Factory.
Clanton also competed in Supercross at the Los Angeles Coliseum and Houston Astrodome. He moved to Speedway bikes from 1982 to 1984 when he then took to announcing motorsports events. And Clanton has been “calling the races” ever since.
Bernardo, a former custom helmet painter, is a two-time Cable Ace nominated television host including ESPN2’s Motoworld, “Crusty Demons” announcer and called 12 ESPN X Games events during his career.
At the Jan. 27 Las Vegas event, some 70 new inductees will be a part of the 2024 class for the “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame and Motorcycle Celebration in the popular “meet and greet” affair at 6 p.m.
“We are excited to have Terry as our host for the fourth annual ‘Hot Shoe’ Hall of Fame and Motorcycle Industry Celebration this year,” said Gene Woods, founder and curator of the “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame on Las Vegas’ Fremont Street. “Few announcers in North America have called as many motorsports events as Terry has for nearly four decades. We remember Terry racing as well before starting his announcing career. And his voice is so familiar at Long Beach, Costa Mesa, Industry Hills and other events. And now he will be a familiar voice for our fun celebration.”
In the last three years, Woods, “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame president Keith Mashburn, the “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame Board of Directors and the event staff have produced the “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame Museum Celebrations attended by a star-studded affair of motorcycle legends. The “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame Museum, full of steel shoes from numerous motorcycle icons, is located at the Gene Woods Racing Experience karting track in the Fremont St. Experience in Las Vegas.
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.
For more information on the 2024 “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame celebration, visit the website at www.hotshoehof.com/reg/ or on Facebook at “Hot Shoe” Hall of Fame. For Las Vegas hotel discounts, please use these codes or call El Cortez Hotel, Code – HSHFO124, 800.634.6703 and The “D” Hotel, Code – DCHS24, 702.388.2400.
This is a FREE event but you must register at https://www.hotshoehof.com/reg to attend.
Contact: Tom Blattler, TB Communications, tomblattlercomm@gmail.com, 317.525.5692
