Race Announcer Larry Huffman, R.I.P. (Updated Again)

Race Announcer Larry Huffman, R.I.P. (Updated Again)

© 2024, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.

Longtime race announcer Larry Huffman died Monday, July 1. He was 82 and living in Big Bear City, California, at the time of his passing.

Huffman started announcing races in the 1960s and gained wide notoriety when he started doing the first Supercross races in the 1970s. He was known by some as the “Voice of Supercross” or “Supermouth,” according to the Los Angeles Times. He also co-wrote and co-produced the motion picture “On Any Sunday II.”

We will update this most with more details as they become available.

Bellow is Huffman’s official AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame biography:

Larry Huffman combined an early career as a disc jockey and a passion for motorcycling to create a lifelong career as a race announcer.

Huffman started announcing at California’s Costa Mesa Speedway in the late 1960s. Since then, he has announced at nearly every type of motorcycle race, including Supercross, Arenacross, ice racing, drag racing, flat track, road racing, Speedway and hill climb. He has announced at motorcycle races in nearly every major city in the United States, Canada and Japan.

Huffman was the announcer at the first Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1972, and was soon after nicknamed “Supermouth” by the Los Angeles Times for his 300 word-per-minute delivery and his ability to excite crowds. He is credited with being an integral part of early Supercross shows and is widely recognized as the original “Voice of Supercross.”

Huffman created and produced the first motorcycle magazine television show to air on a major American network, “Motorcycle World with Larry Huffman,” which was followed by a radio version of the show that aired in many California cities.

Huffman co-wrote and co-produced the motion picture “On Any Sunday II,” and provided announcer roles for numerous TV shows, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “CHiPs,” “Miami Vice,” “Fantasy Island” and “Knight Rider.” Huffman was the announcer in the 1994 award-winning Miller Lite “Weinerdog Winternationals” commercial that aired during the Olympics, the World Series and the Superbowl.

Huffman has served as a color commentator for ABC, CBS, NBC, TNN, ESPN and Speedvision. Many racers have benefited from Huffman’s in-studio PR course, where they learned to improve their television interview skills. Graduates of the course include Hall of Famers Jeff Ward, Rick Johnson, Mark Barnett, Scott Parker, Wayne Rainey, Kent Howerton and Eddie Lawson.

At the time of his induction into the Hall of Fame, Huffman lived in
Big Bear City, Calif., where he operates his PR and announcing business,
Larry Huffman Enterprises.

Larry Huffman was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by AMA:

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Larry Huffman Passes

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Larry Huffman, American motorcycling’s most legendary AMA Supercross and motocross announcer and commentator, and the man behind the “Supermouth” nickname, passed away Monday, July 1. He was 82.

Huffman worked as a Southern California disc jockey during the 1960s and began announcing races at So Cal’s Costa Mesa Speedway in the late 1960s. Over the years he went on to announce just about every type of motorcycle competition, including AMA Supercross, Arenacross, ice racing, drag racing, flat track, hill climb, speedway and road racing.

Huffman was the P.A. announcer at the first Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1972, and was soon named “Supermouth” by the Los Angeles Times for his 300-word-per-minute delivery and his ability to excite crowds. He is credited with being an integral part of early Supercross events and is widely recognized at the original “voice of Supercross.”

Huffman also co-wrote and co-produced the motion picture On Any Sunday II, and did announcer roles for numerous TV shows, including Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs, Miami Vice, Fantasy Island, and others.

Over the years, Huffman also did motorsports-related color commentary for the likes of ABC, CBS, NBC, TNN, ESPN and Speedvision.

Huffman was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008. He will be missed.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by MX Sports Pro Racing:

Rest In Peace, Larry Huffman (1941-2024)

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Announcer “Supermouth” Passes

 

Larry Huffman, R.I.P. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing.
Larry Huffman, R.I.P. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing.

 

In the early days of American motocross, announcer Larry Huffman could be heard everywhere: Saddleback Park, Angel Stadium, Carlsbad Raceway, Ascot Park, the LA Coliseum… It was Huffman, a radio disc jockey, who announced the first Superbowl of Motocross in 1972, instantly becoming an integral part of what we now know as supercross, and his unmistakable voice could be heard over the loudspeakers of stadiums and racetracks for many years to come. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008, and deservedly so, as his voice and enthusiasm set the standard for every race announcer that’s come along ever since. He may have been nicknamed “Supermouth,” but Larry Huffman will be remembered as much for his showmanship as his voice, as much for his passion as his humor, and always for his kindness. 

On Monday, July 1, Larry Huffman passed away in Big Bear City, California. He leaves behind arguably the most decorated legacy of any announcer in the history of off-road motorcycle racing, with an impact that now spans generations of current and aspiring professionals in motorsports entertainment.

Huffman was 82 years old.

Godspeed, Larry.

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