Top Fuel bikes

[Greggo]

I have been at a drag strip since I was born. In my 31 years on this earth, I have seen a million passes and the one that stands out the most to me I can remember like yesterday.

Houston Raceway Park. Baytown, TX. Oct 30, 1999. Larry "Spiderman" McBride. I had seen top fuel bikes before, but nothing like this. He left the starting line and carried the front wheel to the 1000 ft mark, had a 3 foot flame shooting out his azz it looked like, and then the numbers popped up on the scoreboard. 5.993 243.68. I remember the starting line guys going crazy, including Alan Johnson and the Winston team and the Star Racing guys.

I just thought, this guy is completely nuts.

Will never forget that. And a year later he ran 5.88?

 

[Joker]

Will never forget that. And a year later he ran 5.88?

Yes sir he did. I would love to see him come back and make an exhibition run again.

 

[TSK]

There was a fatal top fuel bike wreck at Indy in ’79. The design of the turnout rail just past the finish line made the guy basically hit the rail head-on. After that, I always turned my back whenever the fuel bikes ran that weekend. Those things were insane. I just did not want to see something like that again.
Speaking of the design of Indy’s turnouts, I never could understand why NHRA did not change them, especially after that bike wreck.
Blaine Johnson hit the second turnout head on. It was after his death that NHRA changed the layout.

 

[Nick Name]

When Elmer came off the bike, he too hit that part of the wall that was like 45 degrees from the track. If it had been a solid wall, he would have glanced off and be alive today.

The rider killed earlier was Ernie Rife

 

[Toejam]

One of the most difficult things to do is burn nitro at high RPM. Nitro is such a slow burning fuel. that when you reduce the time allocated for it to burn you have an problem.

When NHRA instigated the rear gear rule in the fuelers, it meant that in order to faster, one would have to wind the motor tighter.

It was at this point that Jim Head and several others contacted Elmer, because he had figured out how to do it.

When Elmer was killed, Jim send his plane down to Georgia to pick up Elmers daughter Kelly and her husband and bring them back up to Indy.

The Winston people had a huge suite at the Omni hotel, and everyone moved out of it and Winston gave it to the Trett family the use.

Jim Head then flew his plane out to California for Blaines funeral then back to Georgia for Elmers.

One could only imagine how many of today's Tuning ideas in Today's TF/FC's came off of Elmer's TF Bikes over the years!

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Yes sir he did. I would love to see him come back and make an exhibition run again.

Funny you should mention that. Just got my "SUMMIT MOTOR SPORTS PARK"
(Norwalk Ohio) 2012 season brochure. Their NIGHT UNDER FIRE show Sat. Aug. 11 lists Larry McBride TOP FUEL BIKE as part of the show, along with : 6 Nitro Funnies-
4-jet dragsters- Bob Motz jet Kenworth......ect.

(see) Night at Summit Motorsports Park - Norwalk Ohio They say he holds the 1/4mi ET record at 5.74 at 240mph

 

[Nick Name]

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

OUTSTANDING shot Jay, thanks.

 

[mike]

The Alwine/Dryden/Hogan 250mph beast....

Top Fuel Nitro Dragbike-Korry Hogan goes 254mph in 1/4! Sets National Record! - YouTube

Korry Hogan Top Fuel Motorcycle Crash @ 246 MPH - YouTube

I can't wait for their new bike to hit the track, and for Larry's new bike to come out.

 

[mike]

The best... Elmer Trett Interview Prostar 1993.flv - YouTube

 

[mike]

Larry's first in the 5's run.... Larry "Spiderman" McBride first ever sub 6 second run (1999) - YouTube The reaction from Steve and everyone gives me goosebumps and a big smile.

 

[Mooseman]

There is a new zealand top fuel bike team that races in australia. I have seen them run and you deffinitly feel it in your chest. The new zealand team I saw even purpose built their own engine.

 

[Toejam]

Larry's first in the 5's run.... Larry "Spiderman" McBride first ever sub 6 second run (1999) - YouTube The reaction from Steve and everyone gives me goosebumps and a big smile.

After Elmer's crash at Indy, nothing was said over the PA or anything with regard to if Elmer was alive or anything! But walkin over to.the Bike pits seeing Larry's brother crying told me what I needed to know! Seeing him all excited at Houston reminded me of that!

 

[mike]

There is a new zealand top fuel bike team that races in australia. I have seen them run and you deffinitly feel it in your chest. The new zealand team I saw even purpose built their own engine.

That team no longer exists William - which is a shame. Athol Williams was the rider/owner. I recently heard him speak about the possibilities of coming back, but like in America, New Zealand are also struggling in the economic climate, and it has affected Athol. So it may be awhile before he returns. His crew chief Roger (From NZ) tunes the ex Jim Brantley bike - which was out of the Mcbride camp, and has tuned the bike to a best of a 6.05 with Chris Matheson being the rider and owner of the bike.

Regards,

Mike.

 

[Greggo]

There was a fatal top fuel bike wreck at Indy in ’79. The design of the turnout rail just past the finish line made the guy basically hit the rail head-on. After that, I always turned my back whenever the fuel bikes ran that weekend. Those things were insane. I just did not want to see something like that again.
Speaking of the design of Indy’s turnouts, I never could understand why NHRA did not change them, especially after that bike wreck.
Blaine Johnson hit the second turnout head on. It was after his death that NHRA changed the layout.

I remember that vividly... an awful incident.

 

[mike]

After Elmer's crash at Indy, nothing was said over the PA or anything with regard to if Elmer was alive or anything! But walkin over to.the Bike pits seeing Larry's brother crying told me what I needed to know! Seeing him all excited at Houston reminded me of that!

I can't even begin to imagine what it would have been like being there that day. When I got the news of Blaine's crash that hurt a lot. A few days later I received the news about Elmer on my way to school, it knocked the wind out of my sails. I still remember walking to school with tears streaming. I got to my science class and sat at the back of the room with my head down... I didn't even want to be there.

Elmer sure left us with a lot of great/awesome memories though. There is a book coming out soon, and I recommend everyone check it out, it will no doubt be an excellent read...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elmer-Trett-and-the-Gods-of-Thunder/177946502237025

Mike.

 

[FC138fan]

Holy crap, when did they start shooting nitro flames out of the top of them? Last I saw a TF bike was 1998 (night time) and there were no flames...

And the video of them carrying the front wheel all the way to just before the lights, crazy!

Wish they would run these over PSB

 

[mike]

Holy crap, when did they start shooting nitro flames out of the top of them? Last I saw a TF bike was 1998 (night time) and there were no flames...

And the video of them carrying the front wheel all the way to just before the lights, crazy!

Wish they would run these over PSB

Hey Nick,

For quite sometime they have, I remember my friends fuel bike in 1990 use to produce some header flames. Elmer use to have a real nice fluffy flame that stood high. I have footage on video of a run he made at Richmond VA in 96, I still get excited every time I watch it. Soon as he launches massive header flame out the back, straight up in smoke, back on it, back up in smoke all the way down the track. It looked so damn cool!! One day ill figure how to convert my video's and upload them.

Regards,

Mike.

 

[sdwarf36]

Back in the early 90's at a Prostar race at Atco, they asked for a couple of volunteers to watch Top Fuel from the big end-to make sure nobody was "flying the lights". ( have the front tire in the air + miss the MPH light 66 ft out-then drop it before the finish line-giving a crazy high mph number)
OMG-I had plenty of respect for them as it was--but to see the ballet they have to do to keep the bike going in the right direction could be seen in full as I was standing next to the wall at the line. You can't steer with the bars-the wheel is in the air. And you can't really weight the pegs because they are so far back. They are putting their whole upper body off the bike to one side or the other to direct it. Two skateboard wheels in the back + a growing slick changing size + shape-and they are acting as a sail to correct it.

 

[mike]

Some cool footage... The late Elmer Trett vs Ron Webb world record - Car Videos on StreetFire