TA1364

iTrader: (11)

Is it just me or in the first picture is he smoking the tire and doing a wheelie?

Caveman

iTrader: (2)

Thats a cool video. I haven't been to a bike event in like 15 years, I'll deffinately have to go to one this year.

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

That was a pic from Houston in 1999 at an NHRA event where he ran the first sub 6 second pass ever in history. He went 5.99 on that pass.

Yes he is spinning the tire and lifting the wheel at the same time. On a good pass he will carry the front wheel most of the way. Idealy you want the front wheel down when you cross the finish line to trip the ET beam with the front tire instead of the back tire.

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

They are not racing in Gainsville this year. But they will be back in Valdosta,Ga. in the fall. Here's the 2008 race schedule.....

http://www.amadragbike.com/news/temp...d=48&zoneid=11

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

I stopped by the shop and talked to Larry"Spiderman" McBride and his brother Steve today(these guys are good friends of mine). They had the bike apart going over everything and getting ready for the next meet in Atlanta in April.
I got to talking to them about the record run and why the MPH(only 235) was down on the pass. Seems Larry got out of the groove and spun the tire which explained the low MPH on the pass. The bike has been as fast as 248mph in the past.
Bottom line is the bike has more in it, maybe a low 70 or possibly a high 60. Only time will tell with the right conditions
I can't stress enough how impressive these bikes are to see in person. It's truely a sight to see, that will leave your jaw hanging ! If they ever come close to your hometown, go and see them, you will truley be impressed !

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

I found the video of Larry "Spiderman" McBrides 5.799 record run at Valdosta, ga. It's at 1:06 in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?vid...qvnooyMWKSM9Rz

digitalsolo

iTrader: (24)

That link has a referrer that breaks it; try this one:

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=4F1Ti1FgQco

-Blake

Anonymous

What are you my twin?

Now I have three daughters! LOL....

Nice pass by the Spiderman

I used to watch the Top Fuel boys at the US Motorcycle Nationals at Atco.
Cheered for Elmer Trett at the time.
I think Larry married his daughter?

Anonymous

That is NHRA Pro Stock and it is more like 230 - 250.
Depends on who you talk to.

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

LOL !.....No Elmers daughter... "Gina" ....married Tony Lang, who use to ride Top Fuel back when your talking about.

On a side note, today was Elmer Tretts birthday.....He would have been 65 yrs old today !

RIP......Elmer Trett

digitalsolo

iTrader: (24)

He was one baaaaaaaad man on a motorcycle, and a hell of a great guy.

NHRAFORMULA00

iTrader: (2)

Me and a friend of mine talked to Elmer Trett about an hour before he died at Indianapolis back in (i think it was 1997)they were getting the bike ready for a run.Him and his daughter were working on it and they took the time to discuss what they were doing to us.We watched his run and as he crossed the finnish line he must of had a heart attack or something because his body sat up on the seat and just blew off the bike and went from one side of the track to the other.We knew at the time he was dead instantly and we were HORRFIED. We always talked to them when we followed a friend of ours on the IDBA circuit in Pro Stock in the mid 1980s and they were really nice people,and the bike was always FIRST CLASS.

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

September 1st, 1996 was when Elmer had his accident at Indy that took his life. The day before, Blaine Johnson lost his life at Indy also.......It was a real tuff and sad weekend !

NHRAFORMULA00

iTrader: (2)

I go every year ,i just could not remember which. Old farts syndrone! I did not see Blaine's accident,we were there though. Yes it was a very sad weekend.

Hawkn01

iTrader: (1)

Indy is "The Race" to go to every year, no doubt about it !

It was tuff weekend for Larry because he knew both Blaine and Elemer. To have two friends die in racing accidents the same weekend was brutal.

They used to park Blaines rig at Larrys shop when they were on the eastern part of the NHRA trail. They would bring the car in the shop and service everything between races. When Gary Scelzi started driving for Alan Johnson they did the same thing so Larry was close to that bunch.

Anonymous

That's right, it was Tony Lang.

Wow what are the chances of me talking about him for the first time in many years and it happens to be on his birthday???? Creepy.

RIP -Elmer Trett