by Allie Hartman; Photos courtesy NHRA, Tom McCarthy, Larry McBride
What makes a man strap himself to a bomb with two wheels and send it down the drag strip? For Larry “Spiderman” McBride, the answer is simple: “I don’t know any better. It’s a passion.”
McBride, arguably the world’s most famous Top Fuel Motorcycle rider since the late Elmer Trett, has spent his life chasing the ultimate rush. He’s among the few to break the 250-mile-per-hour barrier on two wheels, hitting 268 miles per hour in the quarter-mile. Beyond the speed, racing is about the experience, the thrill, and the commitment to something that McBride has been working on since 1980.
McBride is considered the face of the NHRA’s new Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle series, an reputation that he’s got decades into building. He’s seen it all along the way, including putting parachutes on motorcycles, a practice he was never fond of.
“Hell no, I’m not putting a parachute on my bike!” McBride recalled was his initial reaction.
But now, seeing the big picture decades later, it’s a crucial safety feature that he refuses to straddle his 250-mph plus bike without. He might have changed his rigid stances over the years, but one thing remains as fervent as the day he first started – his passion.
Racing has changed over the years, and McBride has adapted, but one thing has remained constant: his passion for the sport.
“I’ll continue to do it as long as I can, as long as I can do it safely,” McBride, 67, said. In fact, he just signed a new deal with NHRA for the 2025 season.
McBride remains a workout warrior, effectively remaining in shape, with a strict diet, and credits his wife, a constant support in his life, for helping him stay grounded. But despite his growth and successes, McBride never lost sight of why he started. “I’ve been doing this all my life,” he says. “I don’t know any better.”
When you’re racing at 250 miles per hour, it’s not just about the bike—it’s all mental. For McBride, the “zone” begins long before he even hits the track.
“I like to get to the staging lanes early, have some quiet time, and get my thoughts together,” McBride explained. “I pray a little—not for safety, but to calm myself. If you ever let the scared part get into you, you better not get on the motorcycle.”
McBride’s focus is key to his success.
“It’s like walking a tightrope,” McBride said. “You have to stay calm. If you lose that, you’re done.”
But it’s not just about the thrill of speed; it’s the stopping that’s the real challenge. That’s what caused the aforementioned parachute to become more desirable.
“Stopping it is probably the hardest part,” he admits. “When you’re going 250 miles an hour, slowing down safely takes precision. It’s not just about reaching the end of the track—it’s about getting there in one piece.”
McBride has had his fair share of close calls. In 2015, an explosion left him badly burned.
“I exploded an engine, caught on fire,” he said, “But you don’t have time to panic. You just get off and do what you have to do.”
Despite the scare, McBride still sees the humor in the situation.
“I got a free helicopter ride to the hospital. I told them I could ride in the ambulance, but they said, ‘Nope, if you’re burnt, you have to fly.’”
Though the explosion left him with serious burns, McBride doesn’t shy away from the dangers of the sport.
“The bike blowing up—that’s the real danger,” McBride admitted. “It’s not about the speed. You have to respect the risk, but you can’t let it control you.”
McBride’s injuries were significant, but his recovery was a testament to his resilience.
“We’ve definitely increased our safety stuff nowadays,” McBride explained, referring to the advanced gear and techniques that make the sport safer than it was in his early years.
Riders now wear fireproof leather, and neck support systems add an extra layer of protection. Still, Larry acknowledges that fear is a constant part of the sport. “It’s a healthy fear,” he says. “It keeps you sharp and keeps you alive.”
Despite the dangers, McBride has never let fear hold him back. He’s remained at the forefront of motorcycle drag racing for decades, pushing boundaries and setting records. But when asked how he wants to be remembered, Larry’s answer is simple: “Just be Larry. No ego. No grandiose titles.”
McBride wants people to remember him as someone who loved what he did, not just for being the fastest but for being approachable, kind, and passionate about the sport.
McBride is more than just a record-holder; he’s a legend in the world of nitro motorcycle drag racing. He’s faced adversity, battled fear, and pushed the limits of speed, but through it all, he’s stayed grounded.
“At the end of the day, I’m just Larry,” he counsels, with a smile.
And as long as the good Lord lets him, as McBride puts it, he will keep riding—faster than most could ever imagine, but always staying true to the passion that started it all.
