Tim Hailey contributed to this report; Tim Hailey Photos
The inaugural season of the Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle division confirmed what almost every nitro motorcycle racer and fan understood. It’s Larry “Spiderman” McBride’s world, and everyone else lives in it.
McBride, the seasoned two-wheel nitro legend, and his brother Steve did what they have done for the last 25 seasons in the first season of the NHRA tour. It was a quarter of a century ago when they first broke into the five-second zone, and they’ve been putting on a clinic for running low elapsed times and top speeds ever since.
The McBrides don’t play not to lose. They play to win every time the rider donning a leather Spiderman suit launches off the starting line.
“If you’re going to race me,” McBride said. “You’re gonna have to work on your motorcycle.”
With the exception of the series opener at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., McBride ran through the fields like hot butter. However, with a limited schedule of four races, the Chicago first-round loss to Elmeri Salakari drove home the importance of sticking to the known combinations.
“We thought we’d try some new stuff to run to the 1000 foot and it bit us in the butt,” McBride said. “We got behind the eight-ball in points. All it would take was one mistake, and we would have lost the championship.”
So in tune were the McBride’s with their established combination; they made it through the rest of the season, all the while racing the three events on one engine for the duration. McBride swept the rest of the series and took home his first NHRA championship.
“We just got back to what we knew worked and just left it alone and let it run the number,” McBride explained. “The [NHRA-mandated] 1000 foot has definitely let our motors last, for sure. Everybody started picking up. Mitch (Brown) and Bobby (Malloy) picked up drastically in the last race, and I think you’ll see them pick up a lot more in the second year. It’s gonna be a lot closer, I’ll tell you that.”
McBride credited his sponsorship line-up for making it all happen,
“I would like to thank Pingel Enterprise, Drag Specialties, Vance & Hines Motorsports, Bill Miller Engineering, Trim-Tex, Web Cam, Worldwide Bearings, A.P.E., Final Swipe, Mickey Thompson Tires, Red Line Oil, Torrence Racing, Simpson Race Products, Goodridge Hose and Fitting, Belt Drives Ltd., B&J Transmission, Beringer Brakes, Boninfante Friction, Brocks Performance, BST Wheels, Cometic Gaskets, D.M.E., Ferrea Valves, Kibbelewhite, LA Sleeve, MPS, PR Factory Store, Valco, Dave Dunigan and Jimmy Brantley. “Also, my crew chief and brother Steve McBride, Chuck Stuart, Roland Stuart, Charley Lynch, and Braylon Rooker.”
In a season dominated by McBride, other riders had their opportunity to make a mark.
David Vantine secured his first event win at Route 66 Raceway after Salakari’s bike failed to start for the final. Vantine, a customer of McBride’s engine shop, raced several match races but struggled in subsequent NHRA events.
The Joliet victory remained Vantine’s only highlight as his Vantine Nitrosports bike lost in the first round at three consecutive races. High costs and low results led him to tell his team that the end of their program seemed near.
However, Vantine clarified that the situation may not be as dire as it appeared. “Never say never,” he stated as he navigates the future with the guidance of his financial advisors.
The McBride brothers, Larry and Steve, had previously considered switching to a FuelTech system but opted to stick with their established methods. “We can already go faster than what we need to go,” McBride noted.
In contrast, racer Mitch Brown has embraced the FuelTech setup for his bike, co-owned with Dennis Bradley. “The FuelTech system works great,” Brown said, adding that it is more reliable and flexible than older systems.
Brown competed fiercely, reaching the finals against McBride on three occasions, remaining in the championship hunt until the final race day at zMAX. “I’m very proud of our team… We’re excited about running even quicker next season,” he remarked.
Bob Malloy, another competitor, raced a Sam Wills chassis equipped with a FuelTech ECU. Malloy, a veteran of nitro Harleys, expressed his ambition to compete with McBride.
“It’s taken me all year to get where I think it might have a chance to be competitive,” Malloy said. “My goal is to run with Larry, and my ultimate goal is to run better than him.”
Micah Fenwick’s Alwine-designed bike shifted towards a Hayabusa-based layout, marking a departure from tradition in the class. “The bike runs so straight and has good short times so far,” Fenwick said about his progress in this competitive field.
Chicago runner-up Salakari faced significant challenges after a serious accident involving his crew during the season. Following the crash, his team performed admirably at the AMRA Jim McClure Nationals.
“Overall, the season was amazing, and we are looking forward to next season,” Elmeri commented. He also mentioned that the bike they raced is for sale as the team prepares for future opportunities.
Former Pro Stock racer GT Tonglet, with no prior Top Fuel experience, successfully tested on the “Redneck Express.” The test indicated readiness for both the bike and Tonglet for potential future races.
Looking forward, various teams are preparing for the 2025 season, aiming for more competitive entries in the Top Fuel Motorcycle class. “The 2024 NHRA Top Fuel motorcycle class was a great success,” said series sponsor Donna Pingel, as they anticipate a strong 2025 season ahead.
