In this video we take an in-depth look at the rise and fall of the Top Fuel Motorcycle class in NHRA drag racing and beyond and examine why participation is so low and if the class can be saved after only two motorcycles showed up for the NHRA Carolina Nationals at ZMax Dragway – legend and world record holder Larry “Spiderman” McBride and Nitro Harley world record holder Bob Malloy.
In this video we look back at some of the all-time greats and world record holders in Top Fuel Motorcycle, most notably Elmer Trett and his tragic death in 1996 at the NHRA US Nationals and we chronicle the long road the class traveled to get back to the NHRA and how Cycledrag’s Jack Korpela tried every possible trick and resource available to get the Top Fuel Motorcycles back to the NHRA.
We follow up on why Dave Vantine sold his Top Fuel Bikes and why Jimmy “The Hulk” Brantley never made it to race after 10 years of hyping his return and his new motorcycle built by Steve and Larry McBride. We discuss why we have not seen younger riders join the class and how there seems to be no practical way into Top Fuel Motorcycle racing for Individuals who don’t own a racing machine shop. We talk about important sponsors like Wayne and Donna Pingel of Pingel Enterprise and Joe Koenig of Trim-Tex Drywall products who kept the class afloat financially.
We also detail our meetings with the NHRA and what it was like working with Brad Gerber’s NHRA sales team to make Top Fuel Motorcycle an official NHRA class and the price that had to be paid.
We also give solutions on how we feel the class could be saved and how Top Fuel Harley could be a very important part of that. Enjoy this look at the rise and fall of NHRA Top
Fuel Motorcycle Racing and what could possibly be done to save it. Make sure to leave your opinions down below in the comments
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