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Ten Time Top Fuel AMA Motorcycle Drag Bike Champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride made it into the 2010 Guinness Book of Records. The U.S. drag racer went 245.36 mph for the official fastest quarter-mile on two wheels. McBride finished the 2009 campaign with four victories on the AMA Dragbike tour. "My highpoint took place at Atlanta Dragway in March," said McBride. "I lowered the AMA Dragbike elapsed-time record to 5.793."
Ten Time AMA Top Fuel Motorcycle Champion Larry Spiderman McBride
McBride is the first AMA Dragbike professional racer to reach ten championships. McBride’s nickname came from a track announcer at Indy who called him Spiderman because of the way he looked when he rode his motorcycle on the track. “I’m tall and in the 80s fuel bikes were short, so I guess I looked like Spiderman,” he said. “The name just stuck after that.”
Motorcycles are McBride’s passion. His motorcycle machine shop in Newport News, Virginia occupies his time when he’s not breaking world records. “From the time I was a kid I knew I wanted to race motorcycles,” he said. “When I was 9-years-old I used to take my older brother's motorcycle after he would go to bed. We lived in a small town at the time and the cops would just bring me home. I’ve been racing for about 31 years.”
Larry McBride’s Top Fuel Motorcycle Specs are:
Chassis
1994 Race Visions
Wheelbase: 100 inch axle center to center
Weight: 1030 lbs
Fuel Usage: 4 gallons per run
Fuel Capacity: 6 gallon capacity
Carbon fiber body and body panels
Rear Tire Size: 14” x 31.5”
Performance Machine Brakes – 11” diameter rotors front and rear
Ohlins Forks
Engine
1511cc Puma/Kawasaki
1000 horsepower estimated
70mm stroke, 83 mm bore
59: 1 compression
BME Rods Bill Miller Engineering
Vance and Hines Cylinder Head
Puma crankshaft and case assembly
Dailey Engineering 3 stage dry sump oil system
Steve McBride engineered drive system
Belt Drives Ltd.
1 Gallon oil capacity
Supercharger:
Auto rotor
2.4 compression ratio
Transmission:
B&J Planetary Transmissions
2 speeds -1.43:1 under drive –4.50:1 overall gear ratio
Cycle Specialist’s Multiple Stage Clutch
“We also use K&N filters,” said McBride. “I’ve used K&N as long as I’ve been running motorcycles and I wouldn’t use anything else. K&N is dependable and cost effective. I use it on my personal vehicles and I am a life-long customer.”
McBride is hoping to unveil a new bike in the 2010 season. “It’s based on an inline 4 cylinder Suzuki with the same basic engine design as a Hayabusa,” he said. “It will have a 14 inch wide tire on the back and its 17 feet .5 inches from the tip of the front wheel to the tip of the wheelie bars. It features a stronger bottom end and a state of the art chassis built by Steve Phillips and Ben Phaup. We think the new bike will leave the starting line better.”
The ten-time class champion will be back in full swing with the 2010 AMA Dragbike Schedule. It kicks off March 5-7 with the B&B Promotions Bikeweek Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Georgia. He will also continue his work with motorcycle rides which benefit children with cancer.
“I broke the world record in 1999 and no one came close to it until 2005,” said McBride. “We’ve been blessed.”
Aaltonen Arctic Driving Experience runs from Dec. 30, 2009 until Jan. 31, 2010 at
Louhosareena
On Aaltonen Motorsport's website this question is posed regarding winter driving "Have you ever dreamed of being able to keep your car under full control while looking through the side window to see where you are going?"
Aaltonen Motorsport's' Arctic Driving Experience
One would have to believe that is one downright handy skill to have grooved should your side window unexpectedly became perpendicular to the road. Understanding the dynamics of a full-on automotive ice slide is the focus of this unique driver training opportunity, although a totally revamped perspective of all your driving abilities is the overall benefit.
Retired professional racer Tino Aaltonen is the head instructor for the Arctic Driving Experience. Tino is the third generation of racing drivers in the Aaltonen family. The Aaltonen Motorsport training courses are based on the unique training methods created by Tino's father, Rauno Aaltonen, Rauno is a motorsports legend (see Finnish K&N Importer Aaltonen Motorsport - Created by Three Generations of Racing).
Drivers from around the world travel to Finland to participate in
the unique snow and ice driving school.
Rauno Aaltonen began his coaching career while he was still professionally competing in rallies and races. A group of prominent German racers, respecting Rauno's often
completely original driving techniques, asked whether he would provide them with training and coaching. This was in the early ‘70's, during the period that Finnish rally drivers ruled the rally world.
The Aaltonen Arctic Driving Experience was introduced in 1991
The popularity and success of that program grew exponentially each year. In 1991 Tino introduced the first winter weather specific driver training course called the Aaltonen Arctic Driving Experience. The annual event is held in eastern Finland, at the breathtaking Tahkovuori winter sport resort. The course used during the training is on an actual frozen lake in the middle of untouched, pristine Finnish nature. The Arctic Driving Experience is known for the extensive practical training, the theory portion of the training is very comprehensive, although as brief as possible.
Aaltonen's philosophy has long been that driving is something you learn by doing - not by studying.
"Our participants come from all over the world, they are truly an international group. Most guests do not have the chance to really ever experience the limits of their car, nor their own limits and reactions. The Aaltonen Arctic Driving
Experience improves their abilities on both the race track and in tricky situations on normal roads," says Tino.
"We coach in groups, with the emphasis of the training set on individualism. The course participants are divided into very small groups, which are based on their individual skill levels and target goals. Therefore, we are very close to delivering a one-on-one coaching experience. All drivers have areas where their skills are less developed than others. Even top drivers have weak areas. Because of our many years of experience, we can quickly diagnose those areas and address them. It is all about the
maximum learning experience in a minimum of time."
The training begins with basic car control maneuvers and advances towards more difficult performance driving tasks. In order to maximize car control at the very limits of high speeds, the MINI Coopers are equipped with ice rally tires. At the end of the training, participants get the opportunity to pit their newly acquired race skills against the clock on the closed course, to discover who truly is the champion of the ice track learning experience.
The cars used for the training have several specific modifications to ensure the ultimate performance during the challenging winter conditions. "Not many people understand the problems air filters encounter. The filter has to work equally well in the searing heat and dust, as well as in the arctic cold, both in dry and very, very wet circumstances," explains Tino.
"We found out back in the 50's about unexpected problems during the winter with the paper filters. The snow melted on the warm paper filter and the humidity reduced the airflow through the filter. Wet paper can be airtight. We did a lot of development with filters, because you need full-power to win a race."
"With K&N Filters on all our training cars there's no need for further testing or experimentation. They are already tested and we know they will be totally reliable, both for ideal power, endurance and fuel consumption. This saves us time so we can stay focused on our work coaching our students,"
summarizes Tino.
The Aaltonen Arctic Driving Experience runs from Dec. 30, 2009 until Jan. 31, 2010 at
Louhosareena in Nilsiä, Finland. The course then continues on frozen Tahko Lake until the end of March.
Paul Brown is an automotive visionary as well as the General Manager for Tiger Racing. His 25 year love for performance and racing has driven Brown to sharpen his skills and achieve or exceed customer satisfaction.
1994 Ford Mustang GT at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
K&N met with Paul Brown at the 2009 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his custom 1994 Ford Mustang GT was on display. "This Mustang was actually on display in 1994 when it was new," said Brown. "It was cool seeing it there 15 years later." Brown's first appearance at SEMA was in 1989 while he worked for Kenny Brown Performance. "In 1993 to 2003 I was at SEMA as the manager for HP Motorsport," he added, "and now as the General Manager for Tiger Racing." Brown's custom 1994 Ford Mustang is equipped with K&N air and oil filters. "I use K&N products because of their consistent performance," said Brown. "K&N filters give us the performance we need along with the protection from contaminants which makes our motors last longer."
Ford Mustang GT with K&N air and oil filters
Brown's primary business is preparing and maintaining vintage race cars and providing track support. "We have also developed a line of carbon fiber race parts for the Mustang," Brown said. "I also do coaching, driver development, product testing and test driving. I've also been hired to compete in a few series as a hired gun like Redline Time Attack and Super Lap Battle."
Tiger Racing's Ford Mustang GT
Paul Brown has completed many modified vehicle projects that include a 2003 ASM Mustang that was a joint project with Ford R&D which featured an Aston Martin paddle shift transmission, 2000 Saleen SR for World Challenge, 2005 Mustang for Ford Mobility, Custom Morgan Aero, 8 GTR's, Ferrari 512M, Alfa T33, Devin SS, Eagle Indy Car and many more. K&N is happy to be a part of Paul Brown's custom projects. "I've been using K&N since 1992. I use the air filters, FIPK air intake kits and K&N oil filters," said Brown. "They perform perfectly as required. I am very happy with the quality of the product. I've used them on my personal vehicles for years."
Recognition for Brown's skill and experience continue to grow around the automotive market. Magazines such as 5.0 Mustang, Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, Grassroots Motorsports, Hot Rod and Super Ford have all featured his handy work.
Next year, 2010, brings new challenges and adventures to Paul Brown and the Tiger Racing Team. "We are looking to defend our NASA AIX Championship, he concluded. "We would also like to compete in the Redline Time Attack Series in 2010."
Casey Currie spent time working with Kyle Leduc and as a driver for Art Schmitt
At age four, Casey Currie began racing motorcycles, and continued to do so on and off for several years, though not professionally. By the time he turned 16, his mom understood that racing was in his blood, but sure wanted him in something a little safer…maybe something with more than two wheels. As luck would have it, Casey's Dad Ray, owner of Currie Enterprises, came to the rescue.
Casey Currie has used K&N filters for as long as he can remember
Currie Enterprises, well known in the off road world, specializes in building rear ends and suspension kits for jeeps and hot rods. In fact, they design, build, modify, test, sell, and install rear end and drive-train products, all under one roof in their 27,000 square-foot complex in Anaheim, California. With humble beginnings in 1959 fabricating and assembling rear ends for personnel carriers, electric carts, tugs, scissor lifts and other specialty vehicles, Currie Enterprises expanded in 1970 into the development of superior aftermarket rear ends for Jeeps. It was not much of a stretch for Dad to build Casey his own race vehicle, which he raced for four years in the stock Jeep Speed class (which of course made Mom breathe a little easier). He then began to feel a familiar pull back into racing motorcycles, and together with cousin Brandon Currie began racing in the Super moto class (which of course had Mom all nervous again, but hey, he was over 20 by then). The decision however was a good one for Casey and Brandon, as they learned a lot about competition and were able to win the # 1 plate after getting 1st place in the AMA Supermoto Lites Team Championship. They then went on to be ranked 5th in the nation in Supermoto on their lime green Kawasaki KXF's.
After a time, Casey felt a calling by the great outdoor spaces, and became involved in the courses of Championship Off Road Racing (CORR). He spent time working with Kyle Leduc & the Leduc team, and as a driver for Art Schmitt, he ran in CORR's Pro Lite division behind the wheel of a Nissan Frontier, with a number of podiums during the 2007 CORR Pro Lite series.
Having learned a great deal about the sport by then and also having a strong entrepreneurial spirit in his blood, Casey formed Casey Currie Motorsports in 2007. His company not only builds race trucks, they do everything associated with the sport in-house. Today, Casey and his team race in The Off Road Championship (TORC) series, sponsored By TRAXXAS, which was formalized in 2008 to unify formerly fragmented short-course drivers and organizations into a cohesive nationwide series. TORC events are packed with flag-to-flag fender banging as drivers push the limits over whoop and jump filled natural terrain racetracks.
"This year, we were able to win two rounds under the lights, one at the Texas Motor Speedway in round one, and the other the last round at Las Vegas Motor Speedway," says Casey. "And with the younger, edgier fan base that TORC attracts, there's nothing like coming under the flag a winner to the screams of this kind of crowd."
Casey has used K&N filters for as long as he can remember. "They make the best filters for my trucks and motorcycles when I train" says Casey, "So when I met one of their representatives at a show, serious discussions ensued, and it only fit like a piece of a puzzle when we formalized a partnership. I know for a fact that when I run a K&N air filter, it increases airflow and collects more dirt than any other brand. And the oil filters flow more oil and collect more metal than any other filter."
With this kind of race history behind him, and at only age 26, there's no telling what else Casey has in store for him, but you can bet it'll be fun, and that K&N will be right there with him!
The 2009 Pro Pulling League (PPL) season has been a year full of success and broken records. Increased payouts from companies including K&N Filters have enabled an average of 17 Super Modified Tractors to compete at the league's highest level on the Champions Tour. Despite economy concerns, the Lucas Oil PPL saw record-breaking numbers in live event attendance nationwide over the previous year. Due to a great 2009 television package, the Lucas Oil PPL could be seen by all motorsports enthusiasts on ESPN2, Speed Channel, and Versus.
Knoxville 2009
"Our competitors on a nightly basis punish their machines to try to gain a victory over the toughest pulling competitors," says John Mears of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. John has been with the league since its inception in 2006 as one of the co-creators of the largest pulling sanctioning body in the United States. "K&N Filters have a high-quality product that can stand some of the most stressful situations on the planet," he continues, "which in turn keeps them on the track and out of the pits."
Dirtslinger with K&N Products
Nancy Weller of Taneytown, Maryland is the 2009 East Coast Pullers Champion and has been pulling for 13 years. Nancy leads somewhat of a double-life, as she pulls on the weekends and is a Public Defender for Baltimore City during the weekdays. "When I show up to court in my suit and heels and I tell them what I do on the weekends, it's always a big surprise," says Weller.
Nancy Weller is the 2009 East Coast Pullers Champion
Weller drives "Hot Damn" in the Modified Tractors class along with her teammate and father, Earl Howard. "When I started in 1996, there was a ton of pressure on me for being a woman in a male-dominated sport," she says. "It made my push to win even stronger."
K&N Filters is a contingency sponsor of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. "The drivers and competitors of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League are extremely product-loyal," says Mears. "Hence, they trust their high-horsepowered machines on the track with K&N, which transfers to their daily drivers. When fans and spectators talk shop in the pits, they realize that K&N is truly the best air filter on the market."
For the 2010 season, the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League will stop at a few new venues across the United States and the upcoming season's television package will be released in the near future.
