‘Spiderman’ Breaks Two Drag Racing World Records: Throwback Thursday

By S.J. Bryan - April 9, 2020

What’s cooler than making history at 258.27 mph?

The famous Manufacturer’s Cup Final at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Geogia, is one that will not soon be forgotten thanks to a speeding flash on two wheels named Larry “Spiderman” McBride, who in 2017 managed to shatter not one but two world records.

McBride achieved greatness when he broke one record for speed, reaching a staggering 258.27 mph on a quarter-mile run. The second record, for elapsed time, clocked him running a quarter-mile in a mere 5.611 seconds.

So what is it like to reach such heights in the racing world? McBride told The Daily Press that it is “just hard to put into words what it’s like to go that fast.”

McBride, just under 60 years old, has been racing for 30 years. Throughout the course of his career, he has broken several records, including elapsed time world records. He also became the first racer to run under 6.0 seconds.

It must be in his blood, because when he’s not tearing up the track, McBride runs a motorcycle repair and fabrication shop, Cycle Specialists in Newport News, which he runs with his brother Steve, who says of his breakneck bro “He’s a freaking genius at building this stuff. He understands the physics, how everything places in the chassis and designs every piece just right.”

McBride has a dedicated team behind him, the natural talent, as well as a wealth of experience. But don’t expect him to slow down anytime soon. “I’ll definitely keep racing for sure for a couple of more years because I’ve got such great help and it’s still my passion.”