Manufacturers Cup at South Georgia Motorsports Park

Bikes invade Georgia

Words and photos by Marvin T. Smith

Billed as “The largest motorcycle drag race in the world,” the Manufacturers Cup event at South Georgia Motorsports Park lived up to expectations.  Over 500 motorcycles from five countries (United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Aruba) packed the facility and provided awesome performances on Nov. 11-13.

PR Factory Top Fuel headlined the event.  Eleven Top Fuel cycles attempted to qualify for the eight-bike field.  Perennial favorite Larry “Spiderman” McBride struggled through the first two qualifying sessions, leaving the number one spot to the Canadian Nitro Harley bike of Damian Cownden at 6.259 seconds.  However, in the final qualifying session, McBride regained his championship form and ran 5.97 at 240.81 on his Suzuki-based bike to put the Harleys a quarter of a second behind. 

Mile Pelrine of Alberta, Canada, was second at 6.257 forcing Cownden down to third.  The bump spot was 6.427.  In Round One, McBride won easily with a 5.813 (low elapsed time) at 237.09, having a half second advantage over the field.  In Round Two, McBride ran 5.895 at 235 to take out Joey Sternotti’s Harley. In an International battle of Harleys, Tommy Grimes ran 6.220 at 233 to take out Japan’s Takeshi Shigematsu, who slowed to a 6.87.

In the final, Grimes’s 6.33 was no match for the Spiderman’s 6.009. 

Star Racing Pro Comp, a class that combined previous Funny Bike with Pro Modified racers, saw some awesome racing in the sixteen-bike field.  This was the only class contested in an eighth-mile format.  Number one qualifier Ashley Owens (4.08) ran an even better 4.062 but fouled in Round One. 

In the final, Ron Procopio defeated Keith Lynn.  Procopio’s .002 light and 4.148 held off Lynn’s better 4.108 for the holeshot win.

Orient Express Pro Street for “street-type” bikes with no wheelie bar saw some of the best action of the event.  Ryne Schnitz ran a 7.001 at 198 to qualify in the number one position.  During eliminations, both Schnitz’s Hayabusa and Frankie Stotz’s Honda dipped into the 6-second zone, with Stotz getting low elapsed time at 6.981.