Jay and Janette both wrapped up their wins with the National Hot Rod Association on Nov. 6 out in Las Vegas at the LODRS event to close out their seasons in style, repeat championship style that is. Jay also closed out his 2016 season with the IHRA a bit earlier on Aug. 13 with his domination of the Nitro Harley class culminating with his back-to-back wins with the IHRA.

While Jay is very happy to have repeat Nitro Harley championships with the IHRA and an NHRA T/F Harley championship for 2016, perhaps the biggest question is, will this be his last IHRA Nitro Harley championship for a while? As of the first week of November 2016, no IHRA schedule for 2017 has yet been posted or even hinted at. Will the Nitro Harleys return in 2017? Will there be an IHRA in 2017? If so, what form or roll will the professional classes play in IHRA racing next season? Serious questions without answers remain as of this writing.

On Nov. 9-13 -- that’s right five days -- the ManCup motorcycle drag racing sanction will be hosting their annual Mann Hill Garage, World Finals event, which seems to grow every year as the “Big Go” for motorcycle drag racing.

The traditional event in the first five years of MANCUP racing was always billed as a traditional three-day event, but for the first time this year, the DME $10,000, ALL Star Shoot Out is set to begin on Thursday, with qualifying (2) and eliminations (2) taking place a day ahead of the traditional Friday launch. Add to this a lazy day test and tune for all racers on Wednesday and viola, you have it: five days of motorcycle drag racing.

Staff members of South Georgia Motorsports Park labored well into the night on Tuesday, Nov. 8, scraping and grooming the track. ManCup staff was also on hand setting up the midway and laying out the parking spaces. The growth of the event is admirable and bodes well for the future of ManCup racing. With over 800 bikes in competition in 2015 for the World Finals, in 2016 they expanded the event to be sure there was plenty of time to get in all the classes and all the racing.

In fact, the ManCup sanction went as far as to reserve the race track for Monday after the race, in the event the race could not be completed by Sunday night. It’s interesting to note that on social media racers STILL complained that if the race was held over for rain or for any other reason, well, they still reserve the right, in advance mind you, to whine and complain about the potential of perhaps having to race on Monday. Truth be known, you just can’t please everyone no matter how many chances you give them to win.

In between the racing and sounds of cackling nitro motors warming up in the pits, on Sunday during the pre-race ceremony the ManCup sanction will unveil its tribute to Elmer Trett, on this the 20th year anniversary of his passing. The ManCup has created a perpetual award in Elmer’s name, one they are sure he would approve of.

The annual Elmer Trett Memorial Top Fuel Motorcycle - Top Performer award will officially be presented to the public for the first time. This award will be given annually to the Top Fuel motorcycle racer who achieves the fastest Top Fuel bike speed, during sanctioned competition, for that calendar year. All ManCup Top Fuel motorcycle racers are eligible while racing in sanctioned ManCup competition to achieve a place on this award.

The plaque, which measures 9x12” has twelve blank name plates on it and features a granite block area atop it with the likeness of Elmer Trett, laser engraved into it. Beginning with the 2017 ManCup season opening race, the Top Fuel racer with the fastest MPH from the 2016 season will be presented this plaque with their name and top MPH for the previous the season, engraved into their name plate.

Trett was a Top Fuel motorcycle drag racing pioneer who was the first drag bike pilot ever to crest the 200 MPH barrier in sanctioned competition. He did so at the NHRA US Nationals in 1983. Trett was also the first motorcycle drag bike pilot to crest 210, 220, 230 and 235 MPH. Elmer crested 235 MPH in 1996, and still today, some two decades after his passing, there are precious few motorcycles that can travel as fast as he did back in 1996. Elmer Trett was always about speed and top performance, hence the title of the award.

Tragically, Elmer lost his life while racing his Top Fuel motorcycle in 1996. So in his name, to keep the memory of his accomplishments alive, the Elmer Trett Memorial Top Fuel Motorcycle – Top Performer award has been created. Prior to the ManCup final race of the season for 2016, Dave Vantine, who stopped the clocks with a 243-MPH blast in the season opening race, is the leading candidate to be the first to get his name engraved onto the plaque.

Also worthy of note this month, NHRA Pro Stock motorcycles have an interesting battle shaping up going into their final race of the season at Pomona. Teammates for the Vance & Hines sponsored P/S motorcycle effort, Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec of VHR are tied in a dead-heat in points going into the last race of the season. While it’s a no-brainer win for VHR, Andrew Hines is wearing the #1 plate and Krawiec the #2 from last year. Will they swap for their 2016 performance results? We will comment on this next month.