Larry "Spiderman" McBride
Bike: Top Fuel drag bike, 1500-horsepower V-twin
Larry McBride is the seven-time AMA/Prostar Top Fuel Champion. He holds the current performance records of 5.80 seconds and 245 mph. His bike goes from 0 to 100 mph in 1.3 seconds.
Brand: Simpson www.simpsonraceproducts.com
Model: Custom carbon fiber
Price: N/A
Why: "My helmets are custom made for me. At 240 mph you don't want it to move around on your head. The key is it should hurt you until you break it in. I started wearing a Simpson neck brace a few years back because I was getting headaches from my head snapping back from the launch. The helmet is designed to come down in the back to sit on the neck brace. It also has a small face opening because we don't need a whole lot of peripheral vision. The finish line is always right in front of you."
Brand: Vanson www.vansonleathers.com
Model: 7R11
Price: $80.00
Why: "The fit is key. I have long fingers so I am hard to fit. Also they have a lot of Kevlar in them so I like the protection."
Brand: Vanson www.vansonleathers.com
Model: DR2
Price: Base suit $1095.00
Why: "I use the old Dave Schultz rule to have your leathers a little tight. It is racing equipment; it's not supposed to be comfortable. If you want comfort you can sit in your recliner. You don't want your leathers to ball up if you come off. I have come off a bike at 205 mph so I know what it is like. As you get older you get smarter about crashing. You tend to turn the throttle off sooner."
Brand: Bieffe www.bieffeamerica.com
Model: N/A
Price: $125.00
Why: "I found these Bieffe boots and I love them. They have a nice, comfortable fit, double padding and go high up the leg for extra protection. They are a personal preference. They don't make them anymore so I found a company that sold them and bought five pairs. I plan on racing for a while."
Bike: 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Brand: Scorpion www.scorpionusa.com
Model: EXO-700
Price: $230.00 with tinted shield
Why: "I am hooked on Scorpion right now. I have had other helmets and this is the best one I have had by far. The fit, the look, the venting-this helmet is badass. When you are racing and sweating, your helmet can get to smellin', you know what I mean? You can swap out padding and it's like you have a new helmet."
Brand: Bates www.batesleathers.com
Model: Two-Piece Suit
Price: $1650.00
Why: "I gave them measurements over the phone and it fit right the first time. You want it to be a little tight so it doesn't flap in the wind or twist up if you go down."
Brand: Bates www.batesleathers.com
Model: Sport Racing Price: $124.50
Why: "They have real thin leather that lets you feel the throttle and the levers."
Brand: Bates www.batesleathers.com
Model: Fast Lane
Price: $245.00
Why: "The boots have replaceable steel tips that I can replace on my own. I replace them about once a year depending on how much I can test. I work shift work so I can't get to the track as often as I want."