Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Give us more details, several old modified UMTR cars from Ohio would make that trip in April.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Yea Pohill you would have to. The SS production guys would have to run Econo Modified classes to make this work. I had my right eye injured yesterday and cant see out of it. My son was reading this to me when I replied. I will get on this first of the week when I can see again and go from there. I cant drive, he even told me not to watch TV or read. Boy this is fun sitting ina dark house.

Herb Jr

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Hope you get better !

I myself am interested, Can you PM me contact information or post a contact number as im very interested in talking about it with you, i would like to attend

Again, hope you get to feeling better, that not a good way to be sitting around

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Mr. Herb, Race sounds like a great idea, would be excellent if week before Rock, since I live in Ohio. This way I could just stay over and attend nat. event the following weekend. That would be a good break from the hard winters here. Thanks Joe Buchanan As a kicker maybe we could get some people with some "pull" to maybe hit up some sponsors, Maybe some cash or free stuff, you know racers love free stuff.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

If I was together I would be there, We would need to leave the stuff somewhere too. so I could fly home,
I probably wont be ready until later in the year ( if I am lucky)

SS/CS with an Automatic, sorry

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Herb runs Piedmont... www.piedmontdragway.com They've been extremely proactive in having and supporting S/SS Combo races in front of a good crowd. Even got coverage on YouTube!

Video coverage of Piedmont Dragway's Stock/Super Stock Combo, July 3rd, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwotsemoWvQ

Video coverage of the Triad Thunder Series at Piedmont Dragway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU_fPMlfI2c


Hey Herb, if y'all do this, give me plenty of notice, and I'll pitch in something like "Modified Lives!" Participant decals or some such. :cool: Get well, soon!

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

I for one would like to see it all door cars, this would keep the overall speeds down and keep the ET's closer for instance 9.50 being chased by 7. something dragster, just my opinion. While racing in Mod. the most common complaint I heard was "damn dragsters" I believe it was the direct cause of quite a few racers either moving to SS or just putting their stuff up. Don't get me wrong I'm not against fast dragsters I just feel they have plenty of classes to race in T.D. Q.R. what do you do with a fast Econo Mod. or alterd door car? Either way if this race does get ran I'm there, like I said in the initial post IHRA isn't going to ask us if we'd like them to bring back a form of Mod, however if they see that the racers are willing to support itWell... Every journey begins with the first step. Joe Buchanan

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

In my mind, the modifieds I know and love are stick shift doorslammers. No dragsters or automatics.

The only car worth watching in that 9 minute clip was the stick shift Nova that went 3 rounds
Video coverage of Piedmont Dragway's Stock/Super Stock Combo, July 3rd, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwotsemoWvQ

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Mr, Evans thank you, this is what I was looking for, I have a car that I believe would fit a Mod. class and I know at least 5 other racers that do also. That makes 6 and counting. Thanks Joe Buchanan

THANK YOU - FOR THE INTEREST AND STARTING THIS THREAD



I think racers and fans alike would be interested in reviving the category. But this time around make it a doorslammer only class, and forget about weight breaks for using automatics-Door cars with manual transmissions only!

While I am in this thread let me give a shout out to Doyle Evans!

NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU MIKE, READY TO JUMP IN?


Ok guys at a track operator Ill make this offer. You get me 20 cars Modified type, now SS production cars can run as well but we will call it Modified, and I will do a race for it.

1000 win
300 RU
150 Semi
75 1/4's


I know this isnt alot but its a start. My brother and I have had a TON on our plate the last year but have now figured out how to run a track and not let a track run us. As always Xtreme Motorsports will pay 100.00 bonus to any stick car that wins a race at Piedmont. So its really 1100 to win. If we have enough we could have the first race in April before Rockingham National..

Herb Jr

HERB WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CLASS RACERS!



DOYLE

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Anthony Bertozzi
Given the way the 2007 season turned out for Anthony Bertozzi, he should think about taking it easy more often.
That's because even though the he followed through with his plan to spend a large portion of the summer relaxing in Virginia Beach, Bertozzi, 41, still managed to pull off a rare feat by capturing both the Stock Eliminator and Super Stock IHRA World Championships.

No one has ever won both the Stock Eliminator and Super Stock championships in the same season before, but 2007 was the fourth time that Bertozzi has won two IHRA championships in the same season. In 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000, he won the top honors in both the Super Stock and Modified Divisions. Including the two championships he won in 2007, Bertozzi has won 16 IHRA world championships and one NHRA championship.

"I loved the old Modified division because that was a non-electronics class," he says. Bertozzi was the IHRA Modified champion in 1994 through 1997 and again in 1999 and 2000. IHRA dropped the Modified division from its championship slate after the 2002 season

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

2009 will be a better year for class racers at Piedmont Dragway now with this Modified idea it can only get better. How about we allow open bodied cars but run open bodies and door cars seperate. Hell we could even run sticks and autos seperate as long as possible.

Herb
PiedmontDragway.com

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

With all due respect, Herb. ( and I mean respect- it can't be easy to run a drag strip and put up with racers),
I believe this thread was started with the intent ( correct me if I'm wrong, Joe) of resurrecting a semblance of the modified production class car that was so popular in the 70s-80s. A high winding small block 5 speed car. Adding open body cars and automatics to the idea kills it with me before it gets started. The only reason people long for the "modified days" - it was a stick shift only class. Wild, unpredictable runs were the norm. To me, allowing an automatic car run in a modified class is blasphemy.
Herb, make it a REAL modified catagory or don't bother.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Thats fine, BUT their are few sticks out there today like that so you have to go with the trend - Sticks or Automatics, just make the payout higher for stick cars

Open body cars, i dont think that would work well

What about CID limits? What would they be, 335? 360? 355?

There would have to be rules such as any 23° head with any mods N/A or something to keep the class like Pro Stock {tight racing}

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

If you want to get the car counts necessary for ANY class to survive you have to allow as many cars that are currently legal in various classes to be able to participate. So you have to allow autos and automated shifters and front wheel drive conversions etc.. sure you can leave the dragsters out because there would only be a few that are still around. And you'll probably have to dial in or some comp racer will come in and stink up the show. I can understand everyone has a fond memory but those days are long gone. It has to be a profitable venture for the tracks and easy for the racers too. If you have to completely change your car from the way you normally run it in IHRA or NHRA competition, people won't come. I'm sorry if this offends or bums out any of you ole diehards but its just the facts given the state of economics these days. If the race was run in conjunction with a large event weekend in enough advance notice so people could plan and work it out in their schedule that might help out the car count alot. Maybe even run it on a Weds or Thurs before Rockingham and then all people would have to do is take one additional day off to attend. And that would be kinda like the old days too where you'd race a couple times each week.. just a random thought...

Oh yeah, hey sst1988 wipe your chin...

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Heck I'd probably even be willing to send a $100 to the track as a collection for a fund to pump up the purse, even if I couldn't attend. If enough people could chip in a donation, you could have a much larger purse and that would bring the car count!

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

I'll say this much.
Look at the response and the views this thread is getting. Looks like a lot of potential players and a lot of interest.

It would be nice if Jerico or G-Force or someone like that would come up to the plate.
Remember factory modified!!!!

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Did someone say high winding small blocks with 5 speed transmissions??

Well here is a feast for ya, I am thinking this was late 70's in Houston....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7afhmO0jrOI

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Here is another video from the same event I think.....gotta love the vette at the end :)

Doyle, I will be jumping in soon enough, will be getting started on the car really soon. But if you are lookin' a driver for the Vette just remeber what I always say-

'Have helmet, will travel!' :) :)

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Guys and girls, sorry for the triple post. I left the link to the vid out on the previous post and couldn't edit it to paste the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMzj8RfPh9A&NR=1

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Mike,

The way I drive, I need a hired gun. I bought the camaro to have fun while I hope to have the vette ready by spring (with a third pedal).

Take care.

DE

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

One of the big problems in communication about this subject is NOMENCLATURE.
A lot of times, two guys will be saying the same thing, or wanting the same thing, but saying something else, because they have the NAMES wrong.
.
Here's what I mean:

Modified Eliminator was an Eliminator "bracket" that was comprised of a variety of different types of cars that ran a variety of different CLASSES. There were Modified Production-CLASSED cars, which were a lot like a Super Stocker with a full-race engine, but the engine and chassis had to come from the same manufacturer (a Ford engine in a Ford body, etc.) Gas Coupe classed cars which were full race engines in any body you wanted, but with a 10-percent engine-setback rule. also ran in MODIFIED ELIMINATOR, Street Roadsters (open cars) with basically the same rules as Gas Coupes (10-percent setback cars) did, too..

Within these individual CLASSES, there were A, B, C, and so-on, depending on pounds per cubic inch.
For example, a B Gas Coupe would have to weigh 9 pounds per cubic inch; a C Gasser would have to weigh 11 pounds per cubic inch, and so-on. They also had separate classes just for 6-cylinder and 4-cyinder cars, And, later on, compact cars like VW's small Toyotas, etc.

So, you had MODIFIED ELIMINATOR made up of a lot of different kinds of cars, among them, MODIFIED PRODUCTION cars.

People get things confused when they start lumping Modified ELIMINATOR, an eliminator bracket, with Modified PRODUCTION, which is a type of class.

I think that has happened here.

So, it looks to me like what the bulk of the people who have posted on this thread really want is a place for MODIFIED PRODUCTION cars to race, not Modified Eliminator cars, which would then exclude the 10-percent setback Gas Coupes and "open" Srreet Roadsters, both of which were a part of Modified ELIMINATOR back in the day when that Eliminator existed.

Insofar as transmission usage goes, there definitely were Modified Production cars at the time that used automatics as well as manual transmissions. I remember watching Earl Britt's record-holding inline six, 1954 Corvette run at Marion, South Dakota with a Turbo Hydro many times, for example.

That doesn't mean you have to allow automatics NOW, with a new set of rules, but don't think tthere weren;t Modified Production classed cars with automatics back then, because there were.

And as far as I can recall, NHRA never had a class called "Factory Modified." I have slept since the '70s, so I surely could be wrong about that, but I really can't remember ever hearnig about a class called "Factory Modifed." "Factory Experimental," yes... There was A/FX, B/FX, and C/FX for cars like the Z-11 '63 Chevys, the '63 421 Pontiac Tempests, and other cars that didn't qualify for Super Stock for whatewver reason (most often, too few were built.)

I think this idea for a new Eliminator (maybe with different CLASS weight breaks, or not) featuring exciting, high winding small blocks, AND, perhaps, heavier Big Block cars, with manual transmissions, is a great idea, but as someone said earlier, in order to ensure a lot of active participation, it MAY be necessary to allow automatics to run, maybe with some sort of incentive for the stick cars.

I hope I didn't insult anyone's intelligence by posting this. I realize that most of you have been around dtag racing for a long time, and probably already knew everything I said... but the confusion that seems to result when somebody says "CLASS" when they mean "ELIMINATOR" causes a lot of mis-understanding in a discussion like this. And I believe it's really unnecessary, when you think about it.

Bring back Modified.... Production!!!! :)

Bill

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Bill,

The Factory Modified category was an IHRA eliminator back in the '80s and early nineties.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Factory Modified had Garley & Randy Daniels, Nickens,Patterson,Freeman, and a lot of other NHRA heavies. Small block pro stock!

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

True that, and if I recall correctly there were some v-6's in the category though not many.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Thanks for that info!!! I have never lived where they had IHRA tracks, so I'm really ignorant about IHRA classses. Sorry 'bout that! :(

Bill

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Hey Ray, remember the great Modified days of Dragway 42, Norwalk, and Marion County?
Every weekend there was over 30 cars at each track, long live the good old days!
http://www.nitrojoes.com/scratnova.gif
http://www.nitrojoes.com/NOVABURNOUT.jpg

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

this is a great topic.and let's not forget about dennis mitchell's monza in factory modified.let's not forget that the organization (nhra and ihra) are all governed by their own greed they do away with anything that has fan appeal ala modified production,factory modified and also pro stock truck.all because of crybaby top fuel and funny cars aren't the top draw.the automatic trans manufactuer's spend alot of money in these organization's to get advantages such air shifters and weight breaks and in some cases soft index's and adjutable trans break buttons.why is it fair that a automatic get advantages where the stick shift doesn't get air shifters.if you level the playing field the stick shift will be competitive again.i say build it and they will come,20cars ina race i think will be surpassed by 3times that amountand fans by the thousands.i will be there to spectate and enjoy,until my car is done and i will join in the fun to live the dream of yesterday and tomorrow.long live modified production.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Not speaking on his behalf, but I bet that Beaver Bob would make a similar offer... get the cars, and have a race. Beaver Springs Dragway in Pennyslvania already does two Nostalgia Super Stock shows, the Nostalgia Nationals, run in conjunction with the York Reunion, and a separate race called Flashback Friday. Sounds like something that would be up his alley.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

I would venture to say most IHRA modified cars were automatics. For those that want exclusive stick cars they can run w/the "gear jammers" organization. They are basically ex-modified cars and put on a good show. They run predominently in the Carolina's and VA I think. Mike Boyles, James Stoneman, and Rick Nicolau (spell?) to name a few run w/ these guys on a regular basis and I know they had at least 20-25 cars at the Roxboro race last month.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

I would love to see the class revisited, I for one would start building a new car tomorrow if IHRA was to reinstate the class. My Father lost 95% of his interest in racing when IHRA killed the class and My Brother and I would build a car in an instant just because we know how much he thought of that class. Of course we were one of those dreaded G/Econo Dragster groups, and that is what we would build if the class was reborn. Man those were some good times!

Big Charlie's Garage

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

there was alot of people that lost interest after the demise's of modified,and also i think in the last few years of modified there were alot of auto's,but every time i read about the class there was quite a few stick shift chevy2's and camaro's that where competitive and going rounds.as far as attacking people for opinions,wouldn't be great to have fans coming just to see the cars again.herbjr i would love to see you do this for everybody's enjoyment.but mostly for the racers like joey's dad and my dad who raced modified production in the early 70's,and partnered up with my cousin to build another one in the late 70's.by the time they got the car done it was 1981 and we all know what happened then.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

With all due respect and having a race with as many cars as possible would be nice lets allow only TRUE 4 SPEEDS none of these trannys we have today.........with that being said no we cant do that...if they fit the old rules from 2000 they can race. Wt break for auto and everything.....No heads up runs.....I have been talking to a few people already, we have some big ideas for this and we cant exclude anyone.

I can put you guys in front of 4000 spectators if you can race on Friday July 3rd, and if you have never raced at a local track on a Thursday or Friday night in front of a packed house you dont know what your missing.

Ok so what about July 2nd and 3rd, Ill do a Stock SS combo on Friday and a Modified only race on Thursday July 2nd.

Feedback Please....

Herb jr

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

We DO race at local tracks in front of a packed house EVERY time we race - UMTR stick shift ONLY races.
Yes, spectators will PACK THE HOUSE to watch JUST stick cars.
I think you are not giving the potential draw of a stick shift only modified production class race much of a chance before automatically (no pun intended) thinking you need automatic cars to make it a show.
Trust me on this one, NOBODY is interested in watching automatic cars. It's like going to a "gasser reunion" and discovering most of the "gassers" are just powerglide posers. Spectators are confused because, while the cars still look cool, they just don't seem exciting like they remembered it back in the day. Why ? Because instead of seeing a bumper dragging stick shift Willys, they see a powerglide that just sort of scoots off the line and doesn't bounce all over the track like a stick car does. BORING.
If you do decide on a manual transmission modified production race, I and several other UMTR racers will tow 8+ hours to be there to support this great idea ( if it doesn't conflict with the regular UMTR schedule- July 3rd is a conflict for us).
On the other hand, I have zero interest in racing against automatics. 10 stick cars racing side by side are more exciting to watch than 200 automatics. Make that 500 automatics.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Mr. Herb, I can only speak for myself it would be more beneficial for me at least if tis race was ran maybe just prior to a Nat. or Div. race in the same area, I've not really had a chance to look at all the schedules yet. For some of us "up north" 10 maybe 12 hour drive this would be like killing 2 birds with one stone. I've also seen some conflicting ideas as to how this should be ran, can't say I agree with stick cars only,even though for over 20 years that's all I ran, there just aren't enough competitive, and by that I mean able to run under the index which is what mod. in all forms was designed for. I could really bring either car the Stick or the auto so it really isn't a deal breaker for me, however we have to face it the number of stick cars that could run "under" is pretty low.Me personally I'd like to see it run ALL door cars, mainly because the average spectator identifies with the door cars they've all seen a camaro, dart, mustang etc. To me one dragster pretty much looks like all the other dragsters,not putting anyone down, I've seen some dragsters that really impressed me a 4 cyl. 5-speed going low 8's I don't care who you are that is impressive. But for the most part when we ran Mod. it was big block and some small block chevys, I hope you get the point.I guess you put it out there when asking for suggestions, these are some of mine. Thanks Joe Buchanan SS/AX SS/BX 3117 First I think the racers would have to agree on the format and other considerations, heck heads up runs that was alot of the appeal of Mod. go fast or go home, believe me we were on both ends of that one.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Its real simple....get me 20 cars.....I can put on a race. as I said in my origional post. If 20 dont show up then we will fill the field with LEGAL Modified cars that have automatics. So you telling me a SSC nova that can run CMP, in IHRA can run but Jim Reynolds SSAM 57 Chevy cant run. I think you need to crawl before you walk and telling people they cant race when they ran Modified for 20 years isnt fair either. Besides how many track operators have come on here and said "GIVE ME 20 CARS AND ILL GIVE YOU GUYS A PLACE TO RACE".......


Herb Jr

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

Man I'm sorry if I upset someone, It's not my place to say who races and who doesn't, I'm just voicing my opinion, of how "I' would like things to be. I know trying to get 10 people to agree on the same thing is pretty hard to do much less 10 dragracers, we all seem to have our own ideas as to what is ideal, I'm not trying to sway anyone to my way of thinking, heck that would be scary Anyone who knows me can atest to that. I'm reminded of that famous phrase" can"t we all just get along?" and as usual the answer is a resounding"NO" I would however like to read anyones ideas of how to make this work be it short term as in the race at piedmont or long term as in IHRA evaluating some sort of revival of this class in some form. THanks Joe Buchanan

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

pick specified heads for ford chevy and mopar, big and small block, very few mods and run off an index.

Re: Interest in Modified?
 

i for one respect what herb is trying to do. i also run a strip at bethany mo. www.headsup-racing.com. you not only can not make everyone happy, you usually can not make anyone happy. that being said i for one want to run off of an index. i can bracket run at eddyville. if we wanted to run just manual cars in bracket form we could run with the super shifters. good group, just not my cup of tea.