Team "Check Mate"

[BRIAN SEATE]

These pictures and stories are really great. I grew up on the I.H.R.A. side of things so I appreciate the opportunity to see these awesome MODIFIED cars of yore. My dad stood with me as a kid at Rockingham on top end during qualifying. I will never forget the sounds that came from those stick Corvettes,Novas,and Camaros. My uncles ran S/S stick Camaros back then. One year we pitted beside Coleman and Johns on the pavement. They were running a black gas class Camaro back then. These guys had a stuffed rattlesnake in the trunk area. We sat and watched people jump back in complete panic,those guys thought it was a riot.The old days at Rockingham on the pavement were great(before motor homes).Everything ends but there is a place for everyone. The stick clubs are great and local combo races are wonderful. I miss the S.C.R.A. these were great races as well. This was a group of class racers that came about when Billy Meyer bought the I.H.R.A. They raced throughout N.C. and V.A. Modified ran together until one was standing,then they were mixed with the stockers and super stockers. I watched my heroes dump the clutches as they manually shifted their rides. This was before the soft clutch set ups,there was a great deal of skill involved. Do you remember Bill Bethea,Strawberry Dixon, Gene Fryer,Dane Pearson and Kenny Melton. My uncle said he actually saw Dane Pearson throw a rod on the starting line at Roxboro. These guys were awesome plain and simple. Outside of my family, these are my greatest memories. I also remember Rusty Davenport running a Corvette coupe, he drove the car very well. r.p.m+stick=cool