Last Year of Modified? Question

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by SPS

Robert/ Rich:

I think that most of us involved at the time would argue about the cost or sophistication of the Modified cars of the time. {yes, this was 30 years ago, not today} . These were well-built cars , as good as the parts available.
Examples would be Arlen Fadley's Maverick,{one of my toughest competitors}, arguably one of the first body-in-white cars ever built. Or my own Camaro, built in the mid 70's with a 4-link under the stock floor and stock frame rails {within the rules of the time}.

Remember, we raced at least 3 times a week and made probably 4 times as many runs a year as today.

I don't agree that it took buckets of money to race or be competitive as I sure didn't have a lot.. Instead , hard work and determination was the key to success. No crying when you got beat. Instead you went home and went to work. {sometimes I'm amazed we did that much work}

One of the best parts in my memory of Modified was the recognition by your competition when you ran well. No hard feelings here, just excellent competition by a close-knit group of racers with the same competitive spirit.

FJ

FJ,

Gonna agree with Rich here again. You were one of the best and I too, consider you above the average for racers of that and any era.

I'll respectfully disagree with the money aspect , from both my and a friends perspective that campaigned a couple of modifieds. I won't argue with you regarding the work part. You always had to work on these things. Both to make them run, as well as the constant maintenance they required.

Here in my neck of the woods, a good friend of mine, Toby Meek, built a Boss 302 powered Maverick. Never could get that thing to run faster than an 11.90. Later in the 70's he and his brother built a D/MC Pinto with the 2000cc engine. That one was respectable, took alot of work to get it there. By the time they got it to work, the class was dissolved. My own attempt was a 67 Mustang, that I never had the money to purchase the right parts for. The 289 Windsor just didn't have the parts availability they enjoy today. It sure taught me how to fix things. That thing could destroy everything from the clutch on back.

Someone else asked about flywheels. I had a 50lb Weber behind mine. Worst thing I tried was a solid center Ram clutch, that thing was brutal.

Robert Swartz