Who had the most successful Modified Production car?

Bobby Bennett · 08-14-2011, 09:55 PM

74-75 -77

ihra

Ed Wright · 08-14-2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Bennett

74-75 -77

ihra

That's what I thought. :-)
Water was not as deep "over there." I ran with both back then.
I think he ran a Camaro (orange?) in IHRA Super Modified later? Believe I ran him at Oklahoma City once. Royce Freeman won and I runner-upped with our NHRA (more restrictive rules) cars. My C/SM was over-weight. 1/2 lb lighter weight break, and I had none I could pull. Ricky Smith came with the Maverick next time and killed us along with everybody else. lol

NWDragracing · 08-14-2011, 10:32 PM

I always felt the demise of Modified Production was caused when the Samurai Warrior Mazda started to win over the piston powered racer cars. I recall someone sharing that NHRA was getting a lot of flack from performance parts manufacturers because there were no valve train components, no pistons, crank, rods, etc...on a rotary engine...then add the noise factor... 10X

Scotty D · 08-14-2011, 11:55 PM

wasn't coleman roddy the champ in 81 the year of the demise.also didn't the wayne county boys have some fast mp cars as well.

NWDragracing · 08-15-2011, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty D

wasn't coleman roddy the champ in 81 the year of the demise.also didn't the wayne county boys have some fast mp cars as well.

Wayne County had the Opel running in B/G class.

http://www.competitionplus.com/index...4304&Itemid=24

The last Modified race was the 1981 NHRA Finals at Orange County with Larry Kopp against Paul Mercure.

Bob Rice · 08-15-2011, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty D

wasn't coleman roddy the champ in 81 the year of the demise.also didn't the wayne county boys have some fast mp cars as well.

Mike Edwards was the 81 World Champ.
Bob Rice

Dwight Southerland · 08-15-2011, 08:33 AM

Maybe we need a little clarification here. Be sure to note if you are talking about a Modified Production car or a car that ran Modified Eliminator. Modified Eliminator included Gas classes, Modified Compact, Street Roadsters and Super Modified in its lifetime. True MP cars should also recognize Bob Riffle in the early days along with Don Grotheer, Butch Leal and Dick Landy out of the Chrysler camp. Mike Fons and Dennis Ferrara made people stand up and take notice of the big block cars. Blevins was very successful in the early days. I would think that Kopp, Mercure or Cotton Perry would be the standouts for having won the most NHRA national races. Buddy Ingersoll also won a few national events along with Jim Ehlen and Crawford Benham. Modified Eliminator standouts should also include Bruce Sizemore, the late Billy Mansell of the Minga & Mansell team, Don Coonce, Don Bowles and Tony Christian.

Rich Biebel · 08-15-2011, 09:04 AM

The SummerNationals I mentioned earlier '78 or '79 I can't remember was an awesome event for Modified.

Garley , Terry Hoard in the Mazda and Billy Mansell were the 3 fastest cars.

The Mazda was hideous in looks and sound but it ran way under and would probably win every race if it didn't break...

Mansell won that race I think......

MEMORIES · 08-17-2011, 11:29 AM

removed.

Dan Bennett · 08-17-2011, 03:23 PM

I'm surprised that I haven't seen Isonhood mentioned. Maybe I missed it along the way.

Though Division 1 always had some stout door cars, Division 4 had a real murderer's row when it came to Modified.

The same Opel raced by Patterson and Wayne County wound up with Mike Edwards at one time also. I can't remember if it was his deal alone or something to do with Nickens when he worked for him.

Back in the 70s, even the little 1/8 mile tracks around here would hold a $1000 race a couple of time a year. The local guys loved it but then Hielscher would start dropping in and then Wayne County followed. Their Camaro was bad enough, but when they started racing the Opel most of the local guys pretty much just threw their hands up.

08-14-2011, 09:55 PM	#1
Bobby Bennett Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 67 Likes: 0 Liked 14 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? 74-75 -77 ihra

08-14-2011, 10:32 PM	#3
NWDragracing Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 40 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? I always felt the demise of Modified Production was caused when the Samurai Warrior Mazda started to win over the piston powered racer cars. I recall someone sharing that NHRA was getting a lot of flack from performance parts manufacturers because there were no valve train components, no pistons, crank, rods, etc...on a rotary engine...then add the noise factor... 10X

08-14-2011, 11:55 PM	#4
Scotty D Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? wasn't coleman roddy the champ in 81 the year of the demise.also didn't the wayne county boys have some fast mp cars as well.

08-15-2011, 08:33 AM	#7
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,002 Likes: 64 Liked 783 Times in 195 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? Maybe we need a little clarification here. Be sure to note if you are talking about a Modified Production car or a car that ran Modified Eliminator. Modified Eliminator included Gas classes, Modified Compact, Street Roadsters and Super Modified in its lifetime. True MP cars should also recognize Bob Riffle in the early days along with Don Grotheer, Butch Leal and Dick Landy out of the Chrysler camp. Mike Fons and Dennis Ferrara made people stand up and take notice of the big block cars. Blevins was very successful in the early days. I would think that Kopp, Mercure or Cotton Perry would be the standouts for having won the most NHRA national races. Buddy Ingersoll also won a few national events along with Jim Ehlen and Crawford Benham. Modified Eliminator standouts should also include Bruce Sizemore, the late Billy Mansell of the Minga & Mansell team, Don Coonce, Don Bowles and Tony Christian.

08-15-2011, 09:04 AM	#8
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,320 Likes: 25 Liked 557 Times in 217 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? The SummerNationals I mentioned earlier '78 or '79 I can't remember was an awesome event for Modified. Garley , Terry Hoard in the Mazda and Billy Mansell were the 3 fastest cars. The Mazda was hideous in looks and sound but it ran way under and would probably win every race if it didn't break... Mansell won that race I think...... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R Last edited by Rich Biebel; 08-15-2011 at 09:07 AM.

08-17-2011, 11:29 AM	#9
MEMORIES Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 298 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? removed. Last edited by MEMORIES; 08-26-2011 at 12:10 PM.

08-17-2011, 03:23 PM	#10
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 449 Likes: 880 Liked 609 Times in 140 Posts	Re: Who had the most successful Modified Production car? I'm surprised that I haven't seen Isonhood mentioned. Maybe I missed it along the way. Though Division 1 always had some stout door cars, Division 4 had a real murderer's row when it came to Modified. The same Opel raced by Patterson and Wayne County wound up with Mike Edwards at one time also. I can't remember if it was his deal alone or something to do with Nickens when he worked for him. Back in the 70s, even the little 1/8 mile tracks around here would hold a $1000 race a couple of time a year. The local guys loved it but then Hielscher would start dropping in and then Wayne County followed. Their Camaro was bad enough, but when they started racing the Opel most of the local guys pretty much just threw their hands up.