September 26, 2007

Super Mods Returning to Michigan

by Ron Verash

This Saturday, the ISMA Super Modifieds are returning to Berlin Raceway. But for many, Super Modifieds are but a distant memory. Some may say "What are they?", some will wonder where they came from?  My first thought on a super is it was a class without much of a rulebook.  

Here is the history of the Super Modified.  After World War II, Stock Car racing became very popular. With the resumption of new car construction, many cars from the 30's were in junkyards throughout the country. The only ovals were horse racing tracks at the County Fairground. In short time, stock car racing was taking over the ovals. Several Farmers, seeking a better source of income, converted their crop fields for race tracks. Down in Indiana, Joe Hamsher was one of the first to do just that. Other tracks included Bob Kitzmiller's track {Kalamazoo, which opened in 1950, the same year as Mottville Speedway}, South Bend, Elkhart Speedway, Osceola, Goshen Fairgrounds, Millburg, Sister Lakes, Hastings, Marne, with countless others. In fact, Hartford Speedway was the old Van Buren Fairgrounds and they ran Horses as well. 

The early racers were basically jalopies, not too fast, wrecked often, and were mostly for fun. As crowds increased, the payoff increased, and the drivers and mechanics were looking for ways to make the car a little faster. Now it was getting a bit more serious. They started cutting off extra weight, souping up the engines, trimming off fenders, learning about stagger with tires, and trying stuff that may not have worked as planned. The name for these cars were called Modifieds. They ran for extra money as the more experienced drivers raced this class, and they found the money to pay for their efforts. 

To the Middle 50's these cars had the frame trimmed down for only the driver to fit inside, little if any body panels, the motors with several modifications, and the gas tank was placed behind the driver. A driver out of Saginaw, Johnny Roberts came to Berlin with a car that was unlike the others. A single-seat upright "modified". The announcer called it a "Super Modified" as she was very quick, and won many races.

Shortly after, many cars were junked, as all the top drivers designed the new stage Super Modified. Running on dirt and asphalt, the competition was reaching a very high level. Some of the stars back then were Jimmy Nelson, Bud Meyering, Mort Anderson, Gail Cobb, and Gordy Vanderlaan. These cars were now Fuel Injected, no clutch or transmission to save weight, and running wider tires.

Out in Oswego, New York, the old Modifieds were still the top class. The track would hold a prestigeous race every Labor Day weekend called the Oswego Classic. Very, very good money was payed, but it only for Modifieds. In 1961, the Promoter, Harry Caruso, open the rules to allow any type car race as long as it was open wheeled. The prize money was better than any race held in Michigan and Indiana. Two Michigan teams called Oswego and asked if their car was legal. To their surprise, Harry Caruso was quite eager to see what these Michigan cars could do at his Track.

The Behnke Trucking team with Art Bennett, and the Mace Thomas team with driver Gordon Johncock drove the 12 hour haul to New York. What they saw was basically Modifieds running against their Supers. The two Michigan cars cleaned house, timing over 2 seconds faster than the next Modified. In the race, Johncock blew the motor, and Little Art Bennett, took the easy win. Harry Caruso was so impressed with these cars, that he started running them the following season.

Michigan drivers dominated Oswego for the coming years with Dave Paul winning the classic in 62, with Art Bennett taking the point title. Other Michigan stars running at Oswego were  Nellie Ward, Nolan Johncock, Eldon Schrader, Bob Paul, Jim Gresley, Wayne Landon, Johnny Benson, Sr, and Johnny Logan. Others racing in Michigan primarily were Buddy Stewart, Bill Beard, Nick Rowe, the Mid engine car of John Davis, Bill Heeney, Larry Gathman, Jim Eberstein, Jackie Lindout, Bill McClure, Jerry Peloquin, Jack Conley, and Jimmy Murphy.

The supers were racing for purses for $300 in Michigan, where as Oswego was paying $500 to win. This was why there was so much interest in heading to New York. The area fans got to liking the drivers so well that they let the teams pull into their place in the wee hours of the morning and let them stay there rather than a motel. 

The Supers were getting expensive as Berlin dropped them in favor of the Super Stocks {modern day Late Models} in 1968. The Supers continued at Jackson Motor Speedway until it's closing a couple years later.  Several drivers were retiring, plus not many younger drivers were getting into the Supers as Stock Cars were gaining popularity. Without rules, many tricks were tried. It seemed when the cars went to 8 cylinder, big slicks, and fuel injection, it put alot of teams out of racing.

In Northern Indiana, we had the Tri State Racing Association. The top drivers were Kenny Fry, Dick Bandy, Jim Blount, Dude Weaver, Frank Demske, Kenny Lee Bowser, Ozzie, Buck Cravens, Lanny Scott, Carl Jack Hall, Willie Stutzman, Dave Roahrig, Tom Jewell, Ernie Nash, Billy Jo Havens, Mike Bingamen, Walt May, to name a few, but when South Bend, and New Paris split, within 2 years, it was dropped from the weekly show.

Marv Carman started Tri-Sac in 1972.  It ran Supers and Sprints together with drivers such as Duane Spangler, Roger Bible, Jack Calabrase, Curt Kelley, Duane Knoll, Bill Davis, Danny Johnson, Harold Reynolds, Butch Fedewa, Tommy Marks, Jackie Lindout, Sammy Sessions, Galen Short, Bob Psurney, Bill Heeney, Wayne Landon, Marv Carman, Jerry Carman, Bob Seelman, Johnny Logan, Ron Koehler, Jeff Bloom, Fred Seltenright, Dean Best, and Ozzie. Their hometrack was Kalamazoo, but they also raced specials at Owosso, Berlin, and Hartford. Who could forget those Dick Loehr invitationals with the Texas drivers facing Tri Sac's best? 

In 1979, Butch Dowker introduced the Titanium Roadster. This utilized a metal, Titanium, that was lighter than Aluminum, but stronger than Steel. They had this metal on their Drive Shaft, Univeral Joints, Torsion Bars, both Axles, and Bumpers. The car was banned from Oswego N.Y. Speedway after a terrible crash on the frontstretch. They felt that car was just too unsafe. Tri Sac would end it's fine run in 1981-82. I think Fred Seltenright was the last champion.

In 1982, A group based out of Sandusky was formed called ICAR. Founded by Larry Boos and Roger Holdeman, this division combined Sprints, Supers, Roadsters, and Rear Engines all running with a cubic inch limit of 362 in. ICAR raced at Berlin, IRP, Sandusky, Salem, Illiana, Queen City, Wichester, Spartan, and Flat Rock. Shortly into it's second season, this group disbanded. South Bend tried running them weekly starting in 1980. Some of the cars were cars from the 70's, while a couple designed a new chassis. That ran for 5 years, and Jerry Sletz ran the Midwest Supers in the mid 80's. They lasted but a couple seasons. A lot of groups were tried, but just could not sustain any momentum.

Kalamazoo had Open Wheel Spectaculars through starting in 1983, with several to follow.  Kazoo even had Supers on Sunday afternoon's in July- August 1983. From that point, the only Super Mod shows in this area were the ISMA Supers on the Michigan Tour or going to Sandusky.  What used to be Kalamazoo, M-40, and Berlin for the weekend is now down to one event as Toledo has the Supers on Friday. At this point ,there are probably no more than 120 Supers in throughout the Country. The East Coast, Ohio Region, Oswego, and some out West. That's it. 

It is so important now to support what  we have remaining with the ISMA and MSA Groups. After the M-40 Show, and even the Berlin show, take time to go down and thank these gentlemen who traveled up to 18 hours to put on a show of speed, bravery, and precision. With many of the cars, the children can sit in them as the ISMA group is very friendly. They may sound different with that New England accent, but they are good conversation. The one thing about the Supers is that they started here, and we can say that they are coming home one more time. Be sure to come out June 16th, M-40 Speedway for the Dion Parrish Memorial.  Dion had a love for the Supers. He built one, but unfortunately lost his life in a practice crash in Michigan.