In the world of motorsports, there are some series that are founded on the idea of having the ultimate specialized machines. For road racing, there's Formula One or the mythical Can-Am. For drag racing, there's Top Fuel or Pro Mod. And for America's short tracks, the ultimate machine is the winged supermodified.
Capable of running a half-mile oval in under 14seconds, these open-wheel monsters average 160mph a lap on the fastest tracks (namely Toledo, Oswego, Mansfield, and Berlin) thanks to methanol burning 800+ horsepower 468ci Chevy big blocks with mechanical fuel injection, running direct drive (no transmissions). The cars have a minimum weight of 1850lbs (with big block) or 1650lbs (with small block) according to the MSA rule book (ISMA doesn't allow small block cars, and the SRL has a different style chassis). The engines are offset to the left to aid handling. In fact, ISMA/MSA supermods have their weights offset 68% to the left.
The chassis rules are incredibly open. Instead of sprint cars, midgets, and Silver Crown cars which use pre-fabricated chassis, supermodifieds are handbuilt with the owner's take on what will provide maximum grip in the corners, and maximum downforce on the straights. Everything from basic torsion bar straight axle setups (like on this classic 1982 Saunier-Graves chassis as driven by Lee Boss)
to wild pullrod all wheel independent setups (like on the Clyde Booth designed #61 shown here)
The key to their aerodynamics, (besides their handcrafted bodywork) is their massive top wings, which are mounted upon air struts, allowing them to pivot at speed. They flatten out at high speeds to lessen drag, and then pop back up at lower speeds to provide maximum downforce. Many times, the wing struts are mounted to the rear suspensions in such a way that as the wing flattens the chassis is raised to allow the underbodies to slip through the air, then slap the tail down to the asphalt under deceleration to maintain grip. At night, this provides a spectacular display of sparks as well as the blue alcohol flame glowing from the headers. It's a spectacle matched only by the turbo era of F1.
The SRL west coast supermodifieds are equally interesting, if a little more limited. They run 75% weight offset, but are hampered by the banning of independent suspensions and the fact that the SRL doesn't allow movable wings. But, they run softer tire compunds and aluminum cylinder heads, thus the speeds are about equal. Davey Hamilton, IRL frontrunner, was the founder of the west coast Supermodified Racing League (SRL) and it's star race is at the Phoenix Copper World Classic.
This is a typical West Cost car.
The three main sanctioning bodies for Supermodifieds are the International Super Modified Association (ISMA: the East Coast heavyweight and home of the fastest supers), the Midwest Supermodified Association (MSA: considered to be a more budget friendly feeder series, but it actually has less stringent rules) and the Supermodified Racing League (SRL: Exclusively West Coast). They're all fairly well run series, averaging car counts between 20 ( a small field) and 40 cars (lots of qualifying heats and a consi). Here's the schedules. Keep in mind, there's no seat at any of these races over $30, and you get a whole night of top-notch racing for that price.
ISMA
1 Sat. 5/1 Star Speedway Epping, NH SITE 1/4 mile 75 laps
2 Sun. 5/2 Seekonk Speedway Seekonk, MA SITE 1/3 mile 75 laps
3 Sat. 5/15 Wall Township Speedway Wall, NJ SITE 1/3 mile 75 laps
4 Sat. 5/29 Oswego Speedway Oswego, NY SITE 5/8 mile 50 laps
5 Fri. 6/18 Toledo Speedway Toledo, OH SITE 1/2 mile 50 laps
6 Fri. 6/19 Sandusky Speedway Sandusky, OH SITE 1/2 mile 75 laps
7 Sat. 6/26 Jennerstown
Speedway Jennerstown,
PA SITE 1/2 mile 50 laps
8 Wed. 7/14 Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford Springs,
CT SITE 1/2 mile 80 laps
9 Fri. 7/16 Oxford Plains Speedway Oxford, ME SITE 3/8 mile 75 laps
10 Fri. 7/23 Sandusky Speedway Sandusky, OH SITE 1/2 mile 40 laps
11 Sat. 7/24 Sandusky Speedway Sandusky, OH SITE 1/2 mile 100 laps
12 Fri. 8/13 Mansfield Motorsports Speedway Mansfield, OH SITE 1/2 mile 40 laps
13 Sat. 8/14 Mansfield Motorsports Speedway Mansfield, OH SITE 1/2 mile 100 laps
14 Fri. 8/20 Lee USA Speedway Lee, NH SITE 3/8 mile 75 laps
15 Sat. 9/4 Oswego Speedway Oswego, NY SITE 5/8 mile 50 laps
16 Sat. 9/11 Star Speedway Epping, NH SITE 1/4 mile 200 laps
17 Sat. 9/25 Seekonk Speedway Seekonk, MA SITE 1/3 mile 75 laps
18 Sat. & Sun.10/16 & 17 Thompson Int'l Speedway Thompson, CT SITE 5/8 mile 50 laps
MSA
4/24
Lorain County, OH
5/8
Sandusky, OH
5/22
Mansfield, OH
6/5
Baer Field, IN
6/27
Lorain County, OH
7/3
Sandusky, OH
7/10
Auto City, MI
8/7
Lorain County, OH
8/20
Toledo, OH
8/21
Sandusky, OH
9/11
Mansfield, OH
9/18-19
Sandusky, OH
10/2-3
Lorain County, OH
SRL
April 3rd Tucson Raceway Park Saturday 3/8
May 8th Cajon Speedway Saturday 3/8
June 4th Meridian Speedway Friday 1/4
June 5th Meridian Speedway Saturday 1/4
July 3rd Rocky Mountain Raceways Saturday 3/8
July 4th TBA Sunday
August 6th TBA Friday
September 18 Madera Speedway Saturday 1/3
October 1 Orange Show Speedway Friday 1/4
October 2 Las Vegas Bullring Saturday 3/8
So, there you have it. If you're in the area of any of these tracks, and can spare a weekend, come on out and see 'em fly. These machines are one of my passions, and put on one helluva a show. Trust me, they're worth seeing.