Super Modified ‘30-‘31Ford (sort of)

[PhotosGuy]

You never know what’s going to show up on a Cruise night! I didn't expect many cars as it had rained around 4PM, but I went anyway.

This is Hectors Super Modified. He’s my 2nd Hero, right behind Sir Stirling Moss!
He’s been enjoying his retirement since he’s 76 YOA & has been racing for the last 15 years. He ran Sprint cars ‘till 2 years ago & then switched to Super Modified. Actually, he started in 1950 & raced for 4 years before he scared his wife (& himself) so he just worked on the cars & watched after that. (No helmets, no roll cages, Jeep seats, & 1 army surplus seat belt! I don't blame him!)

He races a lot! He ran at Owosso yesterday (Mid Michigan), & the day before he came in 2nd in the Feature in Ontario. One race was on asphalt & the other on dirt. He's racing again tomorrow, too!

That’s him at the back of the car in the 1st two pics.

The body is ‘30-‘31Ford (sort of) narrowed 8”, & that’s where the resemblance ends. 350 Chevy;3-speed; Sprint car quick change rear end which has 2 gears, so it’s about a 5:02 ratio.

Look at the stagger on the back tires! If you follow racing at all, you know that it's amazing some of the things the guys come up with. There's an extra “valve stem” in the wheels that is actually a pressure release valve for when the tires heat up. Hector says that made things a bit "dicey" if there was a long Yellow & the tires cooled down, so he's got it shut off now.

He said he might retire in a few years since his hip bothers him a bit & it’s getting harder for him to get in & out of the car. (He can only get in through the top!)
I suggested a winch! ;):D

EDIT: Be sure to read the updates in posts #9, 16 & 17 below!
.

[PhotosGuy]

Two more...

[jfrancho]

That is really cool. Love the shot from the rear.

[John Trogdon]

Nice shots Frank. I also enjoyed the story/info with the post. Ya just gotta love these guys with racing in their blood.

[Andy_T]

Awesome shots!

That care is quite extreme ... never heard about the super modified category so far ... sounds like something to look into more :D

Thanks for sharing!

Best regards,
Andy

[insomnia]

Thanks for the pics & story.... those sure look like some sticky tires!

[IndyJeff]

LOL And the guys on this board think they have an expensive hobby!!!

It would be interesting to sit and talk with an "old time racer" like that guy. I love watching the old films from Indy and the 50's and 60's sprint car races. Drivers didn't have fancy drivers suits back then, a pair of jeans and a clean white dress shirt, like you wear at the office, and that was the drivers uniform. Hair raising speeds at places like Indy of 150 mph and these guys are in the mon-fri office shirts LOL.

Ahhh the good old days

[PhotosGuy]

... sounds like something to look into more I asked. If he was selling, which he's not, it would run about $15,000 which, believe me, is a real bargain! (Don't forget the upkeep!) ;)
Hair raising speeds at places like Indy of 150 mph and these guys are in the mon-fri office shirts LOL. :D:D Jeff, I remember being on the cutting edge of technology in 1960. Soaking a coverall in a borax solution to "fireproof" it!

[PhotosGuy]

UPDATE:
I ran into Hector again tonight. He'd recently been to Hartford, Michigan, where he raced on the dirt 5/8-mile oval. He's been to that track before with a professional driver, but Hector has never raced on it, so this was his first time. He won! The drivers who still have hair, were probably tearing it out! :D You've got to love this guy! ;)

Here's a pic of some of his cars that I copied from a print.

[marie]

ha ha ha ha
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
I see jammin jerry (without > ~ the nifty fifties music ~ ) in the first shothttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
(on the left)
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif

v. nice shots

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[Ballen Photo]

UPDATE:
I ran into Hector again tonight. He'd recently been to Hartford, Michigan, where he raced on the dirt 5/8-mile oval. He's been to that track before with a professional driver, but Hector has never raced on it, so this was his first time. He won! The drivers who still have hair, were probably tearing it out!
Well, I hope those guys have a good sense of humor when Hector came down and "spanked" them on their own turf. :shock: ;) :D
-Bruce

[PhotosGuy]

You couldn't lose to a nicer guy! Reminds me of Mario A. One time, this barmaid wouldn't believe that he was a top rated race driver. He was so everyday nice! (Besides being so unheroically short!) ;-)
I watched him years ago at a CanAm race at Mosport in turn 9. The car was dancing right on the edge every lap, & he was always within a few inches of the line. That was impressive!

[marie]

You couldn't lose to a nicer guy! Reminds me of Mario A. One time, this barmaid wouldn't believe that he was a top rated race driver. He was so everyday nice! (Besides being so unheroically short!) http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
I watched him years ago at a CanAm race at Mosport in turn 9. The car was dancing right on the edge every lap, & he was always within a few inches of the line. That was impressive!

you just reminded me Frank

our son took us almost to the top of Mount Etna (Sicily)at (his) 'top' speed last August in his open topped BMW
(grinning all the way)
we were racing to get the last lift (that day) which departs very near the top and almost reaches the summit
if anyone has ever been to the top of Mount Etna the twists and turns on that road have to be experienced to be believed.
the road going (mostly) through black volcanic rock

but beautiful views
(through the mist at first ........coming down):lol: :lol:
( & if you opened your eyes)http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif


higher and higher and higher http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif.. round and round and round http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
non stop
at as much speed as allows a car going uphill (to put it mildly)http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif
tummies were left behindhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
holding onto the open edges of the car for dear life


but we made it on time and collected our tummies on the way down again
round and round and round and round and round and round and round

talk about the bends http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
talk about a spin http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
would have loved a film made of that trip going up .....................and down http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

(like you see on the movies)

had to get down before darkness fell:lol:

Mount Etna is 3350m - 10,991 feet high
loved being up there
like being on top of the moon, only better
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[PhotosGuy]

That sounds like a great ride, Marie! If you ever come over here he can take you up Pikes Peak! 14,000 feet high! ;-)
http://www.ppihc.com/

[marie]

That sounds like a great ride, Marie! If you ever come over here he can take you up Pikes Peak! 14,000 feet high! http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
http://www.ppihc.com/



http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

that is high Frank http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

he'll be driving to Sicily from London next week
looks like you'll have to find the 'old car' we talked abouthttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
I guess it would never make up Pike's Peek from the sounds of it though http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif
it's age would let it downhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

many thanks for the url
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif
for some reason it didn't open
will try again later
( I just got in)

[PhotosGuy]

UPDATE 2:
I ran into Hector again tonight at Pampas Lanes. He's recently been to Oshweken, which is a dirt track near Branford, Ontario. They were rained out Saturday & the weather was terrible Sunday, too.
Brad McLeod who is a good friend, (His name is on the wing), & Hector thinks is a better driver was on vacation & unexpectedly walked up as Hector was putting on his driving suit, so Hector asked if he wanted to drive. He did. (Wouldn't you?) ;)
They came in 3rd in a heat race & during a hotly contested Feature finished in first!
People are going to start asking Hector where he's going next so they can go somewhere else! ;):D

[PhotosGuy]

UPDATE 3: One year later I saw Hector tonight & he's still racing a few days a week. This year he's getting 2nds & 3rds & having more fun than ever! The cars have no mirrors, so when he was in front he couldn't see the other cars. Now he has someone in front to chase & he's loving it!
In case you've forgotten from last year, he's now 77 years young. ;)

[ninobrn99]

wow! now thats old skool! sounds like a good guy to talk to about cars! Id love to have someone like that around..oh well, give me about 50 yrs and ill be that guy ....haha.. the pics are great too ;)

[PhotosGuy]

..oh well, give me about 50 yrs and ill be that guy ....haha Good for you, Nino! But for now, Hector is still one of my heros & makes me wonder how I could ever have thought it was time to quit racing!? ;)

[ninobrn99]

its never time to quit! i know i cant! its too much fun..and too addicting..like photography!

[yakbut]

Great shots, of a cool looking car.

[PhotosGuy]

Thanks, yakbut. (My brain keeps seeing your name with an extra "t"?) :D