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Msg ID: 2818226 Question for you guys    
Author:Lenny Swider
5/31/2024 7:30:40 PM
I'm watching Flo at Georgetown, and the Crates seem to be pretty fast. My question to you is are they as fast or faster than the Modifieds from the 70's with the big blocks. 80's too???


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Msg ID: 2818227 Question for you guys    
Author:buddhavb
5/31/2024 7:44:09 PM

Reply to: 2818226

I don't know Lenny. The 70's Mods with fuel injection & drag tires seemed to haul the mail pretty good. Of course, I was a kid and they seemed faster then. Would be interesting to see lap times then vs now. Todays suspension and other technologies make it interesting. Corner speed probably more equal. Good question!

Allen



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Msg ID: 2818249 Question for you guys    
Author:B Foder
6/1/2024 9:26:23 AM

Reply to: 2818226
Lenny,when John Micek and I where taking the crate sportsmen to Bridgeport big track.For fun we looked up lap times of the mods from the 70s and early 80s,the crates were faster.I think was true about Orange County.


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Msg ID: 2818251 Question for you guys    
Author:Chris Day
6/1/2024 10:38:17 AM

Reply to: 2818226

I know some of the nights I would look at my laps, and the crates were as fast as the big blocks on the 5/8 at Bridgeport. Even at N.E.S. Even today I look at that on some nights, and the lap times, and some of the crates based on time alone would be midpack with the modifieds. Now for the question that is asked I wonder if ARRA would have any of this kind of information in all of there records that they have? Good question.



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Msg ID: 2818253 Question for you guys    
Author:3-Wide
6/1/2024 10:59:06 AM

Reply to: 2818226

I don't know what lap times are at any of the dirt tracks, but I would think for this discussion to be on point, it would be important to consider track conditions.  Without a stopwatch I can see that there is probably a second or two difference between a wet tacky surface with lots of bite, to a dry slick surface.

To narrow it down, you'd almost have to find a way to even things up by having both a modified, and a crate... or an old modified versus a crate car from today run laps at the same times/same surface conditions.



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Msg ID: 2818254 Question for you guys    
Author:paintman
6/1/2024 11:18:52 AM

Reply to: 2818226

I agree with 3wide Joe about track conditions would play a big part in the lap times. I don't think you would ever be able to run an accurate test even if you could get the cars from different eras on the same track.

There would still be to many variables. Would you take a winning 70's modidfied with a King chassis, and put it up against a mid pack 602 with a brand new bicknell chassis. Then there would be no way to get an accurate "control" (driver). Putting someone like Kenny Brenn JR in a King Chassis big block, up against say, Joe Toth in his 602 would be a flawed test. I think you would have to have the same driver in the cars.



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Msg ID: 2818256 Question for you guys    
Author:GeneSS
6/1/2024 11:31:23 AM

Reply to: 2818226

We were just talking about this. Back in the 60s modifieds , bugs, or sprints, whatever they might have been called, at Eldora 18 or 19 seconds was a real decent lap depending conditions. Now the street stocks are faster than that. My guess on the increased speed is tire sidewalls. Those old M&H, & double diamonds were so stiff they blurred your vision, and could hold a parked car up even if they were flat.



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Msg ID: 2818260 Question for you guys    
Author:Pee Wee Fan
6/1/2024 11:47:37 AM

Reply to: 2818256

I'm guessing today's crates probably are quicker thanthe modifieds of the 70s.  You can thnk today's areo bodies, tires, chassis and suspensions for the lower lap times.  Not so sure about the 80s mods vs. today's crates as thats when today's hot rod started to take shape regarding all all its components (bodies, chassis, etc). Just my opinion. Scott Ely



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Msg ID: 2818263 Question for you guys    
Author:Rick Shive
6/1/2024 12:15:42 PM

Reply to: 2818260

I would imagine they're faster. Need to find lap times from back then.



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Msg ID: 2818264 Something to consider     
Author:Rick Shive
6/1/2024 12:19:30 PM

Reply to: 2818263

Back around 1980-81, Steve Smith  won a sprint race at Flemington (open competition, pre 410 days). Was in the 17 second bracket. I remember saying you'll never see a lap like that again, but within a few years we were in the 17 second bracket in URC. Technology changes everything.



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Msg ID: 2818268 Question for you guys     
Author:D.Wolfe-358
6/1/2024 1:10:56 PM

Reply to: 2818264

The way the cars have advanced over the years and tracks are prepared, I would say the Crates are just as fast as the Mods back in the day. Between the wide bodies and better suspension technology give todays cars an advantage. One thing to consider,

I remember cars had to way in at 2,650 todays the weight rules for crates is 2,350 on page 26 of the New Egypt Speedway Crate pdf on the website. 



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Msg ID: 2818285 Question for you guys     
Author:buddhavb
6/1/2024 5:28:30 PM

Reply to: 2818268

Really interesting question. Track condition dictate quite alot. My frame of refernce for this question is one of the home tracks (Delaware.US 13 back in the day). Seemed mods always had a "fast track" for the features. On a drier/racier track, I bet crates today could certainly be faster due to technology advancements.

Who would we like to see in a "DREAM RACE" 70'S or 80's mod vs a crate of today??

I'll take mid 70's Dave Kelly vs Joe Toth at US 13.

Allen



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Msg ID: 2821216 Question for you guys    
Author:JB Lonewolf
6/1/2024 9:07:16 PM

Reply to: 2818226

I remember being at Flemington in '74 and them screaming Ploski had just broken the track record in a heat turning 22.8. I believe Pauch had the last dirt mod record there in the low 19's. I'd say that's all chassis, tires and aero.



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Msg ID: 2821263 Question for you guys    
Author:John Springsteel
6/2/2024 2:27:14 PM

Reply to: 2821216

Don't count out modern engine technology. 



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Msg ID: 2821273 Question for you guys    
Author:kjeyres
6/2/2024 4:09:43 PM

Reply to: 2821263

Wall Stadium 1975 Jim Hendrickson big block modified track record 13.3.  2010 crate sportsman I ran a 13.2.  Tires and technology.   Mostly tires.  



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Msg ID: 2821276 Question for you guys    
Author:Engine Guy
6/2/2024 4:41:47 PM

Reply to: 2818226
I ran my buddies crate car one night on the 5/8 bridgeport track just for one lap in the modifieds as I had engine issues with my car and although the crate cars run exceptionally well there was no way you were keeping up with the modifieds. My late friend Smoke Snellbaker ran a 410 at willamsgrove and barley got the last qualifying spot and when he got out of the car he said he couldn't believe how fast he was going and never ran anything that fast not even at Syracuse and said he was slow compared every one else cars . I always wonder how fast we would be going around flemington if it were still open. I've also watched old you tube videos and tried to get lap times that way and I always felt flemington lap times were "inflated"


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Msg ID: 2821366 Question for you guys    
Author:Lenny Swider
6/3/2024 10:31:18 PM

Reply to: 2821276
Thanks gentlemen.


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