Are mods really a dying class?? (Read 1,026 times)

[drew]

Many people that I have talked to about the Modified Champs this weekend always mention somewhere in the conversation about how sad it is that the Mods "are dying" or "a dying breed" as more people head into midgets or sprintcars.

Is this a general misconception, are the mods a dying class or are they merely in a state of decline??

I am a big fan of Modifieds and think its a sad notion that the class is headed for extinction...

Drew

[Aaron Drever]

Jan 29, 2009 8:23:17 GMT 12 drew said:

Many people that I have talked to about the Modified Champs this weekend always mention somewhere in the conversation about how sad it is that the Mods "are dying" or "a dying breed" as more people head into midgets or sprintcars.

Is this a general misconception, are the mods a dying class or are they merely in a state of decline??

I am a big fan of Modifieds and think its a sad notion that the class is headed for extinction...

Drew

It will be sad if it comes to this..... remember the 90's Noonan, Gordge, Bertram, Pickerall, Martin, Entwissle, Fox, Game, Keegan, Dewer, Galbraith, and the list goes on. I remember night one of the NZs at WP in 1998 and it was awesome but since then the drivers have either sold or moved to Sprintcars.

Modifieds are too expensive for a decent one and race for limited prizemoney or public recognition when compared to sprintcars. You never see 60 plus at the nationals like you will for the sprinters this year, you never see a 5 round travelling series with 80,000 prizemoney, you never see TV coverage weekly or at least North Islands, GP and Nationals for Mods anymore, you never see any Australian or American drivers comming dowunder for test racing in Mods.

I think that about somes it up...... and only 15 cars for the North Islands is a bit lame?

[kwikchange]

I think Aaron has hit the nail on the head.

Modifieds are indeed a spectacular class to watch but with low numbers and the gap between the average Competitor to a top one is huge in the way of equipment used.

The imported Sprintcars that are arriving in the country are of high standard and have made it easy for any competitor to bridge that gap in the Sprintcar class.

Sad to say but the ASSCC committee were concerned 8 years ago about rising costs and falling numbers and looked at trying to introduce a feeder class to help the Mods grow.

It gained no support from drivers of that time and the idea died, just like the class seems to be doing now...................................

[Devilracer]

Unfortunatly aaron is right, and SNZ has a lot to answer for when it comes to this. If the rules were reviewed and things changed so it was more affordable, people like myself might have stayed in the class.
I remember the days of racing the Dirt Cup over 2 days, now its just another one night affair. This year at close off for the NZ champs there was only 21 cars, dont know of any other champs with this small amount of cars, and by the end of tomorrow night, we will have 20 left without eliminating anybody as there will be accident damage, mechanical failure and other reasons.

Its a sad thing to see a great class heading into decline.

Maybe its time for SNZ to help save the class before its gone forever.

[mod46c]

I remain unconvinced that the Modified class is in terminal decline, numbers look to be remaining static. In fact this years title has about the same number of entries as the last time Stratford held the title.
But compared to the explosive growth of the Sprintcar division, the illusion of decline maybe gained.
I have personally been to several NZ Sprintcar titles over the years that didn't require any qualifying due to lack of entries, this was a regular occurrence up to a few years back. Imagine if SNZ had given up on the division at this point. (two tracks and about 40 competitors total.)
Will be interesting to see where things go from here, the dollars heading towards 40 cents, so those US source sprintcars no longer look like the bargains they once were.

[DTM1]

I personally believe,that while car numbers are down and the obits are being written,the opportunities the class has for growth looking forward are huge.

Its easier to build momentum than maintain it and thats the advantage the modifieds have in comparison to sprintcars.

[tq59]

It will be sad if it comes to this..... remember the 90's Noonan, Gordge, Bertram, Pickerall, Martin, Entwissle, Fox, Game, Keegan, Dewer, Galbraith, and the list goes on. I remember night one of the NZs at WP in 1998 and it was awesome but since then the drivers have either sold or moved to Sprintcars.

They were great times

Way I see it is a Modified is a 'heavy duty' Sprintcar and a stepping stone to Sprintcars, but thats the way I feel now, being involved with Sprintcars from the Modifieds.

I think if they were allowed to use Sprintcar bits in Modifieds, it would make the class a tad cheaper, as parts are readily available and most of them at a relitivly low cost.

Or have a control engine, one engine builder, building identical engines, so it comes down to the driver, if one engine builder was producing multiple of the same engine, the costs of it would come down alot.

But I hope the Modifieds get back up to being a premier class and not the stay the underdogs

[Abb0]

Jan 29, 2009 11:56:28 GMT 12 mod46c said:

...the dollars heading towards 40 cents...

Jeez, not until after the weekend please!!!!

[scrapper]

Hey all, I know I'm a new member, but not new to mods and that caption makes me reply. I've been around mods now for about 16 years, and even then people were saying things like its to expensive, or he's got money and he hasn't, or the old saying that it's speedway NZ who's to blame for the problems the class has, I dont agree with any of them: yes SNZ has created some expence with some silly rule changes, and yes it's not the cheapest class, but compared to running a successfull sprint car campaign, mods are way cheaper and are indeed a heavy duty sprintcar.
Are mods realy in that much of a decline? Numbers have always been up and down.
I believe the future of the class is all in the promotion of the class, Sprinters are on TV and have international compettitors etc, the mods used to as well. The profile needs to be lifted for the mods and the only people that can do that are the competitors, 15 cars at NI champs is redicolous, I think we have got 20 registered at Auckland, but they wont be all racing on the one night, however if they want to go to another track and put on a show or bring up numbers the promoter wont release them as they are the biggest draw card. Events and drivers supporting one another with knowledge and peer pressure, tracks working together etc all will have an impact on the class, do the opposite and you can also kill of any class you apply it to.

P.s. Modifieds at strattford with 20 cars on track is motorsport at its best but appart from the speedway nuts no one will even know its on or get to see it later.

Regards. modmad dutchy

[joker9377]

I think mods are static right now and the rise of sprinters and midgets make it appear worse to Joe public. I spent some time in the US and believe a control tyre (width AND compound) and throw away the wing for starters would make a huge impact on the class. Possibly look at a crate engine. I know everyone is going to say they will all morph into cookie cutter look alikes (based on US body style) but so are superstocks and everyone loves them .
Just my thoughts as I would love the class to get back to a nice 10 plus per track that we had when I raced ...back in the day.... .

[savage]

cant see tem dying personally. all classes have there ups and downs. Mods are awesome just check out the NZ champs pics, they way too cool to let die out. From what I understand there are a few newbies on the horizon in chch.
As other people have said sprinters have been through lean times too, swings and roundabouts I hope.

[gilby]

The people that say the sprinters will get too expensive due to the high dollar have to remember that 90% of todays mods are built from American parts as well, with the exception of the locally made chassis just about everything else is out of the US.
As other people have said, I don't think they will die they are just having there own recession.

[woodart]

they may not die, but being terminally ill, on life support, isnt exactly alive, its a shame but nz speedway just isnt big enough for so many classes.

[DTM1]

Jan 31, 2009 17:26:48 GMT 12 woodart said:

they may not die, but being terminally ill, on life support, isnt exactly alive, its a shame but nz speedway just isnt big enough for so many classes.

SNZ and SPANZ are equally responsible for the demise of the speedway experience and unfortunately nothing will ever change while the people responsible are still behind the scenes pulling the strings of self interest.

Personally,i believe the modifieds have a bright future,but only if those within the class and those tracks who have stayed loyal in scheduling them,work together in developing a growth strategy that benefits both parties.

Waiting for SNZ to develop a strategy for the future is futile.

While Tim has brought a new energy to the CEOs position and has the passion and ideas to move the sport forward,he can only succeed if the puppet masters stings are cut for good.

Self interest and bar tabs cant be allowed to run the sport any longer.