Modified/Sportsman Specs
Fantasy Speedway “Modified/Sportsman” Division
This division is to be comprised of race cars closely resembling and patterned after the EARLIEST ERA of modified stock cars competing in Maine during the late 1950’s/ very early 1960’s.
The early era modified stock cars are allowed significant body modifications, engine setbacks, and early era overhead valve V-8 engines, or race prepped Jalopy/Bomber engines. Any well built EARLY ERA Maine modified
developing 175 to 250 horsepower should be capable of racing competitively within this division.
Drivers and owners of all cars running in the Modified/Sportsman division are expected to willingly, thoughtfully, and honestly adhere to, comply with, support, honor, and respect these rules and our concept of equal competition within a given racing division. No race car operating in this division shall be permitted to exceed our accepted performance standard during race events.
ANY and ALL race cars presented to Fantasy Speedway as “Modified/Sportsman” class race cars, which in any way exceed or appear to exceed the “norm” for genuine authentic race cars of the target era SHALL BE RESTRICTED in any fair and reasonable manner so as to equalize the competition within our Modified/Sportsman division, REGARDLESS of whether these race cars APPEAR to comply with the Modified/Sportsman division rules, or not!. Any race car powered by a permitted engine which exceeds the capabilities of the true early era vintage engines (see hp standard) shall be restricted to a level of equal competition.
Any owner or driver unwilling to comply with any such restrictions as Fantasy Speedway might deem necessary and appropriately applied to their race car, shall not be permitted to compete in this division.
THE VERY SUCCESS OF FANTASY SPEEDWAY AS A TRUE EARLY ERA RACING PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION HIGHLY DEPENDS UPON MAINTAINING THE AUTHENTICITY OF OUR RACING PRESENTATIONS AND THE CARS WITH WHICH WE DO THOSE PRESENTATIONS, AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AFTER THE FACT. THE MOST ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF MAINE’S EARLY ERA STOCK CARS MUST REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND THE STANDARD BY WHICH ALL ELSE IS MEASURED.
Bodies
1. Modified/Sportsman style racecars are allowed American design steel or fiberglass bodies through 1949 – coupes, coaches, pickup/panel trucks (also later years of 1949 style pickup/panel bodies, and the 1949 Mopar coupes). Fenders are optional.
2. Bodies of modifieds may be significantly altered/sectioned/channeled/relocated in any safe manner. Stock configuration bodies are allowed on modifieds.
3. Door panels shall not be cut down to the point of exposing driver to increased danger. “Turret” tops/open roofs shall be covered by sheet metal and securely fastened, or otherwise plated over the driver’s position.
Chassis
1. Car frames through 1948 are allowed under Modified/Sportsman style cars, as well as any ½ or ¾ ton pickup frame with solid front axle and leaf springs all around.
2. Frames may be reinforced, so long as stock configuration is retained.
3. Frame shall be factory production, which may be altered up to 5% (modified/relocated crossmembers, etc.), and shall otherwise retain stock configuration. Reasonable and necessary rust repairs ARE allowed.
4. Front and rear “clip” areas are to retain their original stock configuration. There shall be NO tubular frames of any kind – short pieces of rectangular tubing, angle, or channel may be used in frame repair, so long as the basic frame configuration is unchanged from stock. Frame front “clips” & rear “clips” may on occasion be interchanged between makes to make up a complete frame, so long as such changes consist of “clips” from other previously approved frames, as above, and are in advance approved by the Board. (For example – You have a ’37 Plymouth coupe body with an original frame, however, the front “clip” has been severely damaged from a crash. You also just happen to have a terribly rusty ’38 chevy frame, with a GOOD front “clip” and axle assembly ! The Board can authorize you to slide the Chevy front “clip” in place of the dead Plymouth front clip, and WITH THEIR SANCTION you can salvage two useless pieces of frame structure and make one excellent frame and race car !
Front Suspension
1. Suspension shall remain stock for year and make of frame, except as follows. Permitted modifications:
a. heating of springs
b. Heavy duty OEM coil springs may be substituted in original A-frame front ends. Coil spring spacers may be used – though no racing coils are permitted.
c. The number of spring leafs may be changed
d. Any stock solid front axle assembly w/leaf springs may be substituted in place of an original coil spring suspension. Coil spring systems cannot be substituted for a solid axle.
e. Ford transverse springs may have one shackle ‘locked’ in position to prevent side sway
f. shackle length may be changed
g. camber/caster may be changed
h. Wheels may be reinforced, or ¾ ton safety hubs utilized
j. up to two stock factory issue shocks of any configuration per wheel. or one racing shock
k. jacking bolts or devices are allowed
m. no torsion bar or coil over assemblies
Rear Axle/Suspension
1. Any factory production rear axle may be used, so long as stock rear suspension is retained.
2. Open driveshafts may be substituted for enclosed drivelines, and vice versa.
3. Quick change rear ends may be used, so long as owner/driver truthfully shares overall ratio information
with any competitor asking for that information.
4. Rear ends may be locked
5. Up to two stock factory issue shocks of any configuration, per wheel – or one racing shock
6. Jacking bolts or similar devices are allowed
Engine – The General Standard for the Sportsman division shall be in the 175 – 250 hp range !
.1. Any FULL RACE version of those Original Era Jalopy engines permitted in the “Jalopy Division” is allowed.
a. Any full race version of in-line 6 cylinder, in-line 8 cylinder, or flathead V-8 engines is allowed.
b. * A single 4 barrel on a stock manifold, or multiple two barrel carburetors are allowed on these particular engines. (See #2)
2. * Any STOCK OHV V-8 engine up to 351 cubic inches with NO racing upgrades is allowed, using a single 4 barrel on a stock manifold, OR * in the case of older engines lacking the availability of 4 barrel manifolds and carburetors, may use two barrel multiple carburetor intake manifolds and limited flow carburetors with total flow capabilities EQUAL to that of common original 4 barrel carburetors using stock original manifolds. The term “stock” is defined as a BASIC engine with all stock ‘run of the mill’ parts – no racing, high output, or performance parts of any kind, except as specifically modified above.
3. Significant engine set-back, & minor offset (remaining within stock frame rails), is allowed on Modified style cars.
4. Exhaust headers are allowed
* Modified April 23, 2023
5. Aftermarket electronic ignition components are allowed,
Transmission/Clutch/Flywheel
1. Any factory stock 3 or 4 speed or automatic is allowed
2. Light flywheels allowed in full race versions of original JALOPY/BOMBER era engines – no racing clutches
Tires/Wheels
1. Wheels up to 8 inch width are acceptable #
2. Stock steel wheels may be reversed or offset to edge of rim
3. Ford wide five wheel or safety hub may be adapted to any corner of the car, in any secure manner
4. Maximum tire tread width is 8 inches #
5. Any circumference tire may be used – these will function as a ‘poor man’s quick change’
6. No snow tire or aggressive treads – summer treads only
7. Standard DOT street tires are allowed, as are 8 inch asphalt slicks & reconstituted 8 inch bias ply racing tires #
8. ¾ ton hubs allowed on any corner
# IMPORTANT NOTICE – Tires other than our previous standard of DOT highway rubber are this year being offered as above, for our 2023 racing season ! (See #7 above). This is NOT a guarantee of use beyond 2023 ! This current year is a single year for evaluation purposes, with the hope that we can offer such options in the future, so long as Fantasy Speedway’s values of fair play and equality among and within classes can continue to be achieved.