When the wraps come off the 2007 season at the Easter Thunderball, a familiar fixture will be sadly missing from the Super Modified ranks. After being involved with the class since it's inception and taking 2 National Championships, Ellis Racing have called time on Super Mod. Team owner Graham Ellis has been in touch to explain more.............

"I have decided that it is time to call it a day for the Ellis racing team, the reasons are many, time, money, and effort required being the major factors, also having reached a position where we are so competitive within the Super Modified class. With the current equipment almost at the limits of what is possible with the current packages that are available at this time, It would be just a case of marking time and waiting for the other Teams to catch up, which I have to say is very close with 3 other cars in the .60s. At this point I have to say how although ICE built engines are many and strong in the class the no 2 car as far as performance is concerned is an Ultimate race cars built engine, which I thing is good for the class, 1 engine builder like 1 car dominating is not good for the class."

"The team of Rob Millward and Kev Perkins have been invaluable, and they have many non-stop years in SM without a break. Both have families and I'll bet although not admitting it are looking forward to some time off. My thoughts on SM...I love it but high heels in the gonads are the limit for me!".

"On Super Modified I guess I will be taken as someone who is deeply biased but I can only tell it how it is and let the readers make up there own mind. Firstly it is heads-up class which teaches the lost art of engine tuning "short on power you're going to lose". In no other class below Pro Mod do you need to learn to be an engine tuner, a clutch tuner and a mathematician,this class will make a real racer out of anyone that has the staying power to go through the hurt that is learning. No new team will enter and dominate this class, the knowledge can't be bought from your engine builder. ICE or URC do not tune these motors, they supply a solid foundation that can be tuned, so join Super Mod and lose, take the time to learn and you will be a winner.The skills learnt in this class can be taken as far as you want, Danny Cockerill is a good example. Along with SM crew man Dave Reed, they have gone on to run in the 6.3s with a Chevy based engine. Many people with BAE motors have either not dramatically out-performed it or not matched it at all. Any of the top tuners in Super Mod could drop a generic 706 of 90s vintage into their car and easily run in the 6s, something that some of our "heroes" never managed: Tim Cook , Dave Warne, and a host of others never run 6s.........I have, So am I better than them?.....No I had Super Mod to teach me how to tune these cars, they were just trying to learn as they went along, often with badly damaged motors."

"In short this is a class for owners and crew that want to improve their racing and technical skills. Its not Pro stock, its not science fiction, its not overly expensive, but I will say its not a low buck class. 7.6s may seem like a million miles away to someone running 8.9s, but in most cases the 8.9 motor is mort technical and therefore expensive than ours, its our knowledge that gives that tremendous performance from relatively mild motors. I haven't changed my valve springs for 3 years and they are still right up to pressure!"

"Well that's my biased rantings over and done, to all in the class a big thanks just for being there, I cant name you all as my finger aches..... yes 1 finger! Carry on the good work in what undoubtedly is the finest sportsman class in UK drag racing, and lastly some people I will name who without them I wouldn't be writing this......so it's your fault my bloody finger aches Mr. Rob Loaring an Mr. Nick Davies, the guys we owe it all to.

THANK YOU

 

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