#ThrowbackThursday Supermodifieds at Kalamazoo Speedway

Growing up in northern Indiana wasn’t a bad thing if you were a supermodified fan. My family and I not only got to see the supers run locally three times a week, but we also made the trek into Michigan to take in the supers just about every time they ran at Kalamazoo.

Starting in the Tri-SAC days and progressing to one-off shows and finally into the years that the International Supermodified Association raced there, Kalamazoo pretty much became our second home. This was especially true when the supers started to die off at places like South Bend Motor Speedway, New Paris Speedway, Baer Field Raceway and Plymouth Speedway.

My most accounts, there was rarely a bad race there and although we lost a couple of drivers because of that dreaded first turn wall, and it’s where I lost one of my best friends, it was always a happy place to be. It’s where I first saw a rear engine supermodified race, first saw drivers out of New York, Texas, and Ohio, first met Dick Beebe, and Jim Shirey, and it’s where I really cemented my love of the division listening to Mick Schuler announce and watching Larry Hotram handle the silks.

Lately Kalamazoo Speedway has struggled with the local populace and for a time over the winter of 2012, we all wondered if the track would open because of a new noise ordinance that was being kicked around.

For now it remains open and I can only hope that someday the supermodifieds will return to a track that, every driver I’ve ever talked to loves to race at, and where every fan enjoys watching those drivers race.

Jim Shirey always did well at Kalamazoo Speedway. This shot from 1985 shows his dad and brother law in the background.

Always one of the best looking cars, Brian Herb of NY was one of several New Yorkers to tow in for a 1985 supermodified show. The Ralph McLaughlin 48 sits in the background.

Howie Page looks to the high side of Garry Evans in this 1993 shot of International Supermodified Association action at Kalamazoo Speedway.

Johnny Toresse comes out of turn two at Kalamazoo Speedway in the Graves independent suspension supermodified while practicing for the 1993 ISMA Michigan Swing.

It ain’t pretty but boy did it go. Wayne Landon in one of his last supermodifieds comes out of turn two at Kalamazoo Speedway in practice for the 1989 Open Wheel Spectacular.

Kenny Bell dives into turn one at Kalamazoo Speedway during the ISMA MI Swing.

Ernie Nash of Dowagiac, MI was always a fan favorite with his Casper the Ghost cartoon on the wing. It used to light up during the feature events. Here he enters turn one in 1987 in what would be one of his last races.

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