In the upcoming year, our...
In the upcoming year, our Reality Racer will be mixing up with Modifieds like these to bring you high-tech tips for better racing.
There's always a need for new information. At Circle Track, we believe all racers should have the opportunity to run to the best of his or her ability. Consequently, we want to give you a chance to learn (at our expense) how to make your car perform better.
This is our interactive "Reality Racer" project, designed to unlock the secrets of many aspects of the sport. We are using an "anything goes" approach. We could find there are accepted practices considered to be the best-case scenario when that's not the right assumption. Best of all, we're open to doing anything (within the bounds of safety and common sense, of course) to help you find out.
The Project We realize testing programs are difficult for weekly racers for many reasons. Some are financial (can't afford track time for practice, can't risk purse money or championship prize fund money). Some are logistical (don't have time, wouldn't know what to do with the information if we get it). You know the story because you live it.
At Circle Track, we have decided to find out some answers on our own. We are building a car for our racing stable that will be a little different.
On the surface, the Reality Racer may look like your everyday, "We race these all the time" Modifieds competing on hundreds of dirt (and asphalt) tracks across the continent. However, it will have little tricks, the likes of which we're not revealing yet, that make it a bit different. When the time comes, we'll be up front about how it's different, but only if that difference has a pronounced effect on what we find versus what you will discover by doing the same thing.
Remember, we're not only going to tell you if the idea works; we'll also tell you if the idea is a dismal failure. It'll keep you from repeating our mistakes, and we plan to make mistakes. After all, we're not worried about point funds or prize money. We're interested in developing the ideas that can help you go faster and win more.
In a way, you can say the results are made of "unobtainium," that mythical modern material. The outcome of our experiments will be worth more than money can buy, and we're letting you have it for just the cover price of Circle Track magazine.
Why A Modified?
The reasons are many, but all are good. First, Modifieds are already racing in large numbers throughout the country, but they continue to show strong growth. Second, this class offers a platform for various rear suspension setups, a key element in achieving short track racing success on this and other competitive levels, such as Late Models. Third, the stock front end of the car makes it relatable to those competing in the numerous Street Stock classes. Consequently, the ideas developed in a Modified can be translated up or down to many other classes of "stock" cars.
Is It Legal?
In a sense, it can be when we want it to be. At times, it will not be close. The car will target the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) rules as the basis, again because of the sheer number of IMCA-legal Modifieds. Please understand, this project is not approved by any sanctioning body. Likewise, the choice of IMCA rules does not imply that we are endorsing this sanction over any other. We will have access to the rules and regulations of all sanctions in order to be able to tell you how it relates to those with differing standards.
Will It Be Competitive?
Again, we think it can be when we want it to be, but we're not out to win races with this. On a weekly basis, you have to race against plenty of others with unlimited resources. Sure, we'll have top quality equipment on our racer (as you should on yours), but we're not trying to prove anything to the people we'll be racing. In our case, it's not about beating the other guy, but about getting the most feedback from the car and relaying that information to you.
 The birthplace of our project...  The birthplace of our project Modified car is Smiley's Racing in Balch Springs, Texas. You are looking at the showroom and warehouse. The fabrication shop is to the right. |  Larry Adams and Mike Rodgers...  Larry Adams and Mike Rodgers of Smiley's Racing Products select a chassis from the stock selection. The forklift comes in handy when retrieving a chassis from the many stacked on the mezzanine. |  Larry welds in the rear suspension...  Larry welds in the rear suspension brackets. We requested our chassis have the ability to handle any type of rear suspension, including leaf spring. |