This page is devoted to Supermodifieds from 1963 thru 1982. The Jim Shampine section has been moved to the Tribute index Page
Page Two continues with Oswego supermodified images right up to this past season and includes a section for Oswego's support divisions.

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Supermodifieds

These images are arranged by date... oldest first.

Like it says above -"oldest first", that's me alright, I'm the same age as Oswego Speedway! With brother Tom Bliss's Howard Page built super. (7-17-04)(82 kb)
What follows from here are "real racers in days before 3 stage wings, Aero packages and fancy shocks. The safety products were horrible and the tires wern't that good! Learning from trial and error... The day's before everyone was an engineer. Where the guy who drove the hardest or hit the setup that night would win, Not the guy with the best motor package, but the guy with the biggest Kahuna's.." (Justin Belfiore)
This is Oswego Speedway. Most of the images you will see here are from that legendary racetrack. You may also want to visit their, official website
Fred Schulz poses with the #14 Smiley Special car, a "cut-down" that he put in victory lane many times. He competed at the Norwood Arena, a 1/4 mile track in Massachusetts which closed in 1972. (60kb) Photo: April 10, 1960, Courtesy of the Bob Sprague Collection.
Also, from an email I received on 8/24/05... Carl Schulz of Indio, CA wrote:
Jake, Love your site... Thanks for doing your part in preserving The Early Years for future generations.
Fred Schulz in the Susi Bros #14 Smiley Special started 8th in the 1961 open comp Oswego Classic which was dominated by supers (bugs) from Canada and the midwest . I believe he started on the pole or p2 for the 1960 Classic. Bud Crotty and Red Sequin (lost his life there and was replaced in the rebuilt Bowley #5 by Smokey Boutwell) were other drivers I was familiar with from Norwood Arena MA who went north to make some money before the transition from open comp to supermodiified was completed in 63.
Reino Tulonen shown here in another cut-down at Norwood Arena. These cars raced at the Mass. track in the late 50's... the first supermodifieds! (70kb) both of these Norwood photos are courtesy of Don Thomas, of Norwood Arena .com... Thanks Don!
Jack Nichols - Nolan Johncock and Art Bennett (top to bottom)... this is 1963 or '64. from Rich Edwards Racing Photos. (64 kb)
Herman Wise - # 77 from Georgia, at Oswego Classic 1965, finished 19th, but went on to win the Little 500 in 1971. (23kb) from Rich Edwards racing photos.
Art Bennett - at the wheel of Pete Webster's Bingo 151. Pete is behind Jack Nichols # 41, giving him a litle push. Sammy Sessions also drove this car but I think this is Art Bennett. (46kb) from Rich Edwards racing photos.
Baker C-47 - Rich Edwards says, "Years ago the garage of Sam Virgo was one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid. Bobby Baker is at the wheel of Sam Virgo's C-47". (39 kb)
Restored super - Rich Edwards took this picture at the Tony Bettenhausen 100 in Springfield, Il. and was told this supermodified was driven years ago by Chuck Faulkner from Indiana. (59kb)
Another Restored super - at the Bettenhausen 100, driver unknown (56kb).
And here are a few more we are looking for a little history on:
who-when1 - don't know... sorta looks like a Jack Conely car though :-)
who-when2 - 43 John McRae or Dick Jerrett, Jr.?
who-when3 - # 99 Leo Caldwell maybe ?
who-when4 - # 61 Paul Clark maybe ?
Bob Seelman - 1965 (32 kb) from Rich Edwards racing photos.
Todd Gibson - and the original "Flintstone Flyer" (39kb) also from Rich Edwards.
Mike Johnson's - #86 at the 1965 Oswego Classic. (24 kb)
Billy Foster - Billy Foster from British Columbia in his supermodified. He was the first Canadian to drive in the Indy 500 - 1965, and again in 1966. At the USAC sprint car race at Oswego Speedway, NY on 28 August 1966, Billy Foster drove the # 38 sprinter. Billy died in a fatal crash two years later while practicing at Riverside, California in a NASCAR race - he was 29 years old. (77 kb)
Gordon dukes - 1965?. (33 kb)
Jim Gresley - in the Knoof Bros. #21, 1965. (80 kb) (photographer unknown)
Dick Debold's - # 125 at the '65 Classic, he ran as #125 because Joe Martincic was #25. Martincic finished 25th in the Classic, Debold was 18th. (38 kb)
Joe Martincic - #25. (40 kb)
1968 program - Todd Gibson wins 7th straight.. articles.. photo page... photo page.. Gary Witter perspective page.
Billy Vess roadster - on the day that Andy Susco bought it in 1969. He and his dad rebuilt this car and put Joe Orso behind the wheel. (40 kb)
update... Andy Susco recently sent me this (Feb, '07): "Here are some photos of my old super,the former Bettenhausen Kurtis Kraft Roadster that I bought from Billy Vess, and ran at Oswego in the early seventies. These were photos taken at Steve Millers body shop the day it was leaving for PA to have the body mounted. Steve has restored the frame back to the way it was in 1956, and when it returns with the body in place,he will finish it to it's original beauty". photo 1 photo 2
A bad day -for the Solvay 04. I am told this is at Lancaster, 1969. Bob Stelter left the ballpark. The track's outside retaining wall can be seen in the background. (76 kb)
same incident -from a different angle... he landed in the parking lot! (45 kb)
Here is a little history -about the Solvay 04 in the early days, provided by Mike Thornton. (57 kb)
Bobby Stelter - left us on November 27, 2007.
Harv Lennox -rides rapidly into the sunset. this is a sketch I did in 1970. I thought it was Jack Greedy... but I stand corrected. It seems Jack never used the "bubble" face shield and Lennox did. Harvey apparently bought this car from Greedy and renumbered it from 01 to 10. Wish I still had the original photo that I used for the illustration... can't figure out why I put "Jack Greedy" on the car. (75 kb) Visit a nice tribute page dedicated to Jack.
"Storm'n Norman" Mackereth -sure was fast in the re-vamped "Flintstone Flyer". He won the season opener in 1970 with this car. (63 kb)
The Solvay Automotive -team crammed a big MOPAR hemi between the rails! I believe this was 1971. (103 kb)
Nolan Swift roadster -sketch, from a photo (that I lost) taken at at Fulton speedway. (33 kb)
Swift guided this car -to his 5th Classic win in 71 after coming back from two laps down. (73 kb)
Another early 70s incarnation -of Swifty's 10 Pins (65 kb)
Red Barnhart -Got the ride in the Fly'n 5 in 1971. (66 kb)
Red Barnhart passed away July 31, 2005... soon after, Oswego Speedway announcer Roy Sova had this to say about Red: "Red started racing at Oswego in the Colt 45. He got a couple feature wins and almost won the Classic in, maybe, '68. He was leading with about a dozen laps to go and ran out of fuel. He always blamed running out of fuel on how the race was started that year when a whole bunch of extra laps were run before the green ever came out. (Ask George Caruso about it!)
Although Red was a great driver, and very personable, the one thing many people will remember him for is an act of heroism on the track. Tommy York had crashed in turn one, the car caught fire, and Tommy was knocked out. Red jumped out of his car, ran to Tommy, pulled him out of the car and carried him to the infield. Given the size of Tommy, and the size of Red, it was quite an amazing feat. Tommy credited Red with saving his life... RIP Red."
Here is another image -of Red from a 1967 program (94 kb)
Nick Rowe -qualified his always spotless machine 5th for the 71 Classic, and finished 6th. That's Ron Gamble's 00 in the background (the former 8ball). (b&w 60 kb)

The Purdy deuce -sketch (36 kb)
the deuce -again! (69 kb)
the deuce -again, with a story... (95 kb)
A red flag -occurred on lap 145 of the 1972 Classic when Chuck Portello's car erupted in flames after a 4th turn tangle. Paul Richardson' racer can be seen staddling the hub rail, it too became involved in the fire. I am told fuel cells became mandatory soon thereafter. (69kb)
Kenny Andrews and Swifty -Discuss stategy at the drivers meeting prior to the 72 Classic. (83 kb)
The 72 Classic winner -Nolan Swift, opens his door to greet the cheering fans... that's right, I said door! (75 kb)
Warren coniam -prepares for the '72 Oswego Classic in John Pallotta's Solvay Automotive 04. IMO, Warren was the most versatile driver Oswego has ever seen, proving his mettle in every kind of chassis that was thrown at him. (86 kb)
a young Freddy Graves -also prepares for the '72 Oswego Classic. (70 kb)
Mike Stone - of Toronto passed away on Saturday, February, 25, 2005. Dave Humeniuk said, "Mike would be remembered by many as the owner-driver of the black number 511 and 51 supers and one of the early Canadian drivers to make the weekly trek to the big 'O' before it became the popular thing to do". (image from 1972) (57 kb) Dave also said, " I had the pleasure of designing a lot of that car as well as building much of it and co-owning it with Mike. That same car was later reconfigured and renumbered and was the first supermodified Brad Lichty ever drove..."
The Hagan Howard 01 -was the "hot wheels" team car with the Norm mackereth 40, and if memory serves me, Brian Herb had the ride. Another 72 classic shot. (70kb)
Eddie bellenger -Looks for more speed during a very hot 72 Classic weekend. (67 kb)
update.. Roy Murphy - had one of the sharpest machines in 1972. Jack Murphy droce the car in it's first race, and won the Consolation race. Pictured in the photo are Roy Murphy in the left foreground and crewman Mike McGine. The car was powered by an iron 427 Ford block overbored with a 428 Crankshaft resulting in a 461 CU. IN. capacity. (77 kb)
Marvin Carmen -timed in 25th for the 72 Classic with this machine. The chassis layout and independent front suspension was unique for an early 70s super. Mike gave me this additional info: "This is the Midwest Saftey/Speed Equipment car. It was built by Bill Hite. Bill Port is standing on the right in the picture. Unconventional but very light. The engine was on center (kind of) but the driver was offset to the left. It was driven by Bill Roynon who is leaning over the car, and Phil Wendt-both skinny 5 foot guys (update 6-28-05: Bill Roynon's daughter has informed me that Bill was 6'4' tall!). Rat lane also spent some time behind the wheel. Hite used to cut off all the bolts in his cars so they didn't go any farther than the end of the nut... no extra weight at all... as a matter of fact, it was rumored to weigh just 1200 lbs! The car won at Lorain County and Sandusky but not at the "O". Gene Lee Gibson has informed me that his dad, Todd Gibson also drove this car a couple of times.(66 kb)
The Dates machine -as it appeared in... I believe 1972. (77 kb)
John Spencer -got a 4th place finish in the 72 classic with his immaculately prepared rear engine Doug Duncan owned 07. (64 kb)
this is a page - I threw up with many of the rear engine supers that have competed accross the country.
a very cool looking race car -driven by Ron Matteson in 72. My contributing editor, Mike says:"this was a Florida car driven by Jimmy Riddle, Frank's brother. I remember seeing the car in the infield at Oswego at the last race of '71, I think They brought it up to sell it as supers in Florida were dying out. It was beautiful with it's roadster tail. I believe this was the first Tobin-Deitrick car ". (76 kb)
Warren Coniam -poses with the Solvay Automotive roadster in 1973. The crewman in the background is the Late Joe Bianchi. This is 1974.
... and if you are wondering where this car is now, I recently came across this on SuperDave's message board
Nick Rowe again -this time in 73, he qualified 7th and finished 3rd!. (71 kb)
Todd Gibson -Not sure, but I think this is 1973... (82 kb)
Paul Strasser -finished 29th with this car in the 73 Classic. (64 kb)
Ron MacLeod -drove the Jim Soule upright #32 in '73. (63 kb)
New Englander Ollie Silva -always had kinda ratty looking cars, and was always fast! (65 kb)
Kenny Andrews -Won the 73 Classic with this machine. (65 kb)
Ed Bowley's Fly'n 5 -qualified 12th for the 73 classic with Ron Wallace aboard. (71 kb)
Norm Mackereth -finished 9th in 73 in the beautiful colonial House Hagan Howard machine. (77 kb)
Butt ugly supermod -But wait... it's Gary Reichert's Turner Brothers modified, complete with a 4 barrel carb, daring to qualify for the 73 Classic (finished 35th).The same car and driver won the Modified 200 event three weeks later! In 1974, Reichert won the modified portion of the inaugural Port City 150 AND got a 4th place finish in the supermodified portion with this same car! (75 kb)
the Turner Brothers then came up with this wild creation which didn't go as well as the previous car.
Guy Chartrand in 1973 -with his radical side-engine machine.(submitted by Rich Chartrand, thanks rich) (67 kb)
Steve Newman -campaigned this rear engine car in '73. (60 kb)
Geoff Bodine -...or is it? (97 kb)
another view -of somebody's indycar-super.(76 kb)
Fly'n Brian -Osgood's #09, a sketch I did long ago. (47 kb) See a larger version of this image. (52 kb)
This is the same car - '73 or 1974... Darrell Peckham campaigned the car he affectionately called "The Sopwith Roadster" for about 5 seasons and then sold it to his then young protege, Jamie Moore. (68 kb) skip matczak says "The car was originally driven in the usac sprint series by Lennie Waldo. It was powered by a small block ford about 1968-1970. we raced against this car with bentley warren driving." I Always thought it was a pretty cool car with that sprinter look and independent front suspension. (68 kb) 8fan adds this: I think Geoff Bodine tried to qualify it for the classic one year. 1972 or 1973. Didn't make it. I think it had engine problems. This was before it was sold to Peckham, I think.
Mike Rizzo -in 1974. Although it doesn't look like it, this car used to be the colt 45 that Red Barnhardt drove in the 60s. Mike ended up driving this car at Weedsport and Rolling Wheels with the URC sprinters in 1975. (69kb)
The Buckner 36 -in 1975. Bob Stelter was Ron's hired gun that year. (81 kb)
Kemp Dates -rockets through the first turn at dusk in '75. (38 kb)

Freddy Graves -ran this quick, but not so reliable car in '75. (62 kb)
Graves 4wd super -fast and fragile- 1976 (41 kb)
Nolan Swift -near the end of his great driving career - 1977. (66 kb)
Jamie Moore -on the inside with the #44 sopwith roadster, I thought that was Warren Coniam on the outside in the Mcknight #6, but Jim Licardi thinks it might be the Doug Duncan #07 with Jimmy Winks on board. This is from around 1977. (61 kb)
Bentley in '77 -cops a win during leaner years. (51 kb)
Ben gives an interview -after that feature victory. I think this was a Port City event. (91 kb)
Six Kempton Dates -built supers posed with their drivers! This was 1977. from left to right are the #2 of Del Meeks, #6: Warren Conian, #52: Doug Syer, #28: Kemp Dates, #27 of Russ Gray, and the 85 of Dan Dennie. (86 kb)
Fast Eddie -Bellinger - 1978 (28 kb)
Bob Stelter -leads a WoO show at NYS fairgrounds (1978). Bet you didn't know they sold seats in the horse barn rafters! (30 kb)
Here is a page that provides much more info on this unique event.
This was - Stelter's ride at another fairgrounds event. Not sure who's car, what year... (79 kb)
The Redcreek Rocket -a top runner in 1978. (100 kb)
Redcreek Rocket -in the late afternoon sun (unfinished sketch of above photo). (36 kb)
Redcreek -rocket, Kemp Dates gets ready to attack the track. (22 kb)
Tom Leeson -always had a clean machine. (66 kb)
Bentley Warren -powers the Snyder 77 under Jim Cheney's 04. This shot was taken on May 19th 1979. (40 kb)
Bentley again -same day, runs to the outside down the front chute. (57 kb)
Dean, Kemp and Dutch -might be discussing ways to make the Johnson Logging #2 go a little faster! Pretty sure this is '79. (84 kb)
Warren Shoberlein -fires up the kevin Reep rear-engined offset in 1979. The car was later destroyed in an Aug 18th '79 crash.(80 kb)
Chet Fillip -in another 4WD Bill Hite creation in 1979. (28 kb)
Chuck Ciprich -prepares to celebrate his victory in the '79 classic. That's a young Mike Stelter rushing in from the right foreground. (75 kb)
Eddie Thompson -and his Front Door Special #91, always a gentleman racer... I think this was 1979 (60 kb)
Ken Reece - built this unique 3-1 supermodified in 1979 and planned to run it at Oswego in '80 before rules changes prevented it. (51 kb) None other than Tim Richmond was the test driver... shown here at Sandusky. Contributor Don Wilcox, of Fulton New York said, "I was the one that did the story on the Ken Reece super 3 to 1 car.I had been a crew member on Mr. Reeces race cars in the 70's. When he was building this car he kept in touch with the officials at the Oswego Speedway about what he was building and they said as long as it was within the rule book there would not be a problem with them letting it run at their speedway. When the car was finished and ready for testing Reece was very surprised as to how good the car ran right out of the box.The testing found a few minor problems but all in all it went very well. The news about this car spread like wildfire and because they feared it would wipe out the field of cars that ran at the Oswego Speedway the management there banned the car even before it made one race run. Mr.Reece was very upset over this as all the other tracks followed the Oswego Speedways lead and they also banned it.There was a countless amount of hours put into this car plus about 50 grand to boot. Mr.Reece decided to cut the car up and take what parts he could and build a sprint car for his son to drive. This did not work out well so he got out of racing all together. The car was built and finished in 1979 and I tried for years to get him to let me put something in a magazine about him and the car. He finally agreed to it and I went ahead with doing the story on it. He is very sorry right to this day that he cut the car up." The magazine article can be seen here.
See also - The story of Ken Reece's foray into the Oswego scene in 1975.
Mike Shoberlein -and Dean Hoag at speed. That's Hoags Troyer car, so I think this is 1980. (57 kb)
Jamie Moore -This would be his last ride in the Sopwith roadster. (57 kb)
Sopwith roadster -AFTER! This was the same day that Jamie's new Tobin 21 was unveiled. Jamie may have set an altitude record on the front straight during the consi. He jumped in the #21 for the consi but it was unable to fire for it's maiden run. I think this was the Port City event in 1980 (56 kb)
Tobin 21 -Jamie Moore's brand new ride! (30 kb)
Dean Hoag's new super -builder, Maynard Troyer took it out for a shakedown, and promptly took down a top 5 finish in it's first outing! July 5th 1980. (38 kb)
here's another look -at Hoag's Troyer car. Unique features were the radiator location and modified style independant front suspension. That's Dutch Hoag kneeling down near the engine. (76 kb)
Mike Rizzo -and his Show Car engineering #34... Mike tells me this was 1980. Eric Kingsley and I crewed for Mike that season. (76 kb)
update (5/22/05)... Mike sent along a few more pics, this one from the flag stand, and this one from Thompson Conn. in 1980 or 81. this shot was taken prior to the '80 Classic. pictured left to right are Jim Neuser, Eric Kingsley, Jerry Szeczowak, Bill Rizzo, and "The Riz".
Steve Gioia - and Chuck Ciprich battle through 3 and 4. (1981) (67 kb)
Chargin Charlie -Ciprich in 1981. He was always fast in this Ron Buckner machine. (35 kb)
Chuck -Ciprich again. This is a sketch I did in 1981 (41 kb)
Chuck Ciprich is ready -for his last Classic in 1981. He qualified 8th and finished 9th. I think this was the last run for the Buckner 36, and for Chuck ciprich at the "big O". Tommy Leeson purchased and raced the car in '82. (92 kb)
Jamie Moore -set to start the tobin 21 3rd in the '81 Classic. (98 kb)
Jamie -battles with polesitter and eventual winner, Doug Heveron in the '81 200 lapper. (93 kb)
Doug Heveron -brings home the bacon by copping the '81 oswego Classic. (73 kb)
Brian Herb - was a teacher, and his students helped him build this beautiful machine in shop class!. (77 and 54 kb)
Nolan Swift -looks right at home in the Brian Herb super - 1981 (65 kb)
Swifty -really enjoyed his visit to the speedway on Classic weekend. (57 kb)
Kempton Dates -putting the fire out himself! 1981? (23 kb)
Jim Winks-piloted this beautiful new Doug Duncan machine. (67 kb)
Jim Winks -again, shown here working with the team in an effort to get thr #07 set up. (73 kb)
"The young one" -Doug Heveron sits in the car after firing it up. (53 kb)
Team Heveron -1982? (43 kb)
Mike Shoberlein -races under Tommy Leesons ex-Buckner machine during the '82 Port City event. (58 kb)
The "bugsweeper" -has cleaned up many a mess at oswego over the years... I just had to post a picture of it! (55 kb)

Visit Page Two as this image gallery continues with Oswego supermodified pics right up to this season (2004) and includes a section for Oswego's support divisions.

Jim Shampine section has moved...

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Page last updated Wednesday, March 19, 2008