FOUR CYLINDER MANIA RUNS WILD AT AREA TRACKS

They are not the fastest cars on the track nor are they the prettiest. But the affordability and availability of the compact, four cylinder race cars have spawned a staunch movement at many area tracks in recent years and the division has quite simply taken off better than anyone has ever imagined.

The tracks have their own unique names for the entry level cars. They're called 4 bangers, sport fours, Dirt Devils, All American Mighty 4's, Hornets, Bandits, mini stocks, etc. But the common theme at each track with this type of car is this: provide an ultra-affordable division where some 16-year-old kid can knock the glass out of an old Ford Mustang, Volkswagon Rabbit or anything for that matter and go racing without taking out a second mortgage. "There are just so many of these cars around you can pick them up dirt cheap," said Seymour's Tom Schmidt, a racer and a man instrumental in introducing the entry level class to Seymour's
Sunday night program. The division has taken off, with more than two dozen cars on average showing up to race. "I think
if the tracks get together and get a common set of rules in the off season it will take off even more. Plus, it's getting harder to find the mid-70's type Monte Carlos for the street stocks."

At Luxemburg Speedway track manager Rick Goral has run the four cylinder sport fours roughly every third week. He's considering running them every week next year. "Our deal took a little while to take off but we had 16 the last time we ran them," said Goral. "There are more local kids who are digging these things out of the junkyard. You can go racing in this class for roughly $500, give or take a little bit either way." Manitowoc picked the division up around mid-season. They've even raced afew times on the pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. Many of the cars and drivers get theirstart running enduros at 141 Speedway is Francis Creek. The cars basically remain stock with a few safety modifications. And because the cars are so affordable most of the time the drivers in this division do not get paid. "It's our goal to keep it primarily a trophy class," said Goral. "You can do that as long as you keep the costs to abare mimimum." Other tracks, like Seymour, offer free pit passes to the top finishers the next week at the track. One other point to consider: these entry level classes could help develop the next Matt Kenseth or Dick Trickle. It gets people interested in racing who were probably put off in the past because of the enormous startup costs involved - up until now. "At Luxemburg, for example, our street stocks class has gotten out of hand financially the past few years," said Goral, who will dump the street stock class next season and run IMCA hobby stocks instead. "What this four cylinder car does is allow these young kids who are still high school students to go racing. And to me, kids racing is a good thing. It keeps them out of trouble and keeps families together. I think that's important." Door County Speedway promoter Tom Stark says he is also considering developing an entry level, four cylinder class for his Saturday night program. "I just look at how this class has taken off in the area and I'd be stupid not to do it for next year," said Stark. "I've got to get some new blood into the sport of racing up here on the peninsula. And I think the four cylinder route is probably the way to do it. And, that division
will also help put more people in the grandstands."

PRICE ROLLBACK - In honor of his fifth anniversary of operating 141 Speedway, track promoter Matt Rowe is rolling back adult admission prices to what they were in 1998, five dollars this Saturday night. Mid-Am sportsman, super stocks, mini stocks and hobby stocks will be in action along with two man cruisers. Time trials are at 5:30 p.m.with racing getting underway at 7 p.m.

SEYMOUR NOTES - This Sunday night will be the final points night of racing at Seymour Tri-Oval Raceway. Shawano's Troy Springborn has a ten point lead over Terry Casey and could clinch an unprecendented fourth straight WISSOTA late model title. In the IMCA modifieds all hometown driver Brian Mullen has to do is start the feature to claim his 5th track title. Horicon's Jeremy Christians clinched his second straight IMCA stock car championship with a win last week. Green Bay's Mike Coel also needs to only start the street stock main to win his first Seymour street st stock title. Seymour's final night of racing will be a non-points night on Sunday, Sept. 1 for the annual Nationals race.

CHILTON FALL CLASSIC SET - One of the most popular late season two day racing shows is once again slated for Chilton Speedway's quarter-mile, clay oval on Friday Sept. 28 and Saturday, Sept. 29. The raindate will be Sunday night, Sept. 30. Last year the race drew a record 312 entries, which is a Wisconsin record for a dirt track show. Highlighting the program will be the IMCA-style modifieds, which normally draw many drivers from this area. The track provides the ultimate equalizer as IMCA modifieds have never run on that track weekly in recent years. In addition, IMCA-style stock cars will again have their own class, along with grand national sportsman, limited late models, super stocks, street stocks, mini sprints, 4 cylinder cars and Chilton Challengers. The two day show has also developed a well-known reputation for hosting a pretty sizeable racer's party both Friday and Saturday nights. It's one definitely worth marking down on your calendar.