Hi - can anyone explain to me what the differences are between the mini-stock class and modified mini? Thanks
Chassis mainly.
Mod Mini
Yes some are chassis but the body is different and there is more you can do with the motor, shocks or leaf springs. The body on most all Mod Mini’s is a cut down version of a late model. If there is anything else let me know and I will try and help.
I’ve found that question is more difficult to answer than it might seem. What one track calls a mini stock, another track might call a mod mini. Tracks are not consistent with their class names. You might want to mention the track you’re talking about.
In Florida now dirt or pavement Mod Mini’s, in my opinion, could be described as pretty much 3/4 scale Late Models, not a whole lot that’s ‘stock’ left on 'em.
Mini Stocks though seem to vary to a degree as to how much you can do and seem to be migrating to almost exclusively Front Wheel drive. I think Hendry County still has a RWD Stock Mini class, I believe, and I’m not too sure about Volusia, but I don’t think there are any pavement tracks with a stock RWD class left.
Unfortunately this once great(Stock RWD that is) class is about dead because all the cheap 4 cylinder cars now made are FWD and I just can’t get into it.
Mini Stock
Auburndale and Citrus still allow RWD in mini stocks. The only ones I have seen are all Ford Mustangs
Thank you guys for helping, The “modified” mini stocks I’m referring to I have seen at both Showtime and Desoto. So I guess if I bought a modified mini I wouldn’t be able to run it at Desoto, Showtime, Auburndale, and Citrus county, I would have to conform to only one tracks rule-set?
mod mini
If you were to buy a mod mini you would be able to run it at Desoto, Citrus, Auburndale, New Smyrna, and Showtime. I have one and I have run at all these. All the rules for this class are the same or very very close just change transmission and gear for each track and go run.
MMS and MS
you guys forgot to tell them about the extra $25.00 it is to build a MMS…just saying.
Happy racing, good luck and be Safe…
You can easily put 8-10k in a “best of the best” MMS engine. The cars are basically a Late Model with a 4cyl engine.
Looking at the results from last nights racing it occurs to me why there would be confusion. New Smyrna, and I believe Desoto, calls their Mod Mini’s “Mini Stock” even though they’re really Mod Mini’s. I know a little about the history of the class and such and I get confused so I can only imagine what it must be like for someone just getting into it.
Lurkin, thanks for backing me up on that. Want to throw more confusion on them, now on dirt they have the TQ late models that run motorcycle engines. Basically a mod mini late model. Then there are gladiators, 4 cyl. bombers, and other names for the same class. It does get real confusing, even for someone like me who went to a lot of races.
Desoto ran actual mini stocks last night, NOT MOD MINIS, Desoto calls the mod minis, mod minis
mod mini’s
There is only one track that calls mod mini mini stocks and that’s New Smyrna. Every other track calls them mod mini’s so there should be no confussion.
The Mini stocks @ New symrna are mostly jig built chassis a few ancient cars still have stock floorpan/ firewall. The rule is that it has to have stock firewall and k member. I think you still get weight break if stock floorpan. Almost all the bodies are aftermarket abc and such. all are rwd I think. mostly 2300 ford, Its cheaper to run Emod.
I’d have to come down on the side of the front drive cars. I remember when there was a lot of variation in the mini classes, but it evolved into a show featuring almost exclusively 1973 Pinto/Mustand ll and nobody wants to watch that. The front drive cars at least offer some variety.
I do recall the days when mod mini featured VW Beetles, Datsun 510s, VW Ghias, Pintos, Volvos, Vegas, Cavaliers, and a number of others. Update that list to today and you’ve got a show.
As for the mod minis using cut down and/or mini late model bodies, they do, and just like the actual SLM and Pro Late cars, they completely take away the fan’s ability to indentify with the cars or relate those cars to their favorite brand of car. Stock car racing was built on Ford vs. Chevy ( vs. Hudson ) and when that became far less important to series and tracks, the interest in stock car racing began to drop off. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
mod mini
Well from my side of things as I am an owner of a mod mini and have now for three years. Some say that people don’t want to watch this class run. Well not quite true and they are very fun to drive. This state has many of these cars around. Its just a shame that the owners can’t seem to stop running on the same weekends. Point in question??? Look at 9/27/2014 every track in the state, Desoto, Showtime, Citrus, New Smyrna, and Auburndale are all running them. What do you think the car count would be if only one or two ran them. People like to watch racing and as long as each class puts on a good show with good car counts the people will watch.
Nothing wrong with the class itself. Small cars with modifications are just fine. But like a lot of other classes in short track racing, the track promoters and rule makers completely lost sight of the fan appeal. And while some fans may still enjoy the mod minis, the majority are tired of the same old concept. Especially when the fans can’t even recognize what brand of car they’re watching. In sprint car racing, that’s not an issue. Those cars are pretty much all the same to many sprint car fans. But the type of fans that attend stock car races care very much about the bodies and the brands. At least they used to, most have just stopped going to the races.
I think we’re going to see a comeback for the mod minis…in Florida at least. Bring the rules into this century, mandate a stock look car, let the imports into the mix, and i think you’ll see a lot of young people jump in.
Of course you have to let the young people know there’s a class they might be interested in out at that oval track they’ve been driving past without paying any attention, and that would mean promoting.
mod mini
Matt come on now, you know that the fans do not care about the type of cars that are racing they just care about the crashes. Blood thirsty most fans. They love to watch the beat them up crash them up, Or at least until some one gets hurt or killed and then it’s oh no. LOL
How about ?
[QUOTE=Matt Albee;150584]I’d have to come down on the side of the front drive cars. I remember when there was a lot of variation in the mini classes, but it evolved into a show featuring almost exclusively 1973 Pinto/Mustand ll and nobody wants to watch that. The front drive cars at least offer some variety.
I do recall the days when mod mini featured VW Beetles, Datsun 510s, VW Ghias, Pintos, Volvos, Vegas, Cavaliers, and a number of others. Update that list to today and you’ve got a show.
As for the mod minis using cut down and/or mini late model bodies, they do, and just like the actual SLM and Pro Late cars, they completely take away the fan’s ability to indentify with the cars or relate those cars to their favorite brand of car. Stock car racing was built on Ford vs. Chevy ( vs. Hudson ) and when that became far less important to series and tracks, the interest in stock car racing began to drop off. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.[/QUOTE] Anyone old enough to remeber David Reutimann racing an AMC Spirit with an iron duke 2.5 engine ?