On November 7th 1999 in the garage of Dick Schoonmaker a long time Orange County NY racer and car builder, a group of vintage dirt modified racers set out to establish a new racing club. The club it was decided would be called the Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club. Fourteen car owners with modified coupes and sedans from the 30s and 40s showed up at this first meeting to lay the ground rules for the new club. The car owners came from NY, NJ, CT, and PA. They will race at Accord and Lakeville Pocono Speedway with other tracks to be announced. The Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club will also attend some races hosted by the Vintage Stock Car Club Inc. of PA at tracks like Silver Springs, Lincoln, Trailways, Port Royal, Hagerstown and others.

These race cars have original bodies and try to maintain the integrity of true vintage modifieds with most running small blocks, although a few are running the red-hot six cylinders of the Midstate Stock Car Club. When you watch these Vintage Modifieds run, you’ll remember what brought you to the dirt tracks long ago. This is a real piece of racing history to watch and enjoy. But please, make no mistake about it; these guys will go at it as hard as any other group racing today or yesterday. The big difference is that they race like they use to, for the love of racing itself. No big bucks invested or won, no big sponsor pressure and everyone helps everyone else to keep their car off the trailer and on the track. It’s true that hard fought racing competition is key on the track, but camaraderie and like-minded fellowship in the pits and away from the track is what this group is about. The time spent after a race in a diner or a pub laughing and reliving the night’s race is as important as the race itself. So, if you are interested in putting together a racing effort that’s very low in budget and is very high in racing fun then the Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club is for you.

If you’re not looking to put a car on the track but just plain love to talk racing and be around racers and race cars, buy a pit pass wherever this club is racing and just walk up and talk to any of the members about their car it will make their day. Plus, new pit crewmembers are always welcome.

Remember, RACING is included in their name because RACING is what they come together for each week.

Officer of the club to contact for info are Ray Checke of Waldwick, NJ 201-445-2328 owner of the Red 39 Chevy Coupe #72, Art Parker of Highland Mills, NY 845-928-9092 owner of the Yellow & Black 34 Ford Sedan #X, or Dick Schoonmaker of Campbell Hall, NY 845-496-6333 owner of the Tan 36 Chevy Sedan #252