Yes, there is a speedway in Forest Lake, Minnesota. It is known as the Silverwood Speedway and it is a track largely used for quarter-mile and twelve-banger motorcycle races. Today, we will discuss the history of the place and its races. In particular, we will take a look at the annual Forest Lake Speedway Invitational, or FLIS for short. This is a unique event that brings together some of the best modified drivers from around the country. This year, the twenty-fifth edition of the event is set to take place on June 24th.
Silverwood Speedway: History And The First Annual FLIS
The Silverwood Motorcycle Speedway is one of the oldest speedways in the country, having been established in 1922. The first event held there was the Silverwood Derby, a motorcycle race in which participants had to wear leather helmets and goggles. It was originally a quarter-mile oval, but was later extended to a mile-and-a-quarter (1.6 km) and then to a mile (1.6 km) to make it a standard twelve-banger NASCAR-style oval. In the early years, it was a very competitive place. They had a fierce rivalry with neighboring tracks like Owosso and Hancock, Michigan. The annual Silverwood Derby was soon followed by the Silverwood Sprint, a three-miler that was first held in 1926. It was at the time the second longest continuous car race in the country. This later developed into the Silverwood Grandstand, a combination of the original two races and running for five-and-a-half hours. The venue was also the location of early NASCAR races. Interestingly, the current owner of the speedway, Rob Kaupas, is a former NASCAR employee. He worked in public relations and marketing. He also served as the spokesman for the series. On one of his YouTube videos, he talks about how he fell in love with motorsport while working for NASCAR. He went on to say that he had a good amount of stock in several NASCAR teams. He also has a fondness for modifieds, so he bought the Silverwood Speedway in 1999. Today, it is one of the most popular venues for modifieds and other short-track racing series, holding an average of fifteen hundred fans per event. The biggest event there is the Forest Lake Invitational. This is an invitational race in which drivers from all over the country show up to compete. The event is open to any make or model of car, truck, or motorbike. Naturally, modifieds take up a lot of the action, but there are also funny cars, muscle cars, and even a few drifters showing up to have some fun too.
In general, the fans at the Silverwood Speedway are very passionate about their motorsport. This is probably due to the fact that the place is mostly made up of hardcore enthusiasts. Since it is such a competitive environment, the fans can often be seen getting in fights over who has the best truck or who is the best IndyCar driver. It is also not uncommon for them to throw beer bottles at the cars as they drive by. While this may seem like an odd thing to do, it is all in the name of fun.
The Fastest Lane: Modified Vs. Stock Car Racing (Part One)
In most circles, a stock car is considered to be a car that is relatively cheap and easy to source, usually from a car company’s model lineup. A modification is any car (or motorcycle) that is altered to increase its speed/performance, usually for competition purposes. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but that is somewhat incorrect. A stock car may be modified to increase its performance, while a modified car does not have to be raced. In most cases, a stock car is considered to be cheaper to purchase and run than a modified one. The only real difference between the two is how they are powered. A stock car is powered by an internal combustion engine, whereas a modified car uses an engine from a car company. There is also the occasional modified that is solely powered by batteries.
Modifieds have been around for a very long time. They originally started as a way to demonstrate the capabilities of automobiles, especially when compared to traditional walking horses. The term ‘modified’ was first used in an 1895 issue of a magazine, at the time called Automobile Quarterly. The term was originally used to describe the type of cars that were being built at the time, as opposed to what we would now consider a standard car. This was because the majority of vehicles at the time were built with ‘muscle’ in mind, emphasizing horsepower instead of balance or precision. The cars were also built to fit the available horsepower at the time, rather than what is available now. The modification eventually became so popular that it established itself as a form of automotive competition.
The first ever organized sports car race was held in 1911 at the Staten Island Racing Track. The event, which was open to stock cars only, was won by a Mr. Frank Giannosa in an Itala. Since then, organized sports car racing has become a popular event, particularly the Grand Tour, which is an endurance race that involves driving from Miami to New York and back, often four or five times. These days, there are several different varieties of sports car races that take place around the country, with the most popular ones being held at tracks like the Silverwood Speedway.
The Fastest Lane: Modified Vs. Stock Car Racing (Part Two)
One of the biggest differences between a stock car and a modified car is the way they are driven. A stock car is usually driven like a normal car, with a set of gears and a stick shift. A modified car has the ability to take better advantage of the friction generated between the tires and the pavement. This allows for better acceleration and cornering. It also means that the gears should be changed less frequently, as one would not want to wear out the clutch.
The increased friction also means that a modified car can be driven on any type of road surface, as long as it is not made of ice or concrete. This is obviously a big advantage when one considers the increasing number of hybrid and electric car manufacturers. Fewer changes in the gears also means you can drive on any street, as long as there is sufficient space. This is not as easy as it seems, as one would have to look out for traffic and other cars, but it is still possible.
There are several other advantages to driving a modified car. Some of them are: improved appearance, as the car’s design tends to be more aerodynamic; more power, as a properly modified car engine can produce more than twice the horsepower of a stock engine of the same size and capacity; quieter running, as a result of the less frequent changes in gears; and better handling, particularly on a race track. There are also disadvantages to driving a modified car. They are as follows: higher fuel consumption; more expensive to purchase and maintain; and increased vulnerability to theft, as a car modified for speed usually has more visible windows and a higher rate of wear and tear.
Even though there are several differences between a stock car and a modified car, there are also many similarities. For instance, both models require good mechanical skills, as changing a tire is a common and required task for all drivers. Another similarity is the fact that both stock cars and modified cars require space, depending on how fast they are going. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to fit two or more cars inside a garage.
To end this article, let’s take a quick look at some of the biggest similarities between stock cars and modified cars: