(Words and photos by Benoit Pigeon) – A little west of Charlotte, NC and just south of Shelby there is a little track where you can hear the sound of Pro Mods at the bottom of a tiny valley. It’s Shadyside, a piece of tradition and history for racers of the Carolinas . The track is very old fashion in a very likable way yet it has most recently received critical alterations that now allow for 200mph cars.

Pro Mod racers seem to enjoy the quality of the surface and preparation and don’t seem to stop coming back. Most recently, during Memorial day week end, the fairly new organization, Carolina Xtreme Pro Mod held there it’s third race of the year and an amazing 20+ cars showed up, a few from as far as Alabama. Cars included the region strong and traditional nitrous powered motors, a great number of blowers and atypical for the area, turbo powered motors.

Seeing Pro Mods at this old fashion environment looked very much like a flash back from the late eighties when Pro Mod started, largely in this same region. Participants seemed to appreciate a lot the unusual environment. Not only does this place bring back memories, but in my case the three closest cars to my home in Virginia all showed up. In the end, when the sun was no longer heating the crowd and after many had already taken the direction home, the track reminded us of the pro mod times we are now in. A turbo car took the win. In this instance the one of Georgia based racer Jimmy Blackmon. Carolina Xtreme Pro Mod had a great event and will now move to it’s next stop at Union in SC on June 11.