SODA (series)
Encyclopedia
The Short-course Off-road Drivers Association (usually abbreviated as SODA) was an off-road racing sanctioning body in the United States
.
off-road racing series in the early 1970s. The series was televised in the 1980s and 1990s. Series races appeared tape delayed on ESPN
/ESPN2
(often during in the winter months). Most races were held in Wisconsin
but a few were held in Michigan
. The crown jewel of the series was the off-road championship event held at the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
- the "home of the world championship off-road race".
The vehicles used were primarily Trophy trucks
, buggies (which were based on the original Volkswagen Beetle
called Baja Bug
), and a few stock cars. All vehicles had heavily modified suspension.
Most drivers from SODA moved to CORR (Championship Off-Road Racing) after the 1997 season, which basically ended SODA's existence. A greatly diminished series continued on for at least a few years afterwards.
released a SODA-themed racing video game called SODA Off-Road Racing
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
SODA began as a Midwestern United StatesMidwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
off-road racing series in the early 1970s. The series was televised in the 1980s and 1990s. Series races appeared tape delayed on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
/ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
(often during in the winter months). Most races were held in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
but a few were held in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The crown jewel of the series was the off-road championship event held at the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
The Crandon International Off-Road Raceway is an off-road racing racetrack that has hosts the "World Championship Off-Road Races".-Location:The track is located west of Crandon, Wisconsin on U.S. Route 8.-Track layout:...
- the "home of the world championship off-road race".
The vehicles used were primarily Trophy trucks
Trophy Truck
Trophy Trucks are the fastest class of off-road racing vehicles designed and built to resemble modern pickup trucks. Although any truck that meets the safety standards can race the trophy truck class, they, for the most part, feature long travel suspensions and high power engines...
, buggies (which were based on the original Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
called Baja Bug
Baja Bug
The term Baja Bug generally refers to an original Volkswagen Beetle modified to operate off-road , although other versions of air-cooled Volkswagens are sometimes modified as well.-History:...
), and a few stock cars. All vehicles had heavily modified suspension.
Most drivers from SODA moved to CORR (Championship Off-Road Racing) after the 1997 season, which basically ended SODA's existence. A greatly diminished series continued on for at least a few years afterwards.
Video game
In 1997, Sierra EntertainmentSierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
released a SODA-themed racing video game called SODA Off-Road Racing
SODA Off-Road Racing
SODA Off-Road Racing is an off-road racing simulation released for both DOS and Windows PCs. The game was based on the SODA series but featured only fantasy vehicles and tracks...
.
Classes
- Class 11, Stock 1600 cc engine buggies with driver only
- Class 12, Stock 1600 cc engine buggies with driver plus co-pilot (Sometimes run with Class 11)
- Class 1-1600, 1600 cc engine buggies with driver only
- Class 2-1600, 1600 cc engine buggies with driver plus co-pilot (Sometimes run with class 1-1600)
- Class 9, Modified Buggies with up to 1914 cc Air-cooled engines, or 1600 cc engines water-cooled
- Class 4, 4-wheel-drive full-size trucks
- Class 5-1600, buggies with driver only
- Class 6 Modified passenger cars, and later 2wd SUV's
- Class 7s, 2-wheel-drive four-cylinder trucks
- Class 8, 2-wheel-drive full-size trucks
- Class 8s 2-wheel-drive full-size trucks (nearly stock vehicles, with restrictor plate V8 engines)
- Class 13, 2-wheel-drive full-sized trucks with more restrictions than Class 8
- Heavy Metal, combined race with Class 4 and Class 8 trucks
- SODA Light A small single-seat short-wheelbase buggy with a small CC snowmobile engine
Tracks that held races
Many tracks held races:- Bark River Off-road Raceway, Bark River, MichiganBark River, MichiganBark River is an unincorporated community located in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Bark River Township near the Bark River. It is situated on U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 41 about 13 miles west of Escanaba and just east of the Hannahville Indian Reservation...
- Crandon International Off-Road RacewayCrandon International Off-Road RacewayThe Crandon International Off-Road Raceway is an off-road racing racetrack that has hosts the "World Championship Off-Road Races".-Location:The track is located west of Crandon, Wisconsin on U.S. Route 8.-Track layout:...
, Crandon, WisconsinCrandon, WisconsinCrandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county...
- Ionia Fairgrounds Speedway, Ionia, MichiganIonia, MichiganIonia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
- I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, MichiganLake Odessa, Michigan-External links:...
- Langlade County Speedway, Antigo, WisconsinAntigo, WisconsinAntigo is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2000 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactures consist principally of lumber, chairs, furniture, sashes, doors and blinds, hubs and...
- Lake Geneva RacewayLake Geneva RacewayLake Geneva Raceway was a motocross, demolition derby, off-road racing, stock car, and kart racing racetrack in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It was billed as "Wisconsin's Busiest Racetrack." The track closed on December 31, 2006, as the site will eventually be developed into a subdivision...
, Lake Geneva, WisconsinLake Geneva, WisconsinLake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:... - Luxemburg Speedway, Luxemburg, WisconsinLuxemburg, WisconsinLuxemburg is a village in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,935 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Road AmericaRoad AmericaRoad America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series , American Le Mans , SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, ASRA, and AMA Superbike series.- Current track and...
, Elkhart Lake, WisconsinElkhart Lake, WisconsinElkhart Lake is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States, located within the northwestern part of the county within the Town of Rhine. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area...
held a single event inside the paved road course in 1996 - Sunnyview Expo, Oshkosh, WisconsinOshkosh, WisconsinAs of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
Drivers
- Scott Douglas
- Walker EvansWalker Evans (racer)Roger Walker Evans is an Off-road Motorsports Hall of Famer . He was also a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Walker Evans is nicknamed "the Legend". Walker is the father of off-road racer Evan Evans...
- 1994 and 1995 Class 4 (2WD) Series champion - Jack FlanneryJack FlanneryJack Flannery was an American off-road racing driver who was active in the 1980s and 1990s. Flannery won six short course off-road championships in Short-course Off-road Drivers Association and one in Championship Off-Road Racing . He had over 150 event wins in his career...
, 7-time series champion - Brendan GaughanBrendan GaughanBrendan Gaughan is an American stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra for Germain Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck...
- NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver (1995 Class 13 champion, 1996 Class 8 champion) - Johnny GreavesJohnny Greaves (racer)Johnny Greaves is a professional American off-road racing racetruck driver from Abrams, Wisconsin. He has competed in numerous major off-road series, including Championship Off-Road Racing and World Series of Off-Road Racing...
- Jimmie JohnsonJimmie JohnsonJimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
- Jeff Kincaid
- Curt LeDuc
- Rob MacCachrenRob MacCachrenRob MacCachren is an American off-road racer from Las Vegas, Nevada. He raced the Mickey Thompson Stadium Series early in his career and went on to win championships in Championship Off-Road Racing , SCORE International, SODA, and Best in the Desert...
, 1995 Class 4 champion - Art Schmidt
- Greg Gerlach
- Gerald Foster