A name familiar to many will be entering his first year of Pro Modified Racing Association competition this season.
 
Al Hinds is coming out of retirement to race in the PMRA tour. One of Pro Modified’s earliest contestants, the Waterloo, Ontario racer plans to return to the class with his 2004 Corvette.
 
“I’m excited. This is going to be awesome,” said Hinds, who raced in the class starting in 1996.

A name familiar to many will be entering his first year of Pro Modified Racing Association competition this season.
 
Al Hinds is coming out of retirement to race in the PMRA tour. One of Pro Modified’s earliest contestants, the Waterloo, Ontario racer plans to return to the class with his 2004 Corvette.
 
“I’m excited. This is going to be awesome,” said Hinds, who raced in the class starting in 1996.
 
Hinds was a prominent driver in the later 1990s, winning the Can-Am Nationals at London Motorsports Park (now St. Thomas Dragway) in 1997. He continued racing until 2001 and since then has not competed.
 
One of the reasons for his return he said is the team he has assembled to race. “I’ve got a great team, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve come out of retirement.” Working with Hinds on his Alan Johnson 526-cubic inch TFX Fowler Engines Supercharged Corvette, and heading up the effort, will be Tom VanDerGeld of Lowdown Hot Rods, and former Pro Modified driver and team owner Gary Irving.
 
Hinds mentioned that he and Irving have had a lengthy relationship when it comes to Pro Modified racing.
 
“When I was racing Gary would help me, and vice-versa,” he said. “Gary is not driving this year, and I’m grateful for his help.”
 
Sitting under the Corvette body is a Lowdown Hot Rods chassis, and the engine is coupled to a Lenco three-speed, along with a PSI supercharger and Fowler fuel system.
 
Sponsors for the team include Quaker State Q HorsePower™, Suds Express Car Washes, Medico, Modern Elevator, NGK Spark Plugs, Roberts Boxed Meats, Schlueter Chevrolet Hummer, Jiffy Lube, Lowdown Hot Rods, Strange Engineering and Weld Wheels.
 
The team’s crew, aside from Irving and VanDerGeld, include Dee Hinds, Mike Wagg, and Marc McCrea.
 
Hinds added he plans to run most PMRA events for 2008, and will compete at selected IHRA national events.