Larry, I think that is the definition of modified... if you can run it like it is, then it is production...
I guess if none of current production cars can run in Modified classes without prohibitive modifications in their design everyone will run classics...
Modified classes are mostly defined by what are really some very simple low cost aerodynamic modifications. Front grills covered, taped seams, simple belly pans etc.
You can take many of the domestic cars and for $20 add the modifications to push them out of production and run them in a modified class and run against several records instead of only one.
There are a large number of current production cars that cannot do that, because of the rules package in the modified classes that prohibit all wheel drive. For some of these the only thing they need to run considerabley faster is $10 worth of duct tape and front air dam that can be screwed on in 15 minutes, but because of their drive train design they cannot even challange the modified records that are well within reach otherwise.
AWD is becoming much more common in current production cars and in time will become the norm for performance cars due to its safety advantages. The car I own is a Subaru WRX but the same applies to the Dodge Talons (the whole DSM family) the Mitsubishi Evo, 3000 GT, the Audi Quattro, Chrysler 300 C awd, Dodge Magnum SXT etc. In total there are just short of 400 current and recent production vehicles that come with all wheel drive from the factory, some 300 are not suitable for land speed racing, and about 100 of them are high performance cars intended for the car enthusiast which should have a reasonable progression from the production classes into an appropriate modified class.
Those cars cannot legally run in any of the modified classes with simple aero mods, because of their drive train design. Many of them are capable speed and power wise to challenge and run against existing modified class records with some minor aero tweaks.
I know "let them run time only" --- just freeze them out of holding a legitimate record or ever having a chance at a 2 club hat with their OEM drive train. The whole point of hotrodding and the formation of land speed racing was so the average joe could take what ever he had available, and see what he could wring out of it. Now it seems that spirit only exists if you happen to want to work with a select few body styles and makes and if you happen to be a fan of another make or model --- well we will just legislate you out of the competition, so we will never know if you can beat existing records and all our old records are safe from challenge.
Some will say it is because all wheel drive is an unfair advantage. Well lets see if that is the case instead of out lawing it like was done with the all wheel drive roadsters, put an engine factor on cars running AWD, or keep separate records.
In time most every really high performance car will have AWD simply because the buying public perceives it as a safety advantage. Personally I agree and would much rather see it legalized and eliminate a number of spins on the course and the resulting competition delays as well. Not to mention the risk of driver injury.
I am afraid land speed racing is getting set in its ways ( and doing a serious disservice to the original intent of racing on the lakes and the salt ) and some are so determined to keep it the way it has always been, that they are not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as new technology approaches. I love the old traditional cars but I am not a slave to tradition and want to see new things attempted in new ways --- that is what racing has always been about.
One of the other unwritten axioms of racing is that it "improves the breed" through racing. By outlawing the AWD systems you are also blocking the developement of ways to reduce its parasitic drag and how to keep it alive under extreme conditions. You can't improve a design that is not allowed to run.
When I grew up in the 60's I wanted to build a car for Bonneville and the best design I could come up with and afford was a 54 studebaker with a Chrysler Hemi. That was the best solution I could get my hands on and afford at the time. ( was forced to sell it before I could ever run it but the dream lives on )
Today the most capable cars for what I want to do, are AWD turbocharged imports, but they cannot compete for any of the records I want to challange, simply because of a rules package that prohibits a fundamental characteristic of their design. They cannot run in any of the modified classes without ruining the car by down grading it to a less effective drive train.
Larry
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