Biography

     In many opinions the ultimate race car is the modified, a car built from the ground up with the specific job of traversing a race track as fast as possible. They differ from "stock" cars by the fact that, although they may use some stock parts, they are configured in a way that looks nothing like the cars we drive every day. The most familiar modifieds to the public are the Indianapolis 500 and World of Outlaws cars. Locally, the name Terry Reed pops up in almost every conversation regarding racing and specifically in reference to modifieds.

     Terry started racing in 1963. He was a 19 year old who idolized his cousin Larry Squires who had been racing in Great Falls since 1952 and was tragically killed there in a racing accident in 1978.  His first car was purchased from Wilbur Rohrbach and run in the C stock Class.  In 1965 Terry started racing modifieds and there he established a reputation that put his name in the record books and into every racing fan's memory.

     Racing against legends Wilbur Rohrbach, Gary Thacker, Lum Owens, Bob Taylor and Harold Little, Terry established himself as a legend also, winning the Tri-City Speedway 1970 Season Championship and the 1980 Season Championship at Big Sky Speedway. He retired from racing after that 1980 championship. During his 17 year career he set 2 track records at Big Sky Speedway and worked diligently as a tech committee advisor to the Northwest Montana Stock Car Racing Association trying to keep the costs down and the rules simple in the modified class.

     One of Terry's fondest memories was racing against Lum Owens. Lum had bought a brand new Z-28 V-8 engine for his racecar from California and brought it to the racetrack hoping to get an edge on his competion. Terry was running a 292 ci. 6 cylinder engine and was able to outpull Lum by 2 carlengths in the straights at Big Sky.

     For his contributions and accomplisments in racing the NWMSCRA Hall Of Fame welcomes into it's ranks Mr. Terry Reed.