Goldstone, Whitaker Impress as Motion Raceworks Sick Summer Kicks Off With Testing
The Midwest’s biggest horsepower party has begun with Motion Raceworks Sick Summer teching and testing at Byron Dragway today.
A record 318 cars were looked over and approved by Sick’s team of officials and volunteers during a sunny and windy day in Illinois. Testing begun shortly after 2pm with some exploratory hits setting up the field for the week ahead, where teams will cover over 600 miles through Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Motion Raceworks’ own Doug Cook was one of the first cars out, as the fully rebuilt Nova took to the track in the hopes of some low sevens. After spinning the tires early on his two first runs, Cook returned for a late 7.74 with a very lazy launch.
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The 125°F race track was doing nobody any favors, but Alan Whitaker’s Monte Carlo found a way down there with arguably the run of the day, a 7.240 at 197mph, making him a firm favorite for the Heavy Metal class.
Last year’s Sick Summer winner Bryant Goldstone made a pair of early shut-off runs, with a 4.35 eighth-mile time giving him some good data for tomorrow’s opening day of competition.
We were happy to see naturally aspirated warrior Ed Ensor at the track but unfortunately a work project has called him away last minute for the week ahead. Still wanting to do some testing, Ensor delivered a 7.339/186mph — his quickest ever pass at a Sick event. Sadly it will remain all but a footnote on the record books, but Ed assures us he will be coming full throttle for Sick Week!
The seven-second zone seemed a popular place to be, with the likes of Timothy Blythe, Robert Senkyr, Duane Ruhl and more diving in. Not seen in testing were 200mph-plus runners Garrett Mitchell, Alex Taylor and Clark Rosenstengel, who will all be waiting to unleash their horsepower in competition on Monday.
Tom McGilton has repaired his Camaro from a disastrous outing at the PEAK Street Car Shootout in Joliet just a few weeks ago, but overpowered the track on his only attempt of the day.
Frank Webb’s beautiful Fairmont should be well into the sevens by the time the week is out, with the big block Ford wearing a giant 122mm turbo.
Kelly Slazinski showed up with a new-to-her Ford Mustang. This former bracket car has been converted to drag-and-drive duties. After having so much fun racing at Sick Week with her Jeep, Kelly said she needed something faster!
We can welcome a new member of the Rymarz family to the track as 16-year-old Jace made his first passes in this 14-second Ford LTD.
Also making racing a family affair were the Windaus, who have added high schooler Ellen’s Camaro to Tanner’s Impala.
There were plenty more new cars catching our eye that we will look forward to seeing up close throughout the week. Just one of them was Tim Pouw’s ’48 Pontiac Torpedo, a supercharged street rod with a bad attitude!
Motion Raceworks Sick Summer day one will see racing commence from 9am on Monday at Byron Dragway. Get your tickets online and be there!
Scroll down to check out more photos from day zero.
