A Two-Valve Mustang Is Hoping Third Event of 2023 Is a Charm to Making an Impression with a Stick Shift
Although he crossed the midpoint of Hot Rod Drag Week in 2022 a string of 8-second passes, Taylor Hedrick got to day four with a hurt motor and long odds to finish the week. “After a decent pass, I realized it was definitely hurt,” said Taylor.
A compression check revealed two cylinders that didn’t move the needle on compression, but Taylor pressed on, overnighting the parts to fix the 2002 Ford Mustang to the day four track, and made a 200-mile trip on 6 cylinders.
Taylor rolled the car to the starting line on day four to stay in competition with a 20-second time, then spent fifteen hours getting the two-valve modular Ford powerplant whole once again.
Taylor completed the final day’s drive, but rain ended his chances to return to the 8-second range once again to end the event.
This article is brought to you ad-free by Sick The Magazine’s print subscribers. Do your part to support quality automotive journalism and the future of print media by subscribing to the awesome 200+ page Sick the Mag print book today!
After striking out at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive and making some major changes to the car, Taylor decided to tune up his ride at the Midwest Drags. But after a personal-best 8.02 at 177 mph, Taylor discovered a cylinder head hadn’t stayed fully in place, ending his week earlier than expected.
“Our very first quarter mile hit and it almost went sevens,” said Taylor. “I was over the moon and super hopeful for the week. It was such an emotional roller coaster.”
Fast forward a couple months, and Taylor is getting ready for another shot at Hot Rod Drag Week in the Super Street Small Block Power Adder class with an upgraded two-valve engine and a T-56 six-speed manual transmission in the tunnel.
Granted, he just dropped the short block in the k-member and the transmission is on the floor, but he has no doubt he’ll be ready by September 17th.
“I likely have no chance of winning, so I will probably be conservative all week,” said Taylor of his game plan. “I’ll be lucky to get a seven-second pass, but I’ll save it for the last day.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Taylor Hedrick.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com