After 3 Decades Away From Drag Racing, Sick Summer Pushes a Former Competitor to A S-10 Build to Participate in His First Drag-and-Drive
Things happen to cause people to take a break from automotive and/or racing hobbies, but they seem to have a way of pulling you right back in. All it took was a track visit during the first-ever Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes last summer.
“Ever wake up one day and decide to go drag racing again after a 30-year break?” Rick Beem posed. “Well, I had a little nudge from my kid after going to the Sick Summer stop at Great Lakes Dragaway. A week later, I’m selling off all my other hobbies and buying the biggest pile of crap third hand project I can afford, gutting it, and making a plan.”
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That project would be a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pick-up truck, and Rick is going full force for a good reason.
“My son convinced me to build a car together, so this is my chance to pass down skills and build character,” he said. “We’re pushing hard to be ready for testing in the spring. My kid deploys in a year, so, you know, sometimes you just have to make things happen.”
Although the plan was for the S-10 to get a stock naturally-aspirated LS3, Rick recently revealed that the rear-mounted twin-turbocharged LS-swap that was originally planned is now underway!
They also made the bed built specifically for drag-and-drive, with hinged bed sides for easy tire changes. A ladder bar rear set up will work with a 9-inch rear end and a 417 Motorsports k-member up front. QA1 coil-overs will sit at all four corners, and an 8.50-legal roll cage is going in for safety.
“I have loved the concept of drag-and-drive since day one,” said Rick. “I HATE car shows, and love drag racing, but not the drama with bracket racing. I think it’s the perfect auto sport.
But learning a new build while teaching his son will take some patience. “Drag racing is when you start with a tire and build around it,” Rick said. “Drag-and-drive is when you start with a receiver hitch and build around it.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Rick Beem.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com