After Sitting Since 1974, This Weathered ’55 Oldsmobile Will Compete in Its First Drag-and-Drive at Sick Summer
The popularity of drag-and-drive events has continued to gain momentum in 2023, with five events already completed and 25 more currently planned for the season.
There are a select few that have been around since the commonly-accepted first drag-and-drive event was held in 2005, the inaugural Hot Rod Drag Week, and Jason Senecaut was boots on the ground for it.
“I have been going to drag-and-drive events since I went to the first day of Hot Rod Drag Week 2005,” said Jason. “That hooked me for sure. The fast cars, the comradery, the fun.”
Since being a part of the first Hot Rod Drag Week, Jason has tried to attend at least one day of Drag Week for almost all of the ones centered around the Midwest.
“I participated in 2014 with a back-up car, a 1995 Mustang convertible with a warmed over 5-liter and 5-speed manual transmission,” said Jason. “I also competed in 2015 with the original car I was building, a 1993 Mustang notch.” That car sported the 2.3-liter 4 cylinder and a T-5 manual transmission, but ran a best of 11.03 with some modifications.
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After he didn’t participate on a drag-and-drive for several years, Jason was contemplating his next build, when an interesting find was discovered on Facebook.
“The Oldsmobile came up for sale on Facebook marketplace, and I saved it but had no real plans on a purchase since it was in Oklahoma City,” said Jason. “Well, it was still for sale weeks later.”
With the help of friends Jeremy and Kirk, Jason got the 1955 Oldsmobile Super 88 picked up and delivered to him in January of 2021. “We spent eight months getting it ready for Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0, and we just barely made it,” Jason admitted.
Named the ‘Rusty 88’, the Oldsmobile got a 5.3-liter LS and 4L80 overdrive transmission to make it roadworthy in time to participate in Race Week 2.0 in the summer of 2021 as a Roadweeker. “It won favorite Roadweek car that year,” said Jason.
One year later, the car had gotten a few more upgrades, including cruise control, and it participated on Drag Week as a Drag Pak participant.
For 2023, the Oldsmobile got its next round of upgrades. That included a front frame swap to one from a second-generation Camaro/Firebird, which required a rework of everything.
Power steering got the nod, as did a Ford 9-inch rear end with parts from Quick Performance, based in Jason’s home state of Iowa. “All the modern tech is hidden in the interior, and the interior is still the ‘sitting in a field since 1974’ variety,” said Jason.
The biggest change for 2023 will be the driver, as Jason will switch seats to put his wife Kim behind the wheel. “This will be her first time on a drag-and-drive, as well as her first ever drag racing as a driver,” said Jason.
They will be joined by Jason’s good friend Charles, who is building his Camaro to join Jason and Kim at Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes. “If I can make sure he and my wife are successful, that's all I can hope for,” said Jason.
“Fast race cars are great, but how often can you enjoy them,” Jason quipped. “Drag-and-drive events allow you to hang out with your race car friends not just at the track, but on the road, at checkpoints and at the hotel.
You make so many new friends from all over the country. You get to see cars and meet people you have only seen online.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Jason Senecaut.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com