After Years of Wanting to do a Drag-and-Drive, Johnny Hopewell Takes His High School Car on Sick Summer
“For the adventure” is more than just a statement, as many a drag-and-drive participant has said how much they enjoyed their first one, why they will continue to do it, and why didn’t they do it soon.
For a Ford enthusiast with a 1965 Falcon, Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes would provide his first taste of that adventure.
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“I've been wanting to do a drag and drive for many years,” said Johnny. “I've been a big fan of Hot Rod Drag Week since it began. It just hadn't worked out for me to go.
I met Rick Steinke at my local track, Ohio Valley. I remember when he rebuilt a transmission on a table inside the motel room. I think it was on a 1320 video. He told me (about drag-and-drive), you need to do it.
As I was at Roadkill Nights, I started talking to Alex Taylor and her family, Joe Berry, Dave Schroeder and a few others. They all said, you've got to do it. I'm like, man I'm missing out. I tried for Sick Week, but wasn't fast enough on the buttons. Then Tom Bailey started Sick Summer. I got in!”
Johnny’s 1965 Falcon has been in his care since 1987 when he was 17. Originally a three hundred dollar purchase, Johnny converted the six cylinder to carry two more cylinders within two years.
By 2023, the classic Ford housed a small block from Knieriem Racing Engines in the form of 347 cubic inches, plus a little extra in the form of an Induction Solutions Saturday Night Special plate nitrous system. It’s backed by a C-4 3-speed automatic with a Gear Vendors Overdrive. “One of the best things I've done to the car,” Johnny said.
An aluminum driveshaft connects the Gear Vendors to a Strange Engineering 9-inch housing with 35 spline axles, an Eaton True Trac and a 4.11 gear set. Calvert Racing split mono leaf springs with Cal Trac bars help provide the hook.
Johnny talked brother-in-law Bryan Petit into going to Sick Summer with him, and entered the Falcon into the Dial-Your-Own class, staying between a 12.46 on Day 1 and 12.55 on Day 3 at Great Lakes Dragaway, earning himself a 12.50 average and completing the event. “It was just us and a whole lot of hot rods. All the spectators at the tracks, just plain awesome. The crowd at Great Lakes Dragaway, wow! Luckily, we didn’t have any major problems.”
“It was the most fun I've ever had in the car. When you’re on vacation, you’re having a good time, but then you start thinking, it's Tuesday, then Wednesday, I've got only 4 more days left. Not on this vacation.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Johnny Hopewell.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com