Alex Taylor Bringing More Power in Her ’55 Chevy for Sick Week – Challenges Steve Morris to Reaction Time Contest!
Competing in drag-and-drive events since she first held her license, Alex Taylor has gone from 12-second passes in her 1968 Chevrolet Camaro known as ‘BadMaro’ to eclipsing the 6-second barrier and winning class in the ‘patina’d’ 1955 Chevrolet 2 door sedan in multiple events.
But the stakes will be raised in 2024, and Alex, along with her family and boyfriend Nick Taylor, have been working hard to prepare for quicker time slips, and even construct a challenge against fellow drag-and-drive competitor Steve Morris.
After a tough start to 2022, Alex had turned the corner by Hot Rod Drag Week, posting a trio of low 7-second passes to complete the event and finish second behind Bryant Goldstone.
Fast forward five months, and Alex rolled into the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive on a mission, cracking off a 6-second 200 miles per hour pass at the first four stops.
Day five would be a little bitter, as Alex missed an all 6-second week with a 7.09 final day time slip, but averaged out at 6.98 at 206.95, her first time accomplishing either goal and scoring the Unlimited Iron class title and the coveted Sick the Mag orange helmet.
By May of 2023, Alex was continuing to press forward, clocking a 210-mph blast in testing, then upping the trap speed to a new best of 212.45 mph. But on that run, the windshield broke apart, which in turn triggered the doors ripping apart and the back glass exiting the car as Alex passed the scoreboards.
“On that final run, the car went straight, and I was like ‘heck yeah, that’s a good pass,’ Alex admitted. “And then as I was going through the traps, it was BAM.” The damage was repaired in two weeks time, allowing Alex to appear at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, where she participated in an 8-car field of the quickest real street cars as part of the inaugural PEAK Street Car Shootout.
Just a few weeks later at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks, Alex posted her best run on a drag-and-drive yet on day one, a 6.81 at 208 mph. But on a rain-cancelled day two, the engine decided to hurt itself on a run before the skies opened, and Alex was on the sidelines.
With a lot on her plate, fixes for the ’55 Chevrolet were mapped out while Alex tended to several other events and work-related activities.
She got her license at Bonneville Speed Week, cleared up to her A license (249 MPH and under) in August, all while flying back and forth to Michigan to test the Hot Rod Garage Savoy for Roadkill Nights.
She managed to make the Quick 8 in Big Tire at Roadkill Nights, but went out in a thrilling round one battle to eventual runner-up Joe Barry.
As Hot Rod Drag Week loomed near, Alex and family decided to not make the event for the first time in a while. “We had three drag-and-drive events planned for last year, but breakage and parts availability hurt us,” said Alex. “We could’ve made Hot Rod Magazine’s Drag Week, but didn’t want to take a chance without being 100-percent happy with the combination. Missing Drag Week gave us the chance to get things sorted out better for 2024.”
Those plans hit the shop floor at Dennis Taylor’s Arkansas-based location just over a week ago. “We just picked up all the parts from Henson Racing Engines,” said Alex. “Dad / Dennis has already spent a lot of time getting the block and girdle ready prior to this, so it’s ready for assembly. Plus, this week he has spent a lot of time getting the car cleaned up, wiring fixed, and lots of maintenance so when the motor is assembled, the car can go back together quickly.”
The relatively same long block will go back into Alex’s car, but Henson Racing Engines gave it a slight increase in cubes from 509 to 540 cubic inches, along with some new pistons.
The turbochargers also got an upgrade, from a pair of 88-millimeter units to Pro Mod 98-millimeter ones from Precision Turbo and Engine. “We’re not looking for a ton more horsepower, just trying to make the right changes and get the overall run better,” said Alex. “215 mph last year shows we were on the right track. It’s just taking what we’ve learned and making the right changes.”
With the car back together and already making two-step fireballs to test the spool time on the new turbos, Alex is already looking to new goals of bettering her 6.80 at 215 mph pass from 2023, and collecting a 6-second pass at every track.
“My mind is fully on Sick Week,” said Alex, who even found time to throw down a challenge with fellow 6-second runner and ‘Boostmaster’ driver Steve Morris.
The video below explains it all:
“We’ve been talking about doing this (the reaction time challenge) for practically a year now,” said Alex. “We finally got it done.” Team Morris and Team Taylor shirts will be available at each track, so you can support your favorite driver.
Alex Taylor and Steve Morris will joined by other drag-and-drive personalities at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, including PFI Speed, Boosted Boiz, Derek from Vice Grip Garage, SXS Blog, Kevin Smith of KSR, Tom Bailey, and over 300 more drag-and-drive competitors looking to enjoy a week in Florida. Also, we’ll have a large group of people in the Sick Ward portion of Sick Week, literally a rolling car show! For more details, a schedule and how to get your advance tickets, visit https://www.sickthemagazine.com/sick-week
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Alex Taylor and Dennis Taylor.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com