Catching a Comet in Florida, As a Father and Son Get to Participate In Sick Week
The expansion of drag-and-drive events in recent years has allowed hundreds of new entries to participate. And with Sick Week taking place in Florida and Georgia early in the year, it brings a balanced mix of drag-and-drive veterans and new competitors as well. One of the new competitors to this year’s Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive was Frank Fernandes.
“It looked like a great time,” Frank said of Sick Week. “I’ve always wanted to do one, but most were always so far away I couldn't take the necessary time. Now this event being closer to me allows it to happen.” And for Frank, the event allowed him to bring a special passenger along for the ride. “My 83-year-old father will be joining me,” Frank said. “He has always loved hot rodding and racing.”
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Frank brought his unique 1972 Mercury Comet on Sick Week, the only one of the event, to run in the Dial-Your-Own (DYO) class. “I was hoping to run Pro DYO, but I ran out of time for testing,” said Frank. The car sported an untested nitrous system as well, so Frank decided to run the DYO class naturally-aspirated, putting his LS2 and Powerglide swap to the test.
Frank started at Orlando ‘Sick’ World Dragway with a 10.70 at 126 mph pass, his best run of the weekend. He was able to garner a 10-second time slip from Bradenton Motorsports Park, South Georgia Motorsports Park, Gainesville Raceway, and on the return to Orlando on day five as well, to put together a 10.83 average and complete his first drag-and-drive event.
“I had competed in primarily bracket racing and quite a bit of street racing back in the day,” said Frank. “I was hoping get through Sick Week without any major hiccups or major issues, as well as looking to have a good time and meet some like-minded people!”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
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