Could Sick Summer Be the Ultimate Father’s Day Gift? These Participants Might Say YES After Completing a Week On the Road and On the Track
We talk about it a lot, but it never gets old. The drag-and-drive community never fails to deliver amazing stories, epic thrashes, and yes, some dang close finishes.
Sick the Magazine creator Tom Bailey fires shirts into the crowd at Tri State Raceway with son Aydan alongside.
But it also creates some wonderful memories, even if you don’t win or finish top three in your class. And with Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks held a week later than last year, we finished things up just two days before Father’s Day.
It made us a little more aware of the fathers and sons, as well as the fathers and daughters that spent a week making memories, so we’re highlighting some of them today!
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Alex and Dennis Taylor
It’s been well documented that Alex Taylor has been competing in drag-and-drive event since she first held a license. Her father Dennis has also been a competitor several times, but since the debut of the 1955 Chevrolet, Dennis has stepped into the co-pilot role to complete several drag-and-drive events with his daughter.
After running into problems at last year’s Sick Summer, the Taylor duo got the job done this time around, averaging a 7.02 for second in Unlimited Iron, third overall, and Alex’s first Gear Vendors Overdrive guitar!
Alan and Alayna Whitaker
After striking out at his first drag-and-drive, Sick Week earlier this year, Alan Whitaker came to Sick Summer determined. He brought a little sarcasm, a lot of enthusiasm, and a wicked 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo he’s owned since high school.
From his first 200 mph pass at Byron Dragway, to his first 6-second pass at Cordova Dragway, to replacing pistons twice during the week, Alan and daughter Alayna persevered the week and completed his first event. Plus, he posted a 7.33 average, good enough to earn the Heavy Metal class title and a Sick orange helmet as the champion.
Nick and Todd Taylor
No relation to Alex and Dennis Taylor (not yet anyways), Nick re-emerged on the drag-and-drive scene for the first time in two years for Sick Summer. Bringing his father Todd along for his first drag-and-drive, Nick’s Camaro known as ‘Uncle Sam’ dropped out of the event early, but Nick and Todd continued on to finish the week as spectators.
It worked to gain another fan, as Todd wants to do his first drag-and-drive in 2025 as a competitor.
The Rymarz family – Jim Rymarz with sons Cole and Jace
We first saw the Rymarz family on Sick Summer last year, when Cole ran his purple Mustang on his first drag-and-drive. For 2024, the family got another competitor, as Cole’s brother Jace, who earned his license just one day before tech day, would participate in his first drag-and-drive.
The Rymarz family completed the week with all family members crossing the finish line, including Jace clocking his best time of 14.18 in the red Ford LTD on the final day at Byron Dragway.
Tom Stark with son Blayne and daughter Macayla
Over the years, we’ve seen Tom Stark wheeling a ’55 Chevrolet station in stick shift classes, mostly on Rocky Mountain Race Week. And son Blayne has been right along with him, guiding him into the beams and generally soaking up every ounce of a drag-and-drive with a smile that’s infectious.
This year, Tom switched roles with Blayne to become the co-pilot, as Blayne wheeled the Motion Raceworks-owned ‘El Toro’ Mustang. Tom also got a double-dose of ‘following in his footsteps’ evidence, as daughter Macayla ‘Mac’ drove her ’93 Mustang in the Stick Shift class.
You could see the emotion on Tom’s face watching his kids participate, and it was multiplied when Blayne snatched the title for Rowdy Radial.
Bill and Justin Schwarz
Bill Schwarz has been to a few drag-and-drive events, nine in-a-row completed to be exact, before rolling into Sick Summer this year. One year ago, Bill and son Justin thrashed t fix a torched cylinder head on day one of Sick Summer, and made it to the lanes in Cordova Dragway with minutes to spare. They held everything together and completed the week.
This year’s Sick Summer was a little easier, as Bill and Justin rolled through the week, with an 8.72 average earning them a tenth-straight drag-and-drive event in the books as a finisher, and second-place finish in the Heavy Metal class.
Tom McGilton with daughters Audrea Beeler and Jennifer Wessol
Seeing Tom McGilton on a drag-and-drive event usually means daughter Audrea Beeler is on the trip as well. But they split their efforts into two cars at Sick Summer, with Tom making laps in his ‘Why Not’ 2013 Camaro ZL1, while Audrea pilots her ’68 El Camino.
The latter Chevy, known as ‘Zel Camino’ is powered by the very engine that came in Tom’s Camaro, and for Sick Summer 2024, Audrea was joined by sister Jennifer Wessol in the passenger seat, and the sister duo earned a top three spot in the Unlimited Iron class.
Cameron and Mike Alley
The ‘Sick’ orange 1997 Ford Mustang of Cameron Alley finished second at the inaugural Sick Summer in 2023 in the popular Sick Street Race category. He returned looking for the top spot in 2024, and brought father Mike as his co-pilot.
The Alleys were rolling along as the leaders from day one in the small block supercharged steed, but day five found the clock striking midnight. Cameron ran into problems, not allowing him to improve a first-shot 8.65 pass that dropped him to second, for his second-straight top three finish in class.
Chuck and Shelby Sorensen
The wheelstanding 1964 Plymouth Valiant of Chuck Sorensen took its place in the healthy-sized field of Naturally Aspirated rides, and joining him for his second Sick Summer outing was daughter Shelby in the passenger seat.
They battled a few broken parts, but survived to finish seventh in the class with a 10.68 average. “I can guarantee this, she’s never been as dirty as she has been this week,” said Chuck about Shelby’s Sick Summer experience.
Cori and Koda Lagasse
Making the trip from New Hampshire, Cori and Koda Lagasse jumped into the well-stocked Stick Shift class at Sick Summer. When Cori made a solid run, you could instantly tell based on Koda’s reaction, especially his 10.48 run on day one.
The Pontiac Ventura made it through some issues along the way, but they survived to day five and carded an 11.12 average and a respectable eighth-place finish, to complete their first drag-and-drive event.
Tony and Tamra Wisman
One year ago at Sick Summer, Tony Wisman embarked on his first drag-and-drive experience. He completed the week, and vowed to return with more power and some new goals for 2024.
Tony lived up to his word, bringing back the white ’69 Dodge Dart with the ‘party pulley’ on the blower, collecting mid to low 9-second timeslips, and doing it all with daughter Tamra along for the ride.
The duo averaged 9.48 for the fifth spot in the Pro Street class and Quickest Mopar trophy.
Brian Havlik with sons Briar and Max
Brian Havlik’s 1955 Chevrolet has been a regular sight on several drag-and-drive events, but lately the 8-second capable ride has been giving him fits. For Sick Summer, the ’55 sat without an engine in the weeks leading up to Sick Summer. “I had promised my 2 sons we would go, but with my good motor still at the machine shop, I was limited on options,” said Brian.
He threw together a 496 cubic inch bullet, and was joined for a week by sons Max and Briar. Brian might have completed the week with an average time slightly higher than we’ve seen in the past from the classic Chevrolet, but he kept his promise and finished the week.
Mark, Nick and Vayda Cryer
Three generations of the Cryer family joined us for Sick Summer, with Mark piloting the infamous Divco Milk Truck. Son Nick regulated himself to co-pilot duties, and granddaughter Vayda even jumped in to sing the national anthem for us at three stops along the way.
Unfortunately, the Milk Truck hurt the engine on day one, and even a thrash to get it back on the road didn’t last to day three. But the Cryers still completed the week as spectators, and showed that sometimes you can take lemons and make some decent lemonade.
Did you participate in Sick Summer with your dad? Let me know, and I’ll add you to the story!!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, 1320 Video, and the featured competitors.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com