Dancing with the Devil in a Wheels-Up Chevy II
For most of us that enjoy drag-and-drive events, cars are more than just transportation. They’ve helped create lasting friendships and memories, and although every step might not be as rewarding as previous ones, the overall time of ownership is usually a positive one.
For Joshua Norris Sr., a desirable 1967 Chevrolet Nova would be waiting for him to discover at a local car show. “My dad and I were walking into the show, and I saw this bright red car,” said Joshua. “We eventually made it over to see it, and fell in love with it on the spot.”
He made the deal and drove it home the next day, and enjoyed the car as a driver as well as flexing some muscle on the street for the next ten years of ownership.
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A hurt engine triggered the next stage for Joshua with the Chevy II he calls The Red Devil, and it spent the next ten years on the sidelines with a stay in a body shop, then waiting on a new engine, and finally life getting in the way of the comeback.
“From the time it finally ran again, I’ve been strict on an upgrade a year,” Joshua explained, as this approach helps to keep the classic Chevy on the road. He’s currently working on a new engine build, but the one in the car now is still a head-turner.
Joshua naturally-aspirated ride stands out not just due to wheelstands on nearly every pass, but also a unique engine combination. “The Hilborn Stack fuel injection really makes it stand out,” said Joshua. “A big shout out to friend Andy Starr at Starr Performance and consulting for all the tuning he has done on this car.” The Hilborn injection sits atop a 421 cubic inch small block Chevrolet that belted out 760 horsepower on an engine dyno, and is backed by 3-speed Turbo 400 transmission.
The chassis set-up is critical to utilize every ounce of power from a N/A combination, and Joshua dialed up a Smith RaceCraft bolt on front clip with Viking Performance struts to open up some engine bay space, drop needed weight and eliminate the shock towers.
The leaf-spring ride relies on Calvert Racing Split-Mono leaf springs with sliders, with Smith RaceCraft Assassin bars and Viking Shocks to control the rear suspension.
Joshua has done quite well as drag-and-drive events, placing top five in class every time. “I’ve done five Hot Rod Drag Weeks, with a best finish of second three times,” said Joshua. He also placed second on the Midwest Drags, and earned the coveted top spot on One Guys Drag Weekend.
Joshua added Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive to his schedule this year, and finished second in the Naturally Aspirated Modified category to Jason Tabscott. He’s looking forward to another good showing at Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes.
“The drag-and-drive event appeals to me for a couple reasons,” Joshua said. “One is all the people you become friends with, and all the people you meet on the drives. The second is the drives; We get to see so much of the country we most likely won’t see without these events.
My goals are the same for all these events: Have a great time first, then finish. Hopefully place or win.” Joshua is signed up for not only Sick Week and Sick Summer this year, but also plans to hit Midwest Drags and Hot Rod Drag Week. Could we see a naturally-aspirated ride make a serious threat for this season’s championship?
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Joshua Norris Sr.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com