This 1968 Impala Is Coming To Sick Powerfest To Melt Tires!
“It doesn’t make any sense to most people, but I just love it.”
Those are James Rowlett’s words when referring to a 1968 Chevrolet Impala four-door he calls the ‘HonkyTonk Special.’
“Normal people don’t get attached to cars. But I’m different; I’m coming out to have a fun time and make memories.”
James has owned the HonkyTonk Special for just over five years, and it’s taken on several roles, from television subject on Fastest Cars In The Dirty South to a burnout car. He procured the Chevrolet with its original 327 cubic inch small block engine and three-speed automatic transmission, but before last year’s Sick Nights (now the Summit Sick Powerfest Presented by M1 Concourse), James came up with a plan that included a 5.3-liter LS engine and a ProCharger supercharger to turn the rear tires into puddles of molten goo.
Summit Sick Powerfest Presented by M1 Concourse on August 11, 2023. For more information, click HERE!
When James rolled the car out onto the burnout pad at M1 Concourse, even he didn’t know what was going to happen.
“We had just finished getting everything together, and I didn’t know if it would survive,” he said.
It did survive, with an epic burnout that concluded with James burning the tires right off the rear wheels, and he drove the car off the pad on the bare rims.
About six months later, James had the HonkyTonk Special ready for its next challenge, the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in Florida.
The driveline combination had once again changed, with the LS-swap getting a unique LSA blower and induction system for power, and the automatic got the boot for a manual transmission.
James overcame some issues during the week, but completed his second Sick Week, just outside the top ten in the Stick Shift class.
Now, the HonkyTonk Special sits in James’ shop in Tennessee with no driveline in place, but he’s pumped and ready for another epic time at Summit Sick Powerfest.
“It doesn’t have an engine currently, but we have eleven days left,” James said. “Anyone that knows me will tell you we’ll be there, and we’ll be ready to party!”
Party he said, could the rumors of a big supercharger hanging out the hood be real?
The burnout contest at the Summit Sick Powerfest Presented by M1 Concourse is just one part of the epic event coming to Pontiac, Michigan for one huge Friday night on August 11th, 2023!
Featuring burnouts, drifting, RC drag racing, nitro cackling, vintage dragster displays, car shows, automotive influencers and more!
Want to participate or come out to watch all the action? Event information is available HERE!
Spectators: you can save $5 on general admission thanks to Summit Racing! Use the discount code summitracing when you pre-purchase tickets HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com