Making Memories in a 1957 Chevy Gasser
By EJ Naegali
As a recently added member of the Sick team, I have attended a few drag-and-drives in the past, but getting to experience it as a racer for the first time was truly an unforgettable adventure.
The craziness began literally one week before Sick Summer. It was a normal Saturday, running errands and hanging out with my dog, when I got a phone call from Tom. “I found a car that would be perfect for you to drive at Sick Summer,” he said.
You can win the 1957 Chevy Gasser you are reading about right now! Find out more here.
Immediately, I was intrigued, but I knew it couldn’t have been that easy. “The only thing is, it needs to be picked up,” Tom added. And that’s when I knew there would be an excursion involved! After going back and forth for a few minutes, planning my route and the logistics of the trip, I agreed to pick up the Sick shop van and trailer the following day and head down to Virginia to pick up the ’57 Chevrolet Wagon gasser Tom was talking about. I love traveling and spontaneous road trips, so there wasn’t much of a debate going on in my head, the decision was pretty easy.
I hit the road the next morning and began my solo road trip to Hampton, Virginia. By the time I rolled into my hotel, it was time to get some rest and be up and at ‘em early to pick up the gasser the next morning.
I was feeling the excitement of seeing the car for the first time in person as I arrived at a garage. Three kind gentlemen greeted me at the bay door and I saw it for the first time. It was stunning! It looked so much better than the pixelated photos Tom sent me the day before. The gentlemen were very kind and informative when sharing information and history about the car. It had previously been set up for bracket racing so it already had a cage and a bucket seat, and the engine bay was clean and tidy. I didn’t spend too much time there as I had another long drive ahead of me back to Michigan. Before I knew it, we were loading the car onto the flatbed, strapping it down, and I was on the way.
The car and I safely made it back to the Sick shop and the teardown began the next day. In order to convert it to be drag-and-drive ready, some changes needed to be made. We wanted to add a Gear Vendors unit (which needed a shortened driveshaft), an upgraded radiator and fan, and a second bucket seat for a co-pilot. We also had to rewire much of the car.
The whole gang was on board with helping me get the work done, even with Aydan’s Duece Box and Tom’s Durango demanding so much time too. I cannot thank everyone enough who was involved in the process. Bob Miller worked his fabricating magic on fitting the seats, mounting the radiator, and relocating the entire fuel tank below the floor pans and out of the cabin. Jason Sack flew into town for vacation but was under the dash learning the entire wiring diagram of the car to get the turn signals, brake lights, and headlights all in working condition. Tom was guiding me through the entire process and chasing down parts.
The four days we had before our departure flew by faster than I believed. With what felt like a blink of my eyes it was time to load the car into the stacker and head down to Illinois.
Now it was time for the real adventure to begin at Cordova Dragway. Not only was this my first time at a drag-and-drive, it was my first drag racing experience full stop. The nerves were starting to kick in, but knowing I had some pretty amazing people in my corner was comforting.
One of those people was Sam, also known as “Mr Sam” from the Cleetus McFarland YouTube channel. He was my co-driver for the week and he was there at every stage to give guidance and motivation. He was originally going to share the racing duties, but he managed to find an excuse every time as to why I should be in the seat!
As day one rolled around I had no idea what I was doing or how I was supposed to feel. I went 14.99 on my first pass down the track. It felt slow but it was also my first time a burnout, staging the car, and shifting through all of the gears. My time slip was nothing to brag about but I was proud of myself for learning the process and completing my first pass ever, especially given the fact that I had never even driven the car before (even on the roads).
Throughout the week, Sam and I made improvements each and every day. I was given such good advice and guidance from fellow racers, my team, and track staff members. I greatly appreciate everyone who was cheering me on as well as giving me the constructive criticism I needed in order to grow and improve.
By the end of the week, I was confidently banging through the gears in the burnout box and I ran my personal best of 12.28 in the quarter. I felt like I was getting the hang of things and I loved the confidence I was starting to feel as a racer. I don’t think there was a time where there wasn’t a smile on my face.
My first drag-and-drive couldn’t have gone better. The vibes were incredible, I was driving at amazing tracks, learning as much as I could, and all the while surrounded by an awesome community.
I couldn’t have done it without everyone who helped me out along the way. A special thank you to Tom who took a chance on me when he gave me this opportunity to begin with — I am eternally grateful. None of this would have been possible without his support and I’m so thankful for an experience I will never forget.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next drag-and-drive that I will be racing in. I hope to be making faster passes and learning even more. If you haven’t considered participating in one of these events yet, I highly recommend it.
Nothing stays the same in the Sick garage, so now you have a chance to take the Gasser home! I really hope to see it go to someone who can enjoy it, whether that is at more drag-and-drive events, nostalgia racing, or even just cruising to get ice cream. But you’ve got to be in it to win it! So make sure you load up on subscriptions and merch!
