Piston Changes, Late Night Rescue Drives, and Celebrating Their 20th Anniversary Highlight Bridget and Jason Morris Sick Summer Experience
On a special anniversary, some couples might choose to give each other special gifts, renew their vows, and even take a special trip.
For Bridget Morris, she chose to spend her twentieth anniversary married to her husband Jason by participating in Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks.
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Following years of watching and helping her husband race his 1967 Chevrolet C-10 pick-up, Bridget wanted a toy of her own. “In 2011 we pulled the trigger and found a one owner 2006 Pontiac GTO with 43k miles in St. Louis Missouri,” said Bridget.
In the next thirteen years, Bridget and Jason did a host of upgrades to the GTO, including a pair of TFS cylinder heads, BTR stroker camshaft, a FAST intake, Nick Williams 103 throttle body, 1-7/8-inch long tube headers, and a Nitrous Outlet nitrous system jetted for an additional 300 horsepower.
Behind the engine, a level 6 T-56 Magnum manual transmission and a Monster twin-disc clutch combine with a DSS one-piece driveshaft connects to the factory independent rear suspension rear, with a factory rear carrier, billet bearing adjusters and stub shafts, an Eaton true trac and 3.90 gears.
The chassis got some updates to handle the extra power, including changing all the rubber bushing to polyurethane versions, and BMR front coil overs/single adjustable struts up front with Viking Performance rear shocks with drag bags.
Her first drag-and-drive first drag-and-drive event at the One Guy’s Garage Drag Weekend in 2023, where Bridget placed second in the Stick Shift class. “I was instantly hooked,” she said. “When I expressed interest in doing another one, I thought what better way to celebrate our 20 year wedding anniversary than a drag-and-drive event with my husband. I loved getting track time in, traveling with friends, meeting and making new friends and sightseeing across the Midwest.”
So Bridget and Jason prepared for Sick Summer this year, and with three weeks to go before the gates swung open at Byron Dragway, the GTO decided to break the transmission, marking the fourth one for Bridget since the car’s purchase. “Second gear abruptly left the chat, which resulted in the level 6 T-56 Magnum arriving to our home five days later,” said Bridget.
The GTO arrived in time for the tech and registration part of Sick Summer, and Bridget proceeded to row the gears for an 11.77 on day one, followed by an 11.51 on the second day. “This is where it gets interesting,” said Bridget. “After arriving at our last check point, we went out to dinner with friends and ended up at our hotel in Cedar Rapids after 9:30 p.m. Jason had me check in and take the bags up to the room, while he went to go check on Alan Whitaker (whom we met on day zero at Byron).”
After passing out in bed, Bridget woke up around 3:45 a.m. and Jason wasn’t in the room. “In a panic, I checked my phone and could see he had sent a text asking what room we were in sometime after 11 p.m.,” Bridget said. “Then I noticed all the life 360 and ring app notifications. Why didn't he ask the front desk clerk our room number? Why did he drive to Mount Vernon, Iowa? Why did he go home? Why did he leave me at the hotel? What the hell is going on?”
The answer came a few minutes later via text. “He explained that he had been helping Alan Whitaker change a piston, and then had to go rescue Steve Morris, who had gotten a flat tire while driving,” said Bridget. “In disbelief, while waiting to get another response from Jason, not knowing if he was still home or in the parking lot, I started scrolling through the Ring videos and there he was, Steve Morris, standing in my driveway at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning.”
“Jason had picked him up in my GTO, brought him back to the hotel to help Alan.” After a few more hours, Alan’s Monte Carlo was fixed about 4 a.m., and Jason slept for about 45 minutes before he and Bridget got ready for day three. Jason would help Alan out again the next evening in changing another piston, after Alan covering the side of the Monte Carlo in oil in route to the hotel. “This time they were able to complete by 1:30 a.m.,” said Bridget. “If I didn't have pictures, I wouldn't have believed it myself.”
After two more days, Bridget completed her fifth and final 11-second pass, an 11.57, to compile an 11.61 average and a top ten finish in the Stick Shift class. “Luckily, all cars involved in our week finished out strong with no more major issues,” Bridget said. “And that's what I call an adventure.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, 1320 Video and Bridget Morris.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com