Playing Musical Chairs in a 2002 Camaro, as Husband and Wife Switch Roles for Their Second Drag-and-Drive Appearance
With over three decades of racing experience between them, Amber and Ben Matts are a perfect example of the family that races together, stays together. The husband and wife have both raced around the state of Florida since the 1990s, and now their son, Hudson Matts, has also jumped into racing competition.
In late 2022, Amber and Ben were looking for their next adventure (with cars and racing of course). Living less than five miles from Gainesville Raceway, they are regular visitors to the storied facility, whether they are racing or not.
So after checking out Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022 at spectators, they decided to participate in 2023 with their street car, a 2002 Chevrolet Camaro.
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Amber came up through the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Jr. Dragster ranks as a kid, getting several years behind the wheel to experience fun times and victories before moving into her current ’64 Chevrolet Malibu.
Husband Ben has raced his clean ’66 Chevy Nova ‘Shake, Rattle & Run’ in NHRA bracket racing, as well as divisional Super Street and Super Gas classes. And as we mentioned earlier, the hobby has also captured son Hudson’s attention, as he is now underway in his own drag racing adventures in a Jr. Dragster.
In late 2022, Amber and Ben were looking for their next adventure (with cars and racing of course). Living less than five miles from Gainesville Raceway, they are regular visitors to the storied facility, whether they are racing or not.
After checking out Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022 at spectators during the Gainesville Raceway visit, they decided to participate in 2023 with their street car, a 2002 Chevrolet Camaro.
They initially got on the wait list to possibly be competitors, and purchased a Sick Ward ticket as their fallback plan. As February 2023 dawned, the Matts figured their time to possibly race at four different tracks on a week of fun had run out.
But a week before the event was to start, a competitor spot opened up, so the Matts jumped at it, with Ben taking the wheel for the racing portion.
“The experience was amazing,” said Amber. “Everybody was so helpful and kind. We are drag racers who trailer our cars to and from tracks most of the time. It's cool that you drag, and then drive with whatever you can carry in the car for Sick Week.”
Participating in the Dial Your Own (DYO) class, the Camaro put down a fistful of mid 12-second passes, with Ben getting a 12.25 at 108 mph best pass of the week on day one at Orlando ‘Sick’ World Dragway, to complete their first drag-and-drive with a 12.47 average.
“We were caught off guard a few times last year,” said Amber. “The drive to South Georgia almost ended our week. We limped off the highway and got things fixed up and was almost late to SGMP, but made it happen.”
For 2024, we will see the Matts and their blue F-body back in Orlando again, but this time Amber will be behind the wheel. “Derek (Putnam, Sick Week announcer) kept saying Amber thought she could do better,” said Ben. “So she's bound to try. We’re so excited for another adventure!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Amber and Ben Matts.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com