Tales From Death Week – An Appearance at Death Week and SEMA Wraps Up an Epic 2023 for Chris Hein and His Stick Shift ’33 Coupe
Wheeling a Factory Five ’33 coupe with a twin-turbocharged LS engine is one way to stand out from the crowd. But for Chris Hein, he decided to up the cool factor by sticking a manual transmission in the tunnel, and pulling a unique trailer that includes sleeping quarters and a full tilt kitchen on the back.
Death Week would be the next-to-last event in an epic season of racing and driving for Chris. His 2023 season started with a trip to Florida for Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and a 3500-mile trip was needed before Chris made the first pass of the event. His day one best pass was a 10.74 at 151 mph, but Chris eventually whittled his elapsed time down during the week to an 8.90 at 156 mph on day four, garnering a 9.54 average and a third-place finish in the Stick Shift class.
Don’t miss our next one-off drag-and-drive: Sick 66 - October 2024!
Event information and expression of interest forms can be FOUND HERE!
Before his next drag-and-drive event, Chris decided to knock down a couple other events with stick-shift classes.
He started by making over a 1,000-mile tow to Las Vegas for LS Fest West, where Chris posted a best pass of 8.68 at 161 mph to qualify number one in the stick class. But his racing ended early in round one due to a spun bearing. Chris did find some solace in earning the ‘Best Street Rod’ award for the event.
Returning to Canada, Chris would give the coupe some exercise at a trio of events. His first was the No Prep 8 event at Central Alberta Raceways, where Chris got the win in the Man Pedal class.
He didn’t even have to wait one full week to repeat his winning ways, capturing the class win at the Central Alberta Street Car Shootout event at Central Alberta Raceways one day later. “No prep went very well, but I definitely struggled in the shootout,” said Chris.
During the drive, Chris discovered an exhaust leak, and determined the waste gate flange was cracked. “I ripped it off and found a local welder to patch it back together just in time to make the call for first round,” said Chris.
He battled through the rounds, including dispatching fellow drag-and-drive friend Richard Guido in the semifinal round, in route to earning the win.
Chris returned to action at Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association for his third and final Canada-based event of the year, taking home a win in the Southern Alberta Street Car Shootout.
Just a few days later, Chris made his way to Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW) 2.0 to compete in the Stick Shift class, and at the end of a long week of competition, Chris stood atop the 27-car field with an 8.72 average earning him the class victory.
But Chris decided he wasn’t done yet, and returned south from Canada once again three weeks later for Death Week, where a best single run of 5.45 at 134 mph on the eighth-mile led to a 5.60 average, and a second-place finish.
He was joined in the top ten final standings by fellow Canadians Richard Guido in the fifth spot, and the diesel Nova of Bryce Nicolson in the ninth spot.
“Congrats to Jason Rousseau for taking home the overall championship,” said Chris. “It was a great showing by all three Canadian cars that drove all the way down and back! Next year we’re hoping to be back for Sick 66.”
“Reflecting on the year, I would say getting to make the whole journey to and from RMRW with Richard and meeting up and battling with Brent Stephens and Bill Armstrong all week,” Chris said. “It was cool to have the top 4 stick cars all traveling together and hanging out.”
“Death Week was a great adventure with friends and family getting to see the south west coast. I keep telling people here if they have never done a drag-and-drive, to make sure they sign up for Route 66 next year and bring whatever they have to enjoy the adventure.”
Did you miss the chance to participate in Death Week? Check out the details on our next one-off event, Sick 66, scheduled for October 2024. More details and ‘expression of interest’ forms available HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Factory Five and Chris Hein.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com