This Boosted Camaro Looks to Escape Rhode Island Winter for Florida Sunshine and Its First Drag-and-Drive
Cars can become part of the memories in our lives. Something as simple as a road trip, an accident, and even your first car can be forever etched in your thoughts.
In the case of drag-and-drive events, cars can create those memories, and this 1995 Chevrolet Camaro will write a whole new chapter for Mike Verdolotti at the 2024 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
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The fourth-generation F-body already is a car that Mike holds near and dear to his heart, having owned it for over half his life. “I’ve owned this car since age 17,” said Mike. “It’s a heavy 3900 pounds with me, but it drives great, and still has interior, power windows and locks, stock column, wipers and a lot more.”
Mike may have over fifteen years of racing experience, but Sick Week will mark his first time in the drag-and-drive arena, and he has reasonable goals. “My goal is to get down to Florida with no issues, and finish the week,” Mike said. “Of course, I'd love to place but that’s a bonus.”
Mike will be jumping into a popular class, the Street Race 275 class. To give himself a fighting chance, the Camaro packs a 427 cubic inch LSX-based combination, wearing LME cylinder heads. Twin SXE476 Borg Warner billet turbochargers provide the boost in power output, and a Powerglide transmission with a Gear Vendors Overdrive unit on the back will keep the revs in check. “The car runs 8.50 elapsed times like a champ, so we will see,” said Mike.
“I think drag-and-drive is a true test of man and machine, and engineering,” said Mike. “Driving them that far and racing them. Plus, it looks like a blast making friends, meeting people and the idea of driving my car through Florida is pretty cool too!”
Mike knows there are challenges on a drag-and-drive as well. “I hope to avoid breakage, if everything can stay together on the drives, I think it will work out pretty well.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Mike Verdolotti.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com