This Canada-Based GTO Is Coming For a Stick Shift Repeat Win
In the category of drag-and-drive veterans, Richard Guido has to be on the list. The ‘Canadian Chuck Norris’ as some have dubbed him, Richard drives his classic ’65 GTO to every event from Canada.
For the second-straight year, that means negotiating the snow and cold temperatures to join over 300 more enthusiasts to participate at Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive.
It’s mind-boggling to some that Richard makes the drive from Canada for each of the fourteen drag-and-drive events he’s competed in thus far.
Taking that a step further is that his ’65 GTO still packs a traditional Pontiac engine, checking in 521 cubic inches with a single 94-millimeter turbocharger to provide a boost in performance.
The Pontiac power is funneled through a T-56 Magnum manual transmission fortified by G-Force transmission, and Richard relies on stock suspension to absorb the power at a 4,000-pound race weight!
Recently, Richard put the GTO on a chassis dyno to get it tuned up for Sick Week, and found 1484 rear-wheel-horsepower and 1457 rear-wheel-pound-feet-of-torque!
The stick shift class promises to be a good one this year, and Richard returns as defending class champion. “A repeat of last year, winning the stick class would be great,” he said. “But my main goal this year, like every year, is to make it back home after the event. It would be great to run mid 8-second passes all 5 days.”
What keeps Richard making the long drives from Canada? “I really love the challenge, the thinking on your feet,” he admitted. “Seeing all the cars race and drive on the street.”
Richard will be joined by father Mike in 2023, and feels the Sick Week plan is taking the drag-and-drive concept one step further. “I feel it is the attempt to make it more social, and definitely the stops are fantastic (well they were last year for sure),” he admitted. “Because of the short drives, racers tend to stay a little longer at the track.... because they know the drives are shorter. The prep for sure is top notch as well!”
- Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Motion Raceworks and Richard Guido.