Unlimited Possibilities - Bryant Goldstone Reveals New Drag-and-Drive Corvette at the PRI Show!
As the drag-and-drive world continues to gain steam with more events and bigger performances, there are a small group of people that are doing their part to bring a little more attention to the community.
One of them is Bryant Goldstone, a competitor that has re-written the record book in the Ultimate Iron / Unlimited Iron classes with a 1973 AMC Javelin that’s become a staple at drag-and-drive events. Today at the Performance and Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis, Bryant pulled the cover off his newest effort for drag-and-drive in 2025.
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The 1953 Chevrolet Corvette is indeed a “Pro Mod-style” ride, starting life as a race car, and at one time held the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Mod record at 5.77-seconds with former Top Fuel and Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel at the wheel. Goldstone found the car by ‘accident’ in a matter of speaking.
“I actually considered buying it while I was rebuilding the Javelin after the crash at Hot Rod Drag Week 2021,” said Goldstone. But because it was in the middle of winter, and no one wanted to travel to Connecticut to look at the car with him, he didn’t pursue it. “I didn’t go ahead with it.”
Just over a year after it caught his eye, Goldstone was once again considering the Corvette, and reached out to the owner to see if the car was still available. “He said it was, and I decided to make the deal,” said Goldstone. The car was purchased in June of 2023, with Bryant still competing with the Javelin in drag-and-drive events. “I knew it would be a project, and it would take time to complete,” he said.
Purchased as a rolling chassis in a blue hue, Goldstone got started on the necessary changes the car would need to be legal for a drag-and-drive, but also survive the events. “It was mostly what I was expecting when I bought it,” Goldstone said. “It was a bare bones race car that need a better cooling system, fueling system, lighting, and wiring.”
Goldstone has solid experience with the twin-turbo big block Chevrolet combinations in his AMC, and although some might think he’d carry that combo into the Corvette, he decided to change things up. “We did some homework, and to likely run five-second runs, we’ll need 55-60 pounds of boost,” said Goldstone. “The current engine in the AMC wants to lift the cylinder heads if we go past 42 pounds, and although it’s been reliable, we need more for the next step.”
The Corvette’s engine will be based on a Steve Morris Engines SMX platform, with parts sourced from SME, but Goldstone leaving the assembly process to good friends and co-pilot Brian Robbins.
Featuring a longer-than-stock wheelbase, mostly covered by the stretched front nose, the Corvette had the fuel system up front from its Pro Mod days, and Goldstone plans to retain that with a few changes. The car will make its drag strip runs on methanol, and before hitting the street, Goldstone will swap in a different fuel cell to hold the regular pump swill for his street miles.
Although the car was revealed today in the XS Power Batteries booth at PRI, it isn’t 100-percent ready. “We trying to make Sick Week,” said Goldstone. “I still have some work to do on the car, and I’m not going to compromise. We’ll go with the car tested and ready, or take the Javelin.”
Many will breathe a sigh of relief to know the AMC Javelin will not collect dust and become folklore, as Bryant plans to press it into action at Rocky Mountain Race Week (RMRW), as well as defend its 2024 win at the Havlik’s FSC Shootout in August of 2025.
“The past year was a tough one,” Goldstone said. “Hot Rod Drag Week with the engine, along with RMRW and the oil pan. The Javelin earned its keep.” That being said, it was hard to ignore the benefits the Corvette brought to the table. “The Corvette has a better engine bay, and it should be a good bit easier to work on.”
“I’m coming for Tom Bailey,” Goldstone admitted. “To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. 2025 might not be the best year, with trying to get a new car sorted out. But I’m excited about the challenge.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Bryant Goldstone.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com