Drag-and-drive events attract an incredible variety of vehicles and prove that just about anything can be a street car if you’re brave enough.
At the Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn, presented by Summit Racing Equipment and powered by Sick the Magazine, we saw plenty of unique rides laying down impressive passes. Picking the single coolest vehicle from the event would be impossible, but three competitors stood out and deserve a closer look.
Rick Russell’s 1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express
When Dodge’s Lil’ Red Express trucks roamed the streets in the late 1970s, they were among the fastest production vehicles available. Rick Russell decided to modernize his 1979 Lil’ Red Express by adding boosted Gen III HEMI power, creating an eight-second street truck that could easily win a car show.
The truck originally belonged to Russell’s brother-in-law, who famously introduced Rick to the vehicle by performing a healthy burnout on his freshly poured concrete driveway. After his brother-in-law passed away, Russell became the truck’s owner and has continued to improve and evolve the combination over the years.
Today, a pair of HPT turbochargers provide boost to the modern HEMI engine. Big 3 Racing handles the tuning duties through a Holley EFI system, while a TH400 transmission sends power to the rear tires.
The combination has propelled the truck to a best pass of 8.60 at 153 mph.
Jake Marshall’s 1966 Pontiac GTO Gasser
The Pontiac GTO is widely regarded as the car that launched the muscle car era. Jake Marshall, a lifelong Pontiac enthusiast, decided to blend classic GTO styling with traditional gasser influence to create a truly one-of-a-kind street machine.
This Goat may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely has a personality all its own.
When Marshall found the GTO, it was in rough condition. The car appeared to have been a former race car that eventually became a parts donor. Rather than letting it continue to deteriorate, Marshall began restoring the Pontiac and made the decision to install a Speedway Motors straight axle gasser kit.
Pontiac power remains under the hood in the form of a 455 cubic-inch engine. To continue the gasser theme, Marshall topped the engine with a 6-71 roots supercharger. A TH400 transmission handles shifting duties.
Currently, the GTO runs deep into the 12-second zone, but Marshall’s goal is to push the car solidly into the 11-second range in the near future.
Jeremy Bonnett’s “Last Penny” 1933 Willys
Jeremy Bonnett fell in love with Willys gassers after driving a radical example owned by a friend. So, when it came time to build another street car, he knew he needed a Willys of his own.
His 1933 Willys, known as “Last Penny,” was designed from the beginning to be a drag-and-drive machine.
The car was built by Bonnett and his family at Bonnett Race Cars. Under the lightweight body sits a 7.50-certified SFI chassis housing a 400 cubic-inch small-block Chevy. A Dyer 6-71 roots supercharger provides boost, while a pair of Quick Fuel carburetors handle air and fuel delivery.
One of the most unique aspects of the build is the body itself. Bonnett sourced an original Chuck Finder Willys body to drape over the chassis. The vintage fiberglass body provides the perfect gasser appearance while helping keep weight to a minimum.
That combination has proven effective, allowing the Willys to run a best of 8.60 at 154 mph.
One of the best parts of drag-and-drive racing is the incredible variety of vehicles competitors bring to each event. From a twin-turbo Dodge Lil’ Red Express and a blown Pontiac GTO gasser to a traditional Willys drag-and-drive machine, Turn & Burn demonstrated that there’s no single formula for building a fast street car for a drag-and-drive event.
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