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Anyone even remotely associated with fast doorslammer racing can’t help but be impressed by the huge investment of time and money, not to mention blood, sweat, and tears, that Annette “Pink” Summer has poured into the perfection of a competitive turbocharged Pro Modified machine.
Summer, a former two-time Pro Street champion, and her husband Vernon have literally spent every minute of their free time during the last four years testing, modifying, and testing some more in an attempt to get speed and consistency out of a 1957 Chevrolet and its big brother, a 1963 Corvette.
At the recent U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, Florida, the work paid off as Summer qualified third for the tough Outlaw Pro Street class with a best elapsed time of 6.357 seconds. She had a top speed of 232.20 mph on a pass where she had to pedal the big ‘Vette twice! On top of that, her chutes failed to deploy, and she did something that only a driver with her great skill and experience could have done – she used just the right touch on the brakes to keep the car under control, scrubbed off speed and made the turn safely. She made it at a high rate of speed, but she brought the car home in one piece.
In the second round of eliminations Summer was on a solid mid-6.20 pass when the oil light flashed on, and she immediately shut the car down. She never even considered second-guessing the glowing red bulb, because her biggest concern was for the valuable 600-cubic-inch monster riding between the frame rails right in front of her.
This is a decision the team has abided by from the beginning. Vernon and engine guru Darrell Makins long ago decided to play it safe when it comes to their unique bullets. They have slowly worked their engine program up to the level they recently achieved, and during that process they have torn down, inspected, and rebuilt the engine numerous times. The bottom line, as Summer says, is that “we can’t afford to blow it up.”
“We have tested, tested, tested,” Summer said. “We have had some success along the way – I qualified the Corvette first at the World Street Nationals in 2005, and made the quickest eighth-mile pass for a turbo car with the ’57 at Carolina Dragway last May. But this version of the Corvette is the best of the bunch. Jim Geese at Vanishing Point Race Cars made a lot of upgrades to the car over the winter, and Vernon and Darrell, along with our crew guys Jack and Darren, spent hours and hours rebuilding the engine and wiring and plumbing the car. We got it finished just before the Bradenton race, and in just our third time down the track we ran that 6.357. It was great – strong and straight - and there’s a lot more in this car, believe me. A lot more.”
Many have dabbled with turbocharging, and while a few have been successful, many others have fallen by the wayside. Annette Summer is not one of these, obviously, and now, with sponsorship help from Mike Ashley, the pink-flamed Corvette from South Carolina is almost certainly poised to become the scourge of the Pro Modified world!
Way To Go, Pink!
Anyone even remotely associated with fast doorslammer racing can’t help but be impressed by the huge investment of time and money, not to mention blood, sweat, and tears, that Annette “Pink” Summer has poured into the perfection of a competitive turbocharged Pro Modified machine.
Summer, a former two-time Pro Street champion, and her husband Vernon have literally spent every minute of their free time during the last four years testing, modifying, and testing some more in an attempt to get speed and consistency out of a 1957 Chevrolet and its big brother, a 1963 Corvette.
At the recent U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, Florida, the work paid off as Summer qualified third for the tough Outlaw Pro Street class with a best elapsed time of 6.357 seconds. She had a top speed of 232.20 mph on a pass where she had to pedal the big ‘Vette twice! On top of that, her chutes failed to deploy, and she did something that only a driver with her great skill and experience could have done – she used just the right touch on the brakes to keep the car under control, scrubbed off speed and made the turn safely. She made it at a high rate of speed, but she brought the car home in one piece.
In the second round of eliminations Summer was on a solid mid-6.20 pass when the oil light flashed on, and she immediately shut the car down. She never even considered second-guessing the glowing red bulb, because her biggest concern was for the valuable 600-cubic-inch monster riding between the frame rails right in front of her.
This is a decision the team has abided by from the beginning. Vernon and engine guru Darrell Makins long ago decided to play it safe when it comes to their unique bullets. They have slowly worked their engine program up to the level they recently achieved, and during that process they have torn down, inspected, and rebuilt the engine numerous times. The bottom line, as Summer says, is that “we can’t afford to blow it up.”
“We have tested, tested, tested,” Summer said. “We have had some success along the way – I qualified the Corvette first at the World Street Nationals in 2005, and made the quickest eighth-mile pass for a turbo car with the ’57 at Carolina Dragway last May. But this version of the Corvette is the best of the bunch. Jim Geese at Vanishing Point Race Cars made a lot of upgrades to the car over the winter, and Vernon and Darrell, along with our crew guys Jack and Darren, spent hours and hours rebuilding the engine and wiring and plumbing the car. We got it finished just before the Bradenton race, and in just our third time down the track we ran that 6.357. It was great – strong and straight - and there’s a lot more in this car, believe me. A lot more.”
Many have dabbled with turbocharging, and while a few have been successful, many others have fallen by the wayside. Annette Summer is not one of these, obviously, and now, with sponsorship help from Mike Ashley, the pink-flamed Corvette from South Carolina is almost certainly poised to become the scourge of the Pro Modified world!
