The Ways of a Willys – Dean Trowbridge Scratched the Gasser Itch with a Classic Willys; Now He Takes the Next Step to See If Man and Machine Can Survive Edelbrock Sick Smokies!
Some of us get a first or second car that resonates with us, sometimes enough to retain ownership, or the desire to have a similar model for the long haul.
But there are other enthusiasts that have to ‘pay their dues’ and bust their tail to get that car and/or the performance they have been picturing in their life. That was the case with Dean Trowbridge, who will join us for Edelbrock Sick Smokies and his first drag and drive with this Willys Gasser.
Dean’s ‘Willys Reserve’ will join 70-plus GASSERS for our upcoming Sick Smokies Presented by Edelbrock, our final drag and drive of 2025, October 12-19th, 2025! We’ve got seven days of cruising winding and scenic southern roads, including Tail Of The Dragon, with over 250 total competitors! Discounted advanced spectator tickets, as well as Sick Ward / Sick Spit Show & Shine entries are available - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE about Sick Smokies!!
As a man who got to see multiple sides of horsepower, with riding horses and attending car shows in his hobbies list, Dean had a desire to dive into drag racing, and have a Gasser in his life as well.
“I started out playing about ten years ago due to life and work,” said Dean. “I’m at a point now I can enjoy it.” With more time to devote to it, Dean focused his efforts on not only finding the right car, but getting the right skills to race it.
Dean visited Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, led by two-time NHRA world champion Frank Hawley. The school not only help you acquire a competition license in the sport, but teach a driver the fundamentals to operate a high-speed car properly.
“I went down to Gainesville, Florida and took the school,” said Dean. After completing the course and running some 8-second passes over 150 mph, the hook on drag racing was set. “It is a rush; I loved the experience! Now I have my son hooked and my grandson is licensed in Junior Street.”
With racing license in hand, Dean had his mind set on just the right car. “(I) aways wanted a Willys,” he confessed. “Built a ‘37 Chevy to Gasser specs, loved the car, but sold it to buy a Willys coupe.”
With his dream ride obtained, Dean set out to perfect it, and learn the ways of the Willys as well. “The car has been a learning experience in its own ways,” Dean said. “It started out with a decent 331 cubic inch Hemi running low 14s, (but that’s) not fast enough.”
With the want for more power, Dean contact Powerline Performance and Machine to build him a 383 cubic inch stroker Chevrolet small block, and set out to find the limits of the car, and the gear it sported. “If there is a part on this car I haven’t broke, I would not know where it is,” Dean said. “I’ve had the windshield blow into my lap the very first run with the 383 at Fall out Drags at 117 mph.”
The Willys has opened doors to a lot of opportunities for Dean, including making several friends in the Southeast Gassers Association (SEGA). It would be that connection that challenged him, as well as some friends in the Brew City Gassers, to get him into the drag and drive world with the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event, where ‘Willys Reserve’ will participate.
“I’m excited to hang with some of my friends from other groups, and test our ability to make the road trip spend time with my son,” said Dean. “Overall, we’re going to make some awesome memories.”
Will Dean Trowbridge’s trip into the drag and drive world find the ‘Willys Revenge’ up to the task of 900 miles of street proving, and a week of racing action? Don’t miss the 70-plus Gassers entered, as well as over 200 competitors total, at the Edelbrock Sick Smokies event, October 12th-19th! CLICK HERE for more details!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Dean Trowbridge and Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com