Big Block (Nicky) Bobby - the ‘Uncle Sam’ Camaro Gets a New Heart, and New Goals, for a Campaign Trail Starting at the Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn
When we first saw the ‘Uncle Sam’ 1991 Chevrolet Camaro, it looked like a patriotic Pro Stock ride that had been revived to begin a second chapter on the track, and on the street. Nick Taylor made the necessary changes to have it ready for the first Sick Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022.
After completing that event with his first 6-second time slip thanks to a twin-turbo LS and a Powerglide combination, Nick has participated in a variety of drag and drive, no prep and drag racing events. And after both some success and some results that have fallen short of his goals, Nick makes some big changes to Uncle Sam for 2026.
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“It was built in the 1990s, and at one point had a third pedal for a clutch set-up,” said Nick. “It’s been rumored to go 4.30 with a big cubic inch nitrous motor back in the early 2000s.” And Nick decided it’s time to return Uncle Sam to a big block, but with a different support team than the past big block.
A massive 670 cubic inch engine, nearly a seven-five percent increase in displacement over his previous LS mill, now sits between the frame rails of the ’91 Camaro. Nick is standing firm on the subject of turbos being his power adder of choice, but he’s made the big step up from 80-millimeter units to a whopping 98-millimeter size.
The previous Powerglide was voted out of the tunnel, and a Turbo 400 has taken up the vacancy. The Camaro also got some strengthening and safety, with double frame rails to the chassis, plus a larger anti-roll bar and wishbone.
Nick is ready to be back behind the wheel for the first time in almost a year, and he’ll get his first shot at the Mickey Thompson Turn & Burn, presented by Summit Racing Equipment and powered by Sick The Magazine.
That will be followed by the Peak Performance Street Car Shootout as part of the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Route 66 Nationals the next week, and Nick will cap off the month of May on small tires with the King of the South event.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Motion Raceworks and Nick Taylor.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com