Turbo Tina Boosts Her Cutlass for Another Shot at Sick Summer
With participation in several automotive events from KOTS (King of The Streets) to no prep and even the Joliet Joe Zolper’s Builders Brawl (a race only open to those who build their own car), Tina Konstatos was looking for the next challenge.
Enter Sick Summer near her home state of Illinois, and after completing her first drag-and-drive, Tina’s focus for automobiles and racing was forever changed.
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“I competed in Sick Summer 2023 in the Dial-Your-Own class, and finished in the top 50 out of 136 entries for that group,” said Tina. “The experience was amazing, and now I’m totally ‘down with the sickness’ of Sick Summer.
“We meet the coolest people, stopped at places I’ve never been to before, explored the sickest routes and scenery, got greeted by the happiest people and kids in the small towns, where we ‘spun em’ and had the time of our lives.”
Tina’s 1987 Cutlass came into Sick Summer straight from another event where she drove to the track, participated and then drove it home.
“I came to run Sick Summer last year straight from running the Builders Brawl at Cordova Dragway,” she said. “I was the first women ever to win at his event. Drove my car there three hours, raced it, won and drove three hours home.”
As much fun as she had on that adventure, the drag-and-drive layout of Sick Summer gave Tina and husband Jerry ‘The Greek’ a chance to experience a different style of automotive event.
“It’s an opportunity for me and my husband to get to spend time just the two of us, doing what we love most, together and working as a team,” said Tina. “Supporting each other, directing each other and just flat out laughing our asses off. Meeting so many people that are passionate about their cars, small towns who stop their whole day to support and wave to us driving by.
“Kids smiling from ear to ear as you do a burn out because they are holding and waving a sign excitedly. Seeing amazing landmarks to stop and take in beautiful scenery. Can’t imagine any of that not being appealing to anyone. It’s like driving and just feeling free for five days, like nothing else matters.”
After clocking mid 11-second times in 2023, including a best of 11.57 in the Dial-Your-Own class, Tina has decided she will return to the same class at Sick Summer 2024, but with some upgrades.
The Cutlass will be sporting a LS2-based 408 cubic inch engine, with a ProCharger providing a boost in power production. A Turbo 400 3-speed transmission will back the engine program, and a full roll cage will also be added to the Cutlass for safety.
“She’s not pretty right now, but Steve at Xtreme Graphics Lombard is coming up with a killer wrap that will be one of a kind,” said Tina. She also acquired a trailer, and that should be ready to add to her program for Sick Summer.
“Me and the hubby survived each other for five days in my Cutlass, driving with his knees in his mouth so my short legs could reach the pedals the whole time on a bench seat,” she said. “Priceless. We made it in the Sick the Mag two times with the car, and are simply blessed to have experienced it, and will get to do a repeat this year.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Tina Konstatos.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com