The Evolution of (Spit) Fire – Timothy and Kaitlyn Blythe Navigate a ’64 Triumph to the Sevens at Sick Week
Nearly every car / truck event will have a unique vehicle of some kind, and drag-and-drives are no exception. From a 6-second Volvo station wagon to a 1925 Franklin Series 11 coupe, there’s a little something for everyone to point and say “what is that?”
For Timothy and Kaitlyn Blythe, we’ve watched the evolution of their 1964 Triumph Spitfire, from its debut at the first Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive in 2022, until now.
If you’re all about the drag-and-drive lifestyle, Sick the Magazine has a shirt that lists the important stuff! Click HERE to browse our Sick merch!
“I grew up driving garbage vehicles that would routinely break down on the side of the road,” Timothy stated at the beginning of the second stage of the build, as the Triumph was becoming more serious. “I feel I may have been practicing for this type of event since I first started tinkering with cars. It presents a challenge and a sense of self-reliance while also providing opportunity to help others and meet new people.”
The initial form was a 5.3-liter LS-swap with a single turbocharger, and Timothy put the 2500-pound Triumph in the Dial Your Own (DYO) class, where it completed its first drag-and-drive with an 11.19 result.
Fast forward a year, and the Triumph returned to Sick Week completely rebuilt, sitting on a 25.1-SFI tube chassis, but Timothy retained the stock front frame rails and suspension. The LS grew to 383 cubic inches of displacement, and the single turbo made way for a pair of Borg 66-millimeter versions.
A 4L80E overdrive transmission, Ford 9-inch rear end, and 235-sidewall drag radials were in place to support the new chassis and all the additional power. Timothy and Kaitlyn completed their second drag-and-drive with an 8.68 average, and a fifth-place finish in the Unlimited class.
“We hate returning to reality after a drag-and-drive,” said Timothy. Therefore, it wasn’t a shock to see the Spitfire at Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes in 2023, where the couple knocked their average down to an 8.37 and scored a second-place finish in the Unlimited class.
For 2024, it’s rise and repeat for the duo from Georgia, as they tackled Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive already, and completed their fourth drag-and-drive to keep their perfect completion record intact.
Unfortunately, a broken transmission slowed Timothy’s pace from a personal best 7.79 at 176 into the 11-second range on day four, and a resulting 8.92 average that scored the third spot in Unlimited.
“Sick Summer is on our schedule next,” said Timothy. “We would love to do Hot Rod Drag Week if we have the funds. Honestly, a drag-and-drive event is a great atmosphere. Everything’s chaotic, people are asking questions, you’re surrounded by cool car people and it’s just really fun. The stress is motivating. Almost everybody who is anybody is there. Plus, we get to see my best friend Keith Turk.”
What the biggest challenge they’ve faced in their three years of drag-and-drive events? “The biggest challenge is accepting the reality that you may not do as good as you wanted to,” said Timothy. “And, refraining from making stupid tune up decisions so you can make a clean pass and get on the road.”
Will the Triumph get further into the 7-second zone this year? Find out at Sick Summer Presented by Motion Raceworks on June 9th – June 14th.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, Timothy and Kaitlyn Blythe.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com