Annette Summer’s reputation on the track is equaled by that of the products produced by Garrett by Honeywell. Both are tough, reliable, and of championship caliber. That being said, it’s only natural that this racer and this company join forces for an assault on the Pro Modified record book in 2008 and beyond.

 

Summer, based in Aiken, South Carolina, won two NMCA/NSCA Pro Street championships before turning her attention to Pro Mod competition several seasons ago. Her Tim McAmis-built 1957 Chevrolet was originally powered by a nitrous-injected powerplant, but in 2002 Annette and husband Vernon made the switch to turbo power and embarked on a journey of research and development that may now be coming to its logical and successful conclusion.

 

There have been records and big wins along the way, with both the “shoebox” Chevy and a 1963 Corvette built by Vanishing Point Race Cars, but there are undoubtedly many more to come, thanks to Garrett by Honeywell, a world leader in the development of turbocharging technology.

 

“My friend Rick Head, of Exile Turbo Systems, introduced me to the people from Garrett by Honeywell at the PRI Show in December,” Summer said. “Since most sanctioning bodies now require 91-millemeter turbos, and I run 101s, Rick felt that if we were going to make a change then Garrett was the company to talk to. I have used Garrett turbos all during my racing career, and we use their products in our heavy truck repair business, too.”

 

“We met with Kyle Snyder of Garrett by Honeywell, and he was really interested in working with us to develop a 91-millimeter program for the 530-inch combination we now run in the ’57,” Summer said. “Our co-crew chief and tuner, Darrell Makins, of Under Pressure Performance, is going to work with Brian Regnier, an engineer from Garrett by Honeywell, on the project. We will have a state-of-the-art package once everything is done. I can’t tell you how much it means to us to be officially working with Garrett by Honeywell.”

 

The feeling is mutual, according to Garrett by Honeywell Marketing Manager Kyle Snyder.

 

“Garrett by Honeywell is very excited to be working with Annette and her team in 2008,” said Snyder. “We’ve seen her do great things with Garrett products the last couple of seasons, and we’re really excited and looking forward to even bigger things now that she will be using our dual ball-bearing, 91-millimeter GT55R turbochargers. These units will spool up faster and hold thrust loads more easily. It’s really a better product all around.”

 

“Once we have the new engine put together, we’ll be able to run in NHRA as well as ADRL, and hopefully we’ll also be able to do some IHRA races down the road,” said Summer. “We have put in years of hard work with both cars, and I believe that we now have the key piece of the puzzle. We’re looking forward to taking it to the heavy-hitters in Pro Mod this season, thanks to Garrett by Honeywell.”