When a group of Australian drag-racing enthusiasts led by John Ricca rolled their screw-blown Pro Mod Camaro onto a Florida drag strip in November 2024, few gave them a chance of making headlines. Drag racing, particularly in the Pro Modified (Pro Mod) category, is America’s turf—and the locals guard it fiercely. Yet Ricca and his all-Aussie crew did more than compete; they rewrote the record books, proving that passion, teamwork, and meticulous preparation can level the playing field—even on the globe’s most competitive stages.
Genesis of a Record-Breaking Machine
From RK Racecraft in the U.S. to Race Parts Melbourne
Ricca, owner of Race Parts Melbourne, first laid eyes on the Camaro while browsing photo updates from RK Racecraft in Indianapolis. Originally built for fellow Aussie racer Rob Marjan, the screw-blown, Pro Line Racing–powered machine featured a state-of-the-art MH7 Hemi engine and a C-rotor PSI supercharger mated to a Mark Micke TH400 transmission.
Negotiating the Deal
Over several months, Ricca orchestrated a transpacific purchase. “I was surprised Rob wanted to sell,” Ricca recalls. Marjan’s burgeoning projects in Australia meant he couldn’t commit to launching the car stateside. Ricca, backed by Sydney tuner Paul Mouhayet and a handpicked team of mechanics and fabricators, finalized the deal and flew to Indiana in August 2024 for shakedown testing.
First Shakedown: Indianapolis Eighth-Mile Runs
Dialing In on the Eighth
At Pro Line Racing’s facility, Ricca and Mouhayet embarked on four days of eighth-mile test sessions. “We finished the first full quarter-mile pass at 5.58 sec @ 263 mph,” Ricca says. Confident, but eager for more, the team made suspension and shock adjustments before wrapping the day with a 5.53 sec @ 264 mph. The goal: a 5.50-second quarter-mile— ambitious, but now within sight.
Record-Breaking Run at Bradenton
November 2024: Breaking Through the 5.40s Barrier
Ricca returned to the U.S. in November for a full-scale assault at Bradenton Motorsports Park. After dialing in the setup with consistent eighth-mile runs in the 3.55-second range, the moment arrived on the quarter-mile strip. Initial passes saw the Camaro launch violently onto its wheelie bars, prompting weight redistribution and final tweaks.
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Securing the Record
The third pass proved magical: 5.43 sec @ 269 mph. But Ricca and crew refused to quit. A subsequent 5.40 sec @ 271 mph eclipsed the previous screw-blown Pro Mod record. In a last hurrah before packing up, the Camaro stunned everyone with a 5.37 sec @ 270.75 mph—both the quickest and fastest ever recorded for a supercharged door-car class.
From Screws to Radials: Lights Out 16
March 2025: Proving Consistency on Radials
Critics claimed “test track times don’t equate to competition.” Ricca welcomed the challenge at Lights Out 16’s Radial vs the World event in Georgia. Within days, the Camaro was transformed for radial-tyre racing: stripped for weight, swapped to 2,650-lb minimum dry weight, 128% supercharger overdrive, wheelie bars removed, and fresh drag radials installed.
Making the Finals
In qualifying, the Camaro ran a stunning 3.558 sec @ 216 mph, then a 3.518 @ 217 mph (the fastest speed of the event), and finally a 3.494 @ 215 mph—good for third on the grid. Ricca dispatched round after round, posting the quickest time in each pairing, before a buzzer-beater final loss (3.507 to opponent’s 3.498) earned a hard-fought runner-up finish.
World Series of Pro Mod: Qualifying Among the Best
Barely a Week Later, Qualifying 20th of 80+
With no rest, Ricca’s crew reconfigured the Camaro back to “big-tyre” format for the prestigious World Series of Pro Mod at Bradenton. Under torrential rain, they stripped and rebuilt the car—reducing boost to 75%, removing the lock-up converter, swapping diff gears, and fitting world-series-legal tyres.
Making the Show
Out of an invitation-only field exceeding 80 competitors, where nearly half would fail to qualify, Ricca locked in a 20th-place spot—one of only 32 cars making eliminations. In the opening round, he pushed past seasoned veterans by splitting the tree and running a consistent 5.60-second pass.
The Team Behind the Triumph
Key Members and Contributors
- Paul Mouhayet (Sydney tuner): The intermediary who navigated the sale, steel-toed partnership, and tuning from Indy to Georgia.
- Steve Petty (Legendary U.S. tuner): The final arbiter of suspension, blower drive ratios, converter tuning, and track-specific calibrations.
- Andrew Micallef, Stef Radovanovic, Manny Debrincat, Dougie Pierazzi, Adam Popovic: The fabricators, pit crew, and support staff who worked long hours under rain, wind, and pressure to keep the Camaro competitive.
Challenges Overcome
- Logistics: Shipping the Camaro from Australia to the U.S. twice, managing customs, and coordinating multi-state test venues.
- Setup Versatility: Rapidly converting the car between supercharged “Outlaw” trim, radial-tyre configuration, and world-series spec.
- Weather Adversity: Battling Florida’s sudden downpours and Georgia’s cold snaps, often working in ankle-deep water to rebuild drivetrains.
Technical Highlights of Ricca’s Pro Mod Camaro
Engine and Blower
- Pro Line Racing MH7 Hemi: Purpose-built for high boost and torque delivery.
- PSI C-rotor Supercharger: Delivers smooth, immediate boost—ideal for both eighth-mile snappy launches and full-track consistency.
Drivetrain
- Mark Micke TH400 Transmission: Hardened internals with converter lock-up options for radial setups.
- Quick-Change Rear End: Allows gear swaps to optimize both high-boost, big-tyre racing and 128% overdrive radial runs.
Suspension and Chassis
- Adjustable Double-Adjust Shocks: Tuned by Petty to control weight transfer during 0–330-ft launches.
- Modular Chassis Components: Facilitated rapid conversions between configurations.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Aussie Camaro?
Home-Track Invasion in Australia
After the whirlwind American campaign, Ricca’s Camaro is slated to return to Australian soil later this year. Plans include demonstration runs at major Australian drag events and potential entries in local Pro Mod series, where the car will dig its tyres into familiar tarmac and showcase just how formidable an Australian entry can be on home tracks.
Potential Upgrades
Ricca hints at exploring even more advanced supercharger drive ratios, lighter body panels, and data-driven shock valving—borrowing insights from the U.S. season to further refine the Camaro’s capabilities.
Inspiring a New Generation
John Ricca’s story isn’t just about a quick quarter-mile time or a shiny trophy. It’s a testament to the global nature of drag racing today, where knowledge sharing, cross-continental teamwork, and DIY spirit can topple established dynasties. Ricca’s achievements will no doubt inspire other racers—both in Australia and beyond—to chase personal bests and risk-reward experiments on a scale once thought impossible.
Conclusion: Aussie Pride on the International Stage
In a sport often dominated by deep pockets and decades-old dynasties, John Ricca and his Australian crew have shown that tenacity, technical savvy, and unwavering belief can conquer any track—whether it’s Bradenton, South Georgia, or the garage back home. As the Camaro heads back to Melbourne, the question isn’t if it can entertain the hometown crowd; it’s how far the legend will travel next.
