Arguably Canada’s most storied Pro Street car driver ever — charts a significant season comeback….

Some Ontario-based race fans did get a glimpse of it late last summer, but the new Pro Street Camaro owned by “Lil Ricky” Carlos will soon be fully moulded to fruition.

The famous driver – who was in fact the first Canadian to break the 200 mph barrier with a Pro Street configuration car – may be well poised to add his list of career accomplishments.

Little Ricky Carlos

Carlos, from St. Catherines ON., did run his new Camaro at a single Canada’s Heads Up circuit event for the first time last September – making some shakedown runs and then entering competition for that event.   Ricky will now take forward what data he has learned about the car and will add in a very major engine upgrade for this coming season.

“I actually started this project three years ago,” Ricky revealed. “This Camaro was built by Tim McAmis and formally raced by Ian Hill as a T/S.   Then with help from Joe Van Overbeek the car was completely revamped.  It was a very lightweight car but now with an all new carbon fibre body.”

Ricky Carlos debuted this new Camaro last September — during a one-race appearance at Cayuga Dragway’s CHP event.

“We made our initial runs using our 600 CID motor – but that will evolve very soon,” he added. “I have purchased the latest stuff, a complete deal, from Pat Musi (in North Carolina).  That’s a 665 CID engine with two nitrous systems which will be rated somewhere around 2000 HP.  We expect to take delivery for that motor in June – hopefully in time for the first CHU event at Cayuga.”

While Ricky’s involvement within Canada’s fast street car scene has been both lengthly and continuous, it had been in fact 12 years since drove a race car himself in competition.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in between working with other people – especially with Nick Agostino,” he affirmed.  “I’ve been associated with the class for a very long time — but it was nice late last season to just get my feet wet again as a driver.  The new Camaro did run a 4.29 secs in shakedown form – which I felt was a good start so far.”

Ricky confirmed that his new Camaro will target the Super Street class category primarily – which limits entries to 699 CID when using (4.840 bore space) and also to 10.5 tires.  He plans to run a full compliment of Canada Head’s Up events this coming summer season.

“I also like what the PDRA is doing with their Pro Street class program — I’d like to enter a couple of their events too this year.” he stated.

Ricky Carlos’ racing program is an independent effort which he runs surrounded by family and close friends.  He is dedicating his 2022 season to the memory and expertise of Joe Van Overbeek, who as we all know was lost to our racing community during this past off season.

Earlier in his career – Ricky Carlos gained fame racing two spectacular Camaro cars – including winning the Street Car Super Nationals event (at Orlando in 1997) and then taking his rather legendary ’69 Camaro to Canada’s first ever official 200 mph clocking.

Post and photos by Bruce Biegler