Debuted at MotorEx after a six-month thrash build, Adam Rogash’s STRIPSHOW Capri hit the track for the first time at Heathcote Park last week for some initial 330ft test passes, until a split transmission line put an end to play.

The next step was to head to Sydney Dragway, for Grudge Kings. Yesterday in testing, the Capri went out a 4.8@158mph over the eighth-mile on 11psi. On the next pass, the car did a massive wheelstand mid track and bent a front strut.

This was repaired overnight and the Capri came out this morning and ran a 7.4@173mph with a pedal. This was soon followed by a 7.000-second pass at 191mph, with a 1.12 60ft time and on 15psi.

And now a 6.91-second run at 199mph!

Built in a six-month thrash, it’s powered by a Dandy Engines 596ci fatty, based on an alloy Brodix 10.2-deck-height block. Topped with Profiler cylinder heads and force-fed by a pair of monstrous Pulsar G57 98mm turbos, Adam hopes to fetch 3000hp at the hubs out of the combo.

One of the coolest aspects of the car is how easily it can be converted to naturally aspirated trim for the road legs of Drag Challenge, and for engineering and registration purposes. “The turbos sit on Maven turbo mounts, so the weight isn’t supported by the headers,” Adam explained. “The car runs J-pipes from the 2.25in-primary headers to the turbos, which I can remove and replace with connecting pipes to join the headers straight to the exhaust system, bypassing the turbos.

Then we just remove the bullhorns and fit block-off plates – the whole process takes around 15 minutes. The car has two completely independent fuel systems; one for pump fuel on the street, and another with a big mechanical pump for methanol at the track.”

The whole car is run by a Haltech Nexus R5 VCU and PD16 PDM, with just about every conceivable sensor. “It has everything from about page six of the Haltech catalogue to the end,” laughs Adam. “Laser ride height, shock travel, EGTs for individual cylinder tuning; the works.”

Chassis-wise, the front rails have been retained for engineering and registration purposes, but are boxed and significantly strengthened. “I think a Solo can has more torsional stiffness than a stock Capri!” said Adam. There’s a six-point cage tied to the stock rails, with an MPW-built rear clip featuring a four-link, Gazzard Bros coil-overs and an MPW-fabricated nine-inch with Race Products floaters.

“I have a bunch of people I need to thank,” said Adam. “Scotty and the guys at Haltech had so much input, and everything I needed they had on the shelf. Jamie from Raceworks was also a huge help and had a lot of personal involvement, Frank at Dandy Engines also had a great deal of personal interest in the build, and Cameron from Rosebud Panels is the only person I know who is as dumb as I am and works as hard as I do.

“I also need to thank Tuff Mounts, Pulsar Turbos, Turbosmart, Hammer Coating, Racer Industries, GJ Drivelines, all the crew at MPW, and last but not least, my family.

“My wife and kids have been actively involved in building this car, and half of it was done in the garage at home instead of at the shop. It was a completely different build for me because my wife has been alongside me on the spanners; she wanted to learn what goes into a project like this, and it’s been great to build the car with her. My kids did the cardboard templates for the floor and my wife cut the steel and made them. I’ve really enjoyed that process.”

The Capri definitely pushes the limits of what can be considered a street car, but Adam is ready for the detractors. “The car is designed for drag and drive stuff, and it will be engineered for street use. Plus, it has carpet, cup holders and a steel bonnet, so of course it’s a street car!”