Ratcatcher Racing 2007 Season
The winter months were spent with a complete new engine build following the blow up at the end of last season. To undertake the build Jimmy Hibberd at Valley Gas Speed Shop was contacted (a master of the Ford FE), and working together a specification for the new engine was put together.
The guys at Dove Engineering (specialists in Ford FE engines) were real helpful in providing a plenty of background information as the engine was to be re-built using one of their open plenum, single plane, medium riser intake manifolds.
Added into the mix was a pair of Edelbrock Aluminium Performer RPM heads, with Crane cam, roller lifters and rockers. A lot of work was undertaken port matching the heads to the intake, and toping it off was a Quickfuel Technology 750 CFM double pumper, with Mallory Hyfire ignition and distributor. The rotating assembly was also lightened and balanced.
The rebuild took a bit longer than expected and we missed the Easter Thunderball, but were out at the start of May. However during the first qualifying session at Shakey we managed to strip the teeth off the brand new flexplate ring gear, and our weekend was over, without turning a wheel. So it was back home to be pulled apart, another new flexplate fitted, and out for the Spring Speed Festival at Shakey.
Saturday qualifying was great, with a couple of shakedown runs and the new combination feeling really strong, eventually qualifying with a 10.6s @ 122mph. Raceday on Sunday was a complete rain off!! Little did we know this would be the way it would go for most of the season.
Despite the rain throughout the summer, the season was great fun, with steady improvements along the way, and no more breakages. At the Open Sports Nationals in August we set a best of 10.195 seconds at 126.3mph, so the next step is to dip into the 9’s.
A few trophies were picked up also, but once again the main thing was having good fun with all the guys and gals of the Wild Bunch. Check out the photos of the season on the gallery with thanks to Helen and Dean Smythe of Team Twisted for a lot of the shots.
Thanks to all the track operators, safety crews and supporters for an enjoyable season.
See you in 2008
Team Achievements and Trophies 2007
2nd Place – APIRA Shakespeare County Raceway Series
3rd Place – Roy Wilding Nostalgia Racecar Series
3rd Place – Real Steel Series
10th Place – Wild Bunch Series
Best Slingshot Trophy 2007
2nd Place – Wild Bunch, Summer Nationals, Santa Pod
2nd Place – Wild Bunch, Open Sports Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
3rd Place – Wild Bunch, National Finals, Santa Pod
Best Appearing Slingshot – Summer Nationals, Santa Pod
Best Appearing Slingshot – Northern Nationals, York Raceway
Closet to Dial In – Summer Nationals SantaPod
Closest to Dial In – National Finals