2004 News and Results
(12-10-04) West Bend,WI. Chris Ratajczyk and the entire 21 team want to extend a
special thank you to all our supporters that kept us going in 2004.
2005 offers a new car,a new motor program and alot of off season work in progress.
Happy holidays from all of us and we'll see you in april!
(9-12-04) Slinger Speedway.Final night of the 2004 season...a season up ups and many
downs..a new car,many bugs...but we have her close for 2005.3rd in the semi on 100 lap
tires...thanks to all our sponsors and fans who supported us in 2004...see you in '05!
(9-5-04) Slinger Speedway. Christopher,sitting 26th in points after a fun night of racing.
He starts out fast @ 11.601...but with a big field of cars only good for 25th in time.In the
semi feature Chris ran great finishing 2nd to Conrad Morgan.In the 100 lap main,18th
was the final result.
(8-29-04) Slinger Speedway.Chris times in 19th @ 11.632.He starts deep in the semi and again
has to use some masterfull manuvers to get to the front.As he was setting up the 31 car for the 2nd
position,a block was applied and Rat was shoved back to 4th..no transfer...28th in points.
(8-22-04) Slinger Speedway26th in time,2nd in the semi.A great battle with the semi prince Mike
Strupp and Christopher pockets enough cash to get gas in his hauler and be back for next weeks
races..he sits 29th in points.
(8-15-04)Slinger Speedway. Chris goes to Pomps night,a major tire retailer with several types of tires,
to try his luck in their 65 lapper.Timing,he just misses with an 11.541...good for 20th.In the semi,he was
surrounded by weapons and had to defend rather than offend and the end result,a fast car is 10th.
The flowers are coming in great at home,but i need some pruning tips...please advise..thank you! :)
(8-8-04) Slinger Speedway After a friday night playing with the mod at Luxemburg,Chris and the gang
haul the improved 21 car to Slinger.In timing,Rat times 18th @11.567..NO SEMI!! The only problem is
on his 3rd lap something broke and he slammed the wall.The crew worked fast to get the car in shape
to start the feature,but it wasn't correct and we decided to park it after a few laps..20th out of 20
(8-1-04) Slinger Speedway.2004...the year without luck..buy a house,adopt a pet,and nothing seems
to go well.Timing 27th and leading the 30 lap semi,a huge lead is wiped out by a caution and a bunched
up field,Chris gets spun and finishes 12th.Mr Ratajczyk is now trying to get a LLM ready for Aug 15th at
Slinger Speedway...along with a new Appleton rack that turns like it should!
(7-25-04)Slinger Speedway. Port a John Car?? yes,Christopher guest drove Dennis Prunty's 17
DDP Motorsports House Car as his new engine isn't quite ready....and timed it 28th with an 11.982.
In the semi,a melee ensued coming to the green and Rat barely avoided the mishap and ripped the
LF valve stem out and bent the front end.Repairs were made but laps were lost and he finished 12th.
When asked later why the Green and White...do you want to grow up and be like Mark Bitzan..after
coaxing and demanding the answer...he replied..Yes.
(7-18-04) We have the motor out getting freshened,we helped our buddy Travis this
week....see you next week at Slinger!
(7-13-04) Slinger Nationals Chris times in @ 11.679,meaning Semi again,but the semi at
"Bring back the tires..please!"
the nationals is like a weekly feature.In the 35 lap event,rat burned up the track and quickly moved
up to battle Mike Strupp for almost 20 laps side by side in what many called the best battle of the
night...but running 20 laps on the high side toasted the tires and he was passed late and finished
4th.For all you Ernie Fans,He is doing fine after a scare Tuesday Night..Pics to follow!
(7-11-04) Slinger Speedway RAT IS BACK!!
Chris and the team re wired the Taurus...headed out to the track and while he qualified,a brief
yet robust shower greeted the 21 car,a spin ensued and as he spun,the carb malfunctioned.
Quick work by the 21 team and a borrowed carb later(Thanks David Prunty) Rat was touring
the 1/4 mile oval at 11.703.This again meant semi...as it started a slow car pushed him back
11th,but a spirited drive and some new found horsepower....a photo finish was needed as
the 21 car was third.See you at the Nationals tuesday.(Webmaster's note..Ernie likes dry)
(7-4-04) Rat and the 21 team take the week off to rewire the 21 car and do some work with
struggling students in summer school,teaching them chassis set up's for different tracks and
the importance of wedge and stagger.Photo's to follow
(6-30-04) Slinger Speedway. Chris has a poor timing session turning 11.720,and found
electrical problems,did a temp fix to finish 8th in the semi and 25th in points.
Get well Soon Mike:)
(6-25-04) Columbus 151..Rat times 9th,2nd in the heat and 6th in the main,then unemployes several
people,including the young Trevor Dassow as he disbands the 21 LLM team and sells the car and
mails a check to the soon to be "X"
(6-27-04) Slinger is rained out,with a raindate of Wednesday night.
(6-20-04)Slinger Speedway.Bad night for the Boucher Taurus.........28th in time..14th in the semi..grrrr..
(6-13-04) Slinger Speedway.Plumbers Night,at the raceway,and Christophers luck still is bad,as he qualifies
29th with an 11.666....11.666 is flying but the field is tight and fast.In the 30 lap semi,10 laps in the books the
Boucher Taurus is flying,but a leaked out shock turned a rocket into a toad...and 10th was the finish.
Look for Chris,the #21 LLM and his old Mod at Columbus this friday night!!
(6-6-04) Slinger Speedway Enders Night complete with bikini pagent.Rat has horsepower issues,and
times in 26th,and was moving up in the semi when he got blasted and spun...the result,12th in the semi
and #93 is off the christmas card list.
(6-4-04) Columbus 151 Speedway. Rat and the friday crew headed out to the 151 speedway for the second
leg of the triple 60's. Trevor's instinct paid off and Chris timed in 10th quick,8th in the heat .In the 60 lap
main,ran a strong third until he attempted a hi groove pass late and got loose,the result,7th place.
(5-30and 5-31-04) Slinger Speedway DRENCHED....Ernie is ready for some sun...see you next week.
(5-28-04) Columbus 151 Speedway. Rat takes the Rander Car to the old 151 Speedway,shakes
it down and charges to the front of the semi but gets pushed back..but gets the care ready for
some racing at the DELLS,Jefferson and 151 this summer!
(5-9-04) Slinger Speedway. What a night! Steering problems on the new 21 car meant alot of hard work
by the Ratajczyk Race Team(Thanks guys!:) and some parts from the 42 and 89 teams(Thank you!)
Chris timed in poorly,changed all the steering in the car and started in the back of the 30 lap semi,
yet charged all the way to 3rd and almost nipped Mike Egan for the transfer spot.See you at the car
show saturday!
(5-15-04) Gordie Boucher,Menomonee Falls...thanks everyone for stopping out and making this a
great car show....awesome turnout,a bit cool but hey,no rain...thanks again from Ratajczyk Racing!!
(5-16-04) Slinger Speedway Al Schill Jr Memorial Race.Chris worked all week on steering issues,
and they seemed to help...but the 21 car just didn't have the oomph in timing,timing 32nd with an
11.700.In the 30 lap semi Rat bolted on 4 old tires and still moved up from last to 7th in 30 laps
against a real star studded semi field.If you are wondering about the brief puff of smoke,it was the
transmission....and it is fine...just burped a bit of oil.
(5-23-04) Slinger Speedway. Races cancelled tonight due to torrental rains...so Chris and the Rat
21 racing team are off to fill sand bags and pump basements out...the rain is getting old.
(4-17-04) On a beautiful saturday afternoon,new pics of the 2004 ride were taken.
Also announced was Chris will be helping the armed services,go to Boucher in Menomonee
Falls and mention Chris Ratajczyk and $50 will be donated with your purchase.
See you at Slinger April 25th!!
(4-25-04)Slinger Speedway twin 75's. Chris took the new Taurus to the speedway,shook it down and
timed in 27th,turning a 11.827,starting in the rear he advanced to 9th and has the new car close for the
season opener sunday night
(5-1-04) Chris would like to invite race fans to Gordie Boucher in Menomonee Falls(Hwy 45 and Main St)
saturday May 15th from 10-2 for a race car show featuring Bobby Ratajczyk's old #7 mod,the Late Models
and drivers Fred Winn,Dave Teske,Mark Bitzan,and of course Chris Ratajczyk.Food will be served.Come
and take a look at these killer rides and talk racing.
(5-2-04) Slinger Speedway. The new car is close,and Chris times in 25th with an 11.693,charges to 2nd
in the semi,giving him a last row spot in the feature.With 30 laps extra on his tires,16th was as far as the
21 car would advance.
(5-9-04) Slinger Speedway. What a night! Steering problems on the new 21 car meant alot of hard work
by the Ratajczyk Race Team(Thanks guys!:) and some parts from the 42 and 89 teams(Thank you!)
Chris timed in poorly,changed all the steering in the car and started in the back of the 30 lap semi,
yet charged all the way to 3rd and almost nipped Mike Egan for the transfer spot.See you at the car
show saturday!
(1-10-04) Chris Ratajczyk,ceo of Rat21Racing,announced at the Slinger Banquet
that he has purchased a new Pathfinder,also he is building a LLM to tour the state
sharing driving duties with Dave Teske,and also will be running select ASA events.