He bought his first car in 1987, a Ford Es**rt MK1 which had a 2000cc full race engine. This was only the start of a long line of cars prepared for competition. After the Ford Es**rt craze faded away for him, Joe looked towards new horizon, teaming up with Monty Bugeja (Power House Racing) which is arguably one of the best mechanics in Malta. This time Joe put his eyes on a Vauxhall Firenze Superg
as. Whippy Racing Team acquired the Vauxhall in 1991 it had a record timing of approx. 9.9sec. When it was brought over to Malta, because of poor quality in the track, the Vauxhall had to be mounted with an extra 200kg for traction. Making 10.2sec and winning the CA class and D class events. By now the cars driven and mounted solely by Monty Bugeja was winning awards of all types on the island. Finishing in style with a national record of 8.3 sec. After the Vauxhall Mr. Whippy’s team added another winner to its fleet. This time Nissan Funny Car making 8 sec timings. Even this wasn’t enough for Joe. His target was to compete in top range events abroad. This time investing in a methanol fueled Dragster. Being short framed, this dragster couldn’t reach Joe’s expectations in Malta doing 6.0 sec. Whippy’s team moved on to a larger dragster, having a Don Alston frame by Peter Beck (Switzerland). Whippy was the first maltese crew to compete abroad, breaking the 6 sec barrier winning The FIA’s main event and breaking personal record of 5.844 sec, all this in the first time Mr. Whippy’s racing team was competing abroad. This was Joe’s dream come true. 2001 revealed that Joe wanted to compete in all of FIA’s Events, winning FIA’s Main event best timing 5.843sec and winning FIA’s Final event best timing 5.77sec. After this adventure, Joe decided to stop for a while on the methanol dragster and fitted the Vauxhall Firenze engine on this same dragster to compete in Malta. For the very first time he Joe himself wished to drive the dragster with the help of Monty. Doing a 7.40 sec just after few runs was pretty good for him. Then all team took a break and started again in the 2010 with the same car and engine, but this time Monty again in the driving seat. Doing a 7.16 sec in 186MPH! Good to say that this engine is the same one mentions before which was bought on the Vauxhall Firenze so it’s pretty old now and still giving to the most. Joe’ s mind was still on the methanol dragster. Now he decided to start again. Joe was at the states in the 2004 and saw couple events of the NHRA. Dave Wells was the winner in both events with a repeatedly 5.30’s timings. Joe bought his car with the transmission. He shipped to Malta and left it garaged till now. Also an engine was due and in October 2010, Joe himself and Monty went back to the states which for there he bought a new complete engine which was shipped to Malta and fitted on the new dragster bought from Wells. Now everything is together all team is set up and the wait is over. Whippy team all see you at Santapod for the first event. All this also owed to the help of the Genius mechanic and driver Monty Bugeja, Vince Carabott (Joe’s brother), Remigio Arapa (crew chief), Manuel Pavia (engineer), Mervin Cassar, Charlie Draper, Larry Mangion and all sponsors.
