Nine Ball
09-21-2014, 07:26 PM
I just got home from spending the weekend in Viper overdose. I drove the new TA out to Austin on Friday, battling flash-flood weather conditions to get there. It was spooky, but I survived. Met up with several of the Houston VOA members, as well as others that trickled in throughout the state. Even Wayne G drove in from Florida, it was good to finally meet him. Wayne brought a stack of his carbon fiber door sill plates, and most of us bought a pair.
We had BBQ dinner on Friday night, in a famous area for Texas BBQ, in Lockhart. Forks not included. And don't ask for BBQ sauce, either. Great food, even if we had to eat it like cavemen. Evening was spent at the hotel bar, doing what we do.
Saturday, Andy (FLATOUT) and I went to the track (Circuit of The Americas) and watched about an hour of laps, cheering on team SRT and Viper Exchange. Hung out in the SRT hospitality booth, drank free beer, and ate catered lunch. Then we wandered around the track, saw the manufacturer displays, paddocks, pit row, and then watched the last hour of racing. We had great seats on Turn 15, where all the hairpin turns are. Vipers dominated the GTLM class (1st and 2nd place) and Viper Exchange won 1st place in GTD class. As a Viper fan, you couldn't have asked for a better race to attend, watching them win everything. The nearest competitor (Porsche) was waaaaay back, not even giving them a challenge. The two C7 Corvettes placed 9th and 10th. Doh! Congrats Team
I was glad to finally meet Ralph Gilles and his wife, Doris. Two great people, very funny with the jokes and down to earth personalities. We spoke quite a bit out the 5th gen, and the re-ignited spark of sales and popularity of the car. We also chatted some about technical stuff, which was cool to hear some perspectives from those on the inside. Catered fajitas for dinner and some more booze finished the day.
Today we did a run through the Austin hill country, to Marble Falls for a good home-style lunch. I think most of us were already tired from the long weekend! Made for a long and drowsy 4-hr drive home. I did enjoy the 85 mph tollway I-30 that was south of Austin, and experienced some "spirited" runs on open stretches of remote highway. Haha
What a great weekend!
Photos: http://s466.photobucket.com/user/ynotdv8/library/Events/COTA%20Sep%202014
Tony
We had BBQ dinner on Friday night, in a famous area for Texas BBQ, in Lockhart. Forks not included. And don't ask for BBQ sauce, either. Great food, even if we had to eat it like cavemen. Evening was spent at the hotel bar, doing what we do.
Saturday, Andy (FLATOUT) and I went to the track (Circuit of The Americas) and watched about an hour of laps, cheering on team SRT and Viper Exchange. Hung out in the SRT hospitality booth, drank free beer, and ate catered lunch. Then we wandered around the track, saw the manufacturer displays, paddocks, pit row, and then watched the last hour of racing. We had great seats on Turn 15, where all the hairpin turns are. Vipers dominated the GTLM class (1st and 2nd place) and Viper Exchange won 1st place in GTD class. As a Viper fan, you couldn't have asked for a better race to attend, watching them win everything. The nearest competitor (Porsche) was waaaaay back, not even giving them a challenge. The two C7 Corvettes placed 9th and 10th. Doh! Congrats Team
I was glad to finally meet Ralph Gilles and his wife, Doris. Two great people, very funny with the jokes and down to earth personalities. We spoke quite a bit out the 5th gen, and the re-ignited spark of sales and popularity of the car. We also chatted some about technical stuff, which was cool to hear some perspectives from those on the inside. Catered fajitas for dinner and some more booze finished the day.
Today we did a run through the Austin hill country, to Marble Falls for a good home-style lunch. I think most of us were already tired from the long weekend! Made for a long and drowsy 4-hr drive home. I did enjoy the 85 mph tollway I-30 that was south of Austin, and experienced some "spirited" runs on open stretches of remote highway. Haha
What a great weekend!
Photos: http://s466.photobucket.com/user/ynotdv8/library/Events/COTA%20Sep%202014
Tony