New owner in CO

[Vipernoob]

Picked it up in August; drove it home from Atlanta to Denver in 2 days with a friend. Its a '98 with 45k miles and the Hennessey Venom 650R package. I think the car is finally getting adapted to the altitude power-wise as I was able to run a 12.3 @121 at 5800 ft. in altitude with a DA of ~8000 ft. (a DA calculator puts it at 11.3 @131 at sea level) while on street tires (hence a 2.17 60') a couple weeks ago. My first time on slicks I went 12.0 @118 with a 1.8 60' in a DA of 8750 which would put me at a 10.9 @129 at sea level. I also plan to do some road racing. Here are a few shots of it:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/interior2.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/interior1.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_172522.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_171856.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_170145.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_170044.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_165843.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/M62pwrdE38/20140807_165810.jpg

[viperr]

That is a great looking car. Those are great times at that altitude. I think you will be enjoying the daylight out of it before the snow comes. Is it too late to drive up Pikes Peak?

[Vipernoob]

Thanks, its been a lot of fun so far. The high country did get some snow this week, but I'm sure Pike's Peak will be accessible by car for a couple more weeks although I don't think I will have a chance to do that drive this year. I forgot to add a video from my last pass on drag slicks (I launched at 4200 rpm and bogged a bit, I will be in the 11s next year).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JgXSfTfMrI

[Bluecoupe]

Congrats! It is a great looking car!! I picked mine up last year in Augusta, Ga and also drove it back in 2 days.
Hope to see you at some of the region events, we have a great local club!!

[Vipernoob]

Congrats! It is a great looking car!! I picked mine up last year in Augusta, Ga and also drove it back in 2 days.
Hope to see you at some of the region events, we have a great local club!!

Thanks, I'm hoping to meet up with some other owners at some point for drives/track days and such.

[Coloviper]

Taking mine out to the small gathering at Sears Outlet (old Great a Indoors at Park a Meadows Mall 9:30-ish) today.

[Vipernoob]

Taking mine out to the small gathering at Sears Outlet (old Great a Indoors at Park a Meadows Mall 9:30-ish) today.

Cars and Coffee? I work almost every Saturday so I haven't been to that one this year. Were you at any of them last year? I went to one last May-ish and talked to a couple Viper owners and mentioned my plan to get one this year. One of them was a black/silver '96 RT/10.

[Coloviper]

Black with Silver 96' RT/10 is me, I have the only one around these parts. Cars and Coffee is another venue here. This is just a little get together. Usually kicks in at 10:00 am. Okay turn out this past weekend.

[Fatboy 18]

Nice car Welcome to the VOA. :)

[SN95SNAKE]

Great looking Viper, also very good times for that kind of altitude.

[Vipernoob]

Black with Silver 96' RT/10 is me, I have the only one around these parts. Cars and Coffee is another venue here. This is just a little get together. Usually kicks in at 10:00 am. Okay turn out this past weekend.

It must've been you I met then, not that you would likely remember me. You are probably used to strangers saying they are going to get a Viper some day and never do.


Nice car Welcome to the VOA. :)

Thank you.


Great looking Viper, also very good times for that kind of altitude.

Thanks. Stock Gen 2s typically run a lot slower; anywhere from 1-2 seconds more and 10-15 mph less depending on the driver. I will hit 11s next year! Already have my first road course date with it set for Oct. 26th if the weather is still good. Its nice having a car that can handle road racing and drag racing while still being able to drive them to and from those events.

[Bill Pemberton]

There is a good group in Colorado , and joining VOA there will introduce you to alot of great Viper activities. I know many have wandered from other States to do their 4th of July romp in Breckenridge and others have made sure to make one of their Summer cruises through the Rockies -- usually a two day or more, super fun cruise and tour.

Enjoy the 98 - that was my first Viper purchase also.

[smhog]

Very nice, noob. I like that yours doesn't have the Hennessey body work. Enjoy.

[Vipernoob]

There is a good group in Colorado , and joining VOA there will introduce you to alot of great Viper activities. I know many have wandered from other States to do their 4th of July romp in Breckenridge and others have made sure to make one of their Summer cruises through the Rockies -- usually a two day or more, super fun cruise and tour.

Enjoy the 98 - that was my first Viper purchase also.

I will definitely look into membership closer to the new year.


Very nice, noob. I like that yours doesn't have the Hennessey body work. Enjoy.

Me too. Just wondering what other Hennessey parts are missing ;). I came up a little short of expectations on the dyno, but it wasn't running too great at the time. I was only trapping 116-117 when it put down 513 whp and 516 torque, it has since added 4 mph of trap speed out of the blue and isn't breaking up at the top of 3rd and 4th anymore. I think it just wasn't used to the altitude and I will need to re-dyno down the road.

[Bluecoupe]

As Bill Pemberton said, we have a very active club here. I have only been a member since last year, but the group is great and very welcoming. On Memorial Day weekend this year we took a 6 day trip to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Santa Fe and back home. I put almost 2000 miles on the Viper in those 6 days, and it did not even seemed rushed. Next year we are going to the Western Slope and the last weekend in July, there is a weekend in Steamboat. Just about every month we have a meeting, this month is our Halloween party, a very good time!! If you are into track racing, we have multiple track days at different tracks around here. We would love to have you join us.

[Coloviper]

See you boys srt the Halloween Party in a few weeks! Always a good time.

[Vipernoob]

As Bill Pemberton said, we have a very active club here. I have only been a member since last year, but the group is great and very welcoming. On Memorial Day weekend this year we took a 6 day trip to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Santa Fe and back home. I put almost 2000 miles on the Viper in those 6 days, and it did not even seemed rushed. Next year we are going to the Western Slope and the last weekend in July, there is a weekend in Steamboat. Just about every month we have a meeting, this month is our Halloween party, a very good time!! If you are into track racing, we have multiple track days at different tracks around here. We would love to have you join us.

In August, I stepped off a plane, went straight to get my Viper, and drove 1400 miles in a day and a half to get back home. That drive was a tad rushed, but I had 0 issues so that was a big plus. I am planning on going to HPR in a couple weeks (26th) which will be my first road course in this car.

Sounds like some good activities. I haven't really joined an "official club" before and have been a little skeptical of organizations requiring fees to join (not that I don't understand what the fees are for) and have heard some unsavory things recently about the "other" club; but I will plan on joining up as the new year rolls around.