Your best Viper memories over 25 years

[Track Pack]

Owners, dealers, enthusiasts: what are your favorite memories these past 25 years? I will start with mine: I will never forget the 1st time I drove my 2002 FE Viper in 2004. The car exceeded my expectations in every way! Proudest memory: beating 2 Ferraris back to back: yellow 355 then his friend in a red 360, both gave me thumbs up, cool guys. Best event: NVE1 in Detroit, always great hanging with so many Vipers and owners. Best track day: SRT experience at Road America... and of course - the incredible group at MCVO that Rhonda and I have come to know through the years... Yours... Funny? Proud? Cops involved? Celebrities involved? Thx for the memories Viper Nation!

[ViperSRT]

Been around them a long time.
Proudest memory. Watching my 1995 get built at Mack Ave plant. A rare opportunity long before plant tours and pick ups.
Best event. So many to choose from but the one that stands out was Bob Lutz Birthday cruise from Larry Crain's to Bob's house. 100 miles of unadulterated pleasure. Cops must of been paid off as they ignored the variety of Lambos, Ferraris, Vipers and Bob in his Cunningham. Even Keith Crain in a Bentley convertible.
Best celebrity event. Taking Chip Foose for a long ride between grand openings of two Ridemakerz in Michigan.
I won't bring up the speeding ticket in Las Vegas (VOI) at mid triple digits. Ugh! That may have been a most embarrassing also.

[Fatboy 18]

Le mans 2001 Drove my mates Dodge Viper RT/10 into Le mans for the Drivers Parade, as we approached the main square where the cars started off on the podium we were wondering where we were going to park? All of a sudden a Gendarme stepped out into the road in front of us and halted the traffic, he then parted the steel barriers and directed up to park right next to the podium! Brilliant We were nothing to do with the Supercar parade, he just gave us free parking. The crowd loved it and we drew some attention from the restaurant opposite We managed to get a table in the upper part of the restaurant overlooking the podium and then found some of the Corvette and Cadillac boys up there with another nice chap called John Tabe who was head of Goodyear tyres racing division!

Later that same weekend we found ourselves in the Playstation Viper hospitality, we had viper jackets on and Viper car keys in our hands, we had a great afternoon drinking Redbull and eating sandwiches all free. After a couple of hours someone came over and asked us who we were? Needless to say we were politely asked to leave!

[Red Snake]

One of my father in law's best friends was diagnosed with terminal cancer a few years ago. He told me that he had always wanted to ride in a really fast car but never had the opportunity.

I took him out in my Roe car and terrorized the streets all over town. I really let it loose and ran it hard. We had a blast. He grinned from ear to ear the whole time. When we got back home he told me he was thrilled to check that off his bucket list and that it made his day to put his troubles aside for a brief time. He passed away soon after that ride, but I will never forget it. Easily my best memory in the car.

[Fatboy 18]

Being at le mans 1994 watching the Rent a car RT/10s. then 97,98,99,2000,2001 watching the Viper success.
Driving my Viper GTS on the Top Gear track, Spa and driving the car on track at Le mans Classic, Now that was a Cloud9 moment!

[Fatboy 18]

Reading Red Snakes story also reminded me of this


Taking this guy out for a ride in the car was a very, very special moment
http://www.backbenparkinson.co.uk/ba...Parkinson.html

Ben went on to carry the Olympic torch through his home town with new legs.

[Kurt]

So many great Viper memories over the years. Seeing Ben and the Viper Exchange GTS-R run at Le Mans in 2015 was easily my most memorable Viper experience. Of course having the opportunity to watch the factory team in 2014 and the GT3-R in 2015 and 2016 in IMSA are also some of my favorites. The Gen V reveal in New York was just amazing, and touring CAAP for the first time was a dream come true. The drives to Detroit and New Orleans for the NVEs were also unforgettable. So many good times related to this car.

[Schen]

Oh man, this thread topic! LOL

There's so many that I could pick from, it's hard to pick just one.

I think personally, the entire Gen V program would be pretty high up there. I missed out on the reveal in NYC and the GTS-R's by a year, but I feel pretty close to the current generation than all the others. Being invited to CAAP by FCA as one of three social media attendees to the ACR production reveal was really cool. I got to mingle with some journalists who's articles I read daily and being able photograph the plant for the first time, that was sweet. Celebrating in Victory Lane with Viper Exchange, Riley Technologies, and the #93 team at Watkins Glen was a highlight! As weird as it sounds, the first Viper I ever drove was the B/W LE Pebble Beach car at VOI 12. Driving with Bryan 3300 miles in his TA to New Orleans and back. There's just a ton, A TON of memories I could list that have evolved friendships and led to growing my own network, meet so many personalities that I look up to, it makes me feel pretty fortunate to attend a lot of events in different regions.

Seeing my first Viper at six years old, that'll stick with me forever. I lost count along time ago, but I've probably been in at least over 50 by now in most of the east coast, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. I'm hoping to add Texas to that list later this year.

--RS

[sfm79]

Been around them a long time.
Proudest memory. Watching my 1995 get built at Mack Ave plant. A rare opportunity long before plant tours and pick ups.
Best event. So many to choose from but the one that stands out was Bob Lutz Birthday cruise from Larry Crain's to Bob's house. 100 miles of unadulterated pleasure. Cops must of been paid off as they ignored the variety of Lambos, Ferraris, Vipers and Bob in his Cunningham. Even Keith Crain in a Bentley convertible.
Best celebrity event. Taking Chip Foose for a long ride between grand openings of two Ridemakerz in Michigan.
I won't bring up the speeding ticket in Las Vegas (VOI) at mid triple digits. Ugh! That may have been a most embarrassing also.

That's awesome Ron

[gfviperman]

The first VOI in Detroit ... didn't know what to expect ... it was a dream come true for a dyed-in-the wool Mopar Man.

Also, living in Palm Desert where the only two Vipers in the Coachella Valley were mine and Mr. Iacocca's.

My '93 being the first Viper with push button start ... got the button from a Bentley Continental T ...

Planning VOI 10 with Kim and Fiona at JR Thompson ...

[ViperTim]

Apart from the day I picked up my Viper it must be August last year at a supercar show.
I was invited up on stage with my car to be interviewed infront of all the audience about my car.
That was awesome!

[Ginja]

I've got loads of amazing memories from mine. The convoy of 12 or so going to the Ring from the UK, then the next day spent driving the mountains, being interviewed while driving through a town there and then a couple of hours on the ring itself in front of a huge crowd. Last year driving on the track at Chris Evans Carfest events, again with a huge crowd watching on and getting privileged access in the event. The police escort urging a convoy of Fezza's, Lambos and little me in my Viper down my towns dual carriageway to get us to an event in the town centre on time (that was a fast run!). Multiple times on track at Dunsfold, and especially watching lapsed owner Richard berating Mark (Fatboy18) for having taken half a cars worth of spares to the event - that was aching cheeks funny! (sorry Mark). Being part of an impromptu convoy to a Goodwood breakfast club with an Enzo, Veyron, R8, Vanquish etc. Taking a very disabled young teenage boy out and being able to get him to grunt in pleasure. The guy who got on his knees and gave me the 'we are not worthy' gesture as I drove by. Awesome. The list goes on really. I cannot think of any other way I'd have had so many memories from such a small investment!

[Vprbite]

Some cool stories, thanks for sharing.

I'm coming up on the 5 year anniversary of my wreck and as weird as it sounds, there are so many good memories associated with that. But the crux of it is this. Aside from the Arizona region, people in the club who I had never met or spoken to, all over the country, were reaching out to offer support or help and not a day went by for those 6 weeks I was in the hospital that I didn't receive a phone call, voice mail, or gift from someone in the Viper club. Often times much more than one. Just because they had heard about my wreck and wanted to help. Club members played a huge part in my recovery going so well.

When Jon from partsrack and I designed my custom clutch pedal and it arrived, I called the machinist who made it to pay him and he said I couldn't because Jon had already covered all costs. This is the kind of generosity and caring that makes this club truly special

So it's more than one memory, but it's all condensed into one group of memories as I began my recovery from that wreck and it's why I say there is so much more good than bad about that whole situation. So, I remember all the awesome support when I think about it, not the bad stuff, and that is one hell of a gift that the club gave me.

[Fatboy 18]

I've got loads of amazing memories from mine. The convoy of 12 or so going to the Ring from the UK, then the next day spent driving the mountains, being interviewed while driving through a town there and then a couple of hours on the ring itself in front of a huge crowd. Last year driving on the track at Chris Evans Carfest events, again with a huge crowd watching on and getting privileged access in the event. The police escort urging a convoy of Fezza's, Lambos and little me in my Viper down my towns dual carriageway to get us to an event in the town centre on time (that was a fast run!). Multiple times on track at Dunsfold, and especially watching lapsed owner Richard berating Mark (Fatboy18) for having taken half a cars worth of spares to the event - that was aching cheeks funny! (sorry Mark). Being part of an impromptu convoy to a Goodwood breakfast club with an Enzo, Veyron, R8, Vanquish etc. Taking a very disabled young teenage boy out and being able to get him to grunt in pleasure. The guy who got on his knees and gave me the 'we are not worthy' gesture as I drove by. Awesome. The list goes on really. I cannot think of any other way I'd have had so many memories from such a small investment!

Ha Ha, I had the last laugh later in the day when Richard in his Supercharged Yellow GTS asked to borrow some tools and asked for help draining his catch can

[plumcrazy]

2003, gandy road bridge in florida. Racing my buddy in his bone stock 70 hemi cuda, passing him at 150mph like he threw a chute out of the back of his car

[Ginja]

Ha Ha, I had the last laugh later in the day when Richard in his Supercharged Yellow GTS asked to borrow some tools and asked for help draining his catch can

Oh yeah, he was burning oil - I'd forgotten that part. That was a fun day!

[Purple Haze]

Nice....

One of my father in law's best friends was diagnosed with terminal cancer a few years ago. He told me that he had always wanted to ride in a really fast car but never had the opportunity.

I took him out in my Roe car and terrorized the streets all over town. I really let it loose and ran it hard. We had a blast. He grinned from ear to ear the whole time. When we got back home he told me he was thrilled to check that off his bucket list and that it made his day to put his troubles aside for a brief time. He passed away soon after that ride, but I will never forget it. Easily my best memory in the car.

[Vprbite]

Reading Red Snakes story also reminded me of this


Taking this guy out for a ride in the car was a very, very special moment
http://www.backbenparkinson.co.uk/ba...Parkinson.html

Ben went on to carry the Olympic torch through his home town with new legs.

That's cool! I think a lot of special moments, both big and small, have come from sharing the fun of the car with people. I think it amplifies my own enjoyment to get to share it with people.

[BrianACR]

March 28, 2014. The day I brought my '01 ACR home. My whole family knew that I had wanted a Viper since I was 12, and they all knew that it was my dream to own one. I told no one I was getting one.
My wife and I borrowed my dads truck, rented a trailer, and drove over 1,000km round trip to go pick her up and bring her home. On the way back I texted my brother to see if he could come help me unload 'some stuff' from a trailer later that evening. He was free so he agreed to come over. I got him standing behind the trailer as I opened up the back doors. All he could see was the backside of this beautiful yellow GTS. he said two words: "Bloody Hell!!"
There are many other great memories but this is one of my favorites

[drewsss]

The first time that my youngest daughter sat in her booster seat...will never forget that smile!

seat.jpg

[drewsss]

March 28, 2014. The day I brought my '01 ACR home. My whole family knew that I had wanted a Viper since I was 12, and they all knew that it was my dream to own one. I told no one I was getting one.
My wife and I borrowed my dads truck, rented a trailer, and drove over 1,000km round trip to go pick her up and bring her home. On the way back I texted my brother to see if he could come help me unload 'some stuff' from a trailer later that evening. He was free so he agreed to come over. I got him standing behind the trailer as I opened up the back doors. All he could see was the backside of this beautiful yellow GTS. he said two words: "Bloody Hell!!"
There are many other great memories but this is one of my favorites

Yes...bringing home an '01 ACR is a memorable experience (from one who also knows )

[Vprbite]

Cool stories, please keep sharing. That's what makes this club so amazing

[BrianACR]

Yes...bringing home an '01 ACR is a memorable experience (from one who also knows )

Especially when it's a yellow one
PS Nice fuel cap

[Fatboy 18]

OK, Im going to throw up another one, ........

Being a member of the Viper community on the forums and making new friends even though I have never met many of you. The help on the forums has been Awesome.
Chuck tator, Jon B, Autoform Steve, Bill P, CJ, Life is Good, Plum and many others, Yes even Dave6666, Jeff, Mopar Boy...Who? Chad??
Seriously, Thanks guys

[Track Pack]

I remember driving my red/white GTS through my first large car cruise and a teenager ran out into traffic, got on his knees in the middle of Fort St. and did the wrong "we're not worthy thing" bowing in front of the car and the crowd all cheered him on