We re going to nurburgring

[Snakebit10]

Has Lance Arnold ever driven a G5 Viper ACR before? If not it puts his first lap time on another level.
In cooler weather a sub 7 mins would be a sure thing with Dom, Mario or Lance.

[Russ Oasis]

He had never been in a Viper before.

[Pappy]

Russ,

Were the sidewall failures on the inside or outside sidewall?

Thanks

Pappy

[Russ Oasis]

Outside. It's possible that that track is so long and brutal that the massive side g loading pulled the bead away. That track asks too much of any tire that is also street legal. Kumho did everything they could for us.

[timberwolf]

Maybe that's why the trans started to go?

If you are going to pound on a car like that. You're going to start needing solid mounts and what not.

[Chorps]

An amazing time for what is essentially a one-off privateer effort vs. a factory backed effort with every "optimization" in the book for everyone else's ring runs.

Since there is no sanctioning body for this kind of thing, most optimizations are essentially cheats, but kudos to the Viper gang for doing it nearly stock and transparently as well.

[13COBRA]

but kudos to the Viper gang for doing it nearly stock and transparently as well.

It was stock.

[stradman]

It was stock.

I think he is probably referring to the welded in cage which arguably might stiffen up chassis a bit that's all...

[13COBRA]

I think he is probably referring to the welded in cage which arguably might stiffen up chassis a bit that's all...

Oh, gotcha.

[TIME]

Hello Russ and Team:
Congratulations on the incredible result. A Viper is the real deal.
I am a current Ferrari owner but I did support the Viper Team efforts - with a cash donation.
Job well done!

[TrackAire]

Hello Russ and Team:
Congratulations on the incredible result. A Viper is the real deal.
I am a current Ferrari owner but I did support the Viper Team efforts - with a cash donation.
Job well done!

I do wish more people were like you to support brands outside of what they are driving so more of these privateer attempts were being made. Thank you for your support.

Although this was a Viper attempt, I would definitely support just about any make or model that a privateer group is trying to take to the Ring. For me, it's not about the actual model but the adventure and story that comes from the attempt. I don't care if the car is a Ford, Ferrari, GM, etc.....if there is a similar type attempt to be tried, I would support it with a donation.

Now that I think about it, Russ and his crew provided me with much more automotive entertainment than just about any car race I've seen on TV so far this year. Way more drama, excitement, emotional ups and downs than anything that I've seen on the television having to do with automotive stuff in a long time. Thanks and kudos to Russ and the team!!

Since Ford doesn't believe in Ring attempts, are there any ballers out there willing to put together a privateer attempt with their new Ford GT??

I know, I know.......wishful thinking.

[Russ Oasis]

Gentlemen,
Dick Winkles pointed out that I erred. It was the INSIDE sidewall that had the failure. Not the outside. I don't know what I was thinking.

[Scott_in_fl]

He had never been in a Viper before.

This is amazing. He probably has 5 more seconds to gain with more driving time/comfort that would come from learning the car.

As for the tires, I bet that a relatively small change in track temperature would be a huge benefit. 10 degrees F lower track temp would probably help the stock tire considerably over that last 1/3 of the track.

All of that said, I understand that the current effort is over. But, for those local to the area, and anyone willing to tap Lance to gain some more seat time and take another shot, I could see the current number improving in the future.

[Snakebit10]

Yep that's why I asked if it was his first time. That revelation speaks volumes about Lance and the ACR itself. That's not me looking for something to make the car look better.

If someone can jump into any car they are unfamiliar with and trust it that much the first time to do a lap that's about 2 secs faster than two top shelf racecar drivers then to me it says a ton about the capability of the Viper ACR as well as the driver. Coupled with that this isn't just any race track either. Its the Green Hell.

No one takes this track lightly so to trust an unknown automobile enough to do a 7:01 I, like you, think he could easily do a sub 7 min lap once he is familiar with the car. I'd love to see him do it safely in cooler temps that tires in general can fair better in.

[Russ Oasis]

If you go back and read my posts on the FB page as I chronicled what had happened each day we were on the track, I stated that there was NO DOUBT that the car was good for the 6's. That's why we went back a second time. Not only were the 6's an attainable goal, but we could have beaten the Porsche time of 6:57, on the right day. As far as the Lambo time goes (6:52) I get slammed every time I say it's not real, so I won't say it.

[Snakebit10]

Yes I saw that post Russ. I just wanted to shed more light on what Lance did as I had suspected he was a first timer to driving an ACR since he was a local as per what I read. Its not like G5 ACRs are easily gotten over there. The capability of the car is extremely evident even with the 7:01 - 7:03 alone. But what Lance did really opens your eyes about the car. I hope Road and Track makes that fact clear even though it didn't get the record this time.

[Martin]

It was an astounding effort from all sides - and the VOA is lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in this. I really hope that it's possible to re-try the effort. I know that's a long shot, but with everything that was learned, this feels like going through three and a half years of college and having circumstances present themselves so that you don't finish and get the degree. A record setting time was just within reach...

That said, the 7:01 time is unbelievable. Any way you slice it, that's a very fast time. The ACR-X was a race-built car that wasn't street legal and the Gen V beat its time. Just amazing.

[Pappy]

Gentlemen,
Dick Winkles pointed out that I erred. It was the INSIDE sidewall that had the failure. Not the outside. I don't know what I was thinking.

Thanks Russ. Had it been the outside sidewall I would have suspected the speed curbing directly contributed to the failures. With the inside, I lean more toward tire loading (sheer failure) on the short, stiff sidewall - a failure we have seen before. With the nature of the two failures it was obviously impossible to get tire pressures or even valid tire temperature readings.

Thanks again.

Pappy

[ZeeViper]

Been following this closely the whole time.

What a great contribution to auto enthusiasts, congrats guys!!! It's just amazing how well you guys did as a shoe string team and its amazing what the drivers were able to accomplish with such little seat time. I know these guys are pro's, but to have each one of them get in and lay down a record lap the first time they have the track to themselves is unreal. so cool.

Also really glad no one was hurt; losing a car at 160 on the ring makes the hair on the back of my neck stand.

thanks for allowing us to follow/be a part of such an awesome endeavor.

[Coloviper]

Maybe a dumb question but could they not try a different gas in the tire that would help keep pressures more consistent and maybe handle the heat much better, like Nitrogen or something else? I mean it is almost a safety aspect like a roll cage but just curious. I mean nobody has factory air in their tires even if it is just regular old air they put back in them. Still the same tire on the car. Just curious as if the tires are what give way, then only two options, Kumho works on a slightly different revised tire to handle the heat better and discontinues the old model and or we get radical on the gas in the tire or something.

To me, personally, this whole tire aspect of a factory car run is BS anyway. The record should be based upon the core of a vehicle not a wearable item like tires to determine if it is stock or not. But that is just me.

[Russ Oasis]

If they really wanted to judge car against car, they could simply say "use whatever kind of tires you want (like slicks)." That way, it's just the car that they are testing. Very few street tires can survive the kind of punishment that they would receive at the ring with pro drivers. It would be safer for all involved when you get to this kind of speeds. I would have liked to use Kumho slicks (but they don't make them in a 19".) As you know, the V720's do great on normal tracks like Laguna Seca and VIR. The Nordschleife is something else though and no tire manufacturer can build a street tire that is great in a punishing environment like that.

[Stealth]

Russ: Again, congratulations and thanks you and the Team for everything!

How are you holding up in Miami with Irma coming? Stay safe!

[SharpMan]

If they really wanted to judge car against car, they could simply say "use whatever kind of tires you want (like slicks)." That way, it's just the car that they are testing. Very few street tires can survive the kind of punishment that they would receive at the ring with pro drivers. It would be safer for all involved when you get to this kind of speeds. I would have liked to use Kumho slicks (but they don't make them in a 19".) As you know, the V720's do great on normal tracks like Laguna Seca and VIR. The Nordschleife is something else though and no tire manufacturer can build a street tire that is great in a punishing environment like that.

Except the test is of production cars and they come specified a certain way.

[13COBRA]

LOL

I bet you wouldn't guess this guy had a Vette.

Vette Guy.png

[stradman]

Sour grapes......
The funny thing is the ACR could equally do fast laps a number of times(ok just not flat out as it would on its single fastest hot lap) and it would still be faster than most cars AND the tires would still be OK.....
He's also got a complex about functional aero.....I think he is looking for a Harry Potter fettled car....Dickwad....