We re going to nurburgring

[Pappy]

Friday. Russ just posted on the Viper Ring Record Run page about the two "solo" runs today, first in the morning, second at the end of the day. They inadvertently were held up by traffic on a lap given to them at the end of the day. Durn.

https://www.facebook.com/ViperRingKi...89812711120240

Weather forecast looks a little crappy for Friday, but I've seen their forecasts change pretty rapidly. Fingers crossed.

Pappy

[ViperJon]

Out of round tire?..... Geez this is just not meant to be.

[ViperSRT]

Out of round tire?..... Geez this is just not meant to be.

I agree. Strange that it would not be caught during load-force balancing.

[kuishe]

Just maybe they never should had picked summer to do it after reading that the heat is ruining the runs. I guess perhaps they never knew to begin with. Cuz most will think a bone dry hot day is best over a cool day...

[TrackAire]

Out of round tire?..... Geez this is just not meant to be.

Funny thing is every past attempt had huge issues. The 2008 attempt left the driver stuck in 4th gear on the rev limiter because the cars stupid 3.08 and overdrive 5th gear would lose speed due to the high headwinds encountered during that attempt. It was faster to just sit stuck on the rev limiter. Dodge engineers had calculated the car could do a 7:17-ish time and we ended with a 7:22.

Then the 2011 event had major issues....one Viper completely broke down and then they ran out of time with the remaining Viper. Luckily Ron Howard's production crew was there filming "Rush" and gave them some of their Ring track time they were not using and we set the record.

Just like every other Viper situation....the Snake always finds a way to sneak one out at the end. I am predicting a sub 7 minute time on Friday. Anything in the 6 minute range would be a win in my book. Lets all hope for a dry cool Friday!!

[Snorman]

Anything in the 6 minute range would be a win in my book. Lets all hope for a dry cool Friday!!

I think it's already been a "win". The car ran a very fast Nurburgring time. And they didn't spend months testing and a full week there with 3 cars and 3 drivers waiting for perfect weather and track conditions.
7:03 is very fast and the car proved itself not only there, but on tracks all over the US where many of us regularly race and do DE's.
S.

[str5010]

Yesterday's issues were a crushing disappointment for me after starting the day knowing the car was on track with what looked to be nearly ideal conditions and was piloted by the driver with the most seat time during this effort. What are the chances you get a tire issue on that run?

Holding out hope for Friday but sure is an uphill battle against all those variables and now switching back to a driver who hasn't been there in a bit. You would have to think the setups had been optimized to Dom and Mario by now.

Best of luck and continued support to the team!

[Snakebit10]

Ouch. Just seems like its just not meant to be. Last time he had a great run going the radio fell and lodged behind the brake pedal. Next time he gets a lap going and has an out of round tire. This last time he has a record setting run going and boom runs into traffic. SMH. I don't see Luca breaking the record on Friday since all the setting up was for Doms style of driving, unless they have similar driving styles. Regardless of what happens thanks for the effort Team Viper and Kumho...The 7:03 lap is still in the top 10 production cars of all time.

[stradman]

Ouch. Just seems like its just not meant to be. Last time he had a great run going the radio fell and lodged behind the brake pedal. Next time he gets a lap going and has an out of round tire. This last time he has a record setting run going and boom runs into traffic. SMH. I don't see Luca breaking the record on Friday since all the setting up was for Doms style of driving, unless they have similar driving styles. Regardless of what happens thanks for the effort Team Viper and Kumho...The 7:03 lap is still in the top 10 production cars of all time.

Well who knows maybe we need a fresh driver? Maybe that's how fate works. No choice about it now I guess. Its in the lap of the gods!

[Scott_in_fl]

I think Luca has a shot. But, if he needs a backup for the second car, what are Kuno Wittmer or Ben Keating doing this Friday?

[ek1]

Stay positive everyone. Its not over until its over. I believe they can do it.

[13COBRA]

This is getting ridiculous.

I feel as if some members are saying this is a failure if they can't improve on their 7:03 time; it's not.

This is more or less a private attempt. They have VERY LIMITED track time, VERY LIMITED driver time, 0 factory support, hit and miss weather, several mechanical issues, and STILL managed to sniff the elusive sub 7 minute mark. This is a HUGE win for Team Viper.

With that said, I hope they can improve on the 7:03 time, but even if they don't, this is a huge victory for such a small operation.

[ViperJon]

You're right but lets be honest. There were HUGE (probably unrealistic) expectations. While the Lambo time was unattainable the 918 time was def in the crosshairs. Certainly no one is questioning the herculean effort.

[13COBRA]

You're right but lets be honest. There were HUGE (probably unrealistic) expectations. While the Lambo time was unattainable the 918 time was def in the crosshairs. Certainly no one is questioning the herculean effort.

There were huge expectations because of all the success it had here.. but there aren't tracks like the Ring here.

[Snakebit10]

13Cobra I know where you coming from but all of us including Team Viper were expecting at least a sub 7 minute time. Do you think they went there to do a 7:03?? No. They went there to be the Ring King as they have said themselves. So while we are all grateful to Team Viper and Kumho, both we and them are slightly disappointed in not being able to attain the goal and a sub 7 min time, at least so far.

That is totally different from thinking the car is a failure. Speaking for myself I am a bit disappointed as my expectations were way way off base. But I did expect it to do at least a 6:5x even if it didn't beat the 918's time. I don't think any of us expected the tire situation to play out the way it has so far. But there it is. We are hoping Friday's runs produce a sub 7 min time for all their efforts and for the Viper nation. Still optimistic on that until its over.

[IHOP]

This is getting ridiculous.

I feel as if some members are saying this is a failure if they can't improve on their 7:03 time; it's not.

This is more or less a private attempt. They have VERY LIMITED track time, VERY LIMITED driver time, 0 factory support, hit and miss weather, several mechanical issues, and STILL managed to sniff the elusive sub 7 minute mark. This is a HUGE win for Team Viper.

With that said, I hope they can improve on the 7:03 time, but even if they don't, this is a huge victory for such a small operation.

Well said!

[ek1]

This is getting ridiculous.

I feel as if some members are saying this is a failure if they can't improve on their 7:03 time; it's not.

This is more or less a private attempt. They have VERY LIMITED track time, VERY LIMITED driver time, 0 factory support, hit and miss weather, several mechanical issues, and STILL managed to sniff the elusive sub 7 minute mark. This is a HUGE win for Team Viper.

With that said, I hope they can improve on the 7:03 time, but even if they don't, this is a huge victory for such a small operation.

It's a small miracle that these guys were able to make it in the first place. Just think for a second about the amount of effort required to get cars, people, resources, etc. in there for such a long time. All of this is done at the expense of their personal time.

If they don't get 6.x time this year, they should do another campaign for next year or later this year, when the weather is cool but dry (September would have been ideal).

[Scott_in_fl]

Yes, the Nurburgring is a unique track, but string together 4-5 laps at VIR or Road America and you have something close. I am amazed that this tire issue was not discovered before making the trip, especially when there are many threads on this forum about the problem people are having with the front tires on track. If the tires cannot last 5 continuous laps at Laguna Seca, then we cannot expect them to perform at the N'Ring.

I'm just surprised we had to go all the way over there to discover this.

And yes, this has been a great effort and I applaud all of those involved. I think 7:03 is very admirable, but certainly not indicative of this car's complete ability.

[Rapidrezults]

When Chris Winkler drove my ACR at Chuckwalla he would drive 2 (maybe 3) hard laps and back off, he would always mention he could feel the tires getting greasy and go easy for a lap to cool them off. This was also the key to making them last longer. These tires were designed to set records for one or two laps on a short course and that's it.

[TrackAire]

13Cobra I know where you coming from but all of us including Team Viper were expecting at least a sub 7 minute time. Do you think they went there to do a 7:03?? No. They went there to be the Ring King as they have said themselves. So while we are all grateful to Team Viper and Kumho, both we and them are slightly disappointed in not being able to attain the goal and a sub 7 min time, at least so far.

That is totally different from thinking the car is a failure. Speaking for myself I am a bit disappointed as my expectations were way way off base. But I did expect it to do at least a 6:5x even if it didn't beat the 918's time. I don't think any of us expected the tire situation to play out the way it has so far. But there it is. We are hoping Friday's runs produce a sub 7 min time for all their efforts and for the Viper nation. Still optimistic on that until its over.

Exactly!!.....nobody is saying that the 7:03 time isn't a great time but I truly believe the team feels the car can get into the 6's. Not being able to because of funding, weather, traffic, mechanical difficulties, etc makes it that much more frustrating for them.

If the team was able to do a perfect run and 7:03 was the final result, they would have packed up and come home. Although the event is sponsored by many of us and large donors, this is costing the team over there a lot of money out of pocket.

I guarantee you that the new Z06 ZR1 is going to be a Ring monster and is just waiting for us to finish to see what they have to try to accomplish. The C7 Z06 without a rear wing did a 7:13 by a pro driver for a German magazine....that is a major accomplishment since no car has gone under 7:18 at the Ring without a rear wing. The new ZR1 has a wing, better aero, more hp and who knows what else....yikes.

[Fatboy 18]

Well said!

Awesome runs by the Drivers so far, however the excitement of that First run and the Driver and Team saying they believe there was much more in the car
all gave us even more expectations. Since then, there have been a few glitches for various reasons and they have managed to knock off a few 100ths seconds off the time.
So maybe those first comments have not helped fans expectations!
7:03 Is a brilliant time so lets celebrate the fact

Best of luck guys

[stradman]

Guys please keep reading Russ Oasis's updates on Facebook. They are very relevant honest and truthful. I just got back from the Ring last night after spending the last 3 days there and met up with the team a few times including Dominik. They are really having some tough luck unfortunately as well as coming to terms and understanding things that perhaps they didn't appreciate beforehand. They are all working very hard and understandably are a bit deflated at times due to circumstances but are still soldiering on as best they can. For those that have never been to the Ring I can tell you it is a very gruelling place and there is no circuit like this on the planet. And you can't just say hey I'll string together 4-5 laps of VIR or Road American and it will be the same. IT IS NOT THE SAME I GUARANTEE YOU. Just think of it as a giant 13 mile rollercoaster ride with changes in road surface, camber, undulations, elevations and crazy compressions, jumps all put into one gigantic lap. This has circuit has it all. Which is why it so prestigious when manufacturers get a car to work well there. But it ain't easy. Lets hope something good comes on Friday. I'll post my own attempts in my ACR during those days on another thread.....But in the meantime here was the car coming down the Dottinger straight on Tuesday morning

[AZTVR]

Yes, the Nurburgring is a unique track, but string together 4-5 laps at VIR or Road America and you have something close. I am amazed that this tire issue was not discovered before making the trip, especially when there are many threads on this forum about the problem people are having with the front tires on track. If the tires cannot last 5 continuous laps at Laguna Seca, then we cannot expect them to perform at the N'Ring.

I'm just surprised we had to go all the way over there to discover this.

I would guess that these are not the type of guys who would have given up and not gone to the 'Ring if they had found that the tires did not give the equivalent of better than a 7:03 in an equivalent amount of distance while lapping an American track. Way too many variables involved.

The sub 7 minute time is only a few tenths of a percent faster than what they have clocked so far.

[Scott_in_fl]

And you can't just say hey I'll string together 4-5 laps of VIR or Road American and it will be the same. IT IS NOT THE SAME I GUARANTEE YOU. Just think of it as a giant 13 mile rollercoaster ride with changes in road surface, camber, undulations, elevations and crazy compressions, jumps all put into one gigantic lap. This has circuit has it all.

Agreed that it is a unique track. But I was referring more to the forces that a tire has to endure (i.e. braking, turning, accelerating).

To a tire, there is not much difference from one lap of a 12-mile course with low, mid and high speed turns, and six laps of a 2-mile course with low, mid and high speed turns.

I'm just surprised that this was never tested before heading over. Good traction is one of the most important factors to fast lap times. Before incurring the expense of heading to the N'Ring, the Kumho's should have been torture tested to simulate the length of the N'Ring to confirm that they could go a full lap with acceptable performance. It doesn't sound like that was done, which is shocking -- especially as Kumho must have had some of this knowledge from developing the tire.

[Pappy]

Agreed that it is a unique track. But I was referring more to the forces that a tire has to endure (i.e. braking, turning, accelerating).

To a tire, there is not much difference from one lap of a 12-mile course with low, mid and high speed turns, and six laps of a 2-mile course with low, mid and high speed turns.

I'm just surprised that this was never tested before heading over. Good traction is one of the most important factors to fast lap times. Before incurring the expense of heading to the N'Ring, the Kumho's should have been torture tested to simulate the length of the N'Ring to confirm that they could go a full lap with acceptable performance. It doesn't sound like that was done, which is shocking -- especially as Kumho must have had some of this knowledge from developing the tire.

I think you may be underestimating Kumho. I'm sure they have done a lot of testing (in fact, I think some of the Ring time was donated by Kumho, so they obviously spend time there). This Ring time event was not optional for them - not something they could approve or disapprove. We, the Viper community (VE, Russ, contributors, etc.) decided to give it a shot despite the fact that FCA opted not to. Maybe they knew the perils. Kumho built a great tire for what the Viper does best. I track them on my ACR in six-digit weather and although their life is a little short, I have no complaints. This record attempt had to be with a stock production vehicle running on the OEM tires or it was pointless. Hats off for a gallant effort!

Pappy