Nurburgring Re Do or Local Events it s up to you

[SilveRT8]

I rather see it used to excite people that are not on this forum, but who are still car enthusiasts.

Let's get some more creative ideas going.

Here's one idea to create a buzz :
Who's faster in a Viper ???
Bring the ACR to one of the 13 tracks where it already has the record, and invite some wellknown racing Drivers to take a shot at breaking that record, to see who's the fastest driver in an Viper from various racing series : Nascar, Indy, F1.....or journalists testers from top Car mags to compete
Maybe even one of our own Arizona member ???

[Scott_in_fl]

^^^ Some good ideas starting to flow. The idea of inviting a challenge sounds like fun. I've always thought it would be great to test cars like they test supersport motorcycles -- they put them all on the same tires and then let a group of riders ride each. They clock the laps and then solicit opinions/views. We could do the same for cars. Or, if we want to just keep 1 driver per car (i.e. the owner), then that is fine too as long as they are on the same tire.

Why not pick them all off one at a time between GT2RS, Performante, ZR1, Pista, NFGT and 720S/Senna?

For each, we find a common tire that can fit both cars (either car can change diameter, but not width, and tire brand and model must be identical between both cars).

So, for example, when we go against GT2RS, both cars are on Mich PS2 (or whatever). We pick a neutral track like Laguna, which is commonly accepted as a good track to test the capability of a car. We jump onto Rennlist, 6speedonline, FB, IG, and throw down the gauntlet. We invite the GT2RS boys to find their top gun and we have them meet up with Arizona or one of our other hotshoes. Both cars must be stock (but for tires) and will be verified as such by their respective local dealers the night before the run and will be transported directly from the dealers to the track for the test.

Then, we move onto NFGT and do the same -- find a common tire to fit to both, jump onto the forums to pick a fight, get both cars to Laguna, have them inspected by the dealers, and let them run.

The same for ZR1, performante, 720S/Senna, etc.

Invite the auto mags to cover it. Use social media to hype it up. Could be really cool, and certainly would be memorable. Might not win 'em all, but certainly would make a point (that our car is a bad ass) and might actually start a neat testing methodology that others carry forward into the future to prove which car is actually the "King of the Track". Hell, let's brand it that way and create a really neat trophy that can be passed around to the winner (kinda like the Vince Lombardi trophy). If we can swing it, we pay transport for the challengers' cars to/from Salinas, CA. If they win, they get $2,500 to further defray their costs.

[ViperJon]

I'm seriously trying to understand the reasoning behind trying to create a "media buzz" for a long discontinued car model? Being serious.
Not sure why any magazine would be that interested anymore or the general public for that matter. Viper owners...sure.....all 50 that would care.

[Special Ed]

I'm seriously trying to understand the reasoning behind trying to create a "media buzz" for a long discontinued car model? Being serious.
Not sure why any magazine would be that interested anymore or the general public for that matter. Viper owners...sure.....all 50 that would care.

John I couldn't agree more.

[Fatboy 18]

I see it as a select few few going back to the ring for hard work and fun times and of course more money will be needed, come on boys, get your cheque books out.

Or am I being too cynical?

[13COBRA]

I'm seriously trying to understand the reasoning behind trying to create a "media buzz" for a long discontinued car model? Being serious.
Not sure why any magazine would be that interested anymore or the general public for that matter. Viper owners...sure.....all 50 that would care.

100% agree.

This wouldn't benefit anyone, except a few's ego.

[BSLSK]

I'm seriously trying to understand the reasoning behind trying to create a "media buzz" for a long discontinued car model? Being serious.
Not sure why any magazine would be that interested anymore or the general public for that matter. Viper owners...sure.....all 50 that would care.

Some people believe it would increase the values of our cars. More than likely, it just increases the "small dick syndrome".

[Scott_in_fl]

C'mon guys. Seriously.

Who would not want to see an ACR take on a '17 Ford GT at Laguna on equal tires? Are you kidding me???

That would be friggin' awesome! Tell the rags and they would go out in a second to cover it.

Then we do ACR v. '18 Performante. And then ACR v. '19 ZR1. A '19 Senna??? Wow! Put them all on the best tire that we can find a common size for.

Maybe we have to build a couple sets of wheels for the ACR so that it can do Trofeo, etc., but that's not a difficult thing to do. Only rule is that it has to be no wider than our stock size (which should be fine because we have huge widths already and thus somewhat of a natural advantage over cars like Senna with 245 front and 315 rear).

And honestly, I don't understand what this has to do with egos. In my post, I specifically state that we may not win 'em all, but that it would still be good for our brand to show how close Viper can be to the best that money can buy if we equalize any tire advantage. I'd love this, and I think most enthusiasts would also.

I think the competition would be very, very close, but that's part of the fun -- everyone pulling for their favorite and cheering them on. Nothing has been done like this before (i.e. equalizing the tire advantage) and I know that I, for one, would love to see the results.

Nothing wrong with fun competition among fellow car nuts. Hell, that's why car racing itself is so amazing. If you've ever been a competitor, you know how great the comaraderie is in the paddock. It has nothing to do with egos, values, etc. It's about having fun.

EDIT: And apparently the times are all very, very close even with old vs. new tire technology. Put them on equal tires and this will become so much more interesting: https://www.motortrend.com/news/lap-...y-laguna-seca/

[ACRSNK]

I agree with Scott above that would be crazy cool

[13COBRA]

That would be super cool...but cost FAR more than the money available lol

[mackzilla]

Distribute 15-20% of it to local chapters to hold a track rental, autocross, rally or cruise. Keep the rest away while we think bigger.

I'd love to see a fresh new website or marketing to boost membership but I don't think it's money well spent. We own a limited production collectible car that's a track junky' dream. Simply by numbers collecting and racing, as well as utilizing web forums are on a decline.

[Bryan Savage]

Russ, just pick a charity and donate the whole purse.

Searching for "racing charities" brought up a few that are car related, which seems the most appropriate.

https://www.speedwaycharities.org/
https://racingforkids.org/
https://www.stewarthaasracing.com/charity-information/
https://www.missionmotorsport.org/

[ViperGeorge]

Distribute 15-20% of it to local chapters to hold a track rental, autocross, rally or cruise. Keep the rest away while we think bigger.

I'd love to see a fresh new website or marketing to boost membership but I don't think it's money well spent. We own a limited production collectible car that's a track junky' dream. Simply by numbers collecting and racing, as well as utilizing web forums are on a decline.

I disagree. Although the car is out of production and limited so are many other cars that have active clubs. I'm a member of the 55-57 Tbird club and that car has been out of production for 60+ years yet it still has maintained membership. There were some 30,000 or so Vipers made and even taking into account those that were wrecked or existing members that own more than one there are still a lot of Viper owners that aren't in the club. Even on here there are "Enthusiasts" that aren't members. We need to push hard to get more Viper owners to join the club and be active.

Some of it comes down to the region you're in. The New England region I used to belong to was very active. The CO/MT/UT/WY is extremely active and I can't imagine not being a member. Another club I was a member of back east didn't do anything even though they had a lot of members. Too bad really.

Besides an active club will help keep the values up. I still vote to give the money to the VOA.

[serpent]

I'm seriously trying to understand the reasoning behind trying to create a "media buzz" for a long discontinued car model? Being serious.
Not sure why any magazine would be that interested anymore or the general public for that matter. Viper owners...sure.....all 50 that would care.

I wish this site had a like button.

What gives?

[ClayR]

Why don't you give it back to the people who donated the money?

I would't give OP any more money.

[13COBRA]

Why don't you give it back to the people who donated the money?

I would't give OP any more money.

Would your insurance company?

[Russ Oasis]

Guys, after all the derision, I've decided to give it to charity. I've already given away half and the other half will be given away after Jan. 1. Honestly, if you guys knew how much work and thousands of hours went into this.....I worked on it full time for a year. It is crazy to try figure out how to give it back. Over 473 people donated amounts ranging from $5 to $20,000. Nobody seems to realize that if we went over budget, it came directly out of my pocket. The only reason we had ANY money at the end was that I spent the time (another year) to chase down a party that used the pictures without authorization. If we lost the suit, it again came out of my pocket. But when we settled, in a show of good faith, I asked the Viper community "What do you want me to do with the money?" Some of the responses were quite harsh and insulting. Most of them showed that they didn't really understand how much work went into the project. One even accused me of running a "for profit" event. It became clear that no matter what I did, there would be criticism. A couple of guys suggested that I give it to charity. I thought about it for a month and decided that was the least controversial and best thing to do. All donations were in the name of Viper Nurburgring Record, should you like to look them up. A large percentage of the money went to veterans' charities, like Wounded Warriors, Folds of Honor, Tunnels to Towers, and Disabled Veterans. Some went to Mercy Ships (a high tech medical ship that gives free operations for things like hare lips, removal of tumors, and birth defects, for people in third world nations) Some went to charities that help animals, such as The Humane Society and the ASPCA. I also gave a chunk to The Special Olympics (for children with special needs) and The Free Clinics, a medical service for the indigent in North Carolina. All charities had 3 or 4 stars (out of 4) on Charity Navigator. I know that giving to charity won't make some happy, but I have bent over backwards to try to do the right thing. As the holidays approach, let's all be grateful that we all own Vipers and that without a penny of help from the factory, we turned a 7:01.3, the fastest American car to ever grace The Ring, even today. Together, we all got a lot accomplished. We set a record and gave to people in need.

[J TNT]

Kudos Russ for taking the High Road and giving it to charity !!!

And Yes sadly it is easy to criticize for those who are not lifting a finger or have no skin in the game ...............

Have a Very Merry Christmas Russ , you deserve it !!!

[Arizona Vipers]

Guys, after all the derision, I've decided to give it to charity. I've already given away half and the other half will be given away after Jan. 1. Honestly, if you guys knew how much work and thousands of hours went into this.....I worked on it full time for a year. It is crazy to try figure out how to give it back. Over 473 people donated amounts ranging from $5 to $20,000. Nobody seems to realize that if we went over budget, it came directly out of my pocket. The only reason we had ANY money at the end was that I spent the time (another year) to chase down a party that used the pictures without authorization. If we lost the suit, it again came out of my pocket. But when we settled, in a show of good faith, I asked the Viper community "What do you want me to do with the money?" Some of the responses were quite harsh and insulting. Most of them showed that they didn't really understand how much work went into the project. One even accused me of running a "for profit" event. It became clear that no matter what I did, there would be criticism. A couple of guys suggested that I give it to charity. I thought about it for a month and decided that was the least controversial and best thing to do. All donations were in the name of Viper Nurburgring Record, should you like to look them up. A large percentage of the money went to veterans' charities, like Wounded Warriors, Folds of Honor, Tunnels to Towers, and Disabled Veterans. Some went to Mercy Ships (a high tech medical ship that gives free operations for things like hare lips, removal of tumors, and birth defects, for people in third world nations) Some went to charities that help animals, such as The Humane Society and the ASPCA. I also gave a chunk to The Special Olympics (for children with special needs) and The Free Clinics, a medical service for the indigent in North Carolina. All charities had 3 or 4 stars (out of 4) on Charity Navigator. I know that giving to charity won't make some happy, but I have bent over backwards to try to do the right thing. As the holidays approach, let's all be grateful that we all own Vipers and that without a penny of help from the factory, we turned a 7:01.3, the fastest American car to ever grace The Ring, even today. Together, we all got a lot accomplished. We set a record and gave to people in need.

Thanks for all your hard work on this Russ!!!! Truly an amazing asset to the Viper community! Time is money and you spent endless hours and hours on this.

[Mark1107]

I’m sorry Russ that you got the brunt of the viper community. Donating to charity is excellent but I’m wistful of what could have been. Maybe someone else will make the attempt. Either way Merry Christmas and thank you.

[Bruce H.]

What an inspiring ending...thank you so much, and for so much Russ.

[Snakebit10]

Sorry to hear you had to deal with all of that nonsense. Silly individuals always find a way to ruin things for others. Seems like accusations with no proof or evidence is the name of the game in this generation. Thanks for you hard work. Very sad that we won't see any more Viper track content.

[outnumbered]

Russ, Thanks for all your time, money and effort. I proudly display my poster in my man cave, and always use it as an opportunity for a good Viper story. Disregard the negative. It has no relevance.

[stradman]

Hey Russ, Many thanks for all your effort and time you put into this. As you say a lot of people don't actually understand how much effort you guys put into this.Having witnessed it first hand at the Ring however I can attest to this being an enormous effort so thank you again. I guess at least the money has now gone to some worthy causes from which needy individuals will benefit so that's noble in itself.

[SilveRT8]

For all the needy people who will benefit from this gift of money....you just set the best possible record !
Congrats Russ