American Cars American Girls - car shows, events and more.. » VIPERS AND THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON 2009

VIPERS at the DRAGONS’S TAIL 2009

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:43:56 +0000

We have two stories here Vipers and the Dragon’s Tail. The Vipers will get the majority of my attention with fourteen stories and numerous pictures in this post, but a few sentences about the Dragon’s Tail here in the lead paragraph. I’m sure most of you know about the Dragon’s Tail, if you don’t just Google it in and you’ll get an almost infinite number of hits and info. Very briefly, it’s an eleven mile stretch of mountain road connecting Tennessee and North Carolina. The stretch contains 318 curves and no intersections..It was made famous by the motorcycle guys but performance cars are a common site now. This was my first visit and while it’s famous as a public race track I was awestruck by the beauty and spectacular views. There’s a very nice but small resort, Deals Gap, at the North Carolina end 0f the Tail. It has most everything you would need except gas.

The run is put together by the Alabama/Tennessee section of Viper Club of America. I think this the third year in a row that’s they’ve been doing it. It’s a full three day event starting Friday with a cruise to the Dragon’s Tail, and another mountain cruise Saturday morning and than a police escort through Gatlinburg Saturday night and then back home Sunday. Viper guys and girls are a great bunch that respect their cars but aren’t afraid to drive them hard. Most of all, Viper people are super fun group of people to be around.

The above picture is of the VIPER TWINS. Please see their post later in the article. This a two page article. When you get though with MARY AND HER VERY OWN 9009 VIPER SRT10 post click NEXT PAGE.

NATILIE at the CRACKER BARREL

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:34:38 +0000

I’m about to get my skinny little butt in trouble here but I was a little concerned about the availability of AmericanGirls. You know only maybe forty cars and with mostly fifty year old owners, I might get shut out. I was ecstatic when I pulled into the meet-up point at the Campbell Station Cracker Barrel in Knoxville and saw Natilie and her boyfriend checking out all the beautiful Vipers. Natalie was quite willing to help me out. It turns out that Natalie is quite the car girl herself, owning a 1997 Z28 Camaro. By the way it turned out there was a plethora of beautiful Viper girls for me to photograph!!!!!!!!!

ON THE WAY TO THE DRAGON’S TAIL

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:07:50 +0000

When we left the Cracker Barrel onto I-40 the caravan of Vipers had to be going 100 m.p.h.. I had my old Dodge minivan at 90 and I totally lost the draft. Thankfully I caught up to them at this gas station.

DRAGON’S TAIL, DEALS GAP, and my BIKER BABE

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:01:54 +0000

On Friday afternoon after the Vipers had left I hung around Deals Gap and took a few pictures of Deal’s Gap and the original pioneers of the Dragon’s Tail. Karen dove down from New Boston ,Mi. in a car to hook up with her boy friend who owns this 2004 Electra Glide Classic. The best thing about Karen’s boyfriend other than Karen is that he also owns a Boss Hoss which is a motorcycle powered b y a 454c.i. big block Chevy. Sometime this fall Boss Hoss owners are having a meet in Paris Tn.. I’ll be there. Karen lists her occupation as R&D in the horticulture industry.

MELLISSA at DEALS GAP

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:48:57 +0000

Mellissa and her husband and two children met the Viper convoy at Deals Gap N.C. One might ask how four people got from Franklin North Carolina to Deals Gap in a Viper. The answer is easy, his and her Vipers. Melissa drives the 2008 Snake Skin green Viper and husband Ben drives the 2008 Viper Violet blue Viper.

For more pictures of Mellissa be sure to see her second post. It’s on the 2nd page of the article.

CARLTON Moore and his 2002 ACR VIPER

tom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:39:11 +0000

Before we get into Carlton and his Viper lets quickly discuss what an ACR is. The ACR (American Club Racer) is a special road racing model put out by Viper. It has an enhanced suspension, lighter weight, and a marginal increase in horse power. The ACR was available from 1999-2002 and then again in 2008 and 2009. Carlton’s was 1 of 34 ACRs that were built in 2002. Carlton bought his Viper on ebay. I asked Carlton how the bidding went, Carlton replied ‘’I saw the car and quickly paid the buy-it-now price’’. End of conversation. Carlton lists his occupation as Network Analyst for AT&T, Deputy Sheriff, and race car driver. Sounds like a pretty cool guy.

VETINARY’S VIPER

tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:05:22 +0000

It seems Viper people fall into three categories: #1- My Viper makes an outrageous amount of horsepower #2 My Viper is ONE of **** #3-My Viper goes road racing. Shandon’s Viper falls into the third category. He’s had his Viper at several of the well known road courses across the eastern USA. The pneumatic solenoids in the engine bay are for adjusting the suspension level depending if on the track or on the street. The front splitter, rear spoiler and all the suspension/chassis upgrades are the real deal. Shandon lists his occupation as Veterinarians some place in Kentucky. That may make him a horse doctor but I doubt he has time to see any Mustangs

STEPHANIE

tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:58:46 +0000

Look up fun in the dictionary and you might find a picture of Stephanie. She was at the event with her boyfriend Charles Bridges. Charles owns a motorcycle/atv shop in Claremont N.C. It seems to me that Charles has. all the fun toys

ROY HARGILL’S 2009 ACR VIPER

tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:45:42 +0000

Here it is guys possibly the most desirable Viper ever made the 2009 ACR Viper. The 2009 ACR includes street legal racing tires, two piece brake rotors, adjustable suspension, and significant aero revisions. The weight is reduced 80 lb by deleting the radio, speakers, trunk carpet, hood pad, and tire inflator. All is powered by the V-10 600 hp engine. Roy drove this beast in all the way from Milton Fl. Thanks Roy for sharing your car.

MARY AND HER VERY OWN 2009 VIPER SRT 10

tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:29:31 +0000

What a story here. When Mary’s husband was alive they did all the Viper events together. Now that Mary is widowed she still does all the Viper events but by herself. Mary already owned a 2000 Viper GTS but decided to give herself a 2009 Viper SRT 10 as a Christmas present. When Mary got the Viper ”It was just a plain red Viper”. Sounds like a oxymoron to me. After getting the her new Viper she promptly took it to Scott Miller in Champaign, In. to have the custom paint work done which also included the wheels. Mary drove this 550 hp, six speed, beast in from Canton Ga. . Mary if you need a navigator next year let me know.

For the next three posts click on NEXT PAGE at the bottom of this page