VIPER

The Grand Am Rolex Series’s 24 Hours at Daytona — 2012 preview

                         On the previous slide we talked about the Grand Am Continental Tire Series and its Friday’s 2.5 hour race. Now we are talking about The Grand Am Rolex series 24 hours at Daytona which starts Saturday, 1/28/12 at 2:30 pm live and on Speed.

There are two classes of cars race at the same time at a Rolex race, the DP – Daytona Prototypes and the GT – Grand Touring

The big news in the DP class are the new Corvette fashioned DP cars.  During the 2012 testing this new car seems to be very fast no matter what team were running it. Plus the Corvette car is so much better looking than the other DP cars.  The perennial DP team to beat is the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates / BMW Riley . There are also Ford and Proshe powered teams. Below are pictures of the new Gainsco DP car from this year and then last years last year car.

GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing / Corvette DP  2012

GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing  DP  2011

The GT competition is going to be great. There are a host of Ferrari 458s, Porsche GT3s, BMW M3s, Mazda RX-8s and Audi Sport AGs against a few Camaros, Mustangs, and one Corvette and one Viper. The big news is the arrival of the Grand Am GT purpose built Ferrari 458. If they don’t win it will be an embarrassment. The other news is that the sponsor for the Rick Ware Racing Camping World truck fell through. Jeffery Earnhardt, Dale’s grandson, was scheduled to drive that truck. so instead Jeffery will be the full time co-driver of the Rick Ware Racing Rolex Mustang GT Car team.

Below we have pictures of most of the AmericanCar teams.

Autohaus Motorsports Camaro

Stevenson Motorsports Camaro

 Rick Ware Racing Mustang

 Michael Baughman Racing Corvette

Racers Edge Motorsports Viper

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Melissa and the Vipers at the Tail of the Dragon

To see Melissa’s post go to Home page and under Recent Show Events click the article Vipers at the Tail of the Dragon 2009.

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NATILIE at the CRACKER BARREL

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!!!!!!!!!

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MELLISSA at DEALS GAP

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.

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CARLTON Moore and his 2002 ACR VIPER

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.

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VETINARY’S VIPER

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

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ROY HARGILL’S 2009 ACR VIPER

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.

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MARY AND HER VERY OWN 2009 VIPER SRT 10

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                                                                                                                                                                    

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VIPER TWINS – LISA and TREASA

Just so we keep things straight Lisa is the twin with the white capri pants and the funky hair doo and Teresa also has a funky hair doo but her capri pants are white. In The Viper world Lisa and Teresa are household names. Lisa’s husband was the mover and shaker of the event and owner of the 1998 silver Viper RT/10 that the girls are posing with. The twins now call Kingston Springs, Tn. home but they were born and raised right here in the middle of the Smoky Mts., Sevierville, Tn.. The girls are gorgeous and get stares and attention where ever they go but also they are incredibly nice and very humble.

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DAVID LANE and his SUPERCHARGED VIPER

David Lane’s 1997 supercharged Viper has been dyno at 720 RWHP and 740 RWTQ. That translates to over 800 hp at the fly wheel.  The most amazing thing is that he drove his Viper to the event from Atlanta and then drove through the Pigeon Forge traffic on a hot May day. Trust me that is amazing.

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