Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)

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Offline cudacharlie

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Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« on: February 12, 2006 - 01:48:12 AM »
And you will be too if you attend the SRT Track Experience when it comes to your local superspeedway!  On Friday, Feb 10th I was at the one at California Speedway in Fontana... AWESOME DAY!  (srttrackexperience.com)

A great way to spend a day and $300 meeting other SRT lovers and beating the crap out of the full Dodge SRT lineup!  But, on to the pics....

First, you arrive, and this is the lineup that greets you, all SRT's:

Crossfire SRT6; 300c, Magnum, Charger and Cherokee SRT8's; and Viper and Ram SRT10's...



Then you go for a continental breakfast and about an hour of basic classroom instruction on the apex of the turn, contact patches, weight transfer, etc.  Then, you break up into three groups, and JUMP IN!



Over to the Road Course section we go to meet our freindly instructor (the staff are Skip Barber instructors; Dodge contracts with Barber to put on this circus)...



And he gives us the lowdown:  Three of us, each by ourselves in separate, identical cars, will follow a pace car with an instructor.  We will make a total of three laps AT SPEED.  After each lap, as we pass pit row, the lead car (not the instructor, the first of us three) will move over to the left and leave off the gas, allowing the rear two cars to floor it and move up.  Then the formerly-first car falls in at the rear of the pack and we go around again.  You do this once in the Crossfire, which was a BIG surprise: that little euro-bucket can SCOOT!



Then everybody gets to go once in the Magnum...





And then once in the Viper.  Yes, the Viper!









- continued next post -
« Last Edit: February 12, 2006 - 01:51:48 AM by cudacharlie »
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70 Charger R/T
06 Magnum SRT8




Offline cudacharlie

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!!
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2006 - 01:48:53 AM »
Then, it's over to the dragstrip (1/8 mile) and collision-avoidance and ABS training course.  You run the Jeep, Ram Truck, and 300c down the 1/8 mile, with a tree, and you and a partner record times.  Then the course has a jam-on-the-abs-and-hard-turn-left thing, to teach you how to dig in and still steer. 





Let me tell you, that Jeep Cherokee SRT8 is a HUGE surprise.  It moves, and with AWD, you are stuck tight.  Really fun.

Next up you go to an AutoCross course they have set up in the parking lot, and go round and round, a$$-out (of course) in the Crossfire, Charger, and then Viper (2nd gear the whole time).  Some folks wound up facing the wrong way in the Viper, if you know what I mean!





Finally, it's back to the classroom for de-breifing, goodie bags, etc.  Then out to the track for 'payback'.  Since your poor instructors (who are all real race drivers of some sort or other) have had to ride shotgun with your lame a$$ all day, you go out and ride shotgun with them on the Road Course.  Two trips, one lap each, in two different cars.  I chose a ride-along with Juan in the Crossfire... his first words to me were, "have you ever heard of drifting?"....  heh heh....



Then, as I waited patiently in the setting California sun....



For my ride in the Viper with Claude...  There are no pictures of this event, as it would not be polite to show stained underwear on a family forum! 

But suffice to say that the Viper was completely sideways on every turn, often at 130mph+, bouncing over the red+white curbies, and we entered pit row completely sideways.  When we stopped, thick smoke was coming from the front brakes, and Claude said to the head guy (in a thick French accent), "I theenk thees one, she ees broken, doo you have one other?"

So, yes, it was freakin' worth the $300.  JUST DO IT!  GO ONLINE NOW AND SIGN UP!!!!!
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06 Magnum SRT8

Offline cudacharlie

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!!
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2006 - 01:49:23 AM »
The only drag is that that white Viper Competition Coupe was broken.





 The front air dam had broken a support wire, and it flapped like crazy at speed...



Which was a real bummer for four lucky winners, who had their names drawn from a hat at the end.  You see, during the payback round, those four were to have gotten a ride with a real Viper Comp Coupe driver, at beyond-lethal speeds, for the death-ride of a lifetime!!!!!

Bummer that the Comp Coupe broke, but I'm sure it will be fixed by the time SRT Track Experience is at your city!
70 Cuda convert
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Offline 4Cruizn

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2006 - 10:12:18 AM »
WOW that sounds like soooooooooo much fun!!  I would love to try it but don't think I have anythiong like that in Michigan!  Thanks for sharing those pics!!  What a great day you must of had!!   :worshippy   :worshippy   :worshippy

kudakidd

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2006 - 10:32:53 AM »
Seems like a whole lot MORE fun than the Richard Petty course. Diff vehicles,tracks and driving styles.Cool :grinyes: :thumbsup:
« Last Edit: February 12, 2006 - 10:35:13 AM by kudakidd »

Offline Killer_Mopar

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2006 - 11:30:59 AM »
Sounds like you had an amazing time. I have been waiting for the SRT track experience to come to Ohio, but have had no luck. If I remember correctly the closest one to me is in New York.
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Offline RusTy/SE

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2006 - 12:12:58 PM »
Very nice :drool: :drool: :cheers:
Russ
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Offline ESGEE

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2006 - 12:47:11 PM »
Great day it seems. I wich we had someting like that here....
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Offline 1BADFISH™

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2006 - 02:23:50 PM »
Cudacharlie, that looks super fun. I would love to do something like that! If you ever decide to go again I'd love to fly down. That would be worth the trip, and airfare from here is reasonable.   :thumbsup:

Dave
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Offline torredcuda

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2006 - 04:08:57 PM »
Sounds like great fun!I did the Petty experience a couple years ago and it was a blast but I really couldn`t drive it as hard as I would`ve liked.The SRT cars sound like you can really get on `em and have some fun.Of course I need to drive and someday own a Viper!!!  :wow: :money:
Jeff
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2006 - 04:31:53 PM »


Man, that is a great day, well worth $300 in my books!! Looks like the weather played it's part to.
Thanks for that, it was like I was actually waiting my turn.  :cheers:


 :wave:
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Offline cudacharlie

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2006 - 06:12:41 PM »
Thanks, gents, it was a pleasure!  :picture:

Keep in mind that ANYBODY can sign up for this thing.  All you need is a valid driver's license and 300 clams.  They don't publicize it too widely, probably because every SRT buyer brings a buddy or three, and that's probably enough to fill up all the slots in many cities.  Oh, did I mention that any SRT buyer gets to go FOR FREE!  (It's included in the price of the car!)  Can you believe that?  Anyway, hit their website and check the schedule, and SIGN UP!

srttrackexperience.com

 :woohoo:
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Offline cuda

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2006 - 08:44:40 PM »
 :wow: Now thats how you spend a day out with MOPARS !!!!!  Cool  :clapping:  :burnout: :burnout:

Offline Street_Challenged73

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2006 - 08:45:59 PM »
That looks like fun!!! :burnout: :drool:
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Offline Silver R/T

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Re: Sideways in a Viper at 130mph+!!! (pics!)
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2006 - 09:10:02 PM »
sounds like fun, doubt theyll have anything like that in my city though