2014 Carolina's VCA Event Schedule

[CBR-ACR]

Happy New Year Carolina VCA Members and Enthusiasts,

Though we have not identified new VCA Regional Leadership but with today being the first day of the NEW Year, I cannot think of a better way to place the drama that we have recently experienced behind us and look towards the future by focusing on the positive benefits of owning a Viper and being a member of the VCA. Let the healing begin, it’s time to rebuild. I have taken the opportunity to share a proposed and very preliminary schedule of events to seek your feedback on what type of events you would like to participate in, therefore, we can use this as a starting point and revise from here.

Feel free to provide your input at [email protected]

2014 Carolina’s VCA Tentative Schedule

Cars and Coffee:
- Cary – First Saturday of the Month
- Charlotte – First Saturday of the Month:
http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/665374-Charlotte-Cars-amp-Coffee

- Greenville – Fourth Saturday of the Month.
- Others?

Other possible activities for consideration:

- I have made some contact over the past several months with a couple of Private Car Collectors that would be willing to share their collections with us.
- Also, I have met a couple of race component manufacturers/engineers in the Charlotte area that would be willing to give us a tour of their facilities.
- With weather always a concern for the first part of the year, we could schedule a lunch or two, where as if the weather is not good, we can still meet up. We could do a tour above and grab lunch?
- Z-Max Dragway, April 11th-13th, if there is interest, I have met the staff at both tracks (Drag Strip and Speedway) and can arrange a behind the scenes tour of the facility.
- John Mavridis (Virginia/Maryland VCA) felt that there may be another opportunity for the two regions to meet at VIR other than the ALMS event listed below.
- Two local sports/exotic car clubs do regular track days and will welcome us along with their respective groups at Carolina Motorsports Park and VIR. I do plan to attend with one of the groups this spring.
- Possibly an event to include the entire family such a picnic/cookout at a state park, maybe "Snakes at the Lake" or "Snakes in the Park" event?


March 23rd - Saturday 10am-3pm , Tilted Kilt Charlotte All Mopar show (Muscle and Classics to Modern), I can only handle a car show, maybe twice a year and this show is one that you will want to attend. Registration is limited to 120, I attended last year and they fully registered all slots. Vipers get great treatment with preferred parking front and center and they always have great trophies. Judging Starting at 11:00am, Trophy’s at 3:00pm. Link from last year’s event, posts #14 and #15 from this thread:

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/665374-Charlotte-Cars-amp-Coffee

April 12th – Saturday Mopars at the Rock, Rockingham, NC. Car Show, Swap Meet, and Drag Racing. Please find event flyer attached:

http://www.rockinghamdragway.com/2014/mopars-at-the-rock/

May – Details to be determined later - Member Steve Burrows owns and operates the Performance Factory in Concord and will host a Viper Dyno Day- The Performance Factory invested in the BEST you can get in dyno technologies and houses an indoor in-ground SuperFlow AutoDyn 800 All Wheel Drive dynamometer. With 4 individual 42″ weighted rollers and separate eddy-brake system, their AWD dyno is ready for virtually any vehicle on the road today. They can dyno FWD, RWD, and AWD vehicles; and the fact that the front and rear rollers are coupled means that modern day vehicles speed and traction control sensors will not trigger error codes.

http://www.performancefactory.us/

May 30 to June 1st – Tail of the Dragon trip. From my perspective one of the best Viper events I have ever participated with. I have attended the last 3 years and each year I have found it to be better than the previous year. Last year, participants from 10 states and Canada, no matter what club affiliation you have, the people you meet across the country make this event a must attend. Fantastic driving with 318 turns in 11 miles, good cruising roads with amazing scenery such as the Foothills Parkway and Cherohala Skyway and the Saturday evening parade through downtown Gatlinburg. Link attached from last year’s event:

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/662225-Tail-of-the-Dragon-Gatlinburg-Gathering-of-Vipers


June 7th, Hot Rod Power Tour – I have always wanted to participate with the Power Tour and this year provides the perfect opportunity to do so. Starting in Charlotte, we could do three of the seven segments (Charlotte/Knoxville/ Charleston WV), as the distance from Charleston WV back to NC is less than 2 hours and into Charlotte is only 4 hours, factor the time from where you live from Charlotte. Though heavily attended by the Vette crowd, this year’s route offers the best opportunity to participate if you want to do just a few days. Or, if there is interest in doing a longer run, we could attend Norwalk on Day 4 and make the run back to the Carolinas. I have attached the link for your reference:

http://powertour.net/04_community_05_tour_2014/04_community_05_tour_2014_intro.html

August 23rd – American Lemans Series at Virginia International Raceway. I have spoken to John Mavridis, President of the Virginia/Maryland Viper Club which is our neighboring club to the north and we will work towards planning a joint event with the Virginia/Maryland Region at VIR.

http://www.alms.com/articles/continental-tire-sportscar-challenge-sets-2014-schedule

September – TBD – Viper Owners Invitational 13, VOI is in the planning stages and information will be forthcoming.

October- Date to be determined. I would like to continue to participate in this event preferably with the other club or if we are unable to do so, begin a new tradition for the Carolina’s VCA region to host a Viper event at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. This will be a weekend event and after this past year, definitely not an event you would want to miss. Last year’s event link attached:

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads...-–-Vipers-slither-to-Biltmore!!!-Asheville-NC

November – TBD possibly Saturday the 15th or 22nd – Continue the tradition of years past with our Annual Holiday Dinner. We will work through the details later in the year.

 

[3SXVPR]

Great job in getting this together. Can't wait for warmer weather

 

[CBR-ACR]

Since the unfortunate splitting of the club, we are in a re-build year (probably more like “years”  ) but am pleasantly surprised that our membership has hit double digits whereas just a couple of months ago, I thought I would be the only remaining member in the regional club. It’s probably reminiscent of the early days of this region, but at least we have a base to build from and we will continue to move forward as small as a region that we may be, it’s a start. Though I miss the interaction and friendships that were formed from what we were before the split, the local Scat Pack club is a very active group in which I have also enjoyed being a member and to fill the void.

As listed on our event schedule, yesterday (3/22/14) our first event had 3 Vipers in attendance at our sister club the Carolina Scat Pack (formerly Deep South Mopars) annual spring show held at the Tilted Kilt in Charlotte. I am not one for shows but after attending their show last fall, it has become a not miss show to attend. Over 130 cars registered, everything from Viper Powered Trucks, to Muscle cars, PTs, to Modern Muscle, something for everyone. The venue is perfect, food was good, the people were fantastic and the trophies are some of the best. Last year, I was fortunate enough to win a Viper Trophy made out of an actual piston, this year, the trophy for Viper was a glass Guitar, very unique and great collectible. I met some great people from the Roanoke Club (Va) and may make the trip up to their show later this year, it sounded like a great event.

I have attached some picture for your viewing pleasure below.

 

[CBR-ACR]

The Vipers are always well received and I do feel good about supporting this club, as you can see in the photos, it was a large event. Check out the work Dennis recently had completed on his convertible, not just the under the hood cosmetics, but he also had a full Belanger exhaust system installed and it sounded great, he said the performance improvement was very noticeable.

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[CBR-ACR]

Viper Trucks have great DNA, 7 in the show and what a great group of owners, and well taken care of. The more I look at these trucks, the more I think I want one! Check out the super charger on top of that V10! JTs Venom located here in the Charlotte area did most of the work on these trucks and Tony is a great guy!

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[CBR-ACR]

Got Muscle? I counted five 426 Hemi cars in the show, and they were beautiful. Here is a shot of 3 in a row owned by 3 different owners, a 66 fastback, one of 218 car, a 69 Charger and a very rare factory 65 Belvedere Super Stock car, fully restored and it was stunning. This is a California car that was campaigned in the 60’s on tracks like Lions and Pomona, just a beautiful car which by the way was awarded best in show. Check out the 67 Coronet R/T convertible with a Hemi, Richard owns this car and the Super Bird next to it!

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[CBR-ACR]

Here is a 71 Dodge Demon in its full Pro Street glory, this car came down from Roanoke and was a crowd stopper all day and was powered by a 440 wedge .30 over with a 6-71 huffer. I also appreciate the future of our hobby, met some great young people in their SRT-4’s which we all know are very nice little cars. Here is an example of one and check out the deck lid….. Got to love it. After the show, they had asked if I could park my car in the middle of their cars to take some pics, of course I obliged, they all have future Viper owners written all over them! Also, only in Charlotte will you find a NASCAR Charger Limo…..

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[CBR-ACR]

Last but not least, just a few shots of Kilts, enjoy!

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[LadyCruzer]

Here is a 71 Dodge Demon in its full Pro Street glory, this car came down from Roanoke and was a crowd stopper all day and was powered by a 440 wedge .30 over with a 6-71 huffer. I also appreciate the future of our hobby, met some great young people in their SRT-4’s which we all know are very nice little cars. Here is an example of one and check out the deck lid….. Got to love it. After the show, they had asked if I could park my car in the middle of their cars to take some pics, of course I obliged, they all have future Viper owners written all over them! Also, only in Charlotte will you find a NASCAR Charger Limo…..

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A Charger Limo.... yep , only in N.C. !! You've done a terrific job on your calendar of events, Chuck! This looks like a fun time-- wish we were a little closer to you! Your car looks as beautiful today as when you first bought it.

 

[CBR-ACR]

Just a reminder, our friends from our local Mopar Club (Carolina Scat Pack) shared that their members will be supporting a very good fundraiser this Saturday. I know some of you shared that you will be unable to attend, but I plan to join our sister Mopar club to support this very good cause event.

The unfortunate background, Marco Kauffman who was a fireman and his wife Maryanne, who at the time was pregnant, were returning home on December 2 from visiting family. The Kauffman's noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near their home that appeared to be broken-down. Marcus dropped his wife off at a near-by friend's house, and returned to offer assistance. But when he returned, he discovered that the people at the car appeared to be removing items from his home. He was approached and shot in which he passed away a few days later. This is a very sad story which made a lot of news at the time and currently the press is all over this event for Saturday.
The event details begin with a flapjack breakfast and then a memorial ride for Marcus “Marco” Kauffman. I understand that there could be more than 1500 vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes, and public safety vehicles such as fire trucks, police cars, etc).

The breakfast will be served at Applebee’s 1115 Glenway Drive, Statesville, N.C., 28677 from 7 to 10 a.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and will be $8 at the door.
The escorted Memorial Ride to Salisbury Mall will honor Kauffman and the sacrifices public safety members make daily. Staging for the ride will begin at 11 a.m. in the Walmart parking lot behind Applebee’s.

There is a $20 registration fee to participate in the ride.

I can’t think of a better way to get the Viper out for a drive, if you are interested in attending, let me know. Weather forecast for Saturday looks awesome.

 

[CBR-ACR]

As noted in the previous post, I did attend the Memorial Ride in Honor of Marcus Kaufman this past Saturday and all of those who serve in civil service to protect us. It was a great turnout, I think we ended up having over 150 vehicles (cars, bikes and emergency vehicles) in the fully escorted ride from Statesville to Salisbury, about 30 miles. Our sister club did a wonderful job in organizing this fundraiser for Marry Ann and Marcus Jr who was born after Marcus died.

I have to honestly say that I was emotionally moved by participating in this “ride” with all of those that invested a half day in memory of Marcus as well as all of the people and cars that showed their respect on the side of the roads we traveled to our ending destination. I was touched that most all cars stopped on the road and shown their respect to Marcus as we drove the route to Salisbury. People got out of their cars and placed their hands over their hearts while the mile long procession passed by. Some had flags out on the side of the road, I can’t even adequately describe what I felt on Saturday, but it really made me proud to live where I do and where personal values and character still matter to most. I love Charlotte and the people here, what an awesome place!

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[CBR-ACR]

When we arrived at the Mall in Salisbury, they allowed the Mopar Club to park in the infield where all other vehicles had to park on the other side of the parking lot. There were amusements, games, bounce houses and such for the children, food and several tents with items for sale all to raise funds for the family he left behind. I had the opportunity to meet Mary Ann and little Marcus and maybe for the first time in a long time was speechless, she is a remarkable young lady. They were admiring my Viper and her sister wanted a picture so I let her jump behind the wheel and you would have thought she was on a ride at Disney and she was so grateful as Mary Ann and other snapped photos of her in the seat.

I did my best with my left hand hanging out the window to catch a couple shots of how long the line of vehicles were, as far as you can see in front and behind, all of those cars and more were there to pay their respects to the family.

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[CBR-ACR]

A few other pics......

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[CBR-ACR]

Its finally here, this Saturday, I will be opting out of Charlotte Cars and Coffee and will be over at Z-Max as the Hot Rod Power Tour will be in town starting 9am Saturday morning. My son and I will be joining the "tour" for at least 3 days possibly 4, I registered as a Long Hauler. Saturday events starts early at 9am to include an Autocross, quarter mile fun runs on the famous Z-Max drag strip, dyno challenges, huge midway and the afternoon/evening has many events in and around Charlotte before we depart to Knoxville on Sunday morning. Our local Mopar club has several members doing the tour as well. They are expecting over 2000 cars at Z-Max on Saturday it should be a GREAT time. If you have any interest , let me know, I have the full schedule.