Some thoughts on going A-Vipering

[SUN RA KAT]

I get chided alot at this Viper board because I haven't floored my Viper yet and also because I get 14.6 MPG. This is my first manual shift car and that is mostly why I'm not flooring it yet. When I have lots more experience driving a manual shift car (I don't make any mistakes, in other words), then I'll introduce the snake pedal to my custom floormat. Right now at part throttle the few times I still make mistakes (stall in traffic stopped on a hill, shift to 2nd when I wanted 4th, shift to 5th when I wanted 3rd, etc.), I'm not abusing my Viper like I would if I did these at full throttle and was shifting at the 6000 RPM redline. These same people who chide me also say most Viper accidents happen within the first 6 months of ownership because of driver error.

There's plenty of power even at part throttle. Last night I took someone for a demo ride and on a 4 lane almost completely empty highway I accellerated at 2/3 throttle in 4th gear from about 40 MPH. I let off the snake pedal less than 5 seconds later to see the speedometer needle drop below 110+ MPH. This is the fastest I've had my Viper. The passenger loved it.

Earlier the same evening I took my wife A-Vipering under the condition that I don't scare her, so I actually stayed withing +/- 5 MPH of the speed limit the whole trip. The Viper still scared her.

I'm getting better driving the Viper all the time and I soon will be at a point where I will feel competent to floor the snake pedal.

Amazingly, my Ram truck, The Mighty Dodge, doesn't feel slow. It feels adequate. It also feels like I'm driving in a big living room.

I've had some pretty fast cars before, but even at part throttle, the Viper is many levels above them. The Viper is lots faster than I even imagined, which may explain my respect and awe that I hold it in.

A friend sent me this message & my reply:

> But it was funny you mentioned driving south east of here, my
> computer friend/Viper fan was traveling towards Waynesville in his Caddy
> recently when he was pasted quickly by a (rare)yellow Viper. He tried to
> catch up to see it better but as soon as he could make out some detail of
> the car he said it took off as if he were standing still and the car was out
> of sight before he could say "That was a Viper,son". That
> wouldn't couldn't
> be a certain new owner learning the road, could it?

I do remember passing a Caddy on 42 heading South towards Waynesville and seeing it try to catch up and saying to myself "No way." and moderately accellerating away from it...so that be me!


__________________
Kenny

The Mighty Dodge:

2000 Intense Blue Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport SLT+, 360 cu.in. (5.9 L), Auto, and EVERY option available EXCEPT towing package and sliding rear window, M1 2bbl intake manifold, 4.10 Sure Grip, Crager's tonneau in dark blue, MOPAR bedliner, MOPAR Ram mudflaps, MOPAR side moldings for a 1999 Ram, stock single exhaust pipe with Flowmaster 50-series SUV muffler with heat shield (first mod done), Belltech rear sway bar, JBA silver ceramic coated headers, Quick D throttle body, K&N Gen II FIPK, MOPAR PCM, 180 degree thermostat, MOPAR R/T Cam Package (cam & lifters), new MOPAR valve springs & retainers, and new timing chain, and with a full tank of premium gas The Mighty Dodge weighs 5,120 pounds without driver. Driver is 6'5" and weighs 335 pounds. 15.965 ET & 84.59 MPH = approximately 340 HP @ 88 degrees. Driver is on a diet and has lost 23 pounds since that run.

The EAKMOBILE:

2002 Dodge Viper GTS in Viper Race Yellow with a few "neccessary" modifications to give around 500 HP.

Sean Roe Supercharger System ordered (650 HP).

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

just do it in 3rd gear and get used to it and move down from there. Full throttle in 1st is a waste unless you want to waste the tires. I've only gone full throttle in gears 3 and up, I sitll don't have enough seat time to get on it hard in 2nd gear.

 

[mystic]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Craig 201 MPH:
just do it in 3rd gear and get used to it and move down from there. Full throttle in 1st is a waste unless you want to waste the tires. I've only gone full throttle in gears 3 and up, I sitll don't have enough seat time to get on it hard in 2nd gear.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


hehe
First car i ever drove on the street that was a manual was a 97 red GTS. The owner is on this forum. His name is Robert and he lives in Pembrooke Pines, Florida. Very nice guy

 

[SUN RA KAT]

I love the Sean Roe clutch - it requires the effort of a strong person to work the clutch, the way an ulta high performance car should. It also allows me more precious leg room - the real reason I love it so much. I wish there was a way to adjust the snake & brake pedals further back than the factory adjustment allows, but I'm getting used to new positions for my feet & legs.

The MGW short throw shift knob is real nice - just the right heigth for my hand to grip from the side rather than from the top. I also had the Woodhouse mofified shifter put in which also helps me. It has a spring in it so you have to push against the spring to be in 1st & 2nd gears and the neutral resting place is where 3rd & 4th gears are.

I'm 6'5" tall and was 335 pounds when I picked up my Viper 3 weeks ago. The Viper has inspired me to lose weight for health reasons and I have lost over 23 pounds so far. Getting lighter has made it a lot easier to appear to be gracefull in getting in and out of my Viper. I do stretching exercises for my legs and ankles especially and I am physically much more comfortable in my driving position now. I still have the strength in my legs of 10 men from carrying around 90 extra pounds of weight everywhere I walk and that helps a lot with the clutch.

The North California Viper Club custom floor mats (& trunk mat) are great! The floor mat does take away a little leg room, but I can plant my feet in a comfortable position and they don't slip like they do with the factory no-floor mats.

The 2" seat lowering kit is also great! I have plenty of headroom and the sun visor only onscures about 1/4" at the top of the windshield - and I have had to use the sun visors more than a few times since I drive a lot around dusk when there are few cars on the road while I practice and hone my new skills.

I've driven friends' cars with a manual tranny off and on over the years, but never for very long. At least it was easier than riding a bicycle again for me. The Viper is an extremely easy car to learn to drive with a manual transmission as long as I stay focussed and relaxed.

I have a feeling that when I do go to Viper Days in the Spring that I will be the slowest out on the track, but that's OK - I just want to increase my skills at driving my Viper and since I'm never going to abuse my Viper by driving it really hard, I'll be getting the skills that I need still at speeds that I'd not be brave enough to do on the street.