VCA MEMBERS & VIPER ENTHUSIASTS (THIS IS A VERY LONG POST, BUT PLEASE READ ON):
This past weekend, VCA Vice President George Farris and I had the honor and sheer thrill of attending the 2007 Viper vs. Viper event held at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. This two day event occurs every two years and was advertised with invitations to the entire Viper Community. Over 160 VCA persons attended with 70 Vipers. Our Dodge SRT brothers were also there in force. Despite having organized and/or attended dozens of VCA events over the years, I was totally unprepared for the scope, impact and indeed, meaning that this event had on all who attended.
Simply stated, the U.S. Air Force puts on an air show unlike any other in North America. We were thrilled to see close up demonstrations of practically every major war plane, fighter jet, transport, helicopter in our ample arsenal, including F-14s, F-15s, Strike Eagles, F-16s, F-22s, B-1 bombers, huge Galaxy transporters, Apache helicopters and on and on. A new Stealth B-2 “flying wing” bomber even buzzed the crowd to the thrill of teary eyed Americans. But this is only a portion of what you see and feel. You also got to meet, speak to and hang out with dozens of U.S. Top Guns, pilots, crewmen, support personnel, not to mention dozens of military airborne troops (who demonstrated their night and day precision skydiving).
Oh, and by the way, I forgot to mention that with all the above going on, the U.S. Air Force also takes time to stage a match race between an F-16 Viper Fighter and two of our own Vipers, piloted by our own DCX terra firma pilots, Herb “Grail Keeper” Helbig and super designer Ralph “Voodoo” Gilles. And guess what? We won the first race!! In the second, the U.S. Air Force requested to use and, in fact, needed to use full after burners to beat our screaming Viper by a mere 600 feet!
But we are not done yet. Add to the above, midnight Viper driving on Luke runways, parties with the fighting men and women, great goodie bags, music and the camaraderie of a couple of hundred viper fanatics.
Friends, now I get to the good part. As we all know, the VCA is a special group of people who have often shown their hearts for charitable events. As a result of our participation in this event, we raised $53,300.00 for the Luke Air Force Base MWR Fund. This worthy organization takes care of the families of our service men and women when they are fighting to protect the United States. Benefits can include food, clothing, family support and even Christmas gifts from soldiers who can’t be here to see their children’s faces during the holidays. These funds wee raised via charitable contributions of both Dodge/SRT, VCA, event entry fees, and from online and onsite auctions of unique items (much thanks to SRT, Jon Brobst, Parts Rack, Belanger Headers, HRE Wheels, Corsa, Random Tech, and all our wonderful vendors who donated items for us).
Now the part that left me literally shaking. General Jones, Commander of Luke Air Force Base and the 56th Aviation Wing United States Air Force presented US, the VCA with an award in appreciation for our donation. To the extreme contrary, it is the United States Air Force and the entire military that needs our gratitude. I felt unworthy until soldier after soldier came personally up to me and thanked the VCA for helping their families when they need it most (break to compose myself).
Ok, I’m back. Friends, this event demonstrated to me how much of a sacrifice our soldiers and their families make to keep us all safe. Never, never forget them in your thoughts and prayers.
Lastly, although many worked very hard to make this event successful, a special VCA debt of gratitude is felt to former former VCA National President Tony Estes and current Southwest Zone Director Marv Spatz. These men worked tirelessly to get this event organized and executed, and when you think about all the work/approvals needed to simply get a track day, getting the Pentagon and Military to grant permission to be an mutual participant in such a memorable event on an active Military Base!.
If you want to know what makes this Country great, go to an event like this.
God Bless our fighting men and women, the VCA community and all our families.
Bob Carroll
VCA National President
This past weekend, VCA Vice President George Farris and I had the honor and sheer thrill of attending the 2007 Viper vs. Viper event held at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. This two day event occurs every two years and was advertised with invitations to the entire Viper Community. Over 160 VCA persons attended with 70 Vipers. Our Dodge SRT brothers were also there in force. Despite having organized and/or attended dozens of VCA events over the years, I was totally unprepared for the scope, impact and indeed, meaning that this event had on all who attended.
Simply stated, the U.S. Air Force puts on an air show unlike any other in North America. We were thrilled to see close up demonstrations of practically every major war plane, fighter jet, transport, helicopter in our ample arsenal, including F-14s, F-15s, Strike Eagles, F-16s, F-22s, B-1 bombers, huge Galaxy transporters, Apache helicopters and on and on. A new Stealth B-2 “flying wing” bomber even buzzed the crowd to the thrill of teary eyed Americans. But this is only a portion of what you see and feel. You also got to meet, speak to and hang out with dozens of U.S. Top Guns, pilots, crewmen, support personnel, not to mention dozens of military airborne troops (who demonstrated their night and day precision skydiving).
Oh, and by the way, I forgot to mention that with all the above going on, the U.S. Air Force also takes time to stage a match race between an F-16 Viper Fighter and two of our own Vipers, piloted by our own DCX terra firma pilots, Herb “Grail Keeper” Helbig and super designer Ralph “Voodoo” Gilles. And guess what? We won the first race!! In the second, the U.S. Air Force requested to use and, in fact, needed to use full after burners to beat our screaming Viper by a mere 600 feet!
But we are not done yet. Add to the above, midnight Viper driving on Luke runways, parties with the fighting men and women, great goodie bags, music and the camaraderie of a couple of hundred viper fanatics.
Friends, now I get to the good part. As we all know, the VCA is a special group of people who have often shown their hearts for charitable events. As a result of our participation in this event, we raised $53,300.00 for the Luke Air Force Base MWR Fund. This worthy organization takes care of the families of our service men and women when they are fighting to protect the United States. Benefits can include food, clothing, family support and even Christmas gifts from soldiers who can’t be here to see their children’s faces during the holidays. These funds wee raised via charitable contributions of both Dodge/SRT, VCA, event entry fees, and from online and onsite auctions of unique items (much thanks to SRT, Jon Brobst, Parts Rack, Belanger Headers, HRE Wheels, Corsa, Random Tech, and all our wonderful vendors who donated items for us).
Now the part that left me literally shaking. General Jones, Commander of Luke Air Force Base and the 56th Aviation Wing United States Air Force presented US, the VCA with an award in appreciation for our donation. To the extreme contrary, it is the United States Air Force and the entire military that needs our gratitude. I felt unworthy until soldier after soldier came personally up to me and thanked the VCA for helping their families when they need it most (break to compose myself).
Ok, I’m back. Friends, this event demonstrated to me how much of a sacrifice our soldiers and their families make to keep us all safe. Never, never forget them in your thoughts and prayers.
Lastly, although many worked very hard to make this event successful, a special VCA debt of gratitude is felt to former former VCA National President Tony Estes and current Southwest Zone Director Marv Spatz. These men worked tirelessly to get this event organized and executed, and when you think about all the work/approvals needed to simply get a track day, getting the Pentagon and Military to grant permission to be an mutual participant in such a memorable event on an active Military Base!.
If you want to know what makes this Country great, go to an event like this.
God Bless our fighting men and women, the VCA community and all our families.
Bob Carroll
VCA National President
