I read a letter where Ralph was told not to keep butting his nose into the VCA's business. VCA has now another contact, higher up in Chrysler to use as their point of contact. Now I see pictures of Ralph butting his nose into the new club. Can't see this as ending up as anything but ugly for Ralph.
The VCA is still a great club. I see no value to throw out a successful 20 year old brand, just because a few individuals got caught up in their own self importance. Chrysler, SRT and Dodge also have these same type of people, and the way they handle it is not to close down the brand, but to get rid of the few inappropriate individuals.
In many of the regions that have "decided" to hook up with the new club, there are also a significant number of members that feel that VCA has been a great club over the years, and they want to stay with VCA. After the first of the year, when those people find out the new club is not "all that" they will want to remain VCA. This may get uncomfortable for everybody, with competing clubs, but just like the American Civil war that pitted Brother against Brother this will pit Club against Club, Member against Member.
Just as in the early days of Viper production, the addition of the Coupe to the RT/10 lineup caused great division in the ranks. Still today there rages a discussion about which Generation Viper is the truest essence of the breed. In truth they all share the Viper DNA. VCA was designed from the beginning to support all Viper Owners, and foster a strong alliance with the manufacturer for the benefit of all the faithful. Now that this seems to be breaking down, division is again raring it's ugly head. Total membership will most likely decline next year (even combining both clubs, as owners get discusted with the whole conflict thing. Manufacturer against club, Club against club, Member against Member. So many will say…to heck with the whole thing…I'm buying a Vette.
Yes I hate all this. I have especially been discusted by the people that are joining the new club, and then post with evident glee that the VCA is under attack. They continue to post negative things about the club, SRT, Club leadership, Chrysler involvement, individual loyal members…they just attack, attack, attack.
Everybody knows that Viper Sales are way down. This conflict will do little to help that matter. Even other forums such as Jalopnick are spreading the word that SRT and the Viper Nation are in serious distress.
A blind man can see how this will all turn out. Bad for VCA, Bad for SRT, Bad for Chrysler, Bad for Ralph, Bad for the whole Viper Community.
For this I am sad.