How often do Viper drivers take their vehicles to the test track or other special events (Open Road Challenge) to drive at higher speeds. What speeds do they typically drive and how long (miles driven) are these events?
Test Track / Special Events
- Thread starter SRT Engineers
- Start date
VJR3
Viper Owner
My car is on the track way more then on the street. I would say 85% track 15% street.
And it is almost stock.........kind of........sleeper mods
And it is almost stock.........kind of........sleeper mods
02viperacr
Enthusiast
track 4 days month, ~550 miles (137 miles per day), AVG speed 90 MPH, AVG top speed 163 MPH
Konza800
Viper Owner
Way more track time than street time. In line with the above posters.
Went to my first track day a few months ago, needless to say, but I'm completely hooked. I expect she will see more track time than street time after my schedule clears up. Even though mine's just a Gen II, I love the ACR package. Definitely worth the trouble to find one.
345s-bspinnin
Enthusiast
Average usage:
70% street, 30% track
Track:
- 2-3 Road Coarse HPD Events/year (75-100 miles / event)
- 2-3 1/4-Mile events per year
- 1-2 Standing Mile Events (190+mph)
- 1 Road Race Event per year (180 miles/ 125mph)
Street:
- 4-5k miles per year, average (75mph)
- Multiple horrendous Houston stop/go traffic events. 2+ hrs to cover 5 miles distance (+105ºF, 90% humidity, sea level, feet cooking, oil temps <240)
- 1 Road Rally event per year, about 1000 miles, where average speed = log(y)*x^6+y^(-z), where: y=0.1, x=(quartic root of zero + derivative of a horizontal line), and z= -3 + (first prime number that's also its own square, and its own cube, and its own factorial !)
70% street, 30% track
Track:
- 2-3 Road Coarse HPD Events/year (75-100 miles / event)
- 2-3 1/4-Mile events per year
- 1-2 Standing Mile Events (190+mph)
- 1 Road Race Event per year (180 miles/ 125mph)
Street:
- 4-5k miles per year, average (75mph)
- Multiple horrendous Houston stop/go traffic events. 2+ hrs to cover 5 miles distance (+105ºF, 90% humidity, sea level, feet cooking, oil temps <240)
- 1 Road Rally event per year, about 1000 miles, where average speed = log(y)*x^6+y^(-z), where: y=0.1, x=(quartic root of zero + derivative of a horizontal line), and z= -3 + (first prime number that's also its own square, and its own cube, and its own factorial !)
Since I purchased the car in Feb. of 2009:
1. June 2009 - Amery Autocross and Top Speed Run, Amery, WI - ~130mph top speed, ~220 miles driven
2. July 2009 - Car Craft Magazine Real Street Eliminator (won) - ~60mph top speed, ~320 miles driven
3. Aug 2009 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - ~147mph top speed, ~100 miles driven
4. Sep 2009 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - ~147mph top speed, ~120 miles driven
5. Mar 2010 - TX2K10 (Supra Nationals), Houston, TX (drag racing, road racing) - 134mph top speed, ~300 miles driven
6. Mar 2010 - Texas Mile, Goliad, TX - 191mph top speed, ~10 miles driven
7. Jun 2010 - Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour - ~700 miles driven
8. Jun 2010 - Viper Rendezvous, MPH Hastings, NE - ~125mph top speed, ~30 miles driven
9. Sep 2010 - Viper Owner's Invitiational, Salt Lake City, ~110mph top speed, ~300 miles driven
10. May 2011 - NASA, Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) - ~147mph top speed, ~40 miles driven
11. Jun 2011 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - 163mph top speed, ~120 miles driven
12. Aug 2011 - NARRA, MPH Hastings, NE - ~123mph top speed, ~200 miles driven
13. Sep 2011 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - 165mph top speed, ~100 miles driven
14. May 2012 - NARRA, Road America - 158mph top speed, ~200 miles driven
15. Jun 2012 - Viper Rendezvous, MPH Hastings, NE - ~125mph top speed, ~250 miles driven
The list would be much longer if it weren't for time and budget constraints.
1. June 2009 - Amery Autocross and Top Speed Run, Amery, WI - ~130mph top speed, ~220 miles driven
2. July 2009 - Car Craft Magazine Real Street Eliminator (won) - ~60mph top speed, ~320 miles driven
3. Aug 2009 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - ~147mph top speed, ~100 miles driven
4. Sep 2009 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - ~147mph top speed, ~120 miles driven
5. Mar 2010 - TX2K10 (Supra Nationals), Houston, TX (drag racing, road racing) - 134mph top speed, ~300 miles driven
6. Mar 2010 - Texas Mile, Goliad, TX - 191mph top speed, ~10 miles driven
7. Jun 2010 - Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour - ~700 miles driven
8. Jun 2010 - Viper Rendezvous, MPH Hastings, NE - ~125mph top speed, ~30 miles driven
9. Sep 2010 - Viper Owner's Invitiational, Salt Lake City, ~110mph top speed, ~300 miles driven
10. May 2011 - NASA, Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) - ~147mph top speed, ~40 miles driven
11. Jun 2011 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - 163mph top speed, ~120 miles driven
12. Aug 2011 - NARRA, MPH Hastings, NE - ~123mph top speed, ~200 miles driven
13. Sep 2011 - Brainerd, MN (B.I.R.) open track day - 165mph top speed, ~100 miles driven
14. May 2012 - NARRA, Road America - 158mph top speed, ~200 miles driven
15. Jun 2012 - Viper Rendezvous, MPH Hastings, NE - ~125mph top speed, ~250 miles driven
The list would be much longer if it weren't for time and budget constraints.
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Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
99% street - 1% track
Silver state runs 90 miles at 150 mph.
One drag strip run a year.
One track event a year.
One autocross a year.
In my 96 we experienced issues such as side windows being sucked out of their seals at about 120 mph. Let us know that the cars had the engine and transmissions for the run, but the aero was not fully developed.
While Viper owners do not often explore the outside edge of the car's performance envelope, we like the knowledge that it is engineered so that if we do, the car will survive the experience.
This capability, like the off road capability of the Jeep, is a major factor in the buying decision. While many will never take their Jeep off road, they buy it because it has the capability to do so if we wish. This is part of the aura of the car.
When we go to the Silverstate we see lots of very high powered cars that fail to complete the event due to mechanical failures. For Vipers it is pretty much a walk in the park, as the drivers have a high level of confidence that their Viper has been engineered to perform at those levels. After the event, we cruise home through the desert at 80 mph, secure in the knowledge that we are driving a Viper that has risen to the challenge.
Many of our road racers have proven that the Vipers can perform at high levels, and are up to the task. While other vehicles are doing repairs in the pits, the Vipers tend to come off a stint, eager to go out again. This high level of capability is priceless in enhancing the Viper Ownership Experience.
It may take us a while, but with experience we begin to appreciate the extra work performed by the engineers to include these capabilities into the production cars.
Silver state runs 90 miles at 150 mph.
One drag strip run a year.
One track event a year.
One autocross a year.
In my 96 we experienced issues such as side windows being sucked out of their seals at about 120 mph. Let us know that the cars had the engine and transmissions for the run, but the aero was not fully developed.
While Viper owners do not often explore the outside edge of the car's performance envelope, we like the knowledge that it is engineered so that if we do, the car will survive the experience.
This capability, like the off road capability of the Jeep, is a major factor in the buying decision. While many will never take their Jeep off road, they buy it because it has the capability to do so if we wish. This is part of the aura of the car.
When we go to the Silverstate we see lots of very high powered cars that fail to complete the event due to mechanical failures. For Vipers it is pretty much a walk in the park, as the drivers have a high level of confidence that their Viper has been engineered to perform at those levels. After the event, we cruise home through the desert at 80 mph, secure in the knowledge that we are driving a Viper that has risen to the challenge.
Many of our road racers have proven that the Vipers can perform at high levels, and are up to the task. While other vehicles are doing repairs in the pits, the Vipers tend to come off a stint, eager to go out again. This high level of capability is priceless in enhancing the Viper Ownership Experience.
It may take us a while, but with experience we begin to appreciate the extra work performed by the engineers to include these capabilities into the production cars.
01sapphirebob
Enthusiast
I track my cars once a year but enjoy every minute of it. Approach 100 mph maybe abut again enjoying every minute of it.
3whitevipers
VCA Venom Member
Guess I'm an oddball here--all street use--not really comfortable beating on the car at the track. Really enjoy the occasional blast through 1st,2nd,and 3rd gear--not to redline--just healthy acceleration. Never crazy on the street. Compared to you guys, I guess my cars are "garage queens"--probably "virgins"--Dave
Boxer12
Enthusiast
4 track days a month, avg 200 mi per day, 7 mos a year. Top speed from 140-165 mph and 80 mph avg.
viper067
Enthusiast
I'm out there on the track maybe 4 times a year. Top speeds from 125 to 140 depending on the track. Overall I'd say about 85% street 15% track use. Would do more if time permitted.
MTGTS
Enthusiast
I get on the track as much as I car. On the street maybe once a month. Having Daytona 45 min away is nice if you really wanna top out the car. Had the speedo reading 195mph but I'm sure it was more like 180-185. Car felt great. Will be going faster there next time with the new motor.
how often do you replace the hub bearings?
Allan
Enthusiast
I have almost 48,000 miles on the car now, started tracking at about 22,000 miles. Only street driving is to and from the track now. Usually get about 150 miles per track day, top speeds only about 140-ish. I do as many track days as I can afford to (time/money) -12 to 16 per season.
lmcgrew79
Viper Owner
Once or twice a month track, autox once a month when not at track. Probably 85 track 15 percent street.
Boxer12
Enthusiast
I replaced one on my Gen II at about 24,000 miles. Haven't had to replace one yet on the ACR.
klamathpro
Viper Owner
I did the 1/4 mile in the past, but it wasn't the same. Then I tracked my X-fire on a road coarse last year. Loved it so much I tracked my 94' for the first time this year. It was amazing and I'm hooked. The track is where these cars were meant to come alive. In a Mr. T voice, I pity the fool who has never tracked his Viper. You are missing out on a whole new side of your car that you can't possibly imagine. To those that have, you know what I mean. It's like those that haven't really never experienced what true Viper ownership has to offer. It's like being stuck in a plastic bubble and never knowing what is really out there. You never cared to try because you never knew what you were missing. If you have a garage queen, get over it or do like I did, and buy another one. One for the track and one to stare at. I just wish the 94' was the garage queen because I can't imagine how much better a GEN2 would feel over a GEN1. Maybe I'm the one in a plastic bubble and I'm missing out on an even crazier experience.???
Anyways, get out there and track your Viper!
P.S. 135MPH and 125 miles covered at one event.
Anyways, get out there and track your Viper!
P.S. 135MPH and 125 miles covered at one event.
AZTVR
Enthusiast
I agree 110% with this statement. It really doesn't matter as far as the design goes, how often we go to the track. That the Viper be fully capable of amateur HPDE roadracing without having to modify oiling systems and cooling systems as was necessary in the past, is a high desire. Just look at the forum posts by the Z06 owners and feel their disappointment with blown up engines and traction control nannies.
I don't think that we have to worry with RG and his engineering team. However, the budget nannies may be a problem.
(I own a Rubicon and a GTS and use them both off the public highways. Maybe not at their design limits; but, where I am taking advantage of their special capabilities, at my limits. It doesn't bother me that lots of people never use them for more than just cruising around.)
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Allan
Enthusiast
All this is so true, after tracking, street driving the Viper is really kind of a drag in comparison.
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
If the engineers ever saw what the ViperNation puts their cars through they would cringe.
This gets not work safe towards the end. The girls get a little carried away with the ViperFever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUPSsyajrf0
This gets not work safe towards the end. The girls get a little carried away with the ViperFever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUPSsyajrf0
Allan
Enthusiast
They build these cars, and then they sell them to crazy people like us. Isn't it great?
ACR steve
Enthusiast
So the consensus is build a new ACR asap
PAvenomRT/10
Enthusiast
I completely agree! I m looking forward to seeing the new GTSR at ALMS. Once available I would definitely consider a new ACR. Being the fastest stock car on the track is addictive.
PAVenomRT/10
09 ACR
PAVenomRT/10
09 ACR
I think the answer to your question as well as how viper owners drive, own, and care about their cars in general can best be described in one saying:
"Race car for the street"
ViperGeorge
Enthusiast
Depends which car I'm talking about. My 08 Vert has never been to the track. 15K miles, used for club events. My 09 ACR was purchased to compete in the Cannonball One Lap of America. It has a lot of track miles but also a lot of over the road miles. Build a Gen V ACR and we will come.
