Kenneth Krieger
Viper Owner
Yup......it happened to me! After giving "rides" from 0 to 160 on the main runway of Luke AFB after the Thunderbirds Air Show in April of 2007 (31 runs back to back to be exact!), the front rotors on my 94 RT10 were fried! I had new rotors (crossdrilled, and slotted) installed by a local shop that had done work for me in the past! I was called to let me know that the car was ready to be picked up, and that the tech was out for a "test run". While on my way to the shop, my cell phone rang, and one of the owners said, "Doc, I've got some bad news for you!" I thought, what, the car isn't finished? No, "we wrecked your car!" I thought he was kidding! He wasn't! The tech had driven onto the frontage road of I-17, north of Phoenix, and "hit it hard" from 1st to 2nd, and instead of going into 3rd, he went back into 1st, let the clutch out, and the back end came around. He lost control, went off the road over some boulders, 261ft into the desert, and hit a mesquite tree! Non one was hurt, but the car was TOTALLED!!!!! This car had everything possible done to it! Roe blower, NOS, water/**** injection, total custom interior, Kinesis 2 piece racing wheels, the list goes on and on! Just like that it was over! When he let out the clutch at full speed going back into 1st gear, the rev limiter doesn't function, and the engine over-reved and blew, along with the supercharger! Thank God no one was hurt!!Oil everywhere, and smoke coming out from the car as I'm driving up to the scene of the accident! My heart just dropped! This car was shown in car shows from California, to Tenn, and had won more than 50 1st place trophies, 3 Best of Show awards, and 1st place at the Spring Fling, Van Nuys, CA all Mopar show........it was a GREAT car!
I was "Viperless" for about a week and a friend in the AZ VCA called me and asked if I wanted to look at a 2005, Commemorative Edition convertable. It was "the car" and I bought it on the spot! Since then, Belanger headers and full exhaust (Lou is a personal friend of mine!!, thanks Lou, your the best in the business!!), a Paxton supercharger, 3:55 gears, and new PS2's! It's a GREAT car and obviously a kick to drive! Nothing could replace my first Viper, but this is really close! The Gen III's handle better, have the best brakes anywhere, and get just as many "looks and comments" as my Gen 1 (Yellow with black stripes) ever did. The car is built much better, and I feel MUCH safer in this car! I will send pics of the old car (wrecked) and updated pics of the new car when my camera comes back from the "shop"!
Yes, it can happen to you!!! Watch who you let TEST DRIVE your car! He didn't have a healthy respect for someone else's car, especially one with 700 RWHP.........but I have forgiven him, and let the past go......life is too short! He really is a great guy and is actually the one who installed the 3:55 gears in the new car for me! And, yes, he test drove the car after the gear install.......he won't do ANYTHING stupid now!
I was "Viperless" for about a week and a friend in the AZ VCA called me and asked if I wanted to look at a 2005, Commemorative Edition convertable. It was "the car" and I bought it on the spot! Since then, Belanger headers and full exhaust (Lou is a personal friend of mine!!, thanks Lou, your the best in the business!!), a Paxton supercharger, 3:55 gears, and new PS2's! It's a GREAT car and obviously a kick to drive! Nothing could replace my first Viper, but this is really close! The Gen III's handle better, have the best brakes anywhere, and get just as many "looks and comments" as my Gen 1 (Yellow with black stripes) ever did. The car is built much better, and I feel MUCH safer in this car! I will send pics of the old car (wrecked) and updated pics of the new car when my camera comes back from the "shop"!
Yes, it can happen to you!!! Watch who you let TEST DRIVE your car! He didn't have a healthy respect for someone else's car, especially one with 700 RWHP.........but I have forgiven him, and let the past go......life is too short! He really is a great guy and is actually the one who installed the 3:55 gears in the new car for me! And, yes, he test drove the car after the gear install.......he won't do ANYTHING stupid now!
