Viper Days

[Jasone]

I'm a new Viper Owner (03 Silver SRT 2K miles) and I'm contemplating signing up for Viper days. I have no real interest in 'racing' but I am very interested in the performance driving school. Can anyone share their experiences at Viper Days and let me know what the good/bad/ugly was?

Thanks!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

It's all good.
There is no bad.
There is no ugly.

It is exactly what you are looking for.

See you at Viper Days Sebring Apr 28,29,30

 

[Jasone]

I'm in Tampa as well.. perhaps we'll caravan.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Sounds good.

There is also the 12 Hours of Sebring next month I will be going to watch. Contact SRT at 1-800-998-1110 for tix and details.

 

[Paul Hawker]

ViperDays usually starts out with a safety check of your car to make sure it is as safe as possible before going out on the track. They then have a drivers safety meeting where the events of the day are laid out, flags are explained, and the drivers are arranged into 4 groups.

Green for the new guys, and people that do not want to push the limits.

Yellow for those who get tired of the Green,

Blue for those that can really handle their Vipers,

Red for the drivers that want to actually race.

Passing is controlled in each group so slow drivers do not hold up others, and offer safe places on the track to pass.

Transponders are available to give drivers feedback on lap times. Smooth laps are usually fastest, any you will learn how to get the best out of your self, and your car.

A safety chalk talk is offered. The turns of the track are explained, and where to start your run, and how to end it. They explain how to pass, and how to signal to be passed. Parking and driving in the pits is gone over, and information on the vendors services available at the track are explained.

Seasoned racers are available to ride along with you, and show you the racing line at a comfortable speed. They will teach you where to brake, turn in, apex, and how to roll on the throttle after the turn. Little by little you will be brought up to speed in a safe and controlled manner.

Consider ViperDays a driving school and track experience. Later, with some experience under your belt, you will naturally become competitive with others in your same prepration class.

ViperDays probably does more to enhance the Viper Ownership Experience than any othe venue.

Every Viper owner should attend at least one ViperDays event to hone the safe practices necessary to drive such a high performance vehicle on the street.

 

[Jasone]

Excellent.. thanks for the info.

Will I receive specific instruction on things like:

- skid recovery
- performance breaking
- heal-toe down shifting
- power slides
- slalom course
- etc, etc

or will this just be incorporated as part of the on-track instruction?

Thanks again.

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Wish VD would come back to the north east.

AC

 

[Gary Lashinsky]

Join the VCA and save on your Viper Days expereince. Call 1-800-998-1110 and join the Central and North FL club. We will pay $100. for every new member who attends Viper Days as well as current member who attends SEBRING Viper Days as well as a first time discount for new VCA members of $100 given by Viper Days.

 

[Jasone]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the info on how to save a few $$$. Can you point me to somewhere that explains the VCA membership benefits?

Also, any insight on my questions above?

Thanks again.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Can you point me to somewhere that explains the VCA membership benefits?

$100 off on VD pays for the membership.

Lotsa all-you-can-eat lunches.
The past few years we've had free dragracing and lunch at the Gainesville Dragstrip.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

While I've not been to a Viper Days event yet due to varous conflicts or work, I've wondered if your car is covered by your car insurance while running the event? It's my understanding that these are timed events. I thought most insurance companies don't cover your car on a track in a timed event. Anybody Viper Days guys have the answer to this question?

thanks--Steve

 

[Saint_Spinner]

While I've not been to a Viper Days event yet due to varous conflicts or work, I've wondered if your car is covered by your car insurance while running the event? It's my understanding that these are timed events. I thought most insurance companies don't cover your car on a track in a timed event. Anybody Viper Days guys have the answer to this question?

thanks--Steve

From what I understand, different events will determine whether your covered or not. If its just at a track, then I don't think its covered. But I heard most insurance companies will cover the car if its a "class" or you're actually learning (and not competing..ie dragracing) with instructions or an instructor...best bet is to call your insurance co.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I have several 'driving school/classes' track events under my belt as well as quite a few autocrosses. My insurance is pretty specific. It does cover me on a track for this kind of event--non timed. That's not to say you can't have yourself timed---it's just not official. It will not cover timed events at all. Having me and the beast on the front page of the local sports section a few years as an autocross participant caused my good friend, the insurance guy--and company owner--, to shake his head
Of course, there's not too much chance of damage autocrossing. However, I'm sure this must be a concern for those who run in timed track events.......at least it would be for me. I also wouldn't want to spend money for a one - time track policy which I'm sure can't be cheap.

Steve

 

[Jasone]

Thanks for the info everyone. I've signed up for the Sebring event so I'll update this thread afterwards and answer my questions for those interested in learning more.

Very interesting discussion on the insurance problem. I'm working through that now and will let you all know what I find out.

 

[Batboy]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Viper Days actually had some limited liability for everyone? Not sure what all it includes. Guess I need to look at their site again.

On a different note, I plan to attend my first one as well at VIR. What are the rules on bringing someone with you? I have a friend who races and has accompanied before at the track. It would be nice to have a friend there I know well. I know you pay a small fee to get them in, but what about after that? Can they ride? Drive?

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

New drivers at Viper days go through a Viper Days driving school, that has class work to cover the basics of car control and track procedures and rules. Then an instructor rides along giving pointers.

Not sure who(Instructor, Courtney, Skip) makes the call but at some point you are on your on solo. Once you have proven yourself to be safe you can take a passenger.

Call Viper Days and ask Courtney for the specifics. She makes most of the operational decisions.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Viper Days is considered a driving school. Many insurance policies allow for driving schools.

 

[Janni]

In addition, their new name is "The Performance Driving School".

While they do utilize timing, for the school portion of the event, it's sole purpose if to grid the cars by time to eliminate as much passing as possible making this a safer experience as the field should "spread out" during the course of the session, not bunch up and require tons of point bys, and always driving in your mirrors. It is also done to make sure that folks are assigned to the correct run group and can be moved accordingly.

 

[ViperRay]

I have read on this forum that Skip has helped in some situations where insurance claims were involved.

If you're worried about it, I would tell Courtney to not POST your times.

Having said that, I cannot think of a safer venue to track your car in. Everyone is watching out for their cars and the only reason to do serious damage to your car (excluding VRL of course) is that you are driving faster than your skills and conditions allow.

Yes I have been off the track (fortunately never any damage) and, of course, it was always my fault because I was going faster than my experience dictated.

Don't worry about who is passing you. Drive within your comfort zone and you and your car will be fine.

 

[Boxer12]

You should read the EXCLUSIONS part of your policy, as every company is different to some degree. Don't rely on verbal representations of your agent, which aren't worth the paper they're (not) written on, if you get my drift!

 

[Vipera Russelli]

Once you have proven yourself to be safe you can take a passenger.

Non-instructor passengers are allowed at Viper Days? Cool! I was only aware of Chin Motorsports and the VIR Club allowing non-instructor passengers. I like taking old friends and family along, as well as the new friends I meet at the track. It's fun to share the experience, even if it does bog the car down a little bit. Just last weekend I gave an 11-year-old kid a ride in a no-passing class (he wasn't old enough to ride in the passing classes) and I can still feel the smile radiating from the passenger seat. Vipers are his favorite, he said, although he could barely see over the dash. I took a friend one time that threw up after a session (I still tease him about it) and once even took my mother-in-law around the track a couple times (and she still hasn't forgiven me, hehe). I guess I'd better book another room for Viper Days.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

Good to know that Viper Days is considered a driving school.
I need to get to one some year when the timing works out right. I always try to drive within my comfort zone. I consider it me against the track---not anybody else. The more track miles I get, which due to distance is only a time or two a year, the more humbled I become on how much there really is to learn to become a good track driver. Weighing in just as heavily is the fact that the car is our summer entertainment. We drive it all over the country and I always have every intention of driving it away from the track event and home----with neither me or the car broke.

Steve

 

[Jasone]

Since it sound like many of you have been to a Viper days, can anyone answer my questions above?

 

[GTS Dean]

and the drivers are arranged into 4 groups.

Green for the new guys, and people that do not want to push the limits.

Yellow for those who get tired of the Green,

Blue for those that can really handle their Vipers,

Red for the drivers that want to actually race.

Been a while since you ran Viper Days, Paul?

Green, Blue, White, Red.

 

[GTS Dean]

Since it sound like many of you have been to a Viper days, can anyone answer my questions above?

"A SEARCH key is a terrible thing to waste."

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

- skid recovery
- performance breaking
- heal-toe down shifting
- power slides
- slalom course
- etc, etc

All of these things will be discussed. Braking and heal-toe will be practiced.

Sebring has a huuuuuge skid pad. If you want any instructors to give you some personal instruction on recovery, slides, etc. I'm sure it will be allowed. Particularly since you'll be buying another set of tires from Archer.