Viper death in Rochester NY

[Mark Red GTS Cooper]

All,

I was in Rochester NY this weekend and at the airport I was talking to a Monroe County police officer and we got on the topic of cars and Vipers.

He said that about 3 weeks ago a Viper hit a gaurd post, rolled and killed the driver!

Has anyone heard of this???

Mark

 

[ronviper]

This pass weekend in Toronto a 2000 r/t steel gray hit a light pole killing the driver. It was raining and the driver lost control, it makes you wonder with those hugh tires on the back what the driver was thinking. These cars hydro plane on wet surface, each driver must be aware of their cars limitations under adverse conditions.

 

[GTS Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ronviper:
each driver must be aware of their cars limitations under adverse conditions.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd say everyone needs to know their cars' limitations under ALL conditions - adverse or otherwise. A very good reason to get over your fear of the racetrack and get some practice!

I usually try to run at least one session on street rubber so that I don't carry a false sense of security about what the car is capable of running race rubber. Along those lines, the Viper Days classes (except Unlimited) that run street Michelins provide EXCELLENT seat time that is applicable to every-day driving.

 

[Skip at Viper Days]

These are the reasons that Viper Days was started. We must learn to drive our Vipers. The torque is like no other car. As Dean said you must learn the Vipers limits under all conditions! All Viper owners should attend a driving school in their car.
Please go to a school or get track time to learn your Viper!!

 

[jimandela]

Did not hear about the Toronto incident. The weather in this area was wild this past weekend. Snow to the south (of Buffalo).. rain and hail to the north and just windy and cold to the east. i was heading east and choice to leave the Viper in the garage and take the 4WD Navigator instead.. because you don't want a sportscar out on snowy highways...

I wonder if a 5pt harness would have saved either driver?
I think they should come standard on a car with much power!!

best wishes
JIM

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

HERE'S The deal on the TORONTO ACCIDENT.

I know this first hand as the passenger in that Viper was a son in law to my Aunt's sister. ANYWAY it was not their car, they both work for a car magazine and were picking it up to test it over the weekend. Stupidly, they decided to take it out on the gardiner expressway (Torontonians know what I'm talking about) basically a highway and they were experiencing what it was like driving a Viper for the first time ever. Anyways they spun the thing out and put it into a light pole at high speed, (they think they were screwing around) and the driver died while the passenger had his pelvis broken due to the transmission being rammed in to it. So here's the lesson that Jon B and everyone else preaches and it's so true, though this can happen regardless of age, it comes down to experience. I would never take a Viper out in heavy rain (there was standing water on the roads) when the temp with the windchill (was also windy) was around plus 3 that night. Hell I learned to drive the Viper in June heat on a dry sunny day, the ideal conditions for leaning, plus it was on very stagnant paved roads not a rainy highway.

Just thought you guys wanted the real story. It really Pi$$ed me off when my dad told me, even though it would be a chance to drive I would never take his car out if allowed in those situations. After mid september in Canada, Vipers can be deadlier than any other time of year.

I was wondering if this would pop through the surface.

Craig Simpson

 

[jimandela]

Craig,
thanks for the info.
i am trying to get my viper into storage asap!!
just need a few nice days to get her washed !!!
tonight i picked up the plywood, carpet, and plastic for the floor
so hopefully by next week...
also in this part of the world the trees are losing leaves like crazy and who wants leaves lodged up under the car?????

the QEW (getting into toronto) is also a road i dread.. the only road i have ever been on where traffic goes from 75 mph to dead stop every few miles.. it is nuts...
drive safe!!
JIM

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

I know what you mean about the QEW, I don't drive now, 1st year university in Ottawa and my car is 3 hours away in storage.

Craig

 

[NCVCA]

Maybe these unfortunate accidents and deaths provide a tactful and appropriate way to politely decline those asking to "borrow" or "drive" our Vipers.

I would consider my wife and myself close friends of the Cone's (well known for their Viper knowledge and willingness to help the "Vipernation") and over the 3+ years I lived across the street from them (I did not own a Viper then) I never asked to drive their cars (even with them) nor did they offer. This was a matter of safety and respect.

The sad irony of these situations is that a vehicle purchased or driven for the purpose of enjoyment and pleasure resulted in just the opposite. I will never allow anyone who is not experienced with Vipers take our car. It's not be selfish, it's not wanting to lose the friend.

Even if a serious accident doesn't result the fact remains most of my friends can't afford a Viper or to repair mine - possibly resulting in the loss of a friend.

Jeff

 

[Sonny 00 GTS ACR]

Very tragic stories. While the Viper is a very capable, powerful car it demands respect and caution on the street as well as on the track. I have learned a great deal about the Viper while driving at ViperDays this season. But the most important sense that I gained was the difference between the track and the street. The Viper is fun to drive whenever you climb into it - but with a helmet, fire suit, 5-point harness and hopefully a roll cage, you can take advantage of a closed track with corner workers to experience what the car and driver are truely able to do. On the street, you can routinely get away with many things that are unsafe and dangerous - sure you can make it around the next corner at high speed - but what if someone is walking their dog or there's a kid on a bicycle? It only takes a split second to change your life or the life of someone else - don't be reckless - come to the track events like ViperDays where you can learn and enjoy the great sport of road racing.

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jimandela:
I wonder if a 5pt harness would have saved either driver?
I think they should come standard on a car with much power!!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Our board-friend Mike B had a HORRENDOUS hiway accident and {probably} credits his survival to 5-points worn on the hiway.
His story has modified my routine. Gotem? WEAR EM !!

 

[Mike H]

While I race in the wheel to wheel series I am NEVER without my 5 point harness on, any more in my street Viper. If one thing Viper days teaches you is PATIENCE, when it comes to driving fast. I keep driving fast for the track.
Their has been mention of learning the cars limitations. Learning the cars limitations is far from learning ones own limitations. The car is way beyond most people's abilty for high speed driving. Mario Andretti and Michale Schumacher we are not, yet on a track one can drive in a more controlled environment to learn to drive at high speeds. Driving fast on the street, especially with lttle experience in a Viper and in the rain is just insane. It is sad when someone loses their life this way.

 

[Dion Fisher]

Well although the Viper is the most impressive street car I personally have ever driven you cannot overestimate it's limitations, it does have many of them...

***School/seat time is the answer***