Western Zone Rendezvous - March 20-22

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Don't miss out on this fantastic VCA Members Event in Las Vegas!
Book your Hotel and sign up now for the
2009 WESTERN ZONE RENDEZVOUS
And
MOPARS AT THE STRIP
March 20 - 22

Click here for Western Zone Rendezvous Flyer and Registration Form
​

Details:

The VCA has approved a Western Zone Rendezvous! We’ll be teaming up with Mopars At The Strip (MATS) at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. MATS is a great event to watch, but we can also participate in a Viper Class. There will be live music Friday night put on for MATS attendees. Saturday there’s a Viper Only Autocross, a Viper Only Road Course, and more Drags with MATS. Saturday evening at the Aliante Station Hotel will be a dinner for the Viper group. Sunday is more MATS Drags. Over the weekend we’ll also have a Skybox to hang out in and watch the drags.

FRIDAY:
• Drag Racing with Mopars - Or Watch from our Skybox
• Welcome to Las Vegas Party, hosted by the Cannery Hotel and Casino. Live music, Quarter-Mile of Mopars displayed, with plenty of food and drink to purchase.

SATURDAY:
• Viper Only Autocross
• Viper Only Road Course
• Drags with MATS
• WZR Attendee’s Dinner at Aliante Hotel & Casino

SUNDAY:
• Drags with MATS

The Viper Club's Host Hotel will be the Aliante Hotel & Casino near the LVMS - This hotel was just completed in November 2008.


In order to attend this event you will need to take the following steps:

1) BOOK YOUR HOTEL: The host hotel is Aliante Hotel & Casino for reservations call 877-477-7627
reference code S03VIPR before Monday, February 16th to get your group rate.
[After this date, you may find a good rate at one of the hotel.com's]
Thursday; $49 -- Friday & Saturday; $119 -- (Plus applicable taxes and a $15 resort fee.)

2) REGISTER FOR THE DRAGS: If you want to drag your car or watch the drags from our Skybox,
you must register with Mopars at the Strip Click here

3) REGISTER WITH THE SOCAL VIPER CLUB for the WZR Event: For Autocross, the Road Course and/or the Saturday
Evening Dinner... Click here for Zone Rendezvous Registration Form

MOPARS - Registration general info:
Register for the Mopars At The Strip event:
• Click here to register for Mopars At The Strip
• Or; Go to www.MoparsAtTheStrip.com and click “Sign Up Now”
• Or fill out the Mail In Registration form APPLICATION
• Register by March 10th and MATS will send all of your credentials and confirmation information to you prior to the event.

• $75.00 to be involved in the Viper Drag Race (This includes one weekend admission)
Gate fee is included with the Race Entry. This will get you and your car in the event for all three days, plus the nighttime entertainment at the Cannery is included.
When registering online for this event choose “Drag Race” then “Chapman Dodge Viper Class”

• $50.00 to bring car into the event (This includes one weekend admission)
If you just want to come and watch and bring your car into the event, sign up for the Fun Field, the cost is $50.00 for the entire weekend. If there are additional passengers attending the event, the fee is $60.00 for a weekend pass.
When registering online for you and your car choose “Car Show” then “Fun Field”

• $60.00 per person to be a spectator of the event.
This is the weekend event fee for a passenger/guest for the event.
When registering online for a passenger/guest choose “Admission” then “Weekend Admission”

You must be registered for see images

CARAVANS WILL BE SET UP AS WE NEAR THE EVENT​

 

[Y2K10 SRT#39]

I have to wonder what the mountain passes will be like in March?
Looks like once again (is this the 3rd or 4th time?) the PNW is essentially left out of these VCA events. I'm thinking it looks like next year I willl drop the Venom subsidy of these events too.
Anybody else feel the same way?
Frustrated!
PBR

 

[C-Note]

I'm with you Paul, maybe we should try to get something going up here in a better time of year. We travel enough, maybe some other people should make a run up here???

 

[J&R3xV10]

I would be happy to travel to an event in your area if you do the planning. I have never got to that area but I have heard its beautiful and full of great driving roads.

 

[C-Note]

That it is Jeff or Robert...

 

[J&R3xV10]

always Robert

 

[RTTTTed]

Our events easily make it into Viper mag because of the great pics of our scenery.

Come on up.

Ted

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

Yeah, my guess is that it's a numbers thing, and we just don't have the numbers...yet.

Honestly, we should start planning now if we want to have any hope of getting something in 1 or 2 years. Just not early spring....spring is soooo unreliable for us, weather-wise. It could be a beautiful crisp day, or blowing rain sideways at 60mph, with more of the latter than the former. Either we should schedule something in Oregon, where it's far sunnier in the spring, or just wait until later in the year. Maybe we should check into the new ownership at Spokane...

Back to the point though, since I got laid-off in Dec., I'm actually pretty excited about going somewhere sunny in March - and I don't have to worry about missing work! LV is about as far as I would want to go, and that only if I can find a trailer.

But the event does look like a gas! And not too expensive, either. I'm going to check into the details....

Steve

 

[J&R3xV10]

Well I hope that everyone that can afford the time and money to come to this event does, this has always been a great event for us and with the WZR additional events it will be even better. Just think VOI without a sales pitch

 

[Green Viper]

Last year we did have a NW event (Western Canada was the host) and this year we could not make it work, this zone event is being used to qualify people for the SRT vs ViperClub autocross event so the timing is important or else by the time we have a team together, there is snow in the Detroit area. They were trying to pair with other activities to spur interest without adding lots of cost.

We are not entirely giving up on having an event in the NW and are hoping that a Sea N Sun like event will happen or at least a wine tour, but we need people to step up to help organize/run it.

I did present our case at the board meeting and National VCA does understand the issues with the NW part of the Western Zone being cut off this time of the year. The other problem is that we have significantly fewer members than the South part of the region, and to do it later in the year in the South, it can be extremely hot.

I believe the real answer is separate activities for the NW and SW....

Let me (and your regional officers) your suggestions on what type of (mini-zone) event you want in the NW, it will not likely qualify for the National autocross competition but otherwise can be our own multi-regional event.

I am here to help.

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

OK - I got the hotel reserved, tickets for the drag races, and my registration for the WZR event on its way to SoCal.

Now, I just need a trailer. Clint - can I borrow yours, if I can't talk you into going also?

I'm driving down Wednesday and Thursday, staying Thursday ($49), Friday ($119), Saturday ($119), Sunday ($59) nights at the Alliante Station Hotel and Casino, and then driving back Monday and Tuesday. The group rates (code S03VIPR) expire today. After today, they don't have published rates - they told me their rates fluctuate constantly, so go to their web site for current info (Las Vegas Hotels and Casinos - Station Casinos, Inc - Las Vegas, click on Book a Room, then Alliante Station). Cancellation policy is 48 hours, and there is a $150 refundable room deposit. Event registration closes March 6.

Given the hotel cancellation policy (48 hours prior to reservation), I would recommend that anyone who is even considering going sign up for a room TODAY.

I'm planning on doing the drags, the autocross, and the road course; the Friday night Cannery event, and the Saturday night Viper Club dinner at the Alliante. I've even talked my wife into coming! Since I've never dragged or autocrossed my Viper, this ought to be hilarious!

So, who else is up for some sunny weather and tire smoke?

Steve

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

Hey Greg -

I got an enquiry from relatives with Corvettes that want to know if they can come out and play too. So, which of these events (if any) are open to non-club members....

1. Drags - Chapman Viper Club Class, or other?
2. Autocross, Road Course - ?
3. Club Dinner

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Hi Steve;

Zone Rendezvous' are for VCA members only (sorry). Vettes can play at some events around the country but not the WZR.

Unfortunately that rules out the Auto Cross, Track and Saturday Night Dinner.

And, Mopars at the Strip is exclusive runs for Mopar products such as Roadrunners, Darts, Chargers and Vipers, etc., so they most likely could only be spectators there too.

The "climate" there is pure Mopar and there are alot of them.

Glad to see you've signed up - it will be fun!!!!

 

[Green Viper]

Hey Greg -
For the members in the NW that want to attend but can't get the Vipers there due to weather, will they still be able to participate in the roadcourse or only autocross events? Is the cost for a member to attend without a car the guest fee of $60 or is it the $100 per person?

Can you please explain the options available to them with and without a spouse?

Thanks for answering here so everyone can get the details directly. - James

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Sorry for the late reply. We were hopeful (and still are) that Chrysler could provde some Vipers for the Auto X but that cannot be confirmed. Therefore there are no provisions for members attending without their cars to drive in the Auto X or Roadcourse.

The fees for the Mopars on the strip are the $60 Spectator fees. If someone comes with no car they should pay for each Saturday night dinner (if they like) but there would be no $100 fee per person.

Sorry that we could not arrange a better proposition for people coming from afar, but most will understand the predicament that the auto industry and our economy are currently experiencing.

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

Please disregard my post above - if you attend without your car, each attendee that pays the $100 WZR registration can use Dodge Vipers for the Auto X

We have some exciting news to report.
Our National VCA and Chrysler/SRT are sending Two 2008 Vipers to Las Vegas for Western Zone Rendezvous Attendees to enjoy at the Auto X Course and for level playing field timing to determine the three quickest Auto Crossers

If you have not had a chance to drive a 2008 Viper and experience its power and handling, here's your chance.

Although March 6 (today) is the deadline to register, it is still not too late to join in the fun. The host hotel may be booked, but there are plenty of lodging deals nearby in Vegas.

Let's see more VCA Members participate in what will be a great week-end of fun!

Click here for Western Zone Rendezvous Flyer and Registration Form

 

[Newport Viper]

I think Carol's smile said it all!!

Nice to meet you guys!
Mariko and David

 

[J&R3xV10]

Great picture, keep posting more. I was too busy playing with the cars to take any pictures other than a few at the morning group photo that I will post when I find my camara ( I'm sure its in the trailer somewhere or maybe in one of the cars)

It was a great event and I for one had a wonderful time.
One of the really great events we will remember for a long time. more fun than the driving days at the VOIs

 

[Mopar Boy]

Nice pic! That is awesome! If the smile was any bigger, the helmet would not fit!

Robert

 

[Green Viper]

Great picture!!!

That certainly was a fun event.

I was expecting to be just a spectator but enjoyed numerous laps in the SRT coupes.

Special thanks Steve & Carol for letting me nicely coax your Viper through the autocross course, that was certainly a thrill!

And thank you to Tim & Marv for loaning me their helmets!

What a great group of people!!!!

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

Indeed - this was a fantastic event!

Actually, it was two separate events that overlapped - the Mopars At The Strip (MATS) drag races, which started Friday morning, and ran through Sunday, and the VCA WZR which had autocross and road course on Saturday only.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the MATS event, except as a spectator. I felt that the Viper Club got a driveshaft with a broken u-joint from the schedulers at MATS. We had tech inspection at 8:00am, and then waited 4 hours for our first run, and then 4 more hours for our second run. Before our second run, some other run groups got 3 runs. There was no scheduled times, and the run group order was not followed. In the future, I'll skip this one.

But for me, the highlight of the event, and what made the 2500 mile drive worth every hour of it, was the autocross and road course, and meeting such great folks from around the western region. Cudos to the SoCal club for putting together such a great pair of events!

We had what must have been 40 Vipers, split into two groups, with one group doing the roadcourse while the other did the autocross. Even better, Chrysler / Dodge loaned us two beautiful 2008 SRT-10 Coupes for the autocross (Viper Red and Snakeskin Green), so that we could all do timed runs on standardized hardware. My wife Carol decided that the Snakeskin green coupe was gorgeous in the sun - complicating my secret plans for a 2009 Bumblebee ACR. And while I ran 2 seconds faster in the autocross in our '99 GTS (modified), she ran faster in the '08, and felt it was easier to drive fast (hmmm...there must be some leverage here...). Most importantly, this was Carol's first ever driving event of any kind, and she had a blast! Carol, .

I'd like to say a great big THANK-YOU to James for letting me borrow his trailer, Cam for prepping my car so well, Tim for letting Carol borrow his helmet so we could ride together, Mark for smoking me on the roadcourse (...wait, that was MY car smoking...), and all the people who put in so much time and effort to make this happen (Cathy, Greg, especially).

And now for some drag pictures....I'll add some other pics in another note.

Steve

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

...more pics....

My favorite is the picture of a mom taking a picture of her daughter posing in front of our car. They didn't know that we just happened to be walking up right then....

Steve

 

[SmokinViperGTS]

In addition to my husbands pictures and comments below I want to say what a great time I had too. I loved watching Lisa do the drag racing-great burn out on Sunday! Thanks, Mariko for taking a chance in the car with me on the auto-cross and David for the picture of me, wild rides with Mark, hanging out with Sandy, and James for the use of his trailer. I look forward to running into you all at another event. Carol O'Neill

 

[02 Graphite GTS]

Here are a couple of pictures I took of you guys in #23

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