Viper ACR
Enthusiast
This was my first Voi and definetly not my last . I will do what ever it takes to be part of every future VOI. I met a lot of great members, some new friends and have an arms length of amazing memories .
Every Viper trip I take, one of the most enjoyable parts is just getting there . I enjoy every minute of seat time in my car . Spirited driving is just plain fun. I had an 810 mile drive from my home to SLC. I had to work Wednesday so I left at 4 am Thursday morning . The first section of my drive I know very well I travel it weekly . Early in the morning there is rarely any traffic . So I was able to cut an hour off my trip first thing . I won't go into much detail about my drive but I definetly cut off a few hours from the time Map quest predicted it should take . Was expecting to get a ticket or two on my trip and my radar detector paid for itself once again . Saved me a few pull overs .
As soon as I arrived at the hotel . I was awestruck with the magnitude of the Viper parking area . Hundreds of Vipers , I was in Viper heaven. Every generation , color and most combinations of paint schemes. As soon as I parked I had to bring out the camera and start taking photos. I just never get sick of looking at such works of art . Amazing how you can have so many Vipers in one place and it be so rare for two to be the same . A great variety of cars to drool over .
My wife couldn't come so I brought my brother who I am sure will be a future Viper owner. Not sure who was more star struck over the cars me or him. We went and registered ,checked in , grabbed our Voi passes and swag with out a hitch. Then went to the room to change . The hotel was very elegant and had a great decor . I had a two room suite with walk out onto the pool area. ( Which had some great scenery over the course of the weekend ) I think it might have been a good thing my wife didn't come. If she had seen the bathrooms , It probably would have cost me a bunch of money in future renovations .
I was in group B so Friday was my day to do the drive and car show in Park city. Half the cars had already left for there track day at 6:30. So it wasn't too congested getting out of the parkade. We got our itenerary and maps on the way out of the parkade . First stop at heritage park . A great over view of the city from the hill. The scenery along the whole route was very beautiful. The route was a fun drive through the hills . Got to check out Olympic park for our second stop. Where they had some ski jumping going on . Then over to Park City where they closed down a street for the car show . We each got a $25 credit card for the area to use at most shops and restaurants of our choice. I had a great buffalo burger and a guiness at a pub on the strip. Took a lot of great photos . Some went on an extra scenic drive and others just went back to the hotel. Friday was our night for an offsite dinner . We all got bused to the Olympic oval . Loading went surprisingly fast and smooth for having close to 1000 people to ship over for supper .
Here we were able to try curling , some skating ,they revealed to us the new V-10 Challenger drag car . Which sounded and looked pretty incredible . There was an open bar a few different cuisines to choose from for supper. I knew that Ralph Gilles was suppose to show up over the course of the weekend , which I was excited about . I figured it would be for a speech one night and he would be on his way . I didn't realize he would be amongst us participating in a lot of the weekend .
Shortly after the introduction of the Challenger everyone was up surrounding the car . Then I noticed Ralph standing back visiting with a member in amongt everyone . I was surprised how approachable and layed back he was . When I noticed the conversation die off I introduced myself. Let him know how much I appreciate what he represents , and what he does for Dodge and Viper nation .That he is an inspiration for alot of people . (He truely is a car guy . Before this weekend I didn't know that he participates in the Viper ACR-X cup races . I don't get Versus to watch the races
) Then within our conversation Tom Gale walks up to us and joins in our conversation. Ralph lets me know that Tom is his inspiration and that if it wasn't for Tom there would be no Viper . Talk about feeling privileged and honored to be able to be having a conversation with a living Legend and such a gracious visionary Leader .
I have babbled long enough there was a lot of other great memories I had over the course of the weekend . Ralphs speech on Saturday night was also very memorable and a highlight of the weekend . He gave a person a great sense of where dodge and Viper was going . Faith in the company and Viper . A company that really seems to care about there customers and product . An enthusiasm that is infectious . Dodge proved to us Saturday how much they care about there customers by letting us see the new Viper . What a great way to top off the weekend . I am very appreciative of such a great weekend . Proud to be a VCA member, Dodge fan and loyal customer .
Every Viper trip I take, one of the most enjoyable parts is just getting there . I enjoy every minute of seat time in my car . Spirited driving is just plain fun. I had an 810 mile drive from my home to SLC. I had to work Wednesday so I left at 4 am Thursday morning . The first section of my drive I know very well I travel it weekly . Early in the morning there is rarely any traffic . So I was able to cut an hour off my trip first thing . I won't go into much detail about my drive but I definetly cut off a few hours from the time Map quest predicted it should take . Was expecting to get a ticket or two on my trip and my radar detector paid for itself once again . Saved me a few pull overs .
As soon as I arrived at the hotel . I was awestruck with the magnitude of the Viper parking area . Hundreds of Vipers , I was in Viper heaven. Every generation , color and most combinations of paint schemes. As soon as I parked I had to bring out the camera and start taking photos. I just never get sick of looking at such works of art . Amazing how you can have so many Vipers in one place and it be so rare for two to be the same . A great variety of cars to drool over .
My wife couldn't come so I brought my brother who I am sure will be a future Viper owner. Not sure who was more star struck over the cars me or him. We went and registered ,checked in , grabbed our Voi passes and swag with out a hitch. Then went to the room to change . The hotel was very elegant and had a great decor . I had a two room suite with walk out onto the pool area. ( Which had some great scenery over the course of the weekend ) I think it might have been a good thing my wife didn't come. If she had seen the bathrooms , It probably would have cost me a bunch of money in future renovations .
I was in group B so Friday was my day to do the drive and car show in Park city. Half the cars had already left for there track day at 6:30. So it wasn't too congested getting out of the parkade. We got our itenerary and maps on the way out of the parkade . First stop at heritage park . A great over view of the city from the hill. The scenery along the whole route was very beautiful. The route was a fun drive through the hills . Got to check out Olympic park for our second stop. Where they had some ski jumping going on . Then over to Park City where they closed down a street for the car show . We each got a $25 credit card for the area to use at most shops and restaurants of our choice. I had a great buffalo burger and a guiness at a pub on the strip. Took a lot of great photos . Some went on an extra scenic drive and others just went back to the hotel. Friday was our night for an offsite dinner . We all got bused to the Olympic oval . Loading went surprisingly fast and smooth for having close to 1000 people to ship over for supper .
Here we were able to try curling , some skating ,they revealed to us the new V-10 Challenger drag car . Which sounded and looked pretty incredible . There was an open bar a few different cuisines to choose from for supper. I knew that Ralph Gilles was suppose to show up over the course of the weekend , which I was excited about . I figured it would be for a speech one night and he would be on his way . I didn't realize he would be amongst us participating in a lot of the weekend .
Shortly after the introduction of the Challenger everyone was up surrounding the car . Then I noticed Ralph standing back visiting with a member in amongt everyone . I was surprised how approachable and layed back he was . When I noticed the conversation die off I introduced myself. Let him know how much I appreciate what he represents , and what he does for Dodge and Viper nation .That he is an inspiration for alot of people . (He truely is a car guy . Before this weekend I didn't know that he participates in the Viper ACR-X cup races . I don't get Versus to watch the races
) Then within our conversation Tom Gale walks up to us and joins in our conversation. Ralph lets me know that Tom is his inspiration and that if it wasn't for Tom there would be no Viper . Talk about feeling privileged and honored to be able to be having a conversation with a living Legend and such a gracious visionary Leader . I have babbled long enough there was a lot of other great memories I had over the course of the weekend . Ralphs speech on Saturday night was also very memorable and a highlight of the weekend . He gave a person a great sense of where dodge and Viper was going . Faith in the company and Viper . A company that really seems to care about there customers and product . An enthusiasm that is infectious . Dodge proved to us Saturday how much they care about there customers by letting us see the new Viper . What a great way to top off the weekend . I am very appreciative of such a great weekend . Proud to be a VCA member, Dodge fan and loyal customer .
Just walked around for an hour and talked with everyone, before going up to my room.
