Viper Days 2003 Season begins Jan 25th at Willow Springs

[Skip at Viper Days]

Willow Springs is the fastest track in the West. Do not miss the opportunity to learn more about yourself and your Viper!!
Come join us at WSIR on Jan 25 & 26

 

[FrankBarba]

Have Comp Coupes been delivered to you all out west yet? If not and you have sold your car awaiting for the new arrival, what are you all doing for racing? Watching, Crewing, Renting, racing other cars?

 

[CT]

Hello Viper Drivers-

Everyone at Viper Days hopes you all had a wonderful holiday season!

It is now time for the first event of the 2003 season! Our first event will be a t Willow Springs in Lancaster, CA (Southern Cal) Jan 25th & 26th, 2003.

The www.viperdays.com web site will be up and running with all of the new forms, rules & matrix for your viewing pleasure by later this afternoon!

I have pasted the details below for your viewing pleasure. PLEASE note the "safety" changes that have taken place since last year.

Make your hotel arrangements ASAP!

If you have additional comments or questions reguarding a Viper Days event please feel free to call Courtney. 847-594-8477.

Have a great day!

Viper Days, Inc.

2003 VIPER DAYS
DETAILS FOR…….. Willow Springs Jan. 25th & 26th

FIRST EVENT OF THE SEASON: Come out to the track and test your car driving skills and learn some new ones. Please see the track web site for track map, directions to track and video. www.willowspringsraceway.com
Track Address: 3500 – 75th St. West Rosamond, CA 93560 661-256-2471 Run track Clockwise!! 661-256-2471

FRIDAY TEST & TUNE: Please call the track for the Friday reservations & info. 661-256-2471 You must have a roll bar/roll cage, fire suppressions system & fire extinguisher CALL THE TRACK FOR RESERVATIONS OR JUST SHOW UP!! DO NOT CALL Courtney

COST: $665.00 or $615.00 for VCA member one time discount (VCA # required)**s - for a registration/reception party at the Desert Inn, two lunches, and a Saturday night banquet at the track, commemorative gift and extensive track time. One day entry $300 includes lunch!!

GATE/SPECTATOR FEE: Willow Springs is charging $10 for every person who enters thru the gate. Good for the whole weekend!! Kids 8 & under free.

PAYMENT: Viper days accepts Visa and Master Card. Make checks payable to: Viper Days, Inc. Payment for each event is paid in full prior to the event!! Late Entry- 7 days before event will result in a $50 late fee, NO EXCEPTIONS!!

HOTEL INFO: Be sure to call the Desert Inn to make room reservations and ask for the Viper Days rooms. Mention the Viper Days room block for the discounted rate. Rooms will be released Jan. 10th. So call NOW!!!! Secondary Hotel: Park Plaza 661-948-0961 $70/night

Host Hotel: Desert Inn $55/night www.desert-inn.com 661-942-8401
4219 N. Sierra Hwy
Lancaster, CA 93534
60 Rooms reserved!!

TRACK SIDE SERVICE Archer Racing Accessories will be on hand to do complete trackside service including suspension, alignments, engine modifications and exhaust. If there is something specific you will like, please call John and make an appointment. 218-727-4806

TIRES Bobby Archer Enterprises is the Exclusive provider of trackside safety needs, tire mounting and balancing, and sales. Those needing Michelin or Hoosier tires please call ahead and order them so they can bring them to the track. Call Bobby @ 817-877-1772

TRAILER AND RIG PARKING Thursday drop off OK from 8am-5pm!! Parking will be open to accept parking all day Friday starting at 7am-10:30pm but will charge you $10 if you do NOT plan on driving that day and arrive after 3pm.

CAMPERS/MOTORCOACHES Are ALLOWED to camp overnight self-contained. Electricity is available $25/2 days $35/3 days. Please pay Willow Springs at the office or call ahead 661-256-2471 ask for Lisa.

FUEL The track is selling 110 leaded, and 100 unleaded. $5/gal

GARAGES FOR RENT: garages are available thru Willow Springs Direct $150/2 days, $175/3 days. Call Lisa or Rick and reserve a garage 661-256-2471

REQUIRED TO BRING Helmets with Snell rating of 95 or be no more then 5 years old. No motorcycle helmets unless you wear a belaclava. Long sleeve shirt and pants required. ***********

MED STATS 2003 IS MANDATORY! ! There is a NEW form requiring additional information. Please bring your Med+Stats lanyard or fill out Med+Stats confidential information and return with payment ASAP. Renewal will be only $ 15.00.


FRIDAY NIGHT ARRIVAL: 6PM until 9PM at the Desert Inn. Check in and register at the reception with hors d’oeuvres. Tech. inspection will occur all day Friday at the track or Saturday morning. Please join us for hors d’oeuvres, drinks and some Viper Tales. A Viper tech inspection tip: empty your glove box and trunk at the hotel instead of the track.

GUEST PACKAGE: For those who do not wish to put their car on the track and/or guests, we offer a food package of the reception, two catered lunches and a banquet for $125.00 per person. Children will be given a discount, must call Courtney for details!!

GATE HOURS: Thursday: 8-5 , Friday 7am-10:30pm, Sat & Sun 6:30am-Midnight

TRACK INFO

SATURDAY: The hotel will have a free continental breakfast available, Be at track by 6:30AM and drive-arounds begin at 7:00. MANDATORY drivers meeting at 7:20. If arriving on Saturday morning, be at the track by 6:30 AM for registration and tech inspection the track will go hot at 8:00. Classroom instruction begins at 8:00 AM, Banquet at the track, Barbecue Style – 5:01 cash bar / dinner at 6:00PM.

SUNDAY: The hotel will have a free continental breakfast available. Be at the track by 7:30 AM. Driver meeting at 7:45 the track will go hot at 8:00.

Michelin Challenge Series- Tire Specifications
Sponsors help bring Viper Days to you and to justify there sponsorship we ask you to buy from Bobby Archer, Archer Racing Accessories, Autoform and Venom Oils. We realize you can buy these products anywhere, but we cannot quantify sales without purchasing thru our vendors. It would help out Viper Days if you supported them. Shop around and compare, their prices are competitive!!

Stock- Michelin DOT tires only (for this class No changes are allowed to the car)

Super Stock- Michelin DOT tires only (for this class NO changes are allowed to the car)

Prepared- Michelin DOT tires only

Modified- Michelin DOT tires only

Super Modified- Michelin DOT tires or Pilot Sport Cup only****

Unlimited- Michelin DOT tires or Pilot Sport Cup only*****

Comp Coupe Unlimited (only allowed changes are Seat, Steering Wheel, Shifter, Pedals, Safety Harnesses)****

*****Safety Equipment: Although safety is ultimately the responsibility of the driver, Viper Days' MINIMUM requirements are:******

Helmets must be Snell 95 or newer AND less than 5 years old. Motorcycle helmets require a balaclava.
Long sleeve shirt, long pants, soft sole enclosed toe shoes, gloves required for all classes.
Driver's Suit (2 layer min), Nomex Gloves, Neck Restraint req’d for Unlimited, Comp Coupe Unlimited classes.
Neck Restraint highly recommended for all classes.
SRT/10's and RT/10's must have a roll bar or hardtop.
Fire extinguisher required for Modified and up!
5 or 6 point harnesses mandatory for SRT/10's (both sides)
5 or 6 point harnesses mandatory for all other cars if you attend 3 or more events.
5 or 6 Point waist &anti-sub straps must be safety clipped for all classes, shoulder straps for Super Mod & up
www.willowspringsraceway.com to get directions, hot lap around track, track map, etc.
www.weather.com and type in the zip code of 93560 to get the area weather
www.mapquest.com to get directions to and from your house to the track, hotel etc..

 

[Sonny 00 GTS ACR]

Just to put it in perspective, Willow Springs was by far the fastest road course (East or West) that was on the ViperDays Michelin Challenge schedule last year.

John Grieco had the fast lap of 1:24.408 on the 2.5 mile track for an average speed of 106.53 MPH.

The second fastest road course was Road America where yours truly set a 2:21.408 for an average speed on the 4 mile circuit of 101.83 MPH.

Most of the other tracks have slower sections that reduce the average speed below 100 MPH.

You won't believe Willow Springs until you've been there.

For those of you paying closer attention, the VRL did run at Nashville during VOI and Paul Mumford set a blistering 55.677 sec. lap on that 1.8 mile Roval. Paul's average speed there was 116.39 MPH, but since the Michelin Challenge Series didn't get to run there, and I don't imagine we'll see it on the schedule anytime soon, I figure Willow Springs is King. TWS was a better example of a great Roval course, whereas at Nashville we sould have just stuck to the Nascar circuit and stayed out of the infield. The road portion was quite short and uninteresting with very harsh transitions - IMHO.

 

[WCKDVPR]

Can anyone suggest options/prices/pros & cons for the neck restraints that are required in the sticky tire classes?

Thanks,

 

[FrankBarba]

So what exactly are the costs to run in viper days now.
i can not find the exact costs (trying to set my racing budget this year). Interested in only the Racing series not the challange series. If anyone knows please list..thanks.

 

[Frank Parise]

Last year the entry fee for the VRL racers was $749 per event. This is $150 more than what was charged to the Michelin Challenge Series guys. This does not include Friday test sessions or guest fees. Friday test fees are $100-200 for the day. Guest food tickets are usually $125 for the weekend. Some tracks charge admission for the driver, but usually not more than $10 for the weekend. If you plan on bringing at least one guest (such as your crew chief), I'd budget $1,000 per event for entry fees.

 

[Henry Cone]

Wckdvpr, I can highly recommend the TeamTech Tucker Helment Harness. I used one last year and now feel uncomfortable in a Viper without one. Like any of the helmet restraint systems it takes a little getting used to but I think that it is the best alternative for a Viper.

The TeamTech harness is singnficantly lower in cost than a Hans device and does not require the crotch straps of the Hutchens. It does require that your helmet be fitted with clips on both sides. Your helmet will need to be sent to TeamTech for this modification. And of course your car will need to be fitted with 5 or 6 point harensses for any of these helmet systems to work.

Curt Tucker, the President of TeamTech, has been a great supporter of making Vipers safer and Viper Days. He personally attends some of the Viper Days events to support participants. The TeamTech harnesses are the best ones available for Vipers and his helmet harness is an extension of his work on Viper driver dafety.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Henry

 

[Sonny 00 GTS ACR]

Mike -

I always respect Henry's advice and as a supporter of ViperDays and a manufacturer of quality products, I have a great deal of respect for Team Tech too. But I have chosen to wear the Hans Device and since you're looking for input, I'd like to tell you why.

Even though the Hans device is more expensive, I would still consider it to be the best mechanical arrangement for the intended purpose. It too requires you to send your helmet to have clips put on, but once that happens there are no further adjustments to make. You put it under your shoulder straps, connect it to your helmet and you're good to go. What I think is especially important is the angle of the restraining attachment on the Hans Device comes from directly behind your helmet and is perpendicular to your spine. The restraining straps on other devices come up from your shoulder at a different angle which I am not convinced is as good.

While any such device will take some getting used to, I don't experience any restriction of normal movement while wearing the Hans.

Price is one consideration when purchasing safety gear, but the old adage: "If you have a $100 head, buy a $100 helmet" still applies.

 

[WCKDVPR]

Henry and Sonny,

Thanks for the great advice. Trying to locate some local SF Bay Area guys with each system to have a look at / try on before I purchase.

Totally agree with the $100 head issue - I asked for a cage and fire system for my car for Christmas.

Thanks again,

 

[SoCal Craig]

Who in SoCal is going?

 

[REDSLED]

I'm in, probably Sun. only

-Jonathan

 

[safireviper]

I plan to make my first driving appearence after three years of watching the people have all the fun up at Willow Springs. I'll be there with my 2002 Graphite Metallic GTS ACR with no stripes.

 

[gozer]

Craig,

I'll be there.

Ken

 

[CT]

Looking forward to seeing many new paces at the first event of the year!

If you do plan on attending the Willow Springs event PLEASE go to our web site and sign up ASAP! www.viperdays.com

Once I recieve your app and Med+Stats forms I will e mail you back a coinfirmation ASAP!

Courtney Thomas www.viperdays.com
Viper Days, Inc.
847-594-8477