VIPERSPEED'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Rich Wesorick

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VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

VIPERSPEED'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Back-to-back racing weekends in May resulted in four victories for the ViperSpeed Racing team, including three wins for ViperSpeed's Bobby Archer in his black No. 32 T1 Viper. For the first two races, Archer and his fellow Texan teammates Dr. Deborah Loth, Dan Knox, and Dave Fiorelli traveled to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Viper Racing League (VRL) races on April 26-27. The next weekend, all four ViperSpeed drivers returned home to race on May 2-3 in the SCCA Grand Prix of Texas at Texas Motor Speedway.

At Mid-Ohio, the four ViperSpeed T1 cars competed in the GT2 class in a field of 22 cars that included 7 Viper Competition Coupes and 10 GT1 Vipers. In Saturday's VRL race, Archer started 13th overall, finished 8th overall, and won the GT2 class. Meanwhile, Loth started 12th overall, finished 9th overall, and second in the GT2 class. Knox started 15th overall, finished 12th overall, and third in GT2 class. Fiorelli did not start the race. On Sunday at Mid-Ohio, Archer started 14th overall, finished 10th overall, and again won the GT2 class. Knox started and finished 16th overall, and took second in the GT2 class. Fiorelli started 21st and finished 20th overall. Loth started15th overall and did not finish. The ViperSpeed Racing teammates had a great time racing with and against their fellow Viper owners and appreciated the opportunity to test their T1 Vipers in preparation for the SCCA Valvoline Run-Offs at Mid-Ohio in September.

After a short work week, the ViperSpeed team resumed SCCA T1 competition at TMS in the Grand Prix of Texas. On Saturday, May 2, Dave Fiorelli took first in the Regional race that included four T1 cars. It was Dave's second victory this year in a Regional race. Sunday's National race included nine T1 cars in a 33-car field. Archer qualified on the pole in T1, followed by Loth, Kim Campbell (Corvette), Fiorelli and Knox. In his usual fashion, Archer led every lap in T1 and won handily. Fiorelli drove a great race and finished second in T1, followed by Kevin Mixon (Corvette) and then Knox. Loth was pushed off course while passing an AS Camaro and sustained enough damage that she was forced to pull out of the race . The win was Archer's second in T1 for the year and puts him on pace to win a third consecutive Southwest Division Championship.

Upcoming events for Bobby Archer and the ViperSpeed team include May 24 at Texas World Speedway (SCCA), June 21 at Road America (SCCA June Sprints), Sept. 15 at Mid-Ohio (SCCA Valvoline Runoffs), Oct. 17 at the Motorsport Ranch (VRL), and Nov. 7 at Texas Motor Speedway (VRL). More information on the ViperSpeed team and drivers can be found at www.bobbyarchermotorsports.com and www.viperspeed.com.
 

GTS Bruce

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Hope he can keep up with John Henrichy(sp) and his corvette this year at the run offs. Bruce
 

Jay H

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

OK I really want to know is anyone else in the race? LOL Good Job to everyone.
 

JBenko

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Hope for dry weather this year at the runoffs. Rich, what was Bobby's best lap at Mid Ohio ?
 

Toronto_ACR

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Can someone please tell me what are the modifications that the rules allow in T1. How stock are the cars. What are the weight restrictions that are placed on the Vipers and how stock are the engines. Lastly are their any Porsches in the series as you cant have a good win without beating a Porsche I say. beating vettes is old news i want the ASS of a porshe. Does anyone have the answer to these questions

Thanks
 

DFiorelli

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

The cars are very close to stock. Most of the mods are for safety - roll cage, fire system, seat, belts and window net. Brakes are stock except for pads (unlimited) and cooling (Bobby Archer Motorsports cooling kit). The drive train allows cat backs and air filters (stock air box). ECU (engine computer)mods are allowed. There are update rules which allow ACR-type spring/shocks. All cars must be less than 10 years old. There is a rule us Viper drivers call the "Corvette rule" which requires us to run intake restrictor plates. Vipers have a minimum weight requirement of 3380 pounds without driver at the end of a race. The rule will change at the end of this year to a higher weight with driver. There is quite a controversy about this rule change (see sccaforums.com - T1) for details. The controversy is: skinny people against the change - fat people for the change. I would oppose but that would make me a fat person! Vettes can also run much bigger front tire (315 vs 275) despite a lower car weight.
 

DFiorelli

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Forgot The "P" question - the 996 is eligible but currently not a car of choice. I think a 996 won the runoffs in '98 or'99. Ferrari F355's still run and are tough on shorter courses. Only one "P" has shown up in the SWDiv this year and either had mech. problems or????
 

Toronto_ACR

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Thanks for the response DiForelli. If you say that the brakes are basically stock except for the pads then how does the Viper compete if the Corevettes and the Porsches have much better braking than the Acr's have.

Thanks
 

Janni

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Re: A better DRIVER, that\'s how!

The newer ABS cars are certainly more competitive, but a GOOD DRIVER in a Viper, even with the restrictor plate can be pretty competitive. It's just a little harder to drive a Viper at it's limits than it is a Corvette.
 

Daffy Duck Viper

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Re: A better DRIVER, that\'s how!

The newer ABS cars are certainly more competitive, but a GOOD DRIVER in a Viper, even with the restrictor plate can be pretty competitive. It's just a little harder to drive a Viper at it's limits than it is a Corvette.

It could be said that driving a Viper is an artform, thus, driving a Viper well means that you are an accomplished Viper artist. Consequently, not just anyone can paint like you! Joe Blow goes out and tries it, and guess what? He trashes the canvas, and even possibly himself. Why? Because he is not yet a Viper artist. And so you see, driving a Viper IS an artform. *smile*

Other powerful cars - designed in such a way that their power is easy to handle - driving them is not an artform. Anybody can do it. Obviously, there are pros and cons to both.

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DanElam

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

I need to check the rule book..... What combo allows a Viper in GT2? I know T2.


As for driving the Viper or the Vette at it's limits.... I might take minor exception. In my mind, the Viper is easier to drive at the absolute limit than the Vetter. The Viper is just a whole lot harder to get to the limit. In that regard, GM has done an excellent job and made it simple for the average guy to go fast with a Vette. The Viper forces you to learn the car. I don't know that I have ever had a car that was as hard to learn to drive, but I know nothing else rewards you as much as when you get there.
 

DFiorelli

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

The GT-2 reference is to a Viper Days event. A car that is SCCA T-1 legal can run in Viper Days GT-2. Vipers are not allowed in SCCA GT-2.
 

Toronto_ACR

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Re: VIPERSPEED\'S ARCHER NOTCHES WINS IN MAY AT MID-OHIO AND TMS

Why are their no Porsches or many Ferraris in T1. It seems to be mostly Vipers and a lot of Corvettes. Why is that
 
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