Driver skill is one of the most important things in getting a good 1/4 mile time in a Viper. Story:
2 weeks ago at the Greer Dragway (1/8 mile) I'm sitting in the stands watching to see if anything interesting is running, before bringing the Viper down. In the lanes is a copper C6 vette. The guy has his helmet on (his lane was currently not running) and he was inching foward. I thought what a ****, just stay behind the white line UNTIL your lane is running. He then proceeds to pull towards the water box! The guy running the lanes decides who is next and is pissed! He yells for the guy to back up. He does, gets out of his car and takes off his helmet. He's probably 65-70. Got a NEW VETTE and doesn't have a clue about drag racing or how to drive. No offense on age here, he just looked like a dork. Florida gold chainer if I ever saw one. SO, when he finally gets to run, guess what he does? EVERYTHING WRONG. Big suprise. Pulled in the water box and does a burnout still in the puddles. He sprays the crowd. The announcer JUST FINISHED SAYING DO NOT BURN OUT WHILE STILL IN THE WATER, PULL FORWARD FIRST. So he drags water all the way up to the lights......
Now, being a novice in a six-speed you would think he would leave the cumputer nanny ON for his first ever run. Nope. The guy overshoots the staging lights then has to back up. The MUSTANG GT (non-cobra) waits patiently and someone has to guide him to setting the lights (wasn't he just watching for the last twenty minutes?) and the yellows count down GREEN....2.6 seconds later he launches. Full throttle. Car is sideways through the 60'. Second gear, car lurches sideways more. Everyone laughs as the Mustang crosses the finish line. 8.7 for the Stang. Vette dude still spinning finally hooks up and finishes the 1/8 mile in 10.6.
When he comes back around for another try, many people are leaning in the window telling him to KEEP THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER ON! He does and runs much better.
Vipers have no computer.