Anyone know what an OEM Gen. I soft top costs? Anyone know what speed they're rated to? I only ask because...
We've got the big Roundup coming up tomorrow and I'm in need of an oil change before the dyno day and road course events. I grab some Royal Purple, a Mobil 1 filter and call a buddy of mine that has a lift so we can do the fluid swap as efficiently as possible (jacks and jack stands are still a little intimidating for me). The dyno day is tomorrow so we're doing the fluids tonight at his place.
It's sprinkling a little when I leave for work, but I don't have a choice but to drive. I throw the rag top and head out. Well, if you're not familiar with how Texans treat rain, I'll tell you. They pretend that wet roads are actually oil slicks left by Spy Hunter and drive accordingly...VERRRRRRRRRRY SLOOOOOOOOOWWWWLY. I finally hit a stretch of road where the drivers aren't incompetent and get up to a healthy 100. That's when the top has had enough of my tomfoolery and decides to end it all and leaps to it's very certain demise. The top jumps ship, sailing about 20 feet into the air and shatters all over the toll road behind me. Luckily I'd put enough space between me and traffic so no one was hurt...just inconvenienced. I didn't bother stopping; I would have had to lock up the brakes, back down the shoulder and play Frogger with my own life to try and recover it, and I think the risk of accident and injury went up exponentially if I went that route.
Moving on. I get on southbound Mopac (another toll road in Austin) and though I've misplaced my top, I've found a sense of embarrassment. Though no fault of my own, having your top fly off your Viper isn't something you brag about (you just post it on the forums instead...ha). Well, for those of you that know me, I just put the finishing touches on blacking out and refinishing my interior. New stereo all around, vinyl and plastic painted black and new leather seats from Jon B (probably about $2k worth of parts/labor, but I lost count long ago). I just got the seats put together yesterday, so this is my maiden voyage with my brand spankin' new interior. Well, what would be the icing on the cake? That's right...RAIN. Nothing hard, nothing torrential...just a little reminder from the heavens that said "hey, idiot...it could be worse."
Long story short; this was a bad start to a bad day. Hopefully the Roundup turns my Viper karma around! $100 cover me on my deductible so I'll have a new top in the next week or so.
1993 DODGE VIPER: 180MPH CAR, 100MPH TOP
We've got the big Roundup coming up tomorrow and I'm in need of an oil change before the dyno day and road course events. I grab some Royal Purple, a Mobil 1 filter and call a buddy of mine that has a lift so we can do the fluid swap as efficiently as possible (jacks and jack stands are still a little intimidating for me). The dyno day is tomorrow so we're doing the fluids tonight at his place.
It's sprinkling a little when I leave for work, but I don't have a choice but to drive. I throw the rag top and head out. Well, if you're not familiar with how Texans treat rain, I'll tell you. They pretend that wet roads are actually oil slicks left by Spy Hunter and drive accordingly...VERRRRRRRRRRY SLOOOOOOOOOWWWWLY. I finally hit a stretch of road where the drivers aren't incompetent and get up to a healthy 100. That's when the top has had enough of my tomfoolery and decides to end it all and leaps to it's very certain demise. The top jumps ship, sailing about 20 feet into the air and shatters all over the toll road behind me. Luckily I'd put enough space between me and traffic so no one was hurt...just inconvenienced. I didn't bother stopping; I would have had to lock up the brakes, back down the shoulder and play Frogger with my own life to try and recover it, and I think the risk of accident and injury went up exponentially if I went that route.
Moving on. I get on southbound Mopac (another toll road in Austin) and though I've misplaced my top, I've found a sense of embarrassment. Though no fault of my own, having your top fly off your Viper isn't something you brag about (you just post it on the forums instead...ha). Well, for those of you that know me, I just put the finishing touches on blacking out and refinishing my interior. New stereo all around, vinyl and plastic painted black and new leather seats from Jon B (probably about $2k worth of parts/labor, but I lost count long ago). I just got the seats put together yesterday, so this is my maiden voyage with my brand spankin' new interior. Well, what would be the icing on the cake? That's right...RAIN. Nothing hard, nothing torrential...just a little reminder from the heavens that said "hey, idiot...it could be worse."
Long story short; this was a bad start to a bad day. Hopefully the Roundup turns my Viper karma around! $100 cover me on my deductible so I'll have a new top in the next week or so.
1993 DODGE VIPER: 180MPH CAR, 100MPH TOP
