South West 2001 Zone Rendezvous

Tony Estes · May 7, 2001

Talk about a great weekend!!! The VCA's first zone rendezvous was phenomenal success judging from the smiles I saw on every face as they got out of the Vipers after finishing the autocross.The two components I saw critical to the success of this event were the numerous volunteers who helped to plan every detail and the folks at Dodge who loaned us two 2001 Viper GTS's for the competition.I will let Kingman Hitz fill in all the details of those who helped in his post.

What I would like to announce is the top two finishers in the autocross competition and the top two alternates.

First Place: Bob Cain 49.060
Second Place: Tom Atherton 49.232
First Alternate: John Nicholas 49.281
Second Alternate: Jason Jordan 49.367

The top two finishers have earned a position on the VCA National Autocross Team. We will be competing against Team Viper on September 15, 2001. As captain of the VCA National Autocross Team I contacted John Fernandez and told him to prepare for an *** whipping in the near future.

We will be having four more Zone Rendezvous throughout the country. The top two finishers in each zone will join the team. Invitations to the rendezvous have been sent to all current VCA members.If you have not received your invitation call your Regional president or Viper Headquarters at 1-800-998-1110. If you feel that you would like to be part of the VCA National Autocross Team get your application in quickly. The Rendezvous are limited to the first hundred applicants. Come join the WINNING TEAM.

Wing King · May 8, 2001

Tony.... Jason.... thanks for your posts. Personally, I'm offering my most humble thanks to Mother Nature, for somehow staging all her wind, hailstorms, tornados and rain while all our Vipers were parked safely underground at the hotel. This allowed us to get in all the events at the track pretty much on time and in full. I need to acknowledge the help of a large number of people that helped pull it off:

First, Shannon Matus who operates the Texas region of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). If any of you ever have the chance to attend a NASA organized track event in YOUR area.... DO IT!! We could not have done what we did in so short a period of time, without their help! Then, our region members:

Jay Lopez, Mary Nesmith, Steve Pasztor and Nancy Pasztor for pre-registration preparation,
Digital Race Photography for all the pictures,
Nancy Pasztor, Lee Pearlman and my son Cory for registration,
Keith Verges, Dayna Caldwell, Cindy Wayne for track scoring,
Stuart and Ricki Schuster and J.R Gray for the cruise to the Motorsport Ranch Track (and especially owner Jack Farr of MSR)
Butch Kirby, our Zone Director, especially for helping me get my track contract with NASA resolved,

Rich Carlson (Manager of the DC Training Center in Irving Texas), and local dealer Viper Techs Keith Laxson and Robert Morel for handling the factory cars all day, along with any problems with participant Vipers....

And, of course, Tony Estes for not just attending in his capacity as our National Prez, but also working the track all day long on Saturday. Having Fiona and Kim from VCA Headquarters in attendance, who spent a HUGE amount of time up there doing registration and planning for the factory cars, along with Mark Giannotta from Viper Magazine, took a lot of pressure off us just in case we ran into problems.

Can't forget Bobby Archer's German Motor Works for helping us set up the raffle for the sweet set of new tires. As a former Speedvision Series champion in his Viper, along with many other driving accomplishments, Bobby is a great source for the RIGHT accessories to make your car go faster around the track.

I think it was a good start for all the other Zone Rendezvous, and our North Texas region was very proud to play host for this first historic event.

However, the most important thought I would like to get across with this message, is that anyone who does not grab at the chance to participate in one of these Zone things is REALLY missing the boat!!!!!! Kick yourself not once, but TWICE if you're thinking about passing on the one in YOUR zone. Your national VCA officers and Dodge have made big sacrifices of time and money to provide factory cars to make the autocross both a fair competition, and opportunity to go flog a new 2001. Umm.... Jim Julow..... if you're reading this...... I mean "carefully guide a new Viper through a few soft cones".

Anyway, if you're NOT signed up for the zone event in YOUR region...... GET A MOVE ON!!!!! ..... or you WILL be sorry!!!

Now, I'm gonna go sleep for a few days!

BigsViper · May 8, 2001