It was a nice day here in Michigan today, so I decided to take the toy out for some fun before the season completely ends. So I'm cruising on M-59 east of the Lakeside Mall area, I notice in my rear-view a bright yellow Viper coming up behind me, and he pulls in behind me following for awhile. When the traffic breaks up a little after we left a light, he pulls up along side, then I notice it's a new Venom with a newer wing that I've never seen before. The new wing is horizontal supported by stantions, tilted at a wicked angle, it looks great on the car. The driver is really eyeing my car over at the same time I'm checking his ride out, we exchange a couple throttle blips as we cruise along side by side. M-59 in this area is 4 lanes wide one way, and traffic has blasted up to us......everyone checking out both cars, pretty funny as one quick glance around I noticed everyone's on auto-pilot not watching the road.
Suddenly the Venom jumps on the gas from a 35 mph roll next to me, he lays some rubber, jumps ahead a bit, then quickly backs off letting the car settle back to me. At this point I noticed twin chrome exhaust stacks packed tightly together centrally located, which by the way emitted a nice noise (not as loud as mine, by a great sound). Once he's along side again, I take the hint and jump on the gas in the same manor he did, he observed as I had when he launched, I backed off same as he had early, and settled into cruise mode next to him. We exhanged smiles and nods of the head, then both of us noticed curiousity drivers starting to gang up around us. We cruised for a couple more miles, sometimes me following him, or him following me, attracting all kinds of attention from fellow drivers, and a lot of smiles.
This was a very fitting ending for this season for me, not only did I enjoying taking the car out for a run (which usuallly gets attention anyway, heck...the roofers in a new sub behind me even stopped what they were doing when they heard the car, and watched me pull it out of the garage), but to top it off was this extremely rare Venom in the same place at the same time, with the same purpose in mind. To have the owner of a $165,000 car take notice and admire my car, was priceless !!! I seached the net to see if I could find a picture of this car but no luck, it is very bright yellow just like mine, which tells me that either it's a custom '89 Venom, or they brought the color back on newer models. Without question, the car looked spotless new. While I have no doubt that I would have got spanked racing this guy, this joy run has left me with sweet memories, more precious than a lost race. Just thought I'd share this experience with you, if someone finds a picture of the car I've described, please post it in this thread.
Yeah I like to "play with the V8's" or "big boys" as well ! Respect on the road,,,Sweet!
Sorry the season is ending for ya, maybe you could surf this way to Texas, the "season" is NEVER over just cold enough to wear the leather jacket while lookin' cool...
------------------ 98 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. only one in Austin Texas and surrounding areas
[This message has been edited by revin (edited 11-14-2004).]
I too took advantage of the nice weather. Didn't have any luck finding a nice car to cruise along side of luck you did. But I did have fun obliging a couple of teens who wanted a burn out. Normally my 4.9 just bites and goes but when I stomp'd it for the teens today it felt like an Top Fuel Dragster (I swear the rear end raied up a foot) and punished some rubber in fact it made it well into 3rd (Auto) before even grabbing and going and boy did it.
Punisher, you entitled to your opinion, I just don't look upon everything being decided by a race. Fact of the matter is, we were cruising on a highway with a 50 mph limit, lots of traffic, and M-59 is loaded with strip malls making it a very risky place to stretch the legs on either of these cars. In the breif moments where we showed each other some acceleration, you reach 85 mph from a 35 mph roll very quickly. I'd be a fool in more ways than one, to race a car that I fully know would beat me, and I'm sure he knew this as well. What was interesting is that he wanted to see it perform, and acknowledged with a thumb up. I don't have a problem with the earlier stock Vipers and will take them on in the right area. The real point of the post, is that is was cool, and does show that some serious car owners do have some respect for our little projects.
Here's a photo I found that is very similar to the car I came across, the wing is different and it doesn't have the twin black stripes:
[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 11-13-2004).]
Cool! Isn't it a good feeling when you're able to communicate with someone without even speeking. Here is a guy intelligent enough to be able to emphasize with the love, work, and enginuity you put into your ride. He wasn't just hung up on who could win a race. That's why he was driving a Viper and not some POS that could go really fast! You've got a fine ride and so does he!
I'm a little confused here. The Viper "Venom" is an aftermarket kit from Hennessey that first rolled out in 2000 or so I believe. Since then, there have been a few different levels, the first being Venom 600, followed be the 650R, 700, 800, 900, and 1000, with 600, 650, 700,800,900, and 1000 horsepower respectivly. I don't recall the Venoms that were tested in various mags having much in the way of aftermarket body parts though.
Im sure this is what you are talking about... I have that one in my new 2005 calendar..."power wheels" What a mean looking ride..... What a great story, thanks for sharing John
Originally posted by 86fieroEarl: And for all the ppl that keep talking about a race go back and read the thread again.... This thread has noughting to do with racing.
Perhaps there jealous that Cali's car could waste there own Fiero?
That Viper Venom would waste that Fiero in a race.
But not nearly as bad, as my car blowing yours away, race or show!!!
I had already stated that above, so what's the point of your post, anybody with common sense knows this. You and wanna be 'school teacher' Punisher (on my v/s topic) troll in here with the lamest addtions to the thread, trying to find fault anyway your little minds can come up with. Both of you guys should be working on your cars instead of posting here. Next time either of you drop into to one of my threads, here's something that will save you some typing, just post it and leave your mark:
edit: Picture of Turd removed.
[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 11-15-2004).]
Thanks for the compliments posted, they are appreciated. A note on the Viper I came across, I believe the owner had a wing fabricated to his likeing, as I said, it looked great on the car (wasn't the hoop style, which I don't like). It's the first time I've seen the car in this area, will surely come across him next year at Cruise Nights, and I'll get some pictures of it. Nothing like it on the net that I can find and the wing makes a huge visual difference. There no doubt it's a Venom, you can tell by the sound of it, but it appears this guy added his own very tastefull touches.
That was a great story...appreciation expressed both ways, and no stupid challenging..that is what having a nice ride is all about..plus for you!! Nick fierofetish
------------------ RESPONSIBILITY WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING.USE IT WISELY.
Lex, looks like your working on trying to add some more red to your guage?
Cali Kid, very cool! Awesome story. Very similar to what I experienced back in 2000 when I "played" with a Viper back then coming back from the Stratham NH show in Oct. with my maroon '87 coupe "Fiero5". I knew he could easily hand me my butt anytime he wanted but that obviously wasn't the way it went. I joked about beating a viper with lots of smilies in my thread and of course even now we have a few brilliant members who still try and make it into a whole different story than what it ever was, so be carefull if later on someone comes along and tries to make this story different than what it is. Like you experienced. we also had a sort of mutual respect and just had fun as we both drove down the highway as two cool cars.
It's realy nice when another sports car owner, an expensive one in these cases is able to be a true car lover and appreciate our ride as much as we appreciate theirs. No need for a silly race which in these cases would prove nothing anyway. It's more about appreciating another nice car and not just some macho chest thumping who can beat the other on a stretch of road.
If the Viper Venom is the car I'm thinking of, IIRC Motor Trend said something like this: "This is the scariest car we've ever tested." Apparently they were able to get rubber in 3rd at 120 MPH in that car.
I don't think there's a street-legal Fiero on the planet that could beat that car without JATO units.
Wow...you drove beside a viper , he hit the gas ,you hit the gas...
Funny... how come you didn't want to race chris Moore's Viper?? Oh yeah your ovaries hurt to much . HEre comes the BS stories about racing Vipers to 300mph and how your stock 88 suspension fiero with cut springs and Koni's will outhandle any porsche and blah blah blah blah..Oh yeah your lingenfelter valve covers must add 5hp..
You make a comment about your car beating someone elses in a race or a show..you bought someone elses car and painted it Yellow..you mechanical pioneer you.. you ran a 12.2 with no slips to prove , but your the first to chime in about how mighty your car is and how it can beat everything ont he road.
a Stock Viper would smack you down and a Hennessey Viper would abosolutley destroy you.
Oh but wait Carol Sheby signed your dash.. He signed my nuts too along with Fiero5 Wanna See?
Great story Cali! Very nice to get some respect from a Viper owner.
Ignore the trolls. If no one argues with them, they will go away.
------------------ www.cardomain.com/id/wingnutmd --- "Peg" --- 1985 GT - THE FORGOTTON GT! Member of PFF, not associated with any Brigade or Syndicate. Just tired of the BS!
Great story and glad to see he respected your accomplishments also. I hope to have the power your car has and I seen it at Norwalk but you were not around it at the time. You had it on the side of the road close to our 40 cars I think on Sunday when I seen it. Opened up for folks to see which I thoguht was nice of you.
Remember the internet makes folks think being behind the computer makes them better and smarter. The get jealous fast and attack. Here's a few good photos from them. The Shinola I did personally after I found the can so its a original hahahahaah. Rick B
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[This message has been edited by Rborecky (edited 11-14-2004).]
Aaahhhh, some more crap from the Punisher, you just love blurting out incomplete facts, as far as the Viper's go, they didn't run faster quarters (stock) than mine until after the 2002 Model year (which ran identical ET and MPH as mine with a professional drive and many runs to get lowest ET), so there's plenty that I can take on without embarassment: http://dodge.jbcarpages.com/Viper/2002/index4.php
Previous years were slower, if you'd search the net, you'll find this to be fact. As far as Chris Moore goes, our cars have never been within a 100 or more miles of each other, and I wouldn't run him anyway, because he's modified.
[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 11-14-2004).]
You wouldnt race someone who might beat you? I would. Ive raced a Viper and won(not by much, but I still won)I wouldnt hesitate to race anyone. If you lose, then someone else has a helluva fast car, and hearing a V10 at WOT is a thing of beauty.
But the thread does say,and I quote. "California Kid v/s Viper Venom." I always thought v/s meant versus, ie, you raced a Venom Viper. Ive driven next to Ferrari's and Vipers, its not that big of a deal.
"vs" does not mean race. Amazing the lengths these guys go to just for a rise. "vs" means a comparison of some sort as in this case looks, sound and some smiles which is more than anything the folks attaking you Cali can understand. Enjoy the car and ignore the kids. Pissing contests are for kids. Rick B
"vs" does not mean race. Amazing the lengths these guys go to just for a rise. "vs" means a comparison of some sort as in this case looks, sound and some smiles which is more than anything the folks attaking you Cali can understand. ]
Id put my car against his anyday. He may have a nicer paint job, but then agin, im a kid with 16 yr old paint. I can understand alot more than you seem to think. I have the next generation of his motor in my car. Its a head turner.
Id put my car against his anyday. He may have a nicer paint job, but then agin, im a kid with 16 yr old paint. I can understand alot more than you seem to think. I have the next generation of his motor in my car. Its a head turner.
Topic Closed
I seached the net to see if I could find a picture of this car but no luck, it is very bright yellow just like mine, which tells me that either it's a custom '89 Venom, or they brought the color back on newer models. Without question, the car looked spotless new. While I have no doubt that I would have got spanked racing this guy, this joy run has left me with sweet memories, more precious than a lost race. Just thought I'd share this experience with you, if someone finds a picture of the car I've described, please post it in this thread.
Respect on the road,,,Sweet!
just cold enough to wear the leather jacket while lookin' cool...
]
