Ralph Gilles calls out the driver in ZR1-SRT Viper shootout

The people at Motor Trend recently conducted a head to head
comparison between the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the 2013 SRT Viper GTS
and while the two cars were nearly identical in every imaginable performance
measure – the ZR1 was able to turn a significantly faster lap around Laguna
Seca Raceway.  While things like 0-60,
quarter mile times, lateral Gs on the skidpad and stopping distance were all
within a digit or two of each other, the ZR1 was just over 2 seconds faster
around the track where the 2012 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR set the track record a
few years ago.  The 2013 ZR1 lap time of
1:33.70 not only beat the 2013 SRT Viper GTS but it also beat the old ACR’s
record lap time of 1:33.99.

Shortly after the news of the 2013 SRT Viper GTS being
beaten by the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 hit the social media, SRT boss Ralph
Gilles took to the Twitter – posting his very-honest opinion on the whole
situation.  Two particular Tweets
inspired a thumbs up from Mopar fans around the world as Gilles proclaimed that
“There is a lot more left in the car, Randy has always struggled with the
Viper,” followed later by “We’ve tested both cars at several tracks and
never seen a gap like that. Many drivers needlessly fear the Viper.”

For those unsure, the “Randy” that Ralph is referring to is
Randy Pobst – the driver chosen by Motor Trend to conduct the driving duties of
these two supercars around Laguna Seca Raceway. 
Pobst is a long time SCCA road racer with a collection of wins and
championships over his long career. 
Randy has spent the past few years behind the wheel of the KPax Racing
Volvo S60 so while he is unquestionably a successful racer, there is a big
difference between driving a fully race prepped Volvo sedan and a pair of stock
supercars.

During the banter on Twitter in reply to Gilles’ comments, a
member of the Motor Trend team brought up the fact that Pobst ran lap times
about two seconds slower at Laguna Seca than the 2010 Viper ACR’s record time.  Considering how quickly Gilles commented on
this whole situation, I fully expect to see the SRT team take to the famous
California road course to reclaim the Viper’s lap time title.  Chris Winkler set the previous record so SRT
could call on him to attempt to take back his own record or they could call on
the likes of Dominic Farnbacher – driver of the #91 Forza Motorsport Viper
GTS-R and the man who helped the 2010 Viper ACR set the Nürburgring track
record.

Motor Trend also offered to go back to the track with the
two cars so it is clear that this story is far from over.  MT could take the two modern American
supercars to Laguna Seca with a different driver or Chrysler may conduct their
own attempt at reclaiming the record lap time with one of their team drivers.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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