The Chrysler Group announced this morning that the new blue hue that will grace the color chart of the 2014 SRT Viper will be named Competition Blue – a color name proposed by Patryk Skarzynski of Chicago Illinois as part of the “SRT Viper Color Contest.” Skarzynski’s entry of Competition Blue beat out Overtaking Blue and Viral Blue in the finals with those three colors having been picked out of the 11,000+ entries received since the contest was launched almost a month ago.
“This contest demonstrates just how strong and vocal the SRT and Viper community is; to receive more than 11,000 entries was rewarding. This contest was created for our brand loyalists to make them a part of SRT history,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re looking forward to seeing Competition Blue drape the skin of the 2014 SRT Viper.”
With Patryk Skarzynski’s entry of Competition Blue being chosen as the official name for this new Viper blue, he will receive a trip for two to the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway that will include some great seats to watch the race, a full outfit of SRT and Viper branded apparel, spending money while in Daytona and a special chance to meet SRT and Viper team engineers. Skarzynski and those SRT fans credited with entering Viral Blue and Overtaking Blue will all receive a “speed form” sculpture that displays the shape of the 2014 Viper – which will likely be painted Competition Blue – just for being chosen as a finalist.
It should be noted that with over 11,000 entries for the SRT Viper Color Contest, there is a good chance that more than one person entered with the name Competition Blue but Skarzynski is credited with being the first one to submit that color so he is the lucky winner of the Rolex 24 prize package…while also being able to forever brag that he named the 2014 SRT Viper Competition Blue paint code.
"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.
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