Since the introduction of the 2013 SRT Viper, Viper GTS and
race-ready Viper GTS-R, there have been a variety of informative videos issued
about the Viper but this one might just be the coolest thus far.This video offers a brief look at the history
of the legendary Dodge-turned-SRT Viper going all the way back to the original
Viper Concept’s debut at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show.
The video includes SRT CEO and President Ralph Gilles
talking about his first time “meeting” the Dodge Viper followed by a look at
how the Viper idea was established.The
video then walks us through the progress from concept to production with a
variety of shots of the original Viper concept being tested and the production
model being introduced.We also get a
cool look at what drove the design of the original Viper V10 engine.
One of my favorite parts of the video shows a clip from the
awesome TV show “Viper”, including showing the production Viper transforming
into the attack mode Viper hardtop in silver from the show.The video then goes on to discuss the Viper’s
success as a race car before moving onto the evolution of the Viper to being
the new SRT Viper.
This Viper video also includes some information that could
have been very bad news, touching on the fact that the Viper was almost sold
off by those bastards at Cerberus.Luckily, when Fiat bought into the Chrysler
Group, Sergio Marchionne made the call to keep the Viper in house and moved to
establish the gorgeous 5th generation of the Viper that we will soon
see on roads around the US.
"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.
