Viper – M5 – VR4 Spyder

[YogsVR4]

Last weekend I took my Spyder down to Lansing to take it in for a recall notice on the transfer case. (got that about a year ago, but just hadn’t taken it in because it hasn’t been a problem). I had the top down and was cruising down 127 and was just pulling into town. The speed limit drops from 70 to 55 and I slowed down to somewhere around 60 when low and behold a early 90s Viper comes rolling down the onramp. Sweet red color (not as nice as mine though ) It was an RT and the guy looked about my age so I wasn’t going to be dealing with an ‘old foggy’ this time.

He pulls onto the highway a several dozen yards in front of me so I go to catch up and pace him. He wasn’t going much faster then I was so I was side by side in short order.

Now before I go any further. I know that Viper has my number. Sure I’ve got some good mods in the Spyder and it’ll out run the Viper (done it a few times to the older ones) off the line until we’ve gone a few football fields and then its all over. I’m not delusional. I just like having the retractable hard top more then the raw speed.

Back to the run. I look over and see that he’s turn to look at me. He’s already smiling. Not sure if he’s smiling because he likes my ride or because he knows its on and he’s got my number. He raises his right hand and does a four-three-two-one with his fingers and we’re off. Unfortunately we were going around 60. Not the best speed for me to take off from when rolling. I dropped it into third and let those turbos do their thing. I did manage to get my big heavy girl a moving pretty damn well considering she is heavy, the speed we were at. He let me get going first. I didn’t hear him get it on until my tail end had passed his front bumper.

That little bit of a lead did hold up until I crossed about 105. He reeled me in and started to walk away. We both knew it would happen but it was still damn fun. He backed off and we both slowed down to 70 (we had gotten to the south side of town now and the speed limit had gone back up). I gave him the thumbs up and he smiled again and nodded. Then he looks in his mirror a few times and it looks like he wants me to check mine. Yup – BMW gaining on us quick.

We slow down some more back to the 60ish range and this brand new sweet ass blue M5 eases up right behind the Viper. Its pretty obvious he wants to play too.

I’m just having a blast right now. I think Vipers are a real treat and I’ve been a fan of the latest incarnation of the M5 and I so rarely see them I was just smiling from ear to ear.

We had two issues coming up though. My exit was going to be her in a mile or two and there are only two lanes in any case (short of a brief 3 lane branch off). So I figure what the heck. I’m staying as long as these guys do. I had already run (and lost) to the Viper so I wanted a crack at the BMW. I backed up to get beside him. He looked over and smile. Traffic was staying sparse so we backed down our speed to give the cars up front some time to widen the gap and the Viper raced off to give us some room. This time I did the 4-3-2-1 countdown and we punched it at the same time. He did get out of the hole faster then I did, but I started to real him in and was ahead by about the length of my hood when we had to back it down for the cars ahead. I’m sure his car weighs more then mine and must be stock. The mods I have must have been enough to keep him at bay but I have a sneaking suspicion that he’d have turned the tables if we could have continued to go. I think its safe to call this one a win for me.

He gave me the thumbs up and I responded in kind. Now he pointed at the Viper and I used a “be my guest” gesture and hit the brakes so he could slide over in front of me to pull up next to him. My turn to watch

The guy in the Viper does his countdown again after they gave traffic more room and off they went. I waited a bit before I hit it as well because on the off chance one of them bogs down, I didn’t want to be right on their ass (or close to it). They both sounded like they left at the same time and that Viper just ate up the pavement. Very impressive for a 9 (or so) year old model. Not that my 8 year old baby didn’t do bad either.

That was pretty much it. We just cruised as a small group until the guy in the Viper took off on an exit. So I took the next one and waved to the fellow in that M5. I jumped back on the north bound lanes and headed back to town.

Sure it’s a long story, but I still have a smile on my face getting a chance to run with a couple of my favorite cars on the planet. Had a Vanquish been in the area I might very well have been able to claim this as the second greatest day of my life. Can’t be the first. Day I got married gets that one.

[NSX-R-SSJ20K]

fun stuff dude

I like the M5's too they're cool.

[BLU CIVIC]

must have been fun days like those are rare

[carrrnuttt]

[NYREPS]

and then the yogs woke up and found out it was all a dream .

[carrrnuttt]

Originally Posted by NYREPS

and then the yogs woke up and found out it was all a dream .

You forgot to put a smiley on that post. Just in case you didn't, here's MY smiley:

BTW, Yogs, I totally forgot to mention the Germany vs Japan vs U.S. aspect of your race...always nice to meet-up with enthusiasts like that.

[YogsVR4]

Originally Posted by carrrnuttt

You forgot to put a smiley on that post. Just in case you didn't, here's MY smiley:

BTW, Yogs, I totally forgot to mention the Germany vs Japan vs U.S. aspect of your race...always nice to meet-up with enthusiasts like that.

NYREPS has been giving me shit for some reason since he joined the board. Just ignore him.

It didn't even occur to me about the international flavor of the cars. It was three fine example

I tell you some of the best cruising I’ve done is with a local Corvette get together. Those guys have some beautiful machines as well and I like to tag along while they take their drive. All those guys are real cool and they enjoy getting a some of the rarer cars in the area to tag along. (not that they would mind anyone regardless of what they drive). No nock on anyone here, but it seems that the older enthusiasts out there really enjoy seeing the different machines and take any race win/loss in stride.

[Neutrino]

Nice race yogs....and btw props for the story....it was the best racing story i think i read around here with plenty of detail but not overly long....So i niminate Yogs for the AF Pulitzer

[Ace$nyper]

Sweet story sounds like a lot of fun

[kittedb18bt]

good story Yogs, it was well-written and fun to read. i probably would have had an orgasm or something like that with those two cars around me-i dont think i would have been able to concentrate on the race at all! good job

[fatninja19]

Yes, very entertaining.. I hope to come upon an incident similar to your soon!