 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
A very hot weekend and even hotter Viper racing action on the track at Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis for the Viper Days '99 event. There was fun and action to be had by all at the beautiful new facility. Track temperatures were rumored to be over 125 degrees. On Sunday the heat was nearly unbearable, with a shady spot being the ticket for survival for most. The people at Gateway were of terrific help for the event, as well as Skip Thomas once again organizing another great Viper Days event for all. There are close to 75 photos here portraying the events of the weekend. Don't forget; Click on the pictures with curled corners for a larger image. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
A hazy view of the Gateway city of St. Louis from the walkway over the track gives a feel of the heat of the weekend that punished everyone. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
The line up for the Saturday practice race. Rich Marziale had the poll, with Kevin Allen in the Hennessey Venom, and Bob Woodhouse behind. Dave Snelten lines up behind them in his Blue GTS #22. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
The pack flies into turn 1 on the first lap. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
With Rich Marziale off to a big lead, Bob Woodhouse took 2nd from Kevin Allen as the 2 battled hard right from the first lap. Following them was Skip Thomas and Dave Snelten with a very intense battle of their own. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Woodhouse hard on the binders goes inside as Allen follows close behind. Allen got closer with every lap, trying to gain his position back. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Meanwhile Marziale (a.k.a. Muzzy) established a comfortable lead in his #56 Red GTS. Muzzy demostrated some excellent driving skills in his powerful GTS for most of the race, until he was black flagged for excessive smoke out the back of the #56. Apparently the pinion seal blew on the rear housing, causing somewhat heavy smoke to billow from the rear of his car, and possibly dropping gear lube on the track. |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Among all of the Vipers at the event, there were a few Porsches, a Supra, and this very cool race prepped Shelby Cobra. It was a change of pace to hear a powerful V-8 running around with the V10's of the Vipers and sixes of the Porsches. |
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
|||
 |
|||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
