Four-wheel 'snake handlers'

By Adam Krohn
adamkrohn@daltoncitizen.com

July 19, 2008 10:44 pm

— On Saturday, Dalton’s Tony Armour got together with a few of his buddies for a barbecue at his home on Eagle Point Drive to share in something they all have in common — a muscle car guy’s love of the Dodge Viper.
Owning a Viper is not just a great way to turn heads when cruising down the street. It’s also a remarkable way to network with people from around the country, and even the world. Viper Club of America that has chapters in every region of the United States, as well as international groups in Canada, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Georgia chapter sponsored Saturday’s gathering that included about 30 VCA members, ranging from locals to one who came from New Jersey.
This is the second year Armour has hosted such an event, something he does for the camaraderie with enthusiasts that share his passion for the Viper.
“I love it,” Armour said. “I have friends from all over the country in Florida, California, Utah — any city, any size, you know them from (the VCA) Web site if they have a Viper.”
Armour, who runs a day care center during the week, has always found time for fast cars and in 2000 formed Tony Armour Racing, a side business that allows him to race competitively and also do custom work on Vipers. He owns a blue and white 1996 Viper GTS and added custom twin turbo chargers that push the car’s engine to 1,000 horsepower, a significant boost from the 450 HP at the time of delivery.
Initially, Armour raced a 1967 Camaro, as well as a Firebird, but fell in love with the Viper when he saw friend and fellow VCA member Mike Robbins, who owns Ringgold Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, working on his Viper.
Armour has found a niche in performing custom work on Vipers because owners of the sports car typically avoid factory workshops when having their cars upgraded.
Take Phil Franchino of New Jersey, for instance. Franchino is a member of the VCA New York/Con-necticut chapter who couldn’t find anyone to work on his car. So he drove his 1998 Viper down the East Coast to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to have it serviced. He left the car in Florida over the Christmas holidays and, with his sales job keeping him busy, didn’t have time to pick the car up until this week.
Franchino decided to take a detour on the way back to New Jersey and made a pit stop in Dalton to visit Georgia for the first time in his life.
“I found out about this get-together through the (Web site) message board and decided to stop by,” Franchino said. “The timing was perfect. (The VCA) always has something going on just about every weekend in New York, so it’s good to come down here and see how things are. I really like it here a lot. The people are real friendly.”
Of course, the VCA has events that go far beyond barbecues, including putting all the custom work on their cars to use, either on the streets for leisure or at the race track competitively.
On the track, VCA-sponsored events have included drag racing and autocross (a pylon obstacle course) held at top venues like Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The next big VCA event is in Detroit, where the Vipers are assembled, for the 10th annual Viper Owners Invitational on Aug. 27-30.
On the streets, there are various regions of the country for VCA members to explore in groups. One of the more popular sites is called “The Tail of the Dragon” in Deal’s Gap, N.C., an 11-mile scenic mountain roadway with 318 curves. It is considered by many to be the country’s top road for sports cars.
Needless to say, this road must be handled with extreme caution.
“Whoever built that road had to have been smoking something,” said Macon’s Chad Fritz, president of the VCA Georgia chapter. “They’ve got some 90-degree turns on that road and if you’re not careful, you’re going to wreck.”
With such powerful cars, VCA members also have to be aware of their speed because high-speed sports cars can often be targeted by police.
“I was driving up a mountain road in Gatlinburg, Tenn., when I was pulled over,” Armour said. “The cop was impressed with the car and we spent half the time talking about that. He said, ‘I’ve been following you for the past 15 minutes.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but I wasn’t being dangerous, was I?’ He let me go without even a warning.”
Of course, in most instances, VCA members shouldn’t expect to be as fortunate as Armour.
“I’m the only one in Macon with a Viper,” Fritz said. “So I’m very well-known by everyone, including the cops. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten out of (a ticket).”

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