VOI 7 registration!

[Craig 201 MPH]

Just be gald you're not Canadian.

Craig

[Paul Hawker]

Every year we hear from some members that the price is too high. I can understand this view, however there is no way to duplicate the experience for less money. In addition to VOI.7 there will be ViperDays (additional cost) and Hennessey coordinated drag racing (additional cost). Many attendee's will spend several thousand dollars for this event, and consider every dollar well spent. The cost of race preparing, and shipping your car to Nashville, not to mention the money spent in the memorabilia tent will not be unsubstantial. The memories are priceless.
This will be the largest gathering of Vipers on the planet...Be there.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

They also complain about Nashville. With VOI 6 they complained about St Louis. They way it sounds the only places they want it is Orlando or Vegas. Those same people probably also want dead pedals, auto trannys and think the Viper is an awful "daily driver."

$700 is a big chunk, but I'll do the best I can to come up with it.

[Performin Norman]

$700 is definitely not outrageous for the owner of the car. They allow all the track events and such. However, I will state that $700 for my wife to attend is way too much. JMHO

[Y2K5SRT]

It's not high enough. Wait, wait - it is certainly expensive and I will be going through the sofa cushions to try and scrape together that many pennies to go. However, do you think that these fees actually cover the cost of a VOI? Not even close. Here are a few things I can remember offhand from VOI 6 that were included in the price:

* Three day rental of a major NASCAR/NHRA track and all facilities
* Two day rental of a large recreational park and covered tables for lunch
* Four day rental of several large convention rooms
* Race-prepared Dodge Neons for autocrossing for anybody interested
* Full autocross set up including timing and instructors (actually, two separate courses)
* Factory Vipers available for some events
* High-speed Skip Barber driving instructors for three days
* Skid pad trucks to use and abuse, complete with Barber instructors
* Two catered lunches to +/- 450 people each (Viper Cruise)
* Two more catered lunches to +/- 450 people (at the track)
* Two full-course dinners (and no hamburgers either), including open bar
* Three catered breakfast' at the track
* Rental of popular downtown facility (Laclede's Landing)
* Open bar and catered buffet (with all the trimmings) at Laclede's Landing
* Ice sculptures and entertainers at Lacledes (jugglers, stiltwalkers, etc.)
* Coupons for four free drinks (full mix) and no cover charges at popular local bars at Lacledes landing (try to set THAT up!)
* Fireworks spectacular (and it rivaled many 4th of July presentations - fired from a rented barge in the Mississippi)
* Concept cars brought down, including the VGX and Maxx Cab
* Oreca cars brought down for display
* Oreca drivers flown in to sign autographs and speak to owners
* Three bands, including Otis Day, to perform
* One famous comedian to perform
* Numerous tour buses to bring guests to the track, to take people to Lacledes, and even to go on the Viper Cruise if they were Viperless or just wanted to ride in a nice air-conditioned bus with TV's
* Personal shuttles (in brand new Dodges) to and from parking garage
* 24-hour guarded parking on three floors of downtown facility (and not included in the room rate)
* Subsidized enclosed trailers to bring your Viper to VOI - you paid roughly half of the normal cost of transport while Dodge picked up the rest
* "Goody bag" for each attendee including Viper duffel bag, Viper binoculars, Viper umbrella, cleaning kit (coupon redeemed for free at Dodge exhibit), Viper steel travel mug, 1:43 VOI GTS model from Eagle Racing, silk Viper necktie or scarf (depending on gender of attendee), VOI posters - with the artist available to personalize and sign them, VOI T-shirt, a GREAT throw blanket with all the VOI graphics, and other stuff I can't even remember
* Wooden VOI puzzles as part of the Viper cruise (a piece given at each checkpoint)
* Two full-size Viper hoods transported for you to sign for display at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
* A scale raceway to race remote control Vipers for free
* Custom table centerpieces given to one couple at each table at the dinners (and they were nice too!)
* Numerous custom banners made for each region (and some stolen by overeager attendees )
* Signage created for every event and parking (and also stolen )
* 50+ (my guess) Dodge employees flown in to make every single event go smoothly and keep Viper owners happy
* Dodge executives brought down to speak and answer questions
* Dodge technical people brought down to do a tech session for owners
* Rental and coordination of an exhibit hall for Viper vendors (assume the vendors covered the cost of the hall)
* LOTS, lots more that I can't even begin to remember!

Now, if you think $700 a head will cover the cost, you are absolutely nuts (all due respect, of course). If I were to guess, I would think that the cost was easily triple that on a per person basis. Dodge (and the VCA) spends some serious money to underwrite this whole deal. Given the questionable economy when this latest VOI was planned, I am amazed they even went ahead with it. There aren't a lot of Viper owners out there compared to other sports cars, and DaimlerChrysler hasn't exactly been raking in the money of late. Tell you what: When you are dining on steak in a fancy hotel with your Viper being watched over by a guard and some famous band is up there playing, you tell the guy that just got laid off at one of the plants how $700 is too expensive...

Rest assured that it will be the best $700 you have ever spent and it still isn't enough.

Chris

PS. Sorry for the slight "rant" nature of this, but I have an inkling of what goes into this. I greatly appreciate ANY company that would take care of its customers this way.

[-RUNNR]

Well spoken Chris

[Performin Norman]

Chris,

Isn't Chrysler supposed to eat some of the costs? I was told they did but I don't know for sure. My wife and I had a wonderful time in St. Louis, even though I didn't have my car there. I will probably not attend this year. I have another car event to attend.

I hope you all have a great time.

[Y2K5SRT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Performin Norman:

Isn't Chrysler supposed to eat some of the costs? I was told they did but I don't know for sure. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Now I am not positive, but I believe that the VCA also foots a large part of the bill. As to whether DC is "supposed to eat some of the costs", ABSOLUTELY NOT. When you bought your Viper, did Dodge promise you a party every year or so? Nope. The typical Viper owner bought it used (no additional money to Dodge), uses Dodge for warranty work only (no profit in that for Dodge either), and they get their paid service done elsewhere besides a Dodge dealership.

Does Dodge eat MOST of the costs of the VOI's? Yep! Should they? Absolutely, positively, <u>not.</u> They are banking that this is an "investment" for future purchases, be it Viper or any other DC product. It provides nice publicity, but nothing earth-shattering. Personally, I consider it the biggest gift I have ever been given outside of my family - and it's not even my birthday!

Chris

[Performin Norman]

They threw me a party, you mean they didn't throw you one? hahaha You sure are missing out.

[Craig 201 MPH]

That's also on top of the $$$ they lose on every Viper sold as well.

Craig

[jimandela]

Chris,
thanks for the info...

[Hisser]

Whatever!!! Try adding up what is paid by the Viper owners. $700.00 x 900 cars or perhaps 1800 people is $1,260,000. One less dinner and no star this year. Go figure. I'll pass...
Paying 700 for the wife and she doesn't even get on the track. So the items listed are mostly for the guys.

[Steve Ferguson]

This is NOT meant to start a flame, but rather to try and shed a little more light on the TRUE value that VOI has become. The only thing Chris missed was one very important item. Here is the question, What price would you put on Friendship? I have made a number of great friendships at VOI, and in my eyes, they are much more valuable than the price of admission. If you value true friendship and comradery then you will get much more than your monies worth by attending a VOI. I hope to see you there.

[Y2K5SRT]

Not to worry Steve, I figured that the "friendship" part was priceless. After all, there are a few friends worth a heck of a lot more and maybe a couple that would be hard pressed to get $7.00... .

As to the cost to travel out for this, it is simply a matter of priorities. Big fan of the Viper as a whole? Don't miss the VOI, as you will enjoy a feast of Vipers like you have never experienced before in your life. Want to race and enjoy your car and aren't that "wowed" by other Vipers? Save your money, as you may be disappointed with some of the slower track speeds when the newbies take the field. If you are an extrovert, don't miss it. If you are terribly shy, watch the live web updates from home (I plan to post daily updates again this year).

Let's try an analogy: Let's say that Pink Floyd has announced that they are doing one final concert in Los Angeles before officially retiring. Roger Waters included. You are a HUGE Pink Floyd fan. Do you spend the $2,000+ a ticket is likely to cost from scalpers, plus airfare, hotel, meals, etc. - for a three hour show? Or do you buy a decent multimedia system with surround sound and watch a compilation of their music videos for about the same price instead? The diehard fan won't miss the opportunity to see them live one last time - even if they have to quit eating for a year. The stereo equipment is a better investment and you may be able to get better sound quality and no risk of an "off key moment" at home. So why spend the money for the concert? ATMOSPHERE. You are paying the big bucks to share a moment with fellow fans and see it all "as it happens" - to be a part of history.

While VOI may not be quite at that level, it is the same basic concept: You are surrounded by fellow fans in an atmosphere you will find NOWHERE else. Viper Days is incredible, the local VCA gatherings are great, and the Regional Rendezvous' were wonderful. Nevertheless, they simply do not compare to this three-day lovefest for all things Viper. My wallet is as tight as anybody's here and I would LOVE to do other upgrades if I could. But I won't miss this VOI, as it offers an atmosphere that won't be seen again for at least another year, if even then. Especially since I know I am getting it at one heck of a discount over actual cost.

And Narly - the first couple rounds of that carbonated motor oil you call "Guiness" are on me...

Chris

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Y2KGTS:
While VOI may not be quite at that level,

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good analogy Chris, but I disagree with the above sentence. I'm as big of Floyd fan as most, Aerosmith, Zepp, etc., but I OD'd on concerts when I was in my 20s. I'll take the Vipers, racing and HP over the tunes and "whatever" any day.