Venue

 

Heavy growth in the past 20 years has made Charlotte one of the nation's largest and most successful cities in the South. In many ways, the city is still trying to catch up to its own growth; visitors often comment that it seems understated in terms of culture and development. However, it is changing at a breathtaking speed. A very rapid influx of population and business investment has given it one of the most dynamic urban areas in the region.

NASCAR events take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is technically outside of Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. Charlotte is the de facto hub of stock car racing in the U.S., with several NASCAR teams based in the city. 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup races take place each season, including the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600. Additionally, Charlotte was chosen as the home for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and headquarters, which is located near the Convention Center in Uptown.

Dubbed "The Queen City" after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, Charlotte is an undeniably historic American city. Today, it is one of the top 20 fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, and home to an endless array of interesting attractions, popular restaurants, and fantastic late-night hotspots.

 

Concord, North Carolina

Named one of the “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine in 2006, in 2004 Concord was one of the 10 winners of the All-America City Award sponsored by the National Civic League. Concord is home not only to Charlotte Motor Speedway but also to several professional racing teams - Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing.  Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure is approximately one hour and 10 minutes away from Concord, in Newton, NC.  

The most popular tourist attraction in the entire state of North Carolina is Concord Mills Mall located in Concord, NC right across the street from the Embassy Suites Charlotte Concord. This is not just your average run of the mill mall but almost a city in itself with over 200 stores. These 200 stores include manufacturer and retail outlets, off-price retailers and unique specialty stores. On top of all of the stores there are many themed restaurants and a 24 screen AMC movie theater. Even with all of this there is also fun in the mall like Dave and Busters and the NASCAR speed park. You definitely can't get bored at this Viper Owner Invitational!   For more information on Charlotte and the surrounding area, please check out this site: http://www.visitcabarrus.com

 

Charlotte Motor Speedway is Charlotte's most exciting place for racing action. One of the largest sports facilities in the Southeast, the speedway seats nearly 165,000 fans. There's room for 50,000 more in the infield, where you'll get a real taste of the action, from pit fumes to hard-core racing fans. The facility boasts an infield road course, smaller go kart track, and various areas used for skid pad and driving experiences.  Richard Petty Driving Experience calls this track home as well.

 

The Experience

When it's not hosting major NASCAR events such as the Coca-Cola 600, you may find commercials and major motion pictures being filmed at the hallowed track. Many of NASCAR's top drivers call the Charlotte area home, so you may see them shaking cars down during off-season testing at the track.

 

zMAX Dragway

The zMAX Dragway is a state-of-the-art four-lane drag strip located on 125 acres across U.S. Highway 29 from the main Charlotte superspeedway.  The drag strip officially opened on August 20, 2008, and a public open house was held a few days later. The first NHRA event was held September 11–14, 2008.  The dragway features the only all-concrete, four-lane drag strip in the United States. The starting line tower is 34,000 square feet and includes 16 luxury suites, race control areas and a press box. Two grandstands, one on their side of the strip, can hold a combined 30,000 spectators. Twenty-four luxury suites with hospitality accommodations are located above the main grandstand. Two tunnels run underneath the strip to enhance fan mobility between the two grandstands.

 

 

VOI.12 Track Guidelines

Viper owners have always been meticulous in prepping their cars, but we would like to remind you of a few minimum checks for preparing for VOI.12!

 

Fluids:

Fuel – There is fuel located just outside Charlotte Motor Speedway and the zMAX Dragway. Before you fire up the morning of the event, make sure you check your oil, coolant, water and brake fluid levels.

 

Tires:

We recommend 28 – 32 psi. Check them in the morning during the fluid checks and set tire pressures while they are cold.

 

Driving:

The goal is to maximize your driving time with the focus being on safety and a quality experience for everyone.

 

Karts:

Arrive and Drive. Helmets will be provided.

 

Mandatory safety rules:

Helmets must be worn on the road course at all times. There will be a few loaners on hand, however we recommend you bring your own to guarantee a better fit. Helmets must be Snell 2005 or newer.

Seat belts must be worn at all times.

No passengers other than Petty Driving Experience Instructors are allowed on the road course.

Remember long pants and closed toe shoes required at all driving events.

Remember, in the event of a spin use both feet! ( Full brake, full clutch)

Passing allowed only if / when told to by the Petty Instructor

We are looking forward to a great and very safe Viper event!

 

 

Driving Activities Descriptions

 

Road Course:

Utilizing the infield road course and a good portion of the quad-oval speedway, you will drive your car with a professional instructor in the passenger seat.  As with any road course that merges into a banked superspeedway, be very careful on the transitions.  This is not a timed event and there are absolutely no awards or points for being faster than the next driver.  Drive safely and keep your car intact.

 

Autocross:

We will time each run and display your time on a digital board for everyone to see. Remember, smooth is fast. There will be penalties assessed for hitting cones or missing the stop box.  There are light poles in this zMAX lot and the course will be designed to minimize any chance of contact.  Nonetheless, be sure to walk the course beforehand and be aware of where you might end up if you blow a turn. ***We will have removable window markers on-site. We need your ID # (this is located on your track credential) on the window so we can score autocross. There will also be cloths available to remove the marker when you’re done.

 

Go-Karts:

Not quite the crazy-fast go karts from VOI 11, these are still a lot of fun and located inside the Charlotte Motor Speedway. There is a minimum age of 16 for this event.

 

SRT Vehicle Line:

Here you get a chance to check out the current SRT lineup.  Note that the Gen V Viper will not be available for attendees to drive during track events due to the production schedule.  There will be new Vipers located throughout the venues, however if you are coming to VOI 12 without your Viper you should plan on limited driving in other SRT vehicles during the track portions of the event.