{"id":260,"date":"2019-08-15T19:32:55","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T02:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2640.tv\/?p=260"},"modified":"2019-10-01T17:11:45","modified_gmt":"2019-10-02T00:11:45","slug":"is-the-viper-the-new-half-mile-powerhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2640.tv\/is-the-viper-the-new-half-mile-powerhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Viper the new half-mile powerhouse?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enthusiasts have been modifying Vipers<\/a> ever since they came out in 1992. With a big V10, manual transmission, and a lightweight body, the Viper was not (nor has it ever been) a car for the faint of heart. <\/span><\/p>\n

For decades, the Viper<\/a> was known as a widow-making torque monster. With no traction or stability control for many years, far too many Vipers succumbed to ill-equipped drivers and telephone poles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As generations continued, the Viper got more refined, but was still a very raw car. Vipers were known to be loud, cramped, and hot due to the exhaust running straight out of the side door sills. <\/span><\/p>\n

When the latest generation Viper (known as the Gen V) came out in 2013, many didn\u2019t realize how big of a leap this car was from all prior generations. Coming from the factory with 640 horsepower, it was one of the highest-powered production cars you could purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n

MUST READ:<\/strong> 1500hp TT Viper vs 2500hp TT Corvette \u2013 Half-mile Battle for the Money<\/a><\/p>\n

Now with traction and stability control, different suspension setting modes, and updated technology in every way, this new Viper was something far and beyond the rowdy widow-maker it was once derived from.<\/span><\/p>\n

People have long made big power with Vipers thanks to its eight+ liter, ten-cylinder foundation. Many Vipers were modified into drag cars as the owners and shops started throwing big turbochargers on top of the V10 and getting 1000+horsepower out of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, in the past few years, the Gen V has really become something spectacular in the right hands. Calvo Motorsports<\/a>, a performance shop out of Austin, Texas, is known as \u201cthe\u201d place for going big with Gen V Vipers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Owner Antonio Calvo started pushing the limits of the stock Gen V motor in his personal car, an Orange 2014 Viper TA<\/a> nicknamed \u201cThe General\u201d, with big turbos, a stand alone ECU, fueling, and a clutch (to start). <\/span><\/p>\n

Problem was, the limits just kept going and he started seeing the potential in this platform. Soon the car had a built motor, sequential gearbox, and was breaking half-mile records.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Calvo
Photo Credit: Calvo Motorsports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fast forward to now; Calvo Motorsports now makes multiple packages for the fifth generation Viper. Stock motor builds are capable of a reliable 1200-1500hp with supporting mods, which is absolute insanity. As can be seen in the video, Calvo made a big showing at the Pikes Peak Airstrip Attack<\/a>, one of the largest half-mile racing events in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

On stock motor builds, these cars are doing 180-190+ in the half-mile. Cars with built motors are seeing 2000+ horsepower at the wheels (yes, AT THE WHEELS) and doing 215+ mph in the half-mile. Add an air-shifted sequential gearbox, and all you have to do is hang on for the ride of your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To further put this into perspective, a Bugatti Chiron<\/a> will do 60-130 in about 5.03 seconds whereas a Calvo Motorsports CM2000 package<\/a>, on low boost, on the street, manually shifted, did 60-130 in 3.48 seconds. Figure at full boost on an event pass, this car could be somewhere in the high 2\u2019s, and this isn\u2019t even one of their biggest builds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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