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Dodge Viper Gets Orlando Snake Bit

26 June 1997

Dodge Viper Gets Orlando Snake Bit

    ORLANDO, Fla., June 26 /PRNewswire -- More than 1,400 Viper owners will
descend upon Orlando this weekend as the Fourth Annual Viper Owner's
Invitational hits Disney World for a five-day "snakefest" beginning Saturday,
June 28.
    As the ultimate "car cult" event, the Invitational celebrates Dodge's
outrageous Viper, the ultimate American sports car that has become one of the
most sought after vehicles in the world.
    "This event doesn't just celebrate the vehicle itself, it celebrates the
people who own and drive the Viper," said Ron Smith, Dodge Viper Marketing
Executive.  "From grandfathers and grandmothers to CEOs, we've just about seen
it all.  They share information on parts, swap 'speed stories' and revel in
Viper ownership."
    The five-day event will cover a multitude of events, which include:

    *  A welcome banquet on Saturday evening at Disney World featuring a
       private concert by the Beach Boys.
    *  A Viper owners bash at Planet Hollywood with a red carpet entrance and
       screaming fans on the night of Sunday, June 29.
    *  Multiple clinics on everything from engine performance and
       specifications to after-market modifications on all week long.
    *  Skip Barber Racing School track events at Sebring International
       Raceway and Seminole Park and Speedworld on Sunday and Monday from
       10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    In its fourth year, the Viper Invitational seeks to offer owners a unique
and exciting experience that makes ownership more than just driving the car.
It's this type of "relationship marketing" that has helped make Viper a
household word.
    "You can't buy this type of exposure when it comes to owners spreading the
news by word of mouth," Smith said.  "We spend little or no money directly
advertising the Viper nationally, yet it's arguably one of the most recognized
automotive names in the world.  Events such as the Viper Invitational help
build that notoriety."
    Everything about Viper ownership is unique.  In fact, many of the owners
who take the time to attend the Viper Invitational also came to Detroit to
take delivery of their cars from the Conner Road Assembly Plant as part of a
special program.
    Last year, hundreds of Viper owners had the thrill of a lifetime by
lapping the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the start of the Indy
500, which was paced by the 1996 Viper GTS Coupe.
    Since production began in 1992, Chrysler has built nearly 7,500 Viper
Roadsters and Coupes.

SOURCE  Chrysler Corporation