Fall 2025
- vcotracks
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
Hello VCO!
We hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving and the nicest fall weather in recent memory! It's been great to see many taking the opportunity to enjoy it at our recent fall events. Be sure to check out Stephen's Letchworth State Park Fall Cruise this coming Saturday, then Dan Scheneweiss' Garage Tour, followed by our four newly listed end-of-season events!
Recent Event Recaps
Thanks to our members and club sponsors for hosting and attending these great events!
-Sept 13th-Dominika and Tomek's Elmhirst Resort Lunch, Cruise & Primitive Designs Tour.
Scenic Rice Lake location, excellent meal and even better company! We cruised to the Rolling Grape Winery and on to shop one of the craziest and most unique stores ever!
-Sept 15/25th-JRP Online/Speed Therapy Days, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP). These were this club sponsor's last 2 days of the season, and a good time was had by all.
-Sept 27th-ILR Car Control Schools Performance Driving School & Lapping Day at CTMP. Several members had fun improving their car control skills on the Driver Development Track with this club sponsor's last 2025 event. Sign up in 2026 to become more skilled!
-Sept 28th-Cars & Coffees in both Buffalo and at Hagerty in Burlington. These were their season enders, and an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday morning!
-Oct. 5th-The Gorelle's Belfountain Exotic Car Fall Cruise. This was Dave & Krista's 3rd hosting of this fun event which brought out Vipers and some of our other fun rides! Please note: We have many high-res photos that were too large to post here. Please contact Bruce if you'd like to receive them by email at vcotracks@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
-Sat. Oct. 18th - Letchworth State Park Cruise & Lunch
Enjoy Western New York's scenic roads and this park attraction's spectacular waterfalls! Director Stephen Colan has planned a great route and a good time, and in case you're wondering, there are no issues crossing the border! RSVP now for the meal reservations! https://calendar.boomte.ch/single/wfpA8A8sJ7iL3M6xU1gW2p
-Sat. Oct. 25th - Dan's Car Collection Garage Tour
Director Dan Schneeweiss is sharing his collection of exciting cars with us! But parking space is limited so RSVP early to enjoy your morning with Dan and club friends! https://calendar.boomte.ch/single/iJ7wH9A8czxA8H9lM6L3eck
-Sun Nov 9th - End-Of-Season Lunch, Beertown Public House, Newmarket
-Sat. Nov. 15th - End-Of-Season Lunch, Beertown Public House, Burlington
-Sat. Nov. 22nd - End-Of-Season, Bruce & Deb's House Party, Cannington
-Sat. Nov. 29th - End-Of-Season Lunch, London Area
New Member Introductions
It's a pleasure to welcome....
Telman Kudraton and his 2004 Silver SRT-10 Roadster, Stoney Creek!
and Hirad Ali and his 2008 Venom Red Pearl Coupe, Keswick!
We look forward to meeting you both, hopefully soon at one of the above events!
2026 Event Calendar Planning Has Begun!
Your Board of Directors recently met to discuss our 2026 event calendar. It's going to include a good mix of popular events and some new suggested ones! Watch for those to be outlined in the The VCO Times - Winter 25/26 Issue in December!
Club Renewals Now Open
Annual membership renewals are due by Dec. 31st each year. We ask for your assistance to get these in by then so we can plan our 2026 club budget. Dues are low and value is off the charts at $125 CDN and $95 USD! You can send a CDN $ e-transfer to vcomembership@gmail.com, or by cheque/check made payable to Viper Club of Ontario and mailed to our treasurer...
Viper Club of Ontario
c/o Dennis Harding
702 Burnett Avenue
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
N1T 1P1
Winter Storage Advice
It's that time of year again! Our club offers many tips to safely store your Viper which you'll find below, and adding the following article written by our Mobil 1 sponsor for us...
"Why You Should Change Your Engine Oil Annually—even if You Drive Just a Few Kilometers
by David Swain – Mobil 1 Grassroots Motorsports Coordinator - Canada
For vehicles that are driven only a few miles in the summer and stored through the winter, changing the engine oil on a regular time interval—usually at least once per year—is just as important as reaching a certain mileage threshold. This approach keeps the engine protected from the harmful effects of oil degradation and contamination, especially during long periods of storage when used oil can contribute to corrosion and internal buildup.
Why Used Oil Is Harmful
Used engine oil gradually accumulates moisture, acids, unburnt fuel, and metallic wear particles during operation. Even if few miles are driven, these contaminants do not disappear and can cause:
Increased internal engine corrosion, especially when the car is not started for months (such as winter storage).
Buildup of sludge and varnish, which can degrade oil flow and protection.
Potential increased wear on engine components, since degraded oil loses its ability to properly lubricate and protect metals.
Leaving used oil in the crankcase over winter gives these contaminants time to cause damage, subtly reducing engine longevity.
Time vs. Mileage: Why Time Matters
Synthetic motor oils like Mobil 1 resist breakdown better than conventional oils, but time-based changes are still recommended. Oil degrades chemically with exposure to air, temperature changes, and moisture, even if the vehicle is not being actively driven. Most experts and oil manufacturers—including Mobil—recommend changing the oil at least once per year regardless of mileage for cars that see infrequent or seasonal use.
A fresh oil change before storage removes acids and contaminants, ensuring only clean oil is in contact with engine parts all winter. This is especially pertinent with synthetic oils like Mobil 1, which maintain protection qualities longer but are not immune to the effects of age and moisture.
Mobil 1 Oil Recommendations
Mobil 1 and other premium full synthetics are formulated for extended service life and offer better protection against breakdown, but Mobil recommends following the owner's manual—typically a 1-year or mileage-based (usually 12,000-16,000 kilometers) schedule, whichever comes first, for vehicles in low-mileage and storage situations.
Practical Tips for Seasonal Cars
Change oil and filter before putting the car into long-term storage for the winter.
Do NOT run your vehicle while it is in storage. You will cause more harm than good.
Use high-quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1 for added protection, especially during extended periods without engine operation.
Even if only several hundred miles are driven in the summer, use the annual change interval as your baseline.
Always check for the specific recommendation in the vehicle’s owner's manual.
For a well-protected engine, change the oil every year before winter storage—even on cars with very low annual mileage. Clean oil, such as Mobil 1, ensures contaminants aren’t left inside your engine when it needs protection the most."
And these additional club tips should help your Viper be ready to enjoy in the spring!
Store with a full tank of fuel to avoid condensation accumulating in the tank, and Garrett recommends avoiding the use of fuel stabilizer products.
All vehicles experience slow power drain that can damage a battery when it's not charged by frequent use during winter storage. It's recommended to use an intelligent charger or battery maintainer. For complete information please see "Timely Tip - Winter care for your battery" https://www.viperclubofontario.com/post/the-vco-times-6.
Tires are best to sit on wood or something other than a concrete garage floor, and can be over-inflated 5 psi to help avoid "flat spotting" from sitting in one position all winter.
Wheel finishes are damaged over long periods by settled brake dust and road grime. Removing the wheels is optimal for the most thorough clean to help prevent damage. That's also the perfect time to have them checked for any needed wheel straightening or refinishing. Union Rim offers a service where they rotate your wheels with tires on a machine and you will observe any wobbling. https://www.unionrim.com/services
Tires on minimally driven Vipers tend to require replacement due to old age long before the tread wears out. If they're more than 7 years old they have lost enough of their grip and deteriorated to the point that driving safety will be compromised in situations where you suddenly need it most. Availability of our Viper tire sizes is sporadic as they are only produced infrequently. If yours are old, buy now or get them on order asap! More tire info at https://www.viperclubofontario.com/clubprograms/vco-tire-buying-guides  Â
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Clean the car, but avoid washing and putting the car away wet.  A nice drive will dry body, suspension and brake components. Remove boxes of tissue and anything that might attract nesting rodents, and if you use a car cover, keep it up off the floor to discourage them from climbing up it. Apply any body, trim and interior protectants you wish to use.
The success of various rodent repellant recommendations is uncertain as there are many who claim each of them doesn't work. If you have a proven one please let Bruce know.
It's wise to retain insurance coverage against fire and theft over the winter. Keep your keys safely hidden and away from the car to prevent theft and "proximity" battery drain.
Sponsor Appreciation
We're incredibly fortunate to have the support of club sponsors who have helped make the club what it is today! Please review our updated sponsors list with contact info at https://www.viperclubofontario.com/copy-of-sponsorsÂ
On behalf of your club directors and sponsors, thank you for your support and friendship, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our last events for 2025!
Bruce Hadfield
VCO President
Viper Club of Ontario has proudly supported Viper Nation since 1997! Â