Hello VCO Members,
We hope you all enjoyed the holidays with family and friends, and we wish you all a very happy and healthy 2023!
Our club’s 2023 New Year’s resolution is the continued commitment to provide a truly unsurpassed Viper ownership and club experience. We implemented 20 new club initiatives in 2021, dramatically expanded our Events Calendar and welcomed many new members again in 2022, and for 2023 we’re working on several exciting new initiatives that will further our club’s goals and enjoyment of our Vipers!
2023 Membership Draw Winner
We congratulate David Frost, the winner of our January 1st draw, who has now won his 2023 VCO Direct membership for free!
Thank you to David and all others who have renewed so far, and we encourage all to renew by January 15th to be included in our next draw!
Renewing is easy, just e-transfer $125 to vcotracks@gmail.com and you’re done!
Pictured is director Dan Frankian drawing the winning ticket on his condo balcony in West Palm Beach with Bruce. The next draw will be held in Naples, Florida!
Welcome New Members
We’re pleased to welcome new and returning past members who joined in December
Sam Bak, Welland, 1995 RT/10
Jay Newell, Claremont, 1997 GTS
Colby Byrnes-Shaw, Ottawa, 2006 SRT convertible
Adam Mayo, Newmarket, 2001 RT/10
Howard Fan, Stouffville, 2017 ACR Extreme (returning)
We hope you’ll be able to enjoy a number of club events and look forward to meeting you all soon!
New VCO 2023 Sponsors
We’re very pleased to welcome and thank these new club sponsors for their support…
Ian Law Racing Car Control School. Our club has had a relationship with Ian Law going back many years when we first supported his James Fund charity event where the public made a donation to experience a ride around a slalom course in our Vipers. We’ve also participated in his Performance Driving Schools and Lapping days where along with his Car Control and Winter schools, he provides the skills training to be a much more capable driver in all vehicles and driving conditions. https://carcontrolschool.com/ (pictured below)
BAKSPEED, Professional Driver Coaching and Race Car Rentals. Sam Bak has joined the VCO as a new member and club sponsor! Sam has years of driving instruction and coaching experience, including with Porsche Club of America, Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, Pace Motorsports, Radical Canada, and Ian Law Car Control Schools. 905-931-2331
VCO Drive for Charity
It's hard to imagine a more worthwhile and fulfilling endeavor than to use our club spirit and Vipers to improve the lives of sick children...and have a lot of fun doing it! We'll be combining efforts with our members, sponsors, and event partners to support...
James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research at SickKids (Ian Law. Photo from 2007)
Starlight Children’s Foundation (Lucas Scarfone/Autostrada Magazine)
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (members Dan & Sharon O'Hara)
We've raised donations for the James Fund several times, taking donors
for rides in our Vipers at Ian Law’s charity events and plan to again. We’ll help Lucas Scarfone raise donations at his Starlight charity event on August 19th at Toronto Motorsport Park (Cayuga), and help the O'Hara's raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes by attending their Car Show in St. Catharines in July.
Highlighting Coming Events
The club now holds events throughout the entire year, and there are currently about 40 days listed on our Event Calendar at https://www.viperclubofontario.com/events.
Please study it and note events you’d like to attend on your personal calendars so you don’t miss the fun! We’re still adding more events so be sure to check back periodically.
Sat. January 21st, Legendary Motorcar Visit, Milton-Georgetown
Sat. January 21st, Viper Racing League Show and Racing, Sebring Florida
Tues. January 31st, Wing Night, Ottawa
Sat. February 25th, Lunch at Villa Caledon Inn, Caledon
Ian Law Winter Driving Schools. While not scheduled VCO events, these schools are highly recommended to make you a safer driver. There are many dates to chose from, and they qualify for our Track Rebate. https://carcontrolschool.com/
Sunday June 11th, VCO Viper Show and Lunch Meeting. We had 52 Vipers shown in '22 and we’d like your help to show at least 75 Vipers this year, with 100+ Vipers being entirely possible if you all put June 11th on your personal calendars! Let’s make June 11th one of the most extraordinary and memorable VCO events ever!
Flashback Fridays
We’ve started highlighting some of our great club events from the past on Fridays on our VCO Members-only Facebook Group, calling them Flashback Fridays! Since some of you aren’t on Facebook, we’ve included some of the photos below. Please join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/646530975516107
Toronto Molson Indy, VCO driving dignitaries around the track (2003)
Miss Canada Swim Suit Competition, then VCO president Nabil Arafat was a judge!
Tour of Biltmore in Ashville, North Carolina (Circa 2008)
10th VCO anniversary at the Mill Street Brewery (2007)
Thanks to Nabil & Eda Arafat and Jean & Mike Buchanan for the photos and memories!
Market Place
Check out our new For Sale Ads! https://www.viperclubofontario.com/market-place
Andy Bortolotti's Viper pictured below.
Building a Strong Viper Community
We believe in a Viper community that benefits all owners, and we continue to strengthen ours in Ontario with strong leadership and membership growth. We’re pleased to announce that John Hopkins from Orleans has taken on the role of Event Coordinator to help plan fun local events with our several new Ottawa area members! Thank you, John!
New VCO Initiatives
We're looking forward to implementing our plans for various other new club initiatives and member benefits, and will be announcing them in future issues of the VCO Times!
2023 VCO Outlook
This is going to be an absolutely incredible year for our club. We look forward to having a lot of fun together, making many more great memories, helping to improve the lives of children in need, and enriching our own as we help them!
On behalf of your club’s leadership team, we thank our members, sponsors and event partners for their valued support, and wish you all a very Happy New Year!
Bruce Hadfield
VCO President
vcotracks@gmail.com
705-341-8320 any time