June 2025

Hello VCO!

After month's of planning, our exciting 4th Annual VCO Viper Show & Lunch Meeting is on June 14th, with many more enjoyable events after that! It's time to shake off our long winter and rainy May blues and plan to attend another great season with Viper friends!

While the Dodge Viper continues to impress owners and enthusiasts as an incredible sports car, what I appreciate most are the many past and present passionate Dodge execs & employees who after decades continue to impress and support the community! We saw that on full display at our Conner Center/M1 event with MCVO last year, and will again for the Charity Dinner on June 13th and Viper Show & Lunch Meeting on the 14th!

https://calendar.boomte.ch/single/kcA8xA8J7sL3wmM6nU1M6v?date=2025-06-14T09:00,2025-06-14T16:00,0 . There are still available spots for the Friday dinner and Saturday's lunch! Don't miss this unique opportunity to meet Team Viper...RSVP today!

We look forward to meeting Ken Nowak, Dick Winkles, Sandy Emerling, Bill Adams and Charlie Brown III on June 13 & 14th. They are all among the founding class of the Spirit of Viper's Hall of Fame. They'll be choosing recipients of Team Viper Choice Awards, hold a speaker panel discussion (submit your questions to me), and sign Vipers for charity during the Viper Show on the 14th. https://www.spiritofviper.com/hall-of-fame/.

But sadly, we'll miss one Team member who was really looking forward to joining us...

Who was Roy Sjoberg and what does he mean to Viper?

By Ken Nowak, Team Viper

"Roy Hamilton Sjoberg came to Chrysler after a number of years with GM working on the Corvette program under his good friend and mentor, Zora Duntov.  Zora was known as the Father of the Corvette and was the first to put a V8 into one.  When Bob Lutz. Tom Gale, Francois Castaing, and Carroll Shelby began stirring the witches brew that shakes up stagnant automakers, Roy's name bubbled to the top of the pot and he was given the assignment to put together a "Feasibility Study" to see if Chrysler might have a two seat V-10 sports car in its future.

Moving "Viper" from concept to production inside a conservative front wheel drive K-Car corporation required a uniquely talented and dedicated group of people.  "Team Viper" as they came to be called was a gaggle of hot rodders, motorcycle riders, drag racers, rally drivers, road racers and enthusiasts who built Plymouth Reliants by day, and worked on race cars by night. The man who found these competitive and creative engineers, techs, and support personnel, and essentially built an entire car company within a car company, was Roy Sjoberg. 

Roy not only built an engineering Team Viper, but he led it like a father leads a family.  Roy made Team Viper into a family.  He made time to listen and understand whenever someone had an idea, a suggestion, or a complaint,  Floor sweeper or VP, Roy wanted to know your thoughts. He was more than a leader.  Roy was our patriarch and his recent passing feels like a loss of family.

Roy Hamilton Sjoberg, RHS, created Team Viper. 

Roy loved the Viper, he loved his Team Viper who made it happen, and he loved the Viper Nation. When a firefighter or police officer honors a fallen comrade, he wears a black "Mourning Band" over his badge.  Please remember Roy, and help Team Viper honor our fallen leader, friend, and mentor, who we called Father Viper, by placing the Mourning Band straight across the center of your Viper's Sneaky Pete, Fangs, or Stryker nose badge.  Roy was planning to join us in Ontario and in this small way, he has.  (Some Gen5 have a decal nose emblem.  Do Not put this decal over an existing decal)

Thanks for considering this small memorial, and thanks for inviting Team Viper to join Viper Club of Ontario to celebrate the car and the people who get together because of the Viper. Roy Sjoberg, Spirit of Viper Legend, https://www.spiritofviper.com/legends/

On behalf of Team Viper, Ken Nowak"

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

This charity holds special meaning to Team Viper, with one of their members being afflicted. The VCO is helping them raise donations to support this worthy charity and the search for a cure. We're holding a special Team Viper Charity Dinner on Friday June 13th with limited seats still available, and donations will be collected at Saturday's Viper Show for signed merchandise and vehicle signings. Donations accepted by cash, e-transfers, or directly to the Michael J Fox Foundation using a link that will provide a tax receipt.

VCO Name Badges

Let's welcome new members and make friends by wearing our name badges. We've made badges for all our newest members and they'll be available at check-in on June 14th. Better start looking for yours now since it's probably been 7 month since last worn!

Upcoming June/July Events

It's time to check our Events Calendar and RSVP to those you'd like to attend! Some are subject to participation so RSVP asap! https://www.viperclubofontario.com/events

• Wed. June 11 & Thurs 26 - Speed Therapy track day at Cdn Tire Motorsports Park

• Fri. June 13 - Special Team Viper VIP Charity Dinner, Burlington

• Sat. June 14 - Annual VCO Viper Show & Lunch Meeting, Burlington

• Sun. June 15 - Buffalo Cars & Coffee, Buffalo, NY

• Sat. June 21 - Pierce Arrow Museum Tour & Dinner, Buffalo, NY

• Thurs. June 26 - Slabtown Cider Co. Patio Dinner, Uxbridge

• Sun. June 29 - Hagerty G+S Cars & Coffee, Burlington (no RSVP required)

• Thurs. July 3 & Mon. 14 - Speed Therapy day at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

• Sat. July 5 - The Harding's Cottage BBQ & Cruise, Ingersoll to Grand Bend

• Sat. July 12 - Biplane Flights with Canadian Barnstormers, Guelph

• Sat. July 12 - O'Hara's Classic Car Show, St. Catharines

• Sun. July 13 - Ferrari Concours Show, King City

• Sat. July 19 - Bruce & Deb's Barbeque & Pool Party, Cannington

• Sun. July 27 - Hagerty G+S Cars & Coffee, Burlington (no RSVP required)

VCO Previews the New Dodge Charger Daytona 4-Door

This exciting new model hasn't been released yet but Dodge is treating us to it at our VCO Viper Show on June 14th along with some swag! Special thanks to VCO members Enio Parete and Kevin Hellman, Dodge/SRT Senior VP. And it's built in Windsor, Ontario!

Chrysler Windsor Assembly Plant Tour Feeler

We have the opportunity to plan another VIP plant tour like we did in Brampton in 2023. We'd see it in full operation building the new Dodge Charger and other models, and with some of our Vipers displayed in the plant again! This tour would include the paint shop which is really something to see.

It's tentatively scheduled on our Events Calendar for Sat. Sept. 13th, but we need a minimum of 20 members to RSVP to attend in order for it to be planned. Another interesting activity would also be planned to make it a full day or a nice weekend!

Please RSVP if you're interested to Jamie Herrington at millbilly66@outlook.com.

FCA Canada Advantage Plan Savings

One of the many ways that Stellantis supports our club is with exclusive enrollment in their Advantage Plan that allows VCO members to purchase Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles at $25 above Dealer Invoice Cost, in addition to any other special offers available at the time of purchase. This can save $1000's on your next vehicle purchase. Some exclusions. Contact Bruce for details at vcotracks@gmail.com.

Viper Parts Initiative Update

The initiative to have discontinued Viper parts produced again is receiving the full support of Viper Nation's vendors and service providers who are eager to make some of the needed parts. Special thanks to Stephen Colan, our Area Director for Western NY, who has volunteered an exhaustive amount of time with me to benefit all Viper owners.

Mobil 1: Ask The Pro

Mobil 1 is a major VCO sponsor again this year, and a Viper community resource through the "Ask The Pro" initiative. All Viper owners are encouraged to submit their questions to me to have them answered by Mobil 1's experts. Vipers came with Mobil 1 oil for years, and they've generously donated jugs of oil to be used at a few events as draw prizes!

Club Sponsors & Supporter Appreciation

We're so grateful for the incredible support our club receives. We use their support, and that of our members, to help all Viper owners with programs like the Viper Parts Initiative and Mobil 1: Ask The Pro initiatives. Please support these sponsors whenever possible.

And special thanks to Team Viper, Viper Nation's longest serving supporters!

On behalf of your leadership team, we look forward to seeing you at upcoming events. Add some club events to your calendar and RSVP now so you don't miss the fun!

Bruce Hadfield

VCO President

vcotracks@gmail.com

The Viper Club of Ontario has proudly supported Viper Nation since 1997. Join us!