Featured Exhibit/Event

• Burt Bouwkamp, Director of Body Engineering
• Burke Brown, Chief Engineer, LX Program
• Bill Carry, National Turbine Service Supervisor
• Jeff Godshall, Senior Design Manager
• Marv Raguse, Sr. Mgr. Vehicle Build Operations
• Larry Shepard, Mopar Performance Engineer
• Jack Smith, “Father of the Road Runner”
• Bruce Thomas, Corporate Historian

Hoods will be up and barriers will be down!

Admission is $12/person advance, $15 at the door (members $10 & $14, respectively).  Register -- using the Under the Hood registration form -- by:

Phone:  248-944-0450
Fax: 248-944-0460
E-Mail: events@wpchryslermuseum.org

Mail:
Under the Hood Presentation
c/o Walter P. Chrysler Museum
One Chrysler Dr., CIMS 488-00-00
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
(checks/money orders, payable to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Foundation, accepted via mail)



Learn to capture automotive shots like a pro!  Levitt will break down the process of shooting spectacular automotive images . . . spotlighting his photographs to explain the technical elements of great photography including equipment choices, exposure, shooting technique, focusing, post production and transmission. He’ll also share his experiences in working with drivers as well as the dangers of motorsports photography.

LAT USA is the largest motorsports photo agency in the US covering the NASCAR, IndyCar, Grand-Am and ALMS series.  Levitt’s photographs appear in numerous national enthusiast publications, including AutoWeek.

Admission is $12/person advance, $15 at the door (members $10 & $14, respectively). Register -- using the Professional Motorsports Photography registration form -- by:

Phone: 248-944-0450
Fax: 248-944-0460
E-Mail: events@wpchryslermuseum.org

Mail:
Professional Motorsports Photography Presentation
c/o Walter P. Chrysler Museum
One Chrysler Dr., CIMS 488-00-00
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
(checks/money orders, payable to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Foundation, accepted via mail)




The Walter P. Chrysler Museum proudly presents Born to Race:  Dodge Viper Racing Heritage through Sept. 19 in Boss Chrysler’s Garage.  The special exhibition showcases eight concept and production models that played a pivotal role in the vehicle’s storied history . . .

Immediately upon introduction of the Dodge Viper concept car at the 1989 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the public was clamoring to buy.  Chrysler’s senior executives provided a small team of engineers and designers all the resources needed to produce the car and only one set of instructions – do it right and have it to market in less than three years.

As soon as the first generation Dodge Viper hit the streets in the early 1990s, independent race teams began modifying the vehicle for GT racing.  While the Viper’s V-10 engine provided more than enough power, the body was not rigid enough to adapt to racing.  When Dodge introduced the second generation Viper in 1995, a GTS coupe was added to the line-up with much more attention to the vehicle’s handling. 

With the assistance of Reynard Motorsports in Great Britain and the French racing firm of ORECA, the Viper’s refinement continued, enhancing its international visibility.  The partnership resulted in a purpose-built Viper that was suitable for competition and the Dodge Viper GTS-R was introduced in 1996. A total of 57 of these elite vehicles were manufactured over the next eight years.

As the Dodge brand was not sold in Europe, the Viper was badged as a Chrysler overseas and a Dodge in North America.  The GTS-R went on to win every prestigious motorsport event in the world.

While Chrysler ended its official backing in 2001, the GTS-R continued racing well into 2007 with much success.  The Dodge Viper GTS-R will go down as one of the most successful factory-backed racing vehicles in history.

Complete with a historical timeline and highlight labels detailing each vehicle, Born to Race:  Dodge Viper Racing Heritage features such pivotal models as:

            1989 Viper Concept Car
            1991 Viper RT-10
            1996 Viper GTS Coupe
            1997 Viper GTS-R
            1997 Viper Le Mans Winner C-7
            1998 Viper GT-2
            2000 Viper GTS-R Concept
            2000 Viper GTS-R

   
Pictured:  upper -1989 Dodge Viper Concept Car, lower - 1997 Dodge Viper GTS-R