liking
to Skip Thomas and his Viper gang. In turn, Skip invited the Mallett Corvettes
to compete in a Viper/Corvette shootout at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan. When
the dust settled, the copper C5 Corvette prototype finished second among a large
group of Vipers. Skip and the Malletts were hooked and Skip gave them an open
invitation to attend future events. The Malletts were quick to accept Skip’s
offer and invited CorvetteMagazine.com to come along with them to Putnam
Park Raceway to witness this shootout.
Viper Days has fifteen events scheduled for 1999. Midwest
Viper Days V at Putnam Park is
This
Vette-eating Viper had its work cut out if it planned to take a bite out of
a Mallet Corvette’s posterior.
number twelve. Putnam
Park is a twisty, demanding 1.7-mile road course, 50 miles east of Indianapolis,
Indiana. When we arrived, the first thing we saw was a huge turnout of Vipers
in all stages of tune and most were equipped with roll cages, wings and loud
exhaust systems. One Viper even sported a "Vette Eater" paint job
on its nose! We found the Malletts in the middle of the Vipers, tuning their
copper car and discussing race strategy with driver Reese Cox. Reese was filling
in for regular driver Jim Minneker, who was unable to attend the event. Reese
drives a World Challenge C5 Corvette and had finished second overall in the
recent Grand Rapids Michigan event. Chuck and Lance shared their pits with Mallet
435 owners Bob Hoquin and
