I was walking through the paddock at Barber Motorsports Park when something rare appeared in front of me. A nicely preserved Gen 2 Viper was sitting there begging me to find its owner and discover why they chose a Viper for track day antics. Writing “Because V10” or “Just look at it!” would be easy, but the story is more profound than either of those answers. Enter Stephen Perkins, the owner of this snake in snake clothing.
Perkins is a CPA by trade and a passionate motorsport enthusiast at heart! He represents a unique breed of weekend warriors who’ve turned a lifetime of racing dreams into their track-day reality.
“Growing up, Vipers were mythical creatures,” Perkins recalls with a rather large grin. “Every time I saw one on the road, I’d yell to my mom, ‘That’s a Viper!'” His childhood fascination led to him and his father crafting a Viper-themed pinewood derby car during his Boy Scout days. Should I call him and ask how the pinewood car ran? Let me know in the comments if you are curious to know and I will get you an answer!
His journey from admiring the occasional Viper from afar to owner began in 2016 when a work bonus led him to purchase a street-legal Gen 2 with a supercharger. This car served as a gateway into the tight-knit Viper community. But Perkins had bigger plans than just cruising and the occasional twisty road.
The transformation from streetcar to track weapon has been methodical and purposeful. “It’s not about raw power,” Perkins explains. “It’s about reliability and handling.” The modification list reads like a motorsport engineer’s wishlist: later-generation Viper brakes up front (with the original front brakes relocated to the rear), a custom brake proportioning valve and Penske coilovers paired with solid, adjustable sway bars.
The most significant upgrade came from a father-son project: installing a dry sump oiling system. “With G2 Vipers, protecting those connecting rod bearings is crucial,” Perkins notes. The system maintains optimal oil pressure under heavy cornering loads. This is not a “MAX POWER” point A to B missile. It is a planned transition from street to track, emphasizing the strengths of the Gen 2 platform and shoring up the areas needing some reinforcement for the track. (He nailed it! His Viper is all that and two bags of chips!)
The supercharger gave way to a naturally aspirated setup featuring heads and cam work by a Viper specialist. Perkins waves off the question with a refreshing perspective when asked about power figures: “Somewhere between 500 and 600 wheel horsepower, but who’s counting? It’s about reliability and drivability on track.”
The rear window of Perkins’ Viper tells its own story through a collection of track day stickers – a passport of sorts for the motorsport enthusiast. Barber, Road Atlanta, Little Talladega, Circuit of the Americas and NCM Motorsports Park all feature in this Viper’s travel log, though Barber has become something of a home track, hosting Perkins at least once or twice annually.
The future holds more evolution for this track-day Viper. Inspired by the 1997 Le Mans racecar, Perkins has Le Mans-style bodywork on order and dreams of a sequential transmission upgrade – though he jokes about needing to “remortgage” to make that particular dream a reality.
Perkins continues to live out his childhood dreams one track day at a time, proving that with passion, dedication and a willingness to turn wrenches (sometimes alongside your dad), those poster cars of yesterday can become the track toys of today. His Viper is a testament to the enduring appeal of analog performance cars and the joy of continuous improvement, both of machine and driver.
Whether attacking the sweeping turns at Barber or charging through the esses at Circuit of the Americas, Perkins and his Viper represent the best of grassroots motorsport – where childhood dreams meet adult determination, and the result is pure automotive joy.
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