(October 6, 2010) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Hundreds of Dodge Viper owners from around the world gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend for the 11th edition of the Viper Owner Invitational.

The three-day event offered the ever-expanding “Viper Nation” crowd the chance to gather and enjoy a long list of activities, driving events and entertainment. Hosted by the Viper Club of America (VCA), the bi-annual event attracted more than 800 participants from as far away as Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and close to 350 Dodge Vipers.

An extensive Viper memorabilia showcase, vendor displays offering clothes to collectibles to performance parts, along with roundtable discussions and informative tech talks with Street and Engineering Technology (SRT) engineers kept all attendees entertained throughout the weekend.

The event also offered the chance for Viper owners to drive America’s ultimate supercar during planned caravan drives on the many scenic roads between Salt Lake City and Park City to the northeast and in the wide array of performance driving and racing activities taking place at Miller Motorsports Park to the southwest.

“This script for this event has never changed — it is planned and carried out for the passionate people of Viper Nation by the passionate people of Viper Nation,” said Chris Marshall, President of the Viper Club of America. “We believe the Dodge Viper is a truly iconic American super car and it deserves to remain in the spotlight and help to carry the torch for Dodge as Chrysler Group’s performance vehicle brand.”

Retired Chrysler executives Francois Castaing, Tom Gale and Tom Sidlik joined Ralph Gilles – Dodge Brand President and CEO, and Dan Knott – Senior Vice President, Purchasing and Supplier Quality, Chrysler Group, at VOI.11. Gilles not only played the role as an official Dodge host, he also drove in both Dodge Viper Cup series races at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday and Sunday.

“I can’t say enough about all the hard work the Viper Club of America continues to do for not only the Viper owners and fans around the world, but for the Dodge Brand as a whole,” said Ralph Gilles, Dodge brand president and host for the event. “This spectacular event once again proves that the passion and camaraderie runs deep in the Viper Nation, as volunteers came together to make this event a success. We are privileged to be able to share so many special moments with our owners and enjoy ourselves in what continues to be very unique and lifelong relationships that only Viper enthusiasts can have.”

Past events have been held in Detroit, Monterey, Calif., Indianapolis, Orlando, Fla., Las Vegas, St. Louis, Nashville and Dallas.