VIPER OPENING DRAWS 250+ Attendees

Danville, Va. -- More than 250 attendees were on hand for the Grand Opening Ceremony of VIPER (Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research) on Friday, April 27th, at its new facility at the Virginia Motorsports Technology Park adjacent to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Halifax County, Virginia.

         Speaking at the ceremony prior to the ribbon-cutting, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Executive (IALR) Director Tim Franklin remarked, “VIPER is about giving motorsports teams a reason for being in Virginia.  It is also about bringing higher paying jobs to the region.”  VIPER is one of four research centers located at IALR, which joins Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech, and Virginia International Raceway in partnering with VIPER.

      Dignitaries from Southside Virginia, including state senator Charles Hawkins,  U.S. congressman Virgil Goode, and Halifax County Board of Supervisors Chair William Fitzgerald, joined VIPER Technical Director Steve Southward and representatives from VIPER’s partnering institutions in celebrating the grand opening of the research and test facility.

VIPER's Ribbon Cutting

       Virginia International Raceway managing partner Connie Nyholm, wielding a large shovel and decked out in colorful blue (for Old Dominion), orange (for Virginia Tech), and green (for VIR), said that VIPER “represents a regional effort combining the best resources to produce a significant economic impact.”

      A reception and Open House followed the ribbon-cutting - a group effort of elected officials and VIPER partners.  On display was the 8-post vehicle test rig developed by Moog-FCS, a supplier of high-performance control systems for military and industrial applications.  Also on display was a Roehrig shock dynamometer.  However, the driving simulator proved to be the most popular feature of all the equipment at VIPER because nervy members of the public were allowed to drive the racecar simulator, choosing either a traditional racetrack or an off-road course.

       The VIPER building, which cost more than $1.4 million, provides state-of-the-art labs and testing equipment to be used by full-time mechanical engineering faculty and resident Virginia Tech graduate students to provide a variety of world class test assets.  

      The facility was designed by Eden & Associates of Martinsville, VA, with construction by Blair Construction Inc., of Gretna, VA. 

      Steve Southward, Viper Technical Director, says, “These are exciting times for both the motorsports industry and Southside Virginia as the Virginia Motorsports Alley expands. VIPER is dedicated to providing engineering test services to the industry which will ultimately promote growth and prosperity in the regional economy.”