I think I was 15 years old when I first saw a Dodge Viper. I was at the Darryl Starbird show in OKC with my dad and older brother. It was a first generation 1992, and it looked fast just sitting still. Viper red paint gleaming under the lights with that massive V10 engine peaking out from under the clamshell hood, and I was in love. It was developed by Bob Lutz and the legendary Carroll Shelby as a throwback to a pure driver’s car like the original Shelby Cobra. I made a promise to myself that I would have one someday and even told my high school friends that I would be driving one of those to our 20 year class reunion, which we never had.

I chose this particular car because it was the original body style of the first generation but was a second generation and had actual windows, outside door handles, A/C, and air bags. This was also the first year that included anti-lock brakes. The first generation did not have any safety features, and this one still does not have any kind of traction control. The sapphire blue pearl paint was a one year color option; paired with the Cognac Connelly interior, this car is 1 of 78 ever built. I had this exact car as my screen saver for 6 years before I finally found it in the fall of 2019. It was hiding in South Georgia when I just happened to be searching Facebook marketplace around major cities. It was all original, with low miles, and had spent most of its life in the Florida panhandle. I had to have it, the price was right, and I bought it sight unseen before calling my wife to see if we had plans for the next weekend so we could go get it. Thankfully she is very supportive and did not want me to wait until my 70s, like my dad, to purchase my dream car.

I have tried to keep it mostly stock but upgraded certain things like the exhaust, radiator, hoses, suspension. I did add the wheels from the 3rd generation viper because they are larger on the rear, and I think they look a little better. The viper was only made for 25 years (1992-2017) and I do have my eyes open for a 5th gen car for some day. We love to take it out on nice spring and fall days and just cruise Avery drive with the top off, take it up to Pawhuska, or cruise highway 10 next to the river in Tahlequah. We also do several cruises each year with the Viper Owners Association of Oklahoma and Kansas; we love all things Viper.

I named the car “Sir Hiss” after my favorite cartoon as a child, Disney’s Robin Hood. I loved that movie, and Prince John’s snake “Sir Hiss” kind of looks like the Sneaky Pete emblem on the front of the Gen 1 & 2 cars. One of my favorite things about the car is the look on everyone's faces when they get into the car and reach for the seat belt to find nothing but air because they are located over the opposite shoulder of every other car on the road. I also love that you just don’t see these cars out driving around very often; I know of about 7 or 8 Vipers in the Tulsa area today. I am sure there are more, but people don’t drive them very often and these cars love to be driven. People are always taking photos, or they will be videoing as we drive by. The sound of the car is incredible, so the radio is rarely ever on. I just love the sound of the V10 at 5000 rpms right before I shift gears, and the feeling is just pure freedom; Cares and worries just simply drift away. 

My absolute favorite thing about the car is getting to go to car shows with my dad. He has a 1966 Pontiac and we usually get to park them side by side. It is always such a wonderful time just getting to talk cars with other enthusiasts and most people have never seen a viper up close. I hope to one day drive Route 66 all the way to California and then drive it up the Pacific Coast Highway 1, all 650 miles to Northern California. Lastly, I have to say no matter what kind of day I have, when I get home and I see it in the garage it always makes me smile. I look forward to many more years of memories with Sir Hiss.