19 replies to this topic

[Victor Poulin]

Joe and I were just talking about RJR and I never heard the whole story on what ever happened to the co. It seems that so many people liked their products.
Many of the racers I talk to like RJR and still use their products today. I know I,ve built quite a few motors using their arms, and must say that I,m really impressed with the performance. So my question is, if they were such a popular co, why did they disappear ? I just thought maybe someone could give some insight as to what happened to them.

Vic

[Jerry Ward]

Vic-RJR Arm's became Viper don't know what or why this or the people involved came about . Think Mr. Hershman may know the story on this hope he can sheed some light on it in this post. I still use Viper arm's and still have a new one still in package. Got around 10 good used one to. If Bear was still with us he knew the whole story !! Jerry

[Victor Poulin]

Vic-RJR Arm's became Viper don't know what or why this or the people involved came about . Think Mr. Hershman may know the story on this hope he can sheed some light on it in this post. I still use Viper arm's and still have a new one still in package. Got around 10 good used one to. If Bear was still with us he knew the whole story !! Jerry

Jerry,

I'd hang on to those arms. They seem to be in very big demand.

Vic

[Dallas51170]

I just picked up a couple of RJR wing cars brand new cheap with 12 motors.....

[Victor Poulin]

I just picked up a couple of RJR wing cars brand new cheap with 12 motors.....

I,ve got one too!! Still in the unopened package. I thought I'd just put it away for safe keeping. I bought mine a couple years ago on epay. I can't remember what I paid for it, but it was a pretty good deal. I want to say I gave $45.00 for it.

Vic

[Bill from NH]

RJR was Robert Root. He was getting up there in age & wanted to retire, so he sold his company in 2005. Jerry Kasner, a NJ wing racer, bought the company, moved the manufacturing equipment to NJ, & renamed it as Viper Engineering. They were a full service slot company, manufacturing arms, building motors, & doing motor reconditioning work such as replacing cobalt magnets, zapping, & rebalancing arms. At one point he even installed a blue king race track at his factory to hold races. I never have heard the real story as why Viper Engineering closed up shop & disappeared 2 or 3 years ago. Your guess is as good as mine. Obviously, they had some underlying problems.

[Victor Poulin]

Thanks Bill, at least that tells us part of the story. It just seems odd to me that such a popular co just disappeared .

Vic

[Randy Tragni]

This is strictly hearsay but I was told by a track owner and expert motor builder that Viper arms were all outlaw winds. Essentually, all short a few turns making them "hotter" and faster. That advantage seems to be why poeple love 'em so much.
Randy

[PCH Parts Express]

I just picked up a couple of RJR wing cars brand new cheap with 12 motors.....

Do you want help fixing those so they run well(for more than three laps)? I just bought a new hammer.

[Dallas51170]

Bob already trued the arm on one. They are for Zac......

[Ron Hershman]

No comment from me regarding the RJR story prior to Viper buying RJR at this time.....my lips are sealed. Some day it will make for interesting reading.

The only thing I will say....it had nothing to do with his age.

[Victor Poulin]

No comment from me regarding the RJR story prior to Viper buying RJR at this time.....my lips are sealed. Some day it will make for interesting reading.

The only thing I will say....it had nothing to do with his age.

Oh come on Ron, You were the one person I thought could give me some insight on this. If you rather, you can pm me.

Vic

[PCH Parts Express]

The Viper company had trouble hiring good workers. Also when the drag racers started saying uncomplimentary things about Viper Eng. he would read on some blog or blogs. That seemed to bother him. This is not the complete story, but these things did not help.

[Bill from NH]

Scott, I know one of the guys who ran the CNC winders at Viper. He is a very good worker, but I won't vouch for any others. I always assumed Jerry Kasner spread himself too thin & things finally collapsed.

[PCH Parts Express]

Scott, I know one of the guys who ran the CNC winders at Viper. He is a very good worker, but I won't vouch for any others. I always assumed Jerry Kasner spread himself too thin & things finally collapsed.

I'm not saying the workers where no good. But I did hear of a young guy that after training he didn't stick around too long. With Jerry having a full time job, a raceway, and a factory he may have not had too much time to spend with the newer workers. Or to interview and train new workers. Robert at RJR seemed to always have a top notch staff that knew what needed to be done. Ron may know how many years it took to assemble the old RJR staff.

[Mad Mexican]

Amigos,

In reading these posts, it seem sad such a (RJR) good company got suck under so fast.
But in any business you MUST have a solid vision good management and staff especially a small company.If you let anything falter ( Viper Eng.) you are not going last very long!

Adios

[okibono]

In regards to the drag racers making unflattering statements about viper, that came from some viper tagged drag arms coming up a few turns short at a race. Bad news travels real fast ya know?

[Guy Spaulding]

So, what happened to the equipment and supplies used by RJR? Could a new company spring from what remains?

[MrWeiler]

No comment from me regarding the RJR story prior to Viper buying RJR at this time.....my lips are sealed. Some day it will make for interesting reading.

The only thing I will say....it had nothing to do with his age.

The waterboard is ready...you WILL talk!

[Foamy]

The partial story I heard was the magnet deal was what did him in. A new Box12 magnet was going to be made. Samples were made and were very good. I ended up with a set and made the fastest single magnet drag motor I have seen, setting a track record that lasted for years until the record board was erased. Anyway, the production magnets were so bad, the story I heard was they barely would stick paper to your fridge. Shortly after that, the RJR company was sold to Jerry.

Viper arms were caught several times at road and drag races short wound.