About his passion for auto racing...
Auto123.com - Let's talk racing. You've just finished second in your class at the Targa Newfoundland. How does that feel?
Ralph Gilles - We're very satisfied. It was our third year and the car was the best we ever used. The 6-speed manual gearbox makes the Challenger a true driver's car. It drives remarkably well. A lot of spectators were joking around, saying stuff like: "That's a BIG car, man!" But you know what? Throughout the race, drivers in their little European sports cars kept seeing us in their rearview mirrors. You should have seen how dumbfounded they were, not to mention the fans! It created plenty of buzz around our team.
Auto123.com - Your "Snake Skin Green" Challenger must have turned a lot of heads?
Ralph Gilles - Oh yeah! It was incredible! Everyone fell in love with that color. Even kids were congregating around the car. Adult men, I understand, but 15-year-old boys and 12-year-old girls? It really got me thinking when I heard them shout that Samantha was their "favorite car." Most participating vehicles are European sports cars, you know, Porsches, BMWs... That's what people expect. Our big American muscle car really stood out from the crowd.
Auto123.com - Why is Chrysler taking part in the Targa?
Ralph Gilles - Our car had been specially tuned by MOPAR and used anumber of MOPAR parts and accessories: the engine, the suspension, theexhaust, etc. Any enthusiast can purchase these components at thedealership or even online to transform the Challenger into his or herown Samantha. That's cool! Also, at the end of the week, we hadn't hadany breakdown. Nada. So, I guess if all that hardware managed towithstand such abuse, it can deal with just about anything! The Targawas the perfect venue to put our components to the test and showCanadians that the Challenger handles well in corners, not just instraightaways!
Auto123.com - Let's talk racing. You've just finished second in your class at the Targa Newfoundland. How does that feel?
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Ralph Gilles - We're very satisfied. It was our third year and the car was the best we ever used. The 6-speed manual gearbox makes the Challenger a true driver's car. It drives remarkably well. A lot of spectators were joking around, saying stuff like: "That's a BIG car, man!" But you know what? Throughout the race, drivers in their little European sports cars kept seeing us in their rearview mirrors. You should have seen how dumbfounded they were, not to mention the fans! It created plenty of buzz around our team.
Auto123.com - Your "Snake Skin Green" Challenger must have turned a lot of heads?
Ralph Gilles - Oh yeah! It was incredible! Everyone fell in love with that color. Even kids were congregating around the car. Adult men, I understand, but 15-year-old boys and 12-year-old girls? It really got me thinking when I heard them shout that Samantha was their "favorite car." Most participating vehicles are European sports cars, you know, Porsches, BMWs... That's what people expect. Our big American muscle car really stood out from the crowd.
Auto123.com - Why is Chrysler taking part in the Targa?
Ralph Gilles - Our car had been specially tuned by MOPAR and used anumber of MOPAR parts and accessories: the engine, the suspension, theexhaust, etc. Any enthusiast can purchase these components at thedealership or even online to transform the Challenger into his or herown Samantha. That's cool! Also, at the end of the week, we hadn't hadany breakdown. Nada. So, I guess if all that hardware managed towithstand such abuse, it can deal with just about anything! The Targawas the perfect venue to put our components to the test and showCanadians that the Challenger handles well in corners, not just instraightaways!
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