Computerized chassis safeguards? Not here, bub. The only electronic nanny is standard ABS. Do something stupid -- say, lift suddenly off the gas in a high-g turn -- and the rear end will whirl around and sail for Hawaii.

The Corvette Z06, for all of its virtues, cannot duplicate the ACR’s electrifying race-car moves (we’ll see if the new ZR1 can defend its little brother’s honor). Nissan GT-R? Forget it: The Viper ACR will leave its solenoids and software bugged out by rubber dust. Porsche GT-2? Getting warmer, but Porsche’s masterpiece (at twice the Dodge’s $98,110 price) plays by Marquis of Queensberry rules. The ACR is strictly UFC. Dare to get in the ring with it, dude, and you’re going to get pummeled.

True, with its adjustable KW shocks and tunable aero bits, the ACR really is a ringer, a thinly disguised race car. But, hey, the DOT says it can play in the street with everything else, so fair is fair.

I’m keeping a record of my Viper ACR drive in my personal journal. It’ll be under the heading, "Cars I Love That Make Me Feel Like Five Minutes Ago I Said Something Stupid To Mike Tyson."