Las Vegas, a city rarely lacking for sun, made an appropriate gathering spot for over 50 del Sols and their owners from 11 states. The sixth annual Vegas Invasion (aka VIVI), April 7-9, began on a Friday evening as a record 54 Sols, many arriving in together in Sol Trains, met at the Sazio, an Italian restaurant in the Orleans Hotel and Casino for a Meet and Greet.
Saturday began with owners rolling into the reserved section of the Bonanza Lounge parking lot. From 11 a.m., and into the later afternoon, owners shared advice, compared mods and voted for the event's award winners. This year's award categories included Best Audio, Interior, Engine, Appearance, Best Sol, Honorable Mention, Distance, Dedicated, and THE Award, a new tribute commemorating a member who significantly contributed to the del Sol community.
Not excluding unmodified Sols, an award for Best Stock Sol highlighted the most pristine, and dare we say virginal, condition. Winning the title with his `95 del Sol VTEC, Christian Fritz happily declared, "It was the stock head unit that did it."
Raffle drawings provided a chance to take home prizes ranging from T-shirts to gift certificates from DynoJunkies.com, and as evening drew near, owners joined for a cruise to nearby Red Rock canyon.
A Sunday breakfast at the Orleans French Market Buffet brought the event to a close, with Solers already laying plans for Vegas Invasion VII.
Team Sol International thanks the supporters who made VIVI a success: participating members and Vegas Invasion planners, Team Sol Cal, AZ Sols, Team Sol Colorado, Team Sol MoKan, Team Sol Utah, RS Graphics, Dyno Junkies, and the Bonanza Lounge. For more information on Vegas Invasion or Team Sol and its chapters, please visit www.teamdelsol.com
 Chelby Geiss made trophies...  Chelby Geiss made trophies for Vegas Invasion VI, incorporating del Sol transmission parts. |  John Jacoby drove 2000 miles...  John Jacoby drove 2000 miles and 31 hours from Waukesha, Wisconsin in his `97 Sol VTEC decked with a Mugen aero kit, MF8 rims and JDM headlights. Jacoby took the Distance Award |  Sol mates: Tom and Liz Mannillo...  Sol mates: Tom and Liz Mannillo stand with their Samba twins. With his contributions as a VIVI planner, Tom is this year's recipient of the Dedicated Award |
 Terri Klippel's Silverstone...  Terri Klippel's Silverstone Metallic 1995 del Sol S earned Best Sol award with its VIS Invader carbon fiber hood, side skirts and Extreme rear bumper. |  Rick Cowlishaw's `93 del Sol...  Rick Cowlishaw's `93 del Sol S rides on 15-inch Kosei wheels and is powered by a B16A2 and Y1 tranny swap, trimmed with ITR cams, Megan Racing 4-1 header and ACT clutch/flywheel combo |  Check out Shawn Crosby's "H-Wing,"...  Check out Shawn Crosby's "H-Wing," modeled off the A-Wing fighter in Return of the Jedi. Weirdness and originality grabbed Crosby the Best Appearance award. |
 Del Sol Rice Patrol on the...  Del Sol Rice Patrol on the look out |  Tristan Timbrook, from Louisville,...  Tristan Timbrook, from Louisville, Kentucky, earns Honorable Mention for his right-hand-drive `92 SiR with a fully-functioning transtop. |  Fabio Fantone's B16 SiR II...  Fabio Fantone's B16 SiR II motor makes 225whp thanks to a mess of JUN parts: 1.8-liter stroker kit, Type III cams, header, flywheel and ECU. It rightfully snagged Best Engine trophy. |