Predator

Made it into Nashville yesterday to check out Corvette's 50th birthday party put on by Chevrolet. Of the 6000 or so cars, at least 5500 were the new generation C5's and most were driven by 60-ish, white-haired men! During the "parade", a camera crew comprized of 3 young guys were attempting to entise a yellow coupe to do a little burn out for some exiting footage. After 3 attempts, this guy finally gased it hard enough to break the tires loose. After about 2 rotations, he slamed on the brakes and had this scared to death look on his face! It was sad. I bet 95 percent of these cars have never exceeded the speed limit or pulled more than half a G in a turn. In one of the Tech tents there was a Vette without the body. An older type was explaining to his friend how Chevrolet had engineered the tranny in the back. I let him talk for about 2 minutes, then couldn't hold back any longer. Told him that, yes, that was a great arrangement, and that Porsche introduced it into their cars 25 years ago. Well, the stupid sob refused to believe this. Anyway, it's sad that youth is wasted on the young. You dad-types out there, include your young-ones in this great sport. Teach them how to drive, and appreciate what these cars can do. My first muscle car was a 66 GTO when I was 19. Most kids today couldn't show you how to open the hood, much less know one thing about whats going on under it.

Luis de Prat

I visited the museum in Bowling Green last summer. From the looks of the 'Vette owners prowling the exhibit halls I can see what you mean by "Dad-types."

And yeah, my S2 cabrio was the only Porsche in the museum parking lot. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

tod84944

Scott, watch the vettes drive up and down 31-w coming and going to Bowling Green, you are correct, most if not all had grey hair!! It is shame most of these cars will never really be driven to the limits they where designed to. But, each his own, that is there choice. My self though, I would probley wear out a set of that expensive rubber real quick!
Most car "experts" are really not as up on things as they think. When I was traviling to the assembly plants, you would have a hard time beliving all the B.S. I heard.
Todd

mrmunky

I know that at least from my point of view, those mass-produced grandpa rockets don't get a second look. The Z06 is another story, but C5's are a dime a dozen around here and they are indeed all driven by older men.

Kierf - ¿§?

Here in Vegas, it seems that C5s are driven by middle-aged women and the Z06 are driven by middle-aged men.

Robert D

Well, I am one of the fortunate. My father, also a Porsche/sportscar fanatic, taught me much I know now regarding tools and how to use them on a car (or anything). He had me in the garage helping him out when I was 5-6yrs old. It was my 'punishment' haha. Now my older brother and I share 3 P-cars...my 88 944S, his 76 912E, and the project 86 944. My father has an 86 911 with somewhere around 60k miles! My mom has the Kirby vacuum (a kirby salesman told me that Porsche engineered the transmission in the kirby vac's, so thats her porsche! ).

I laugh when friends complain to me about paying for their oil changes, shock replacements, and wheel bearing repacks. Hah!

mrmunky

Haha is that really true about the vacuums rob? Some lady came around trying to sell us a $1600 kirby the other day. Nice vacuum, but that's a bit much on the price.

Robert D

I believe so, I told the salesman we were college students and couldn't afford one. He had a big smile on his face after seeing the three porsche's in the driveway . He told me that he thought I'd be interested the tranny was Porsche designed.

My mom bought her kirby for a little over 2k, with all the bells and whistles. Talked to my dad today, is broken...Haha, expensive to buy AND maintain. IT MUST BE PORSCHE . She bought it about 5-6 yrs ago, pretty long for a vacuum (my dad will probably rebuild it).

Luis de Prat

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by mrmunky:
<strong>The Z06 is another story</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">400 HP to boot, definitely makes the Z06 another story to say the least <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> .

alpenweissisnice

I owned a Corvette ('72 Coupe, Elkhart Green) for several years, and while I'd like to tell you otherwise, the Corvette scene is - generally speaking - a bit gray around the temples. I did drive my car, and wasn't concerned about doing the occasional burnout for the benefit of others, but it was a 30 year old car with 30 year old technology. That said, I did like the torque down low...

I'm fairly gray myself (42), and I sold the Vette to buy an 88 951...I'm not sure what that says about me, or anything, but thought I'd comment...Is my 951 being wasted on my middle age?

Z-man

My bro-in-law's friend, about 19, has a very nice '77 Vette. He appreciates the car, has done a lot of work on it, and is NOT the typical (middle-aged) Vette owner. Although it is not the ideal car for it, he plans on trying an autocross with it soon. I tip my hat to him for getting into a car that today isn't the 'latest and greatest!'

I also have a friend (40-ish) who just got a 50th anniversary Vette. He plans to baby this car, but has plans for a 'project' C5/Z06 Vette in the future that he will autox and possibly take to the track.

Just to show you that not all Vette owners are old-farts that won't experience the true potential of their cars.

-Z.