I had my '61 less than two weeks when the throttle linkage hung up on the ignition shielding and the engine was basically running wide open on both carbs. I whipped over to the side of the road and saw the tach well into the 'red zone' as I launched out of the seat and snatched the hood open to break the linkage free. Scared the bejesus out of me and also the cop across the highway who was giving a woman a speeding ticket.

I was shaking when it was over and along with my life passing before my eyes were thoughts of selling the car once I got it home. That was 6 years and 14,000 miles ago.

 

I have a '66 vert that you see in my thumbnail picture. I drive it all over and I do worry about someone running into me , but no more so than someone running into me in my Hundai . I smoke the tires when I feel like it and I probably drive it too fast sometimes but What A Joy it Is !!
Send me your car and I'll park mine for while while I ENJOY your .
I'd love to put another c2 on the road for everyone to enjoy .

 

I drive mine almost everyday, and the way I look at it is, I have it insured, so if it gets hit, I get it fixed for a few hundred dollars (deductible) and it will probably be better than it is now.

I am very cautious when driving it, but I still really enjoy myself. Do yourself a favor and drive the car. Don't worry about the gas milage. Don't worry about the paint job. Don't worry about the Prius owners giving you the hairy eyeball. Don't worry about males under 35 wanting to show you how fast their cars are, even if they are driving a minivan. Enjoy.

 

You need to concentrate on what THE FUN is! If the fun is having a pristine perfect unblemished car, get an enclosed trailer and once in a while unload it and show it. If the fun is driving it, feeling the wind in your hair and the seat pressing your back when you tromp on it, go do that and accept that there is a degree of risk with that (as with everything). There are no guarantees in life, sometimes bad things happen to good people and vice versa.

From time to time on here we hear from members who have cancer, heart attacks, or other serious health issues. If you KNEW something like that was going to hit you next week, would you worry as much about bent bumpers or cracked fiberglass? Every day is a "bonus day", enjoy it now instead of worrying about "what if?".

 

Was the ignition broken?

 

Nobody will be lying in their death bed and say I'm glad I didn't drive it.

 

Funny...I was talking to other another classic Corvette owner about this subject. He drives his car once every six months...He afraid that someone will plow into his car and destroy it..
"Too valueable to drive!" He bought another Corvette as a "driver"...

I dont drive my car everyday...But, when I do drive it I enjoy the hell out of it...My car is far from prefect..I fixed it up so I can enjoy it...Like one forum menber said....Nonbody on their death bed gonna say..I wish I had not driven my Corvette so much......Its insured...it will be OK..

 

I know where you're coming from. About 2 years back I blew a u-joint at about 6000rpm in my 57 - I thought the clutch had shattered! It took me about a year before I ran it over 5000, and I still think about that frightful day. I'm with you, constantly worrying about the crazies on the road - I've had many close calls on this rock, most recently coming home from a car show and nearly getting run off the road by a bunch of punks playing grabazz in their rice rockets. But as everybody here has said, if you own it, you gotta drive it and just hope for the best and try to avoid all the idiots!

 

I think u know the answer since u do get so much enjoyment out of driving it...it's understandable that u'd want some reassurance...after all those years of accident-free driving, a guy just may well ask himself..."Do u feel lucky"?

My '66 was a Top Flight trailer queen..unless it has to be towed, it ain't seeing a trailer ever again. I see a few small blemishes already in the 5 months it's been driven. Coming home Sat, doing 60mph, I couldn't avoid a very large truck tire retread sticking upright 1.5 ft ....no damage except to my underwear.

The joy I get from driving it, the waves & accolades when I'm parked, make it worth it. Just carry enough insurance & remember...it's a frigg'n car...their reason for existence is to be driven!

 

It sounds like you have the mildest (cheapest) form of the Corvette disease (addiction). Your not buying anything, dismantling anything or conducting massive modifications without reason. Drive the car and hope for breakage or damage. Once you start spending money, your world will re-balance and a sense of well being will return.

 

Have 9-10 drinks, and then drive it.
It'll take your mind off of bad things.

 

if you are fortunate enough to have one of the NO HIT cars you have nothing to worry about. my understanding is they are impossible to hit.

 

Lowell,

Do you do much driving all? If so think of the above as you being the car. You've been driving since you were 16 and the more miles you drive the more lilky your number is going to come up, and you are the one who is going to get wiped out along with any car you are driving.

If the car is damaged it can be repaired or if totaled, it can be replaced.

If you are damaged, you may not be able to be repaired or have total recovery. It you are totaled there is no replacing you.

With your outlook, you sould not be able to leave your house in any car since you have put a lot of miles on your rear end over the years you been driving. The odds of something bad happing to you in your daily driver are far more than something happing to your Corvette.

Be a real man, just leave the Corvette in the Garage, and drive something else so if something bad happens to you, the Corvette is safe at home.

I truly feel sorry for you. Life is short as it is. How much you get to enjoy of it is even less. I would hate to think I had your mindset.

Maybe Dr. Phil can put together a show and cast you with others that have arrived at the point you have in thier lives with their old cars. Maybe he can help put a little enjoyment back in your lives.

By the way, do you worry about your wife and family being injured while driving as much as you worry about the Vette being damaged when you go for a drive?

I better stop before, I get banned, for saying a swift kick in the rear is all that is needed here, are some of the other things I'm thinking that might help....

 

in hindsight, how come you didn't just turn the ignition off?
Bill

 

Anyone who has a vehicle that they work to keep in good condition is a little paranoid about accidents and theft. I park my Equinox where it won't get dinged, and my roadster is the same worry.

Think about why you bought the car. I bought mine to go Grand Touring, and that's what lets me leave it at mountain trailheads and go hiking all day. After I got a mile or so into the trails, I no longer worriied about the car. After a few trips coast to coast and bord to border, I found it easy to take it anywhere, any day. It often does grocery getter duty.

If you bought yours to show and shine, keep it close, and get a trailer, so you can show it to people who appreciate it.

 

I must agree with the others. I drive all my cars as much as possible, if something happens I will deal with it at that time. Life is short, too short! Yesterday a friend was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs, two weeks ago he woke up and was slurring his words, yesterday was given the news! He is 55 years old, and I doubt he will see 56. This is another reason while I drive my cars.........hard!

 

he's taking the 5th.

 

its not the only car on the planet

Insure the daylights out of it then go have fun with it.

Lifes too short to worry like that.

Found being overly cautious GOT me in wrecks no kidding

 

To all who responded -- THANK YOU

I got some great advice from a great bunch of guys and I now feel better about taking it out. You have reminded me about what's really important about our hobby

Well, what are you waiting for -- get out of my way, I'm going driving.

Lowell

 

The "Swift Kick" worked.