Minus 1 Corvette - ALMOST!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Minus 1 Corvette - ALMOST!
I've been working on my front brakes for the past week and got them to a point where I thought it was safe enough to take the car for a short drive. Just got it back from the paint shop and was eager to show it off.
The wife said don't take that car out if the brakes aren't perfect. What does she know, right? Off I go just around the block. 5 miles max. I could tell one side for favoring the other but I had more than enough brakes to stop as long as I didn't tailgate someone or come up to a stop sign too fast.
One mile from home, someone pulls out in front of me and I'm on top of the guy almost when he does it. How could he not have seen me. Bright red Corvette you know. No way I'm going to miss him. I hit the brakes hard. Somehow he has time to more into the left lane/oncoming traffic and avoid me.
When I hit my brakes and steered to the right to avoid the crash, the left braking side took control and the back end fish-tailed to where I was broadside in the road. Man, that car got away from me fast. I thought I was headed to the ditch but the car went the other way. Long story short - I got the car back under control. Nobody got hit or hurt. I limped home like a wet dog. Didn't tell the wife.
MORAL: Murphy is out there ya'll. Watch out for him and don't drive these cars w/o good brakes.
The wife said don't take that car out if the brakes aren't perfect. What does she know, right? Off I go just around the block. 5 miles max. I could tell one side for favoring the other but I had more than enough brakes to stop as long as I didn't tailgate someone or come up to a stop sign too fast.
One mile from home, someone pulls out in front of me and I'm on top of the guy almost when he does it. How could he not have seen me. Bright red Corvette you know. No way I'm going to miss him. I hit the brakes hard. Somehow he has time to more into the left lane/oncoming traffic and avoid me.
When I hit my brakes and steered to the right to avoid the crash, the left braking side took control and the back end fish-tailed to where I was broadside in the road. Man, that car got away from me fast. I thought I was headed to the ditch but the car went the other way. Long story short - I got the car back under control. Nobody got hit or hurt. I limped home like a wet dog. Didn't tell the wife.
MORAL: Murphy is out there ya'll. Watch out for him and don't drive these cars w/o good brakes.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Originally Posted by KALAWAY
MORAL: Murphy is out there ya'll. Watch out for him and don't drive these cars w/o good brakes.
You never know what the bonehead in the other lane is going to do.
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
lucky? I think you were foolish taking it out for a spin with brakes not functioning properly....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Hehe...There's a speed shop out here in Southern California that, for the longest time, only sold go-fast goodies. They had a saying: "We don't sell anything that would slow your car down."
Things like 4 wheel disc brakes, finned drums, etc. were far away from the thoughts of speed freaks back in the day...
Things like 4 wheel disc brakes, finned drums, etc. were far away from the thoughts of speed freaks back in the day...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Kalaway,
Nice save.
The last thing you want to do is screw up a brand new paint job.
I know what you mean though about wanting that first ride. When I got mine back a few months ago, I still had not had time to register it or get insurance. One night about 11:30PM I just had to try it. (It had been ten long years in restoration) Took it around the block, no problems, but I should have known better. I'm 59 but the Corvette Fever got hold of me and I just threw caution to the wind. Lucky it's a small town and I didn't get stopped or get into any trouble.
Fix those brakes and enjoy that new paint job (safely this time).
Kurt
Nice save.
The last thing you want to do is screw up a brand new paint job.
I know what you mean though about wanting that first ride. When I got mine back a few months ago, I still had not had time to register it or get insurance. One night about 11:30PM I just had to try it. (It had been ten long years in restoration) Took it around the block, no problems, but I should have known better. I'm 59 but the Corvette Fever got hold of me and I just threw caution to the wind. Lucky it's a small town and I didn't get stopped or get into any trouble.
Fix those brakes and enjoy that new paint job (safely this time).
Kurt
