Driving Styles
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Warwick Rhode Island
Driving Styles
How would you describe your driving style in your car? Do you autocross, race 1/4 mile (or 1/8 mile), flog it on the street where applicable, or simply sit back and cruise in style? Does the condition of your car dictate your driving style? For example, some people restore down to smallest detail and only like to cruise and show their cars. Others spend the same amount of time and money and drive their car like they stole it. Where do you fit in?
How about a response of telling us the condition (i.e. driver, restored, heavily modded, etc.) of your C3 with a description of how you drive it. Hopefully we don't have any garage/trailer queen C3s amongst us.
My basically stock driver 79 L-82 is in good shape. I would describe my method of driving my C3 as "spirited cruising". My paltry 225 hp only allows so much acceleration, but I make the most of every hp when I can.
How about a response of telling us the condition (i.e. driver, restored, heavily modded, etc.) of your C3 with a description of how you drive it. Hopefully we don't have any garage/trailer queen C3s amongst us.
My basically stock driver 79 L-82 is in good shape. I would describe my method of driving my C3 as "spirited cruising". My paltry 225 hp only allows so much acceleration, but I make the most of every hp when I can.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
AutoX and 1/4 miles and yes I drive it like I stole it. There is nothing left that is stock in the suspension or driveline. I did not build it to drive it mildly. I do enjoy taking a nice ride in it but when the space allows I never hesitate to drive it hard. If it breaks I fix it. Nothing has broken recently though. 
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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"Spirited" street driving. Mostly just cruising but I always manage to open up the 4 barrels at least once during a drive.
My car is a totally stock Lemans Blue 68 427/390 coupe in beautiful condition. I don't care about trophies and judging. I do go to some show and shines and cruise nights but always get itchy to drive. I drive all my cars year round as long as the roads are clear and dry.
I'm going driving right now as a matter of fact
My car is a totally stock Lemans Blue 68 427/390 coupe in beautiful condition. I don't care about trophies and judging. I do go to some show and shines and cruise nights but always get itchy to drive. I drive all my cars year round as long as the roads are clear and dry.
I'm going driving right now as a matter of fact
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
I would say "spirited street driving" is an OK description. I have to drive some distance from my house to get to appropriate areas to let the BB pull hard without endangering others, and I do so regularly. Around town, I really have to be pretty mellow, and I don't mind that, I like cruising around in it. I will also not hesitate to take it on a nice day to pick up one of the kids or some other errand where I don't have to leave it for long or if there is a reasonably safe place to leave it.
My car is a driver in stock configuration.
My car is a driver in stock configuration.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Millbrook Al.
I would say "spirited street driving" is an OK description. I have to drive some distance from my house to get to appropriate areas to let the BB pull hard without endangering others, and I do so regularly. Around town, I really have to be pretty mellow, and I don't mind that, I like cruising around in it. I will also not hesitate to take it on a nice day to pick up one of the kids or some other errand where I don't have to leave it for long or if there is a reasonably safe place to leave it.
My car is a driver in stock configuration.
My car is a driver in stock configuration.
..... )David
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
I don't like to draw too much attention in the vette. To me it's a car that just looks awesome cruising down the road nice & smooth. People already have this stereotype that I'm a reckless hillbilly to be driving such a car so I try to counteract that (even though partially true). When I get the urge to run through the gears and put that adrenaline smile nice and wide on my face I back the '68 Camaro out of the garage and thrash it to the limits on a backroad in the middle of nowhere or at the dragstrip. I'm not into showing off or provoking others on the street and will only give in to that if someone starts irritating me and really deserves being whooped. To me the C-3 vette is more an object of beauty and not as capable of taking the punishment of hardcore driving. Maybe the earlier ones but not my mostly stock '82 - at least not yet anyway. So most of the time I just cruise it and enjoy it in fairly mild fashion.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Isn't all that high HP engine and full tilt suspension just posturing if it isn't taken to it's limits on a track?
I have zero tolerance for street racing or anything on the street that endangers innocent people,
Egos get kicked in the family jewels easy in this case but most people even on this forum can't safely handle much HP,
I am a cruiser and I guess a poser, I always have a "tight" well built suspension and way higher HP engine than I need, and really never take the car to it's limits,
Once in a blue moon the local strip lets you run your street car and I hit the 1320,
But mostly I just cruise, I have nothing to prove about my manhood thru my car.
I have zero tolerance for street racing or anything on the street that endangers innocent people,
Egos get kicked in the family jewels easy in this case but most people even on this forum can't safely handle much HP,
I am a cruiser and I guess a poser, I always have a "tight" well built suspension and way higher HP engine than I need, and really never take the car to it's limits,
Once in a blue moon the local strip lets you run your street car and I hit the 1320,
But mostly I just cruise, I have nothing to prove about my manhood thru my car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Some spirited street driving when nothing else is around but when I want to drive fast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X52WhK2hcMY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X52WhK2hcMY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Autocrosser through and through! I love going around those little orange cones! These cars were ment to be driven and driven hard. If something breaks, fix it and don't worry about it.
My blue 73 is my race car. It looks as such.
My 76 is my cruiser and back up racer. It looks much better.
Both cars have some suspension work and parts swaped in the engine. Both fall in the 2C/D class for NCCC.
I will be running the 76 this weekend at Grissom Air base in Peru, IN. Last event of the year.
My blue 73 is my race car. It looks as such.
My 76 is my cruiser and back up racer. It looks much better.
Both cars have some suspension work and parts swaped in the engine. Both fall in the 2C/D class for NCCC.
I will be running the 76 this weekend at Grissom Air base in Peru, IN. Last event of the year.
Last edited by vettehardt; Oct 21, 2009 at 08:40 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
Spirited street driving describes my style most of the time. I like to get to the speed limit quickly, usually without spinning my tires. I also like the feel of staying flat in turns at speeds I wouldn't even think of in another car. My '80 is definitely a resto mod with technologies that simply weren't used in Corvettes 30 years ago. I put in a GM crate engine, Hydroboost, composite monospring front and rear, Steeroids, etc. for the purpose of getting modern performance in the best looking car every built. I don't stay at any one speed for very long because I like the acceleration at any speed in any gear. I can't decide which I like more: forward or lateral acceleration. Deceleration with Hydoboost feels cool too. My '80 has a "groove" I like to drive in that feels and sounds like nothing else.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When I first got my car it was in very original condition. I was told that I needed to drive it like I was making love to an old lady. You young guys probably (?) don't know about that. Now that everything is being rebuilt, I plan to find out what 510 ft lbs of torque feels like. It will definitely make some 1/4 mile passes. I've never been much for going fast around the corners.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
spirited driving for me. Mine is in nice cruise night condition and has won a trophy at a small local show. I can't help opening up the secondaries at least once every time I take it out, that's why I bought it. I love listening to my modified engine coming up through the gears though headers and flowmasters. If I'm really feeling punchy, I'll stand on it like there's no tomorrow and try to chirp the tires with every shift of the 4 spd.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
