C3 and a 16 yo
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
C3 and a 16 yo
My 16 yo nephew is a junior and has prom in a month. He's a good level headed kid who is a straight A student, mature way beyond his years, and a gifted athlete.
I expect if not a full ride at least close to it at a division 1 school for baseball is in his future. Aside from being gifted he works his *** off to be better.
Today I took him out and taught him to drive stick in my 81. He picked up quickly and after 1 or 12 passes around the school parking lot we headed out onto the side streets. He did very very well. Of course the usual getting used to how much gas to give it when starting and getting the hang of down shifting but after one lesson he is doing great.
I have a month to get him ready, if he does well I told him he can drive the 81 for prom, hes pretty excited. Another C3 fan is born!!
I expect if not a full ride at least close to it at a division 1 school for baseball is in his future. Aside from being gifted he works his *** off to be better.
Today I took him out and taught him to drive stick in my 81. He picked up quickly and after 1 or 12 passes around the school parking lot we headed out onto the side streets. He did very very well. Of course the usual getting used to how much gas to give it when starting and getting the hang of down shifting but after one lesson he is doing great.
I have a month to get him ready, if he does well I told him he can drive the 81 for prom, hes pretty excited. Another C3 fan is born!!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
I dont get a warm fuzzy from this. I lost a friend in school on prom night in a vette his parents rented him. Tried to out run a train. He was level headed and the guy that stuck up for all the "weaker" kids in the school. remind him no under age drinking, thats what did Chris in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Good on you for taking time to show him right and wrong and give him memories he'll cherish for the rest of his life... awesome! 
Not a bad way for him to impress his date either
Have fun and keep working with him on his driving - he sounds like a kid with a good head on his shoulders. I'm sure he's picking up more then just the correct method to use a clutch.
Adam
Not a bad way for him to impress his date either
Have fun and keep working with him on his driving - he sounds like a kid with a good head on his shoulders. I'm sure he's picking up more then just the correct method to use a clutch.
Adam
Last edited by AdamMeh; Apr 8, 2012 at 11:45 PM.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA
Tell him if he takes care of it he car use it for his wedding also. M ake him feel like it is something to look forard to.
And do take pictures of him and his date with the car. He will charish them for ever.
Good luck.
But I would not let ME use a Vette at that age. LOL
And do take pictures of him and his date with the car. He will charish them for ever.
Good luck.
But I would not let ME use a Vette at that age. LOL
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
I dont get a warm fuzzy from this. I lost a friend in school on prom night in a vette his parents rented him. Tried to out run a train. He was level headed and the guy that stuck up for all the "weaker" kids in the school. remind him no under age drinking, thats what did Chris in.
The kid is more focused more mature than any 16 yo I have ever met. In fact probably more than most adults I know. I trust him and in my profession for me to trust someone is pretty rare.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
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Hey, Semper Fi: PHPD
Any chance thats the city of brotherly love you on the job there?
I grew up on the out skirts of the northeast.
I was going with a girl in the late 70's who convinced her dad I was a good mechanic and I could get that old 1957 T-Bird in the garage running. Well he gave his daughter the green light that I could take a stab at it.
About a week later he came home from his office and the car was washed and running in his driveway. He let us drive it as we chose and he again got to enjoy it. White with a tan gut & 312 engine as I remember.
If this man wasn't as kind and trusting and had not had that confidence in me, I would have never had the opportunity of a life time at 17.
Maybe that's why I have a '68 BB today. And if I ever ran into him I'd let him drive it as much as he wanted.
Your one of those men that keeps the car legacy flame lit.
On the other hand I have an 18 y/o senior in HS who asked to take my 68 BB to the senior prom. I politley told him its too much car for a teenager. He does not give me the same confidence as your nephew.
Hope he has the time of his life and a memory to last a life time.
I know I did
Marshal
Any chance thats the city of brotherly love you on the job there?
I grew up on the out skirts of the northeast.
I was going with a girl in the late 70's who convinced her dad I was a good mechanic and I could get that old 1957 T-Bird in the garage running. Well he gave his daughter the green light that I could take a stab at it.
About a week later he came home from his office and the car was washed and running in his driveway. He let us drive it as we chose and he again got to enjoy it. White with a tan gut & 312 engine as I remember.
If this man wasn't as kind and trusting and had not had that confidence in me, I would have never had the opportunity of a life time at 17.
Maybe that's why I have a '68 BB today. And if I ever ran into him I'd let him drive it as much as he wanted.
Your one of those men that keeps the car legacy flame lit.
On the other hand I have an 18 y/o senior in HS who asked to take my 68 BB to the senior prom. I politley told him its too much car for a teenager. He does not give me the same confidence as your nephew.
Hope he has the time of his life and a memory to last a life time.
I know I did
Marshal
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 9
From: South Bend IN
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I let my brother-in-law drive mine to the prom. We swapped keys in the parking lot before the prom started and I took my Vette home and left him with his Jetta. He was excited he got to take a Corvette to prom and I was glad to have it back before the prom actually started.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 396
Likes: 13
From: New Bern NC
Actually he's worried about the "after prom" thing. He is very conscious about where he goes and what is going on there. He knows getting caught drinking is an end to his high school ball playing for the year which hurts his chances at a scholarship.
The kid is more focused more mature than any 16 yo I have ever met. In fact probably more than most adults I know. I trust him and in my profession for me to trust someone is pretty rare.
The kid is more focused more mature than any 16 yo I have ever met. In fact probably more than most adults I know. I trust him and in my profession for me to trust someone is pretty rare.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,279
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi phpd,
I'll come to Nowhere Man's defence.
He is a person of relatively young years himself. So his request wasn't too weird!
To your car.... sounds like you've figured this out pretty well, have a plan, and it may just work out. You'll be a part of his long time memories!
Regards,
Alan
I'll come to Nowhere Man's defence.
He is a person of relatively young years himself. So his request wasn't too weird!
To your car.... sounds like you've figured this out pretty well, have a plan, and it may just work out. You'll be a part of his long time memories!
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Just be sure that you can live with your decision if something happens. Not trying to talk you out of it; you have to be the judge on whether it is appropriate, or not.
Just curious....did he ask you if he could drive it? Or did you volunteer to teach him to drive and offer it to him?
Just curious....did he ask you if he could drive it? Or did you volunteer to teach him to drive and offer it to him?