The Wave....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
was taught/shown the wave back in 1966, in a 61 fuelie. Brother always waved (his car) cause it was.. an inside cool factor for vette owners. Guess it still is. Yet to pass another vette in my 86, but I will continue that long tradition.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,423
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
After reading this thread, I wondered what the frequency was for the various "wave" threads on the forum. Seems there's a fresh one every couple weeks or so, all over the forum.
They dont always start the same, but its usually some version of "how come people dont wave at me?" and generally finds its way to "people in C (poster's generation) cars usually wave, but people who drive C (whatever cars they dont like) never do." Usually (unless its started by a C6 owner) there's always a comment that includes, "C6 owners arent really Corvette people because they bought their cars because of X or Y, instead of Z." Wave threads almost always include a comment where someone demonstates a mind-reading ability to know why a perfect stranger bought their car.
I remember reading one such comment about C5 owners. I thought, "how come Im a poopy head when Im driving my wife's C5, but Im suddenly different when Im driving my C1 or C3?"
Pretty much all "wave thread" includes these elements.
So I searched Thread titles with "wave" in them. There were 247 threads in the search. Interestingly, the vast majority were by C4, C5 and YES C6 owners.
And yes, everyone thinks everyone else isnt a real Corvette person because they dont wave.
They dont always start the same, but its usually some version of "how come people dont wave at me?" and generally finds its way to "people in C (poster's generation) cars usually wave, but people who drive C (whatever cars they dont like) never do." Usually (unless its started by a C6 owner) there's always a comment that includes, "C6 owners arent really Corvette people because they bought their cars because of X or Y, instead of Z." Wave threads almost always include a comment where someone demonstates a mind-reading ability to know why a perfect stranger bought their car.
I remember reading one such comment about C5 owners. I thought, "how come Im a poopy head when Im driving my wife's C5, but Im suddenly different when Im driving my C1 or C3?"
Pretty much all "wave thread" includes these elements.
So I searched Thread titles with "wave" in them. There were 247 threads in the search. Interestingly, the vast majority were by C4, C5 and YES C6 owners.
And yes, everyone thinks everyone else isnt a real Corvette person because they dont wave.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Absolutely - you should see the Corvette club on a cruise... passing another Corvette.
Very similar to the wave at a sports stadium... a flourish!
Very similar to the wave at a sports stadium... a flourish!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I guess I just live in a different world then most of you! I have never had a corvette owner NOT wave back unless he wasn't paying attention and didn't see me. I have however heard disparaging remarks made towards C4's at an all Corvette show, he did not know I was a C4 owner lol!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 156
From: White Oak PA
A friendly greeting to another Corvette driver
I wave to all other Corvette owners. Sometimes I even miss the opportunity. Been waving since my first Corvette that I bought in 1977. It's cool when the other driver waves back. If they do not, no big deal. It happens at times and I never take it personally. Enjoy driving your Corvette and try not to let the wave stuff get too intense.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 35
From: Coldville
I don't know about the wave thing.
Never heard of it until I got a vette though.
I think its has more to do with where you live or something.
I gotten to the point where I dont expect people who drive Vettes to wave.
Most dont wave here, so I dont expect it.
Im A African American guy and I look kinda young for my age so maybe thats why, but the other day I saw a gorgous young African amarican Lady driving a C6 and yes I wanted to wave
O an there was a time when a Blonde pulled up to me at a light in a C5 z06
So yes I agree save the wave!
Never heard of it until I got a vette though.
I think its has more to do with where you live or something.
I gotten to the point where I dont expect people who drive Vettes to wave.
Most dont wave here, so I dont expect it.
Im A African American guy and I look kinda young for my age so maybe thats why, but the other day I saw a gorgous young African amarican Lady driving a C6 and yes I wanted to wave
O an there was a time when a Blonde pulled up to me at a light in a C5 z06
So yes I agree save the wave!
Last edited by rad928music; Jun 18, 2013 at 04:38 PM. Reason: change
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32,990
Likes: 6,523
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
I wave (if I see the other Vette). If they wave back, great. If they don't, so what, I don't feel slighted.
Some people get all twisted up if they don't get a wave!
Sometimes it may be traffic taking your attention, or any one of a dozen other things. Maybe the guy just bought the car and does not even know about the wave.
And back in the late 60's there was an article in our club newsletter complaining those guys in the sharks - later called C-3's - were too stuck up to wave at the older ones.
Those C-6 drivers will be starting threads in a couple years about the stuck-up C-7 drivers who don't wave!
Some people get all twisted up if they don't get a wave!
Sometimes it may be traffic taking your attention, or any one of a dozen other things. Maybe the guy just bought the car and does not even know about the wave.And back in the late 60's there was an article in our club newsletter complaining those guys in the sharks - later called C-3's - were too stuck up to wave at the older ones.
Those C-6 drivers will be starting threads in a couple years about the stuck-up C-7 drivers who don't wave!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 348
Likes: 28
From: Houston TX
When I got my Vette, I was very confused at first why all the other Vette owners kept waving at me. I failed to return because I was not expecting it most of the time and by the time I realized it was too late. By the end of the first couple of weeks, it had happened so many times that I finally realized "The Wave" was actually a thing. I now wave all the time. In the Dallas area I noticed that the majority of all Vette's waved regardless of generation.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 26
From: Cudahy, WI
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I never head of this until i posted in the new member section 2 weeks ago when i got my first vett and got a "save the wave" comment and i think - what the ???????? is that.
It's a little weird to me but ok
It's a little weird to me but ok
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 373
Likes: 31
From: Albion, Indiana
At the time I bought my first Vette, the PO told me about two things while cruising: turn on the parking lights/fog lights and absolutely WAVE at fellow Vette owners you pass on the highway. Didn't take long after beginning to drive it that I understood what he was talking about. Receive waves from the drivers of all gens, but C6 drivers have the highest % of "non" wavers!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,049
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
Back in the bad old days when I picked up my first C3, every Corvette owner waived to another Vette owner. Back then, Vettes with auto trannys were rare and somewhat frowned upon. A/C was not frowned upon, but not common. Most Vettes had all their HP going to the rear wheels and had a clutch pedal. Owners were typically in their 20's or 30's.
By 1982, when I picked up the second C3, an auto 79 with AC and power seats, the wave was a sometimes thing. Most new Vette owners were in their 30's or 40's and some had no idea why someone waived to them.
When I picked up the C5 last year I was surprised to find the wave was still alive as I picked up several waves on that memorable 100 mile trip home.
I think folks that are into Corvettes and general car enthusiasts also support the wave. But as the Corvette has become a more "GT" and a little less "sports" car, some folks buy them because they're cool to own, but could care less about things like the wave. Too bad too, but that's just how things progressed. I'm just glad the plastic roller skate is still alive.
By 1982, when I picked up the second C3, an auto 79 with AC and power seats, the wave was a sometimes thing. Most new Vette owners were in their 30's or 40's and some had no idea why someone waived to them.
When I picked up the C5 last year I was surprised to find the wave was still alive as I picked up several waves on that memorable 100 mile trip home.
I think folks that are into Corvettes and general car enthusiasts also support the wave. But as the Corvette has become a more "GT" and a little less "sports" car, some folks buy them because they're cool to own, but could care less about things like the wave. Too bad too, but that's just how things progressed. I'm just glad the plastic roller skate is still alive.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Yesterday the weather here was so nice for cruising about. Saw many other Vettes. Generations 3-6 were all represented. The biggest wave came from a C5. The driver honked the horn when he saw us in our 95, and he and his wife gave us big smiles and waves. You could tell they were having a great time enjoying their car, as were we ours. Last week I was stuck in some nasty traffic on the way home. I was in my 85. Another C4, a beautifully-kept polo green, pulled up next to me. The driver gave me a big grin and wave. Generally, I wave a lot. If I get one in return - great. If not, that's fine, too.