Wife and I were heavy into the NCCC show circuit a few years back, did 56 judged shows in two years. Anyway, Vette was in a mall show waiting to be judged. Two little guys, maybe 8 and 10 years old come up and just stopped dead in their tracks looking at our Vette. Very well mannered boys who actually stood back and did not touch the car in any way. I sat in my chair and watched as the mom bent down as the younger boy whispered something in her ear. I heard her reply that the sign says Please Do Not Touch. I got up from my chair and asked if I could answer any questions for the boys and she replied "well, they wanted to know if they could sit in your Corvette and I told them no, that is what the sign is for". I said that sign is for the people who don't respect property, not your sons." I opened the doors, let both boys in and I gotta tell you, the smiles were a mile wide on these two. Mom stood by with just a look I could not explain other than glowing as she watched her sons, in their minds, race down LeMans. After they were done, mom thanked me, boys thanked me and they moved on. Guy being judged next to me came over and asked me if I was nuts? Your interior is going to take a hit when judged and now you have fingerprints on your doors. I replied, "I could care less, how many trophies does a person need? Watching the smile on those two little guys was better than winning Best of Show. If your wondering, I did take a major hit for fingerprints on doors, glass, and dirt on carpets, blah, blah,blah. Went home and with the feeling of that was my favorite show ever. Maybe did a little to start the next younger generation of Corvette fanatics. The Corvette is a very special car, inspires young and old alike.

 

We look the little yellow ride to Eureka Springs to take in some of Corvette Weekend. It was awesome with all the vettes. We met my brother/sister-in-law down there, and she rode with me. The wave just amazed her. She just thought that was so cool! I think it kind of amazed my hubby also, on the way down there, the comradery of fellow corvette enthusiasts. What a car!!!

 

I am happy that I started this thread, and allowed people to express their feelings about their car and this community. Ive noticed that many poster in this thread mention kids...... While kids do get energized by these cars.. most of my daily comments as I go about my day are from adults lots of 25 to 45 people.. but also alot of senior citizens 60 to 80 in fact at my gun club many members are in their 80's and 90's... these guys do not look their age ( for the most part ).. one of my closest friends there is 90 years old.. sharp as a tack.. take no medicines he is the senior range officer and one of the ranges that I use... they all make alot of comments about my car.. Anyway.. young or old, most people can appreciate these cars... thanks for adding your stories to this thread..
Bill aka ET

 

The biggest smile I get comes from the compliments from my daughters' classmates. I was picking up my fifth-grader and goosed the throttle to the delight of a group of her friends. My 7th-grader tells me that her buds call the car "Legit."

 

I live in Northwest Indiana and today is going to be 80 degrees. I am taking my car out of storage, I cleaned it before it went in the bubble, and I'm going to drive it ALL DAY LONG, I told my wife that I SHOULD be home by dark, but no promisses. I have been looking forward to this day for about a month now. I had a hard time sleeping last night and I was affraid to tell my wife why. To her it's just a nice car, but to me it's a beautifull piece of true American craftsmanship. Oh and buy the way she is Yellow..............What does a Vette and a woman have in common?...........They were both ment to be drivin!

 

Great thread Bill. I had mine out for a short blast late this afternoon after installing the Hotchkis, and WOW.

Great day 80 + top down Vert. It may be 10 years old, but the $ss on this old girl is still hi and tight. Mark

 

Sometimes you just gotta do it - keep the camera on you at all times

Thanks,Matt

 

Thank you everyone...

 

that always happens to me too!

 

Some of you older guys will have this happen also... My grandson calls me from Jr. High School (13 years old) and asked if I would pick him up. "Sure no problem, what door" Grandson tells me where, "I'll be right there", "Oh Pop Pop could you bring the Corvette, its not raining and the streets are clean" , "sure see you in a couple " I get to the school and there must have been 20 of his class mates waiting outside. I pulled up and their jaws just dropped.... My grandson opened the door and put his book bag in and all the kids tried to look in . I pulled over to a parking space and opened the doors and hood so they could look . I let several kids sit in it and they were just so happy to be able to see it up and close. One kid said I'm going to get one some day ...I told him to do good in school and get a good job so he could have his "dream car". As we were leaving someone shouted "when are you picking Ryan up again so I can bring my camera". I guess I'll have to keep my car for a while longer, I have a two year old granddaughter, and my daughter is due in July and my son's wife is due in Sept. 13, 5, 2, and two new ones on the way

PS. Bill it's good to see you back , from another old guy in a "small town in Pennsylvania "

 

Hahahaha!!! I was at the gas station a few months ago in the Z and a car of 4-5 16 year olds got out, one of them started BOWING to the car!!!! Got an ear full of "wow!! Thats SICK" and "Geez you're lucky!" One kid asked how old I was, told him (21) and he flipped!! The last one asked how much I paid for her, all I said was "too much" and he replied with "yeah, like 50k, right?" Gotta love it!! They definitely heard the pipes when I left Nate

 

Your a great grandpa!! My younger sisters ask me to pick them up from school all the time! They're 9 and 14

 

Grandson tells me where, "I'll be right there", "Oh Pop Pop could you bring the Corvette, its not raining and the streets are clean"

That is a great one right there, brought tears to my eyes as he knows his Grandpa.

 

My grand kids are too young to ride in my car, but they all want to ride in it when they are legally allowed. But I did buy them their own Red C5 Corvette.

 

That's awesome, wish I could have had one of those when I was little!

 

You gotta get him a set of headers for that thing!

 

What a great thread! I have read every entry. I think everyone here with a C5 bought the car for what it is not what people think.
My 02 Z is my daily driver and I do all possible to keep it looking great, just because I know its faster when its clean. Its a rare occasion I don't get a wave or someone saying or yelling nice ride when the weather is decent.

 

When someone says they have read every post in the thread, it says something about the subject...Thank you for such a great compliment to a nicely developing thread... what this thread does do is show that many others feel the same way we do about our cars and really do not brag about it until a thread like this comes along.. No we are not **** retentive... this car makes us happy... for many who use it for work and then drive it home , can make a rough day at the office a piece of cake when looking forward to the drive home.. I know many of us drag our butts out of bed in the morning with a less than eager focus on the days work.. once the garage opens or you get in your car.. it makes the day ahead much more tollerable... this is a magic car.. something a Lexus or a Camry cant deliver... these thoughts about your car are not unique. Most of the people in this forum have similar feelings, not too many feel it is "just a car".. these threads help to prove that. Ive also read every post and have been smiling all day. And for me a real plus... No fighting , or chest pounding, and no attacks ... Life is good here in the old Corvette forum..
Bill aka ET

 

I agree, GREAT thread! I'll add my own little story. Happened yesterday.

Picture this... It's Alaska, temperatures 35-40°, roads still have loads of gravel but only in the gutters / medians; clear of snow. However, the roadsides are still layered in snow, parking lots have snow piles 10 feet high yet. I have a registration restriction that says I cannot operate my Vette until April 1st.

Yesterday, April 1st, 12:00am sharp, I had been sitting in my car for five minutes waiting for the "magic minute" and I turned the key. Vette roars to life. I leave the garage, then the driveway... then my street for the first time since October. First drive of the year began. It was short but sweet.

Later that night, I met two other Vette owners and we took our "first day" cruise 40 miles down a winding seaside highway, to eat at a restaurant called Chair 5 in a small ski town called Girdwood. Roads are clean and dry, the drive very beautiful. EXCEPT at Girdwood! Tons of mud, water, gravel, and sludge over the dirt roads to the restaurant. Potholes left and right. But whatever, its the first drive of the year... and we're enjoying it.

I get back home at 9pm. It's twilight out, 34° at my driveway. Car is filthy. I pull out my car wash gear, break out the hose, take off my coat, and wash my car right there in the driveway, in a shortsleeve, on a cool spring day when most of my neighbors still have snow all over their driveways. There's a reason I keep mine shoveled all winter... so my car doesn't get trapped come spring!

yesterday was the first drive, the first car wash, and the first true grin I've had on my face in six months. Even if my new headers DO have an exhaust leak somewhere!

 

Does anyone else look forward with such anticipation as the first spring ride of the new year.. we all understand this but try explaining that to some one driving a lexus. Nice story Jason, and thanks for sharing.. again its a magic car.. who washes their car when its in the 30's in a short sleeved shirt with snow piled up ten feet in the parking lot, and you are feeling warm all over..