targa top flew off!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
targa top flew off!
Corvette owners please make sure your tops are secure. Sunday i had a great day driving my corvette in NYC top off. Well i guess when i got home I forgot to properly secure it. Today while taken the car out , when i hit the next block i decided to nail it. In that split second I felt the wind blow threw my hair as the top flew off. After thinking OH ****, I looked in the rear view and saw the top up at the height of the power lines. I then backed up and not only noticed a long crack in the acrylic but the aluminum frame was cracked in the front also. Stupid Me !!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
It happens. I haven't had the top on my cars in 2 years. I bought a light weight fabric top for when I park it in the garage or store it, but that comes off in April and stays off until I put it away in October. 
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 346
Likes: 24
From: Selma, NC
Sorry to hear that - it's almost happened to me multiple times. Luckily I've caught it when I heard it starting to rattle before it actually had liftoff.
Knowing my luck, I'm sure it'll happen eventually
Knowing my luck, I'm sure it'll happen eventually
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: NC
Don't feel too bad. This happened to me in 2007 on my C6. Some people blame it on being 'older and forgetful' but I was 20 at the time so I definitely had no excuse!
I came back one day from cruising. Parked her in the garage and put the top on. I decided I'd latch it down later. Well I didn't come back to the garage until the next morning, I was late to work... Surprisingly I was able to drive her for a good mile and a half at 35mph. Then when the speed limit went up to 45 it started vibrating and before I could think what to do it suddenly lifted up and went flying. The good thing is that the fiberglass wasn't damaged, instead it was scuffed up, very badly... Try explaining that goof up to your friends... LOL. To save face I told them some hooligans decided to vandalize my car. Hah. And that is the sole reason I bought a clear top. (At least it was a nice upgrade)
Looks like you're the newest member to the FRC (Flying roof club) So welcome to the club.
Try to search around on craigslist or ebay for a clear top for you C5. Make sure it comes with the shades. If you have a clear top already that's great.
I came back one day from cruising. Parked her in the garage and put the top on. I decided I'd latch it down later. Well I didn't come back to the garage until the next morning, I was late to work... Surprisingly I was able to drive her for a good mile and a half at 35mph. Then when the speed limit went up to 45 it started vibrating and before I could think what to do it suddenly lifted up and went flying. The good thing is that the fiberglass wasn't damaged, instead it was scuffed up, very badly... Try explaining that goof up to your friends... LOL. To save face I told them some hooligans decided to vandalize my car. Hah. And that is the sole reason I bought a clear top. (At least it was a nice upgrade)
Looks like you're the newest member to the FRC (Flying roof club) So welcome to the club.
Try to search around on craigslist or ebay for a clear top for you C5. Make sure it comes with the shades. If you have a clear top already that's great.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
That idea with the red rip cord saying," Remove before flight" is a great idea. I'm still laughing as i use silicone to give it a quick mend until i get a top. So happy its garaged and I never drive in rain. So when the silicone dries I'll hit it with the hose n pray. I saw a solid top on ebay that needs painting , hopefully ill win the bid and to save a few buck get a carbon fiber wrap to spice it up...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Oh yes insurance can cover the cost. But first your responsible for the deductible so no matter what $500 comes from my pocket. Why alert them. NY roads ill save that claim for newer rims n tires sooner or later LOL.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,370
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Tough break, but take solice in that you are not the only one that has done that.