How many pilots are here.

Not a thread hijack, same theme.

navx

 

Buying the Corvette was one of the BEST if not THE best thing I ever did! When I first bought it, I was racked with guilt that I bought this CAR that only I would enjoy, what a selfish azz I am. Lo and behold, I discovered that my wife enjoyed the outings, cruises and shows, and ultimately we made friends with some of the nicest people on earth.....other Corvette owners. Now we have a passion that we both share, and we both love going out in this car with the top down and doing things related to the Vette - together.

Check out my plate.....waited too long! That really sums it up for both of us!



I hope you and your wife truly enjoy your car as much as we have...miles and miles of smiles! Welcome to the brotherhood and welcome to the Forum! Thanks for sharing your story!

 

I just couldn't resist, wish I had a pic.... my tag is:

NVR 2L8 - "Never Too Late"

 

I like the way the US flag folds gently back.

 

Welcome to the forum. you will find a lot of helpfull information and people on the forum. I have learned enough from the forum members to be able to change my swaybars, shocks, and perform a lot of other tasks myself just be reading forum posts.

 

Congrats on a great wife and a great car! My wife encouraged me to go after my dream car last summer and it didn't take me long to respond. I am now the proud owner of a beautiful black 04 Z06...and lovin it!

 

Awesome story! Welcome aboard. I've been a member of the forum since buying my 2004 Vette in September of 2004. I've never learned so much or laughed so hard as I have since joining this forum. Checking out this forum has become a highlight of mine every day. You certainly have come to the right place. And, when the other members say you are now a member of a brotherhood, they are right on. By the way, my wife gave me a test flight certificate for my birthday as she knows I have always wanted to be a pilot in addition to wanting to own a Vette. Enjoy the ride and enjoy the Corvette Forum. Congrats on the car also. Dan

 

Greetings Navx and Welcome to the forum, I see most of your questions have been answered in previous posts so I'll just add
I am a former real world pilot (no longer current) and seriously addicted simulator pilot ( http://photobucket.com/albums/v610/t...t%20Simulator/ ) Welcome to the wonderful world of Corvette ownership. Enjoy the ride and don't forget to wave.

Paul

 

Welcome to the forum. Enjoyed reading your story - for many a Corvette is a lifelong dream and when it comes true, it's great. Hope you and your wife have many enjoyable miles in the new car.

 

Welcome to the forum and the world of corvettes. The fun is just starting.

 

That is a great story! Congratulations!! Hope to have your wife on this board also, you both could enjoy!

Oh, and one more thing, when you pass a fellow Vette owner on the road, remember to give a Wave, its what sets us apart, not that our Vettes don't!

Welcome aboard and wish you and the Misses the best of luck and enjoyment.

 

Welcome aboard and congrats on your car. Great story also ! Best move we have made in years and as Boston would sing..Don't Look Back!

 

Welcome to the forum. Great story and nice avatar.

 

Welcome to the best dang Corvette forum on the Net!

A very good friend of mine also dreamed of owning a Corvette one day, especially seeing all the ones I've been through. Sadly, he passed away before he could fulfill that dream - he was 42. You guys did the right thing!!!

 

Thanks for all of the replies and welcomes!!!!!!!!! I was sitting here reading them with the wife and kids and we were all laughing. After reading some of your thoughts, I decided to relate another little story for you............................

Back in 1987, my Grandfather was 84yrs old. He was born in 1903 and flew Curtis Jenny's etc. He wanted to go into aviation when he was a young man, but as it was in its infancy, he was strongly discouraged saying he could never make a living at it, and even though it was his PASSION, he followed their advice and took another path. He always regretted that decision he told me later, saying it would of been the best move he could've made and would've had a wonderful career in Aviation! He still had a wonderful life and flew regularly. He opened an Airport, started a flying club, and instructed pilots during WWII and after. A few of the planes he flew and owned are still flying today, scattered across the country.

He was also a Scout Master, Post Master, helped to build the local Basilica, Sign Painter, Artist, Car Builder etc. A very hard working man and very formal with me when I was growing up. I always appreciated that about him. He loved to travel and loved the outdoors.

Here's the SAD part. He developed prostrate cancer when he was 87 and was given a few weeks to live . I was working for the Airlines in California at the time and decided I needed to fly down to visit him asap. I brought with me my photo album of a recent trip I had taken with some friends to Alaska. We had saved our money for a few years and flew in on a floatplane 250 miles N. of Anchorage. The pilot (Beaver aircraft on floats) dropped us off, and we floated for 9 days downstream, bear, moose, and tons of King Salmon 45-65lbs as many as you could catch. We didn't see another human the whole trip, had bear come into camp (yes we smoked salmon next to the tent, not too bright), and had some close calls as the river was rough and we had NO communication with the outside world. It really was a TRUE Adventure. One of those trips of a lifetime. (The mosquitoes did try to eat us alive as well ), but overall, a Grand Experience.

I flew down to see my Grandfather and when I got there I was shocked. He weighed about 85lbs as the cancer was eating him away, and could barely lift a cup to his lips to sip some water. We chatted in private for a long time, and I showed him the pictures of my recent trip to Alaska. He looked through them for a long time in silence, and then started to cry. I didn’t know what to say……… I finally asked him why he was crying, and he said, “It was always a DREAM of mine to go to Alaska. I’ve been to a lot of places and enjoyed the wilderness more than most, but I know now I will NEVER get to see Alaska.” That really made me sad. He told me, “Follow your dreams, and MAKE time for things in your life. It is short, and there are no second chances, ENJOY things while you can.”

He related his story to me again of his Dreams of Aviation when he was a young man, and how it could have been so challenging, filled with excitement and pilot fame. If only he had followed his heart!!!!!!!!!!

I have learned to follow mine. It is much easier said than done, especially as we become older and more practical, but I do my best. I loved my Grandfather, and I learned more from him in those last few hours I got to spend with him, then people would ever guess. Things happen for a reason, and if we look hard enough, the answers are usually there.

Yes, be frugal, save for the college educations, 401k’s if you have enough left over, maybe you’ll even have enough left for a cheesy cabin on a lake in Minnesota to catch some Northerns’ or Walleye. (the cheesy inexpensive vacations are always the most fun). But LIVE life to it’s fullest, whatever that may be for you. My father never had a lot of money, our friends had some nice V Bottomed boats but we couldn’t afford one so my dad bought an old green FLAT bottomed boat and a Used 18hp Evinrude. Better than nothing!!!!!!! I learned to ski on the Mississippi River behind that beat up boat, and we had a lot of fun growing up and meeting our friends on the sandbars for cookouts. Compromise!

And if you can’t afford a Vette yet, or airplane flight lessons, etc, then get with someone who can. They’ll be happy to share the thrill and adventure. As a matter of fact, there is a girl at work who has a RED 63 Vette model on her desk. She said she always wanted one. She’s in her 40’s and I asked her if she had ever been IN a Corvette. She said, sadly NO. I called the wife, asked permission to take her for a quick ride at lunch (wife knows her..), and we went for a quick spin. I cranked the CD and we rocked through a canyon or two for 30 minutes. She thought it was inspiring, and really wants one now!!!!!!!!

Don’t wait until you are 87!!!!!!!!!!!! Make a plan, set a goal.

Thanks again for all of the welcomes, this is a fun group, and I find that Corvette owners remind me a lot of Pilots and Aircraft owners.

I have a little light left and the Vette is sitting in the driveway waiting,,,,,,,,,, HAVE to go

knecker

 

 

 

This is why they call it America's Sportscar

 

Welcome to the forum!! This place is great, you'll meet alot of good people here and the support by your fellow Vette brothern is always here if you ever got a problem or just need a place to bitch. Oh and don't forget to wave at your fellow vette owners.

 

I'm in Layton, Ut. It would be nice to gather a bunch of Utah Vette's for a Springtime run to Moab. Everyone has to stop and watch when a parade of Vettes roll by. Welcome.