I am 58 and have been car crazy since I was about three. My earliest memory is being 3 y/o and being put into a new 1949 MGTC by my father. He let me sit behind the wheel and I was hooked forever. I have been involved in car clubs for about 40 years, everything from antique clubs to street rod clubs. I have a 2004 Z06, a 1923 Ford Model T that is a very high 10 second street car and I assure you I will never give up the high performance car hobby. In the street rod club I am in(North Florida Street Rod Association, the largest club in the National Street Rod Association), we have members from their early 20's well into their late 70's. We have one member, who bought his first street rod at 79. He is now 83. We all get old and lose some of our mobility, but as long as a car enthusiast's brain still has a few live cells, he will be right in the thick of things and enjoying his car as much as when he was a teenager!!

 

 

Male/22/Not married...my insurance on the C6 is 2800.00 a year and I have a few tix...never a DWI though...I don't play that game.

That is the beauty of having a grandfather that serviced the country... and USAA insurance.

Apologies if the first line looks like a single's ad.

 

Well, I will be 62 in May of 2005 and I have a 2006 C6 Z06 on order. My last Corvette was a 1976 that was a piece of junk with 210 HP. I sold it when it had 3000 miles on it.

I dont look old. Thin, with full head of hair. Emotionally you change very little in your life. You feel the same subjectively at 60 as you do at 30. Older guys can get dull. Grandkids and church may be their only subjects for discussion.

I am the same now as I was, only the years have taken away the optimism of inexperience. I know my limitations and the reduction in testosterone decreases the tiresome aggression of youth. Older guys are facing their ultimate end, and for that reason the young may want to avoid the unpleasantness of that reality by avoiding their company.

I still like 25 Y/O women and like to get high, but have tempered my youthful insensitivity with a growing compassion for others. Lots of old guys are as obnoxious as they were in their 20s.

I have some younger friends and my business partner is 36. The worst thing about older guys (for the young guys) is, that when in their company, you cant say unrealistically optimistic things; they bring you back to earth.

The romance of hope and optimism is a quality of youth that pervades their conversations and their beliefs. Old guys with their seasoned experiences can really dampen the conversation with their practical realism.

So, I think it depends on the particular group as to how well the chemistry works. When I was in my 20s, I wanted to hang with guys my own age, but I wanted the advice and wisdom of men with experience and accomplishments to help guide me.

 

Very, very well said. Hopefully I will continue to mature until I can temper my words as well. There's still a touch of young man angst in my rants - but I'm gradually toning it down.

Maybe it would help if the 20 somethings would bring some of their friends to events with them - even if they don't have Vettes. We don't bite. The more the merrier.

 

Im 46, just got my 04vert in aug. My wifes friends tell her is your husband going though a mid life, I been into cars all my life, this is my 5th Vette, I guess it happen when I was 13, I have never change... Why now?

 

I don't think because a man has aged & matured but he still wants a fast car, should be by any means considered to be having a mid-life crisis....I think it only means he "likes fast cars."

Now...if a 50 year old man purchases a Honda Civic Si with a turbo kit and Nitrous and the street glow kit in Lime green....hmmm...this might be another story all together....

P.S. I am 22 but I'll stick up for you guys because when I am 50...I will still want a fast car, dammit.

 

Thanks Rook1e. Us old guys appreciate your comments. Hell, why do people think you should change just because you're old? Fast cars, fast bikes, sassy wenches and Rock n' Roll forever man!

 

Absolutely...rock n' roll till i die!

although i made a deal to myself to put my bike up for sale when i pick this car up next month....

I have a 2004 ZX-6R 636...I have no business on that thing at 22 years old...let's just say I've done a few too many wheelies @ 60mph, to say I never had a close call...I worked too hard in school to throw it all away for an eight thousand dollar crotch rocket..

 

When I moved to VA from NJ my car insu went down but H&$$% S*@# 6-10k a year is terrible. As an Old Guy (56) in VA, with 2 speeding tickets in the past 3 yrs. and having totaled a 96 Lincoln in Dec 03 (my fault - fell asleep on I95) I pay $756/yr for the Vette.

Obey, you're brain's in the right place "...attractive daughters..." Hurry up on mine, she's 23 and due to get married in April.

 

JFT- I guess you don't like the guy huh?...

 

Actually I do. He's grown on me over the years. Just going with the flow.

 

That's good....give the young guy a break

 

I'm a lot younger than I used to be

 

WOW! When did ages 20's-30's become old? I will be 46 later this week and now I feel like I have one foot in the grave.

 

Why you young little whippersnapper, I oughta....

Age is a physical thing, not a mental thing. It usually just boils down to personalities.

 

You may want to try going to larger regional events to see a larger cross section of Corvette people. The only problem with hanging out with "like minded" people, (young or old) is that you don't learn very much. Remember a guy 40 or 50 years old, is where you're gonna be in 20 to 30 years, if you're lucky.
You may not think at first you have much in common, but if you think about it, how many Corvettes do you see on a daily basis? The main thing you have in common is membership in an exclusive club. Corvette owners. Use that as a base to get to know those "older" guys, and pick their brains about life, cars, money, business, etc. (love and women) they'll probably talk about on their own.

Sly

 

Good post. It's not your age but your interests and attitude that are important. I've seen guys in their late 20s who were old men in their outlook, and guys in their 60s who had tons of enthusiasm and enjoyed life to its fullest. So to me it's your attitude and outlook rather than numerical age that are important.

 

Robert, You are a smart guy. "...pick their brains about life, cars, money, business, etc...." You will go far in life my man.

 

This will make you old antique farts feel better.

Gee.. I'm less than half his age! Maybe I still have a chance to hang out with some younger people who will accept me for who I am?