and
Corvette Wave
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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From what I have seen around here, the wave is definitely dying out. I do my part by waving, but more often than not other drivers do not wave.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 318
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
On the plus side the wave is still around while boating. If I'm out for a couple hours driving around I must wave at least a couple dozen other boaters. That's more of an acknowledging the other boater safety thing I suppose.
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 608
Likes: 39
From: NW Ohio
I think everyone 'waves' on Facebook anymore. 
Doing real things seems to be a lost art. Hell, you barely see people using a turn signal around here it seems. If it takes too much effort to flip on the blinker, they must not have the energy to wave at you.
It seems it's all about 'virtual' crap these days.
Doing real things seems to be a lost art. Hell, you barely see people using a turn signal around here it seems. If it takes too much effort to flip on the blinker, they must not have the energy to wave at you.
It seems it's all about 'virtual' crap these days.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,067
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
This is the way I was told the wave started.
In Europe drivers of nice cars often waved at each other in acknowledgement of the other car owners taste in style and uniqueness of ownership. This started in the early days of automobile history when there weren't many cars around and the wealthy were most often the only people with cars. It became the "in" thing to do, wave at another to acknowledge their taste in fine equipment.
As the war years ended ( I Am assuming WW 2 ) the sports car evolved into a more affordable car and the brotherhood of sports car drivers joined the "wave" crowd. This was to acknowledge the other driver as one of their own. When the GI's returned from the European theater with the small, affordable sports car the wave came with them.
The Corvette family adopted the wave as their own, thus the save the wave story.
This is the story that I learned in my childhood, early '50's, but you could probably Google it for internet accuracy. I won't as I like this story so I will leave it up to you.
In Europe drivers of nice cars often waved at each other in acknowledgement of the other car owners taste in style and uniqueness of ownership. This started in the early days of automobile history when there weren't many cars around and the wealthy were most often the only people with cars. It became the "in" thing to do, wave at another to acknowledge their taste in fine equipment.
As the war years ended ( I Am assuming WW 2 ) the sports car evolved into a more affordable car and the brotherhood of sports car drivers joined the "wave" crowd. This was to acknowledge the other driver as one of their own. When the GI's returned from the European theater with the small, affordable sports car the wave came with them.
The Corvette family adopted the wave as their own, thus the save the wave story.
This is the story that I learned in my childhood, early '50's, but you could probably Google it for internet accuracy. I won't as I like this story so I will leave it up to you.
This. Years ago, before the internet was invented by Al Gore, I did some research on the wave. rcooper's explanation is pretty much what I found.As for the wave dying out, back in the early days of the C3 a lot of the Corvette guys I hung with complained that the owners of the new C3s were not waving and that the wave was on it's way out. So as near as I can tell, its been on life support for 45 years. IMHO it's alive and well for true enthusiasts and will never be part of the driving experience for those who just happen to own a Vette because the C7 is cool and new or just picked up a used C6 or C5 but are not into the Vette experience.
Instructor
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 16
I love the wave! It's funny how such a small and meaningless gesture can reinvigorate your faith in mankind sometimes. At first I was a bit apprehensive about it, because it's kind of like walking by a stranger in the hallway.
"Ahh should I nod, should I smile, or am I going to look like an idiot when I say hello and he/she stares straight ahead and walks right by me."
Maybe not an issue in "nicer" areas, but in the greater NYC area most people are just dicks about things like this.
But in my personal experience, I'd say at least 90% of Corvette's I see on the road have either waved, flashed their beams, or given a quick honk when we pass each other. You forget about it 2 seconds after it happens, but for those 2 seconds it's just like, "Aww there are still polite, non stuck-up, fun-loving people in the world."
"Ahh should I nod, should I smile, or am I going to look like an idiot when I say hello and he/she stares straight ahead and walks right by me."
Maybe not an issue in "nicer" areas, but in the greater NYC area most people are just dicks about things like this.
But in my personal experience, I'd say at least 90% of Corvette's I see on the road have either waved, flashed their beams, or given a quick honk when we pass each other. You forget about it 2 seconds after it happens, but for those 2 seconds it's just like, "Aww there are still polite, non stuck-up, fun-loving people in the world."
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 211
Likes: 13
From: Yorba Linda California
This is the way I was told the wave started.
In Europe drivers of nice cars often waved at each other in acknowledgement of the other car owners taste in style and uniqueness of ownership. This started in the early days of automobile history when there weren't many cars around and the wealthy were most often the only people with cars. It became the "in" thing to do, wave at another to acknowledge their taste in fine equipment.
As the war years ended ( I Am assuming WW 2 ) the sports car evolved into a more affordable car and the brotherhood of sports car drivers joined the "wave" crowd. This was to acknowledge the other driver as one of their own. When the GI's returned from the European theater with the small, affordable sports car the wave came with them.
The Corvette family adopted the wave as their own, thus the save the wave story.
This is the story that I learned in my childhood, early '50's, but you could probably Google it for internet accuracy. I won't as I like this story so I will leave it up to you.
In Europe drivers of nice cars often waved at each other in acknowledgement of the other car owners taste in style and uniqueness of ownership. This started in the early days of automobile history when there weren't many cars around and the wealthy were most often the only people with cars. It became the "in" thing to do, wave at another to acknowledge their taste in fine equipment.
As the war years ended ( I Am assuming WW 2 ) the sports car evolved into a more affordable car and the brotherhood of sports car drivers joined the "wave" crowd. This was to acknowledge the other driver as one of their own. When the GI's returned from the European theater with the small, affordable sports car the wave came with them.
The Corvette family adopted the wave as their own, thus the save the wave story.
This is the story that I learned in my childhood, early '50's, but you could probably Google it for internet accuracy. I won't as I like this story so I will leave it up to you.
I wave at all 'vette drivers. This is a carry over from my Jeep days. It's also a Jeep thing!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
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From: Northern Virginia
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...i%20end%20date
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,479
Likes: 3,966
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Except for the minor detail that all the WW II vets were back from Europe long before the first Corvette hit the streets.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...i%20end%20date
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...i%20end%20date
The "Jeep Wave" has been around longer than the "Corvette Wave," and the same stories are told about how it started. I suspect none are close to the truth, particularly about the Vette Wave since the Vette wasn't around during or at the end of WWII.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 211
Likes: 13
From: Yorba Linda California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
As stated by several posters here, the wave originated with sports car drivers. It was a sign of acknowledgment of the uniqueness of their vehicles compared to all ordinary ones on the road. Remember in the late 40's and early 50's there wasn't the multitude of cars or car brands that we have today.
When I got my '55 Vette, you only occasionally saw another sports car, let alone another Corvette, so the wave was the thing that made you a member of the Vette community. Today, with over a 1.5 mil produced since then, the Corvette is not the rarity it once was and the wave has become passé. But, hopefully there are still some, especially oldtimers like me, that still wave.
When I got my '55 Vette, you only occasionally saw another sports car, let alone another Corvette, so the wave was the thing that made you a member of the Vette community. Today, with over a 1.5 mil produced since then, the Corvette is not the rarity it once was and the wave has become passé. But, hopefully there are still some, especially oldtimers like me, that still wave.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 9,553
Likes: 2,642
From: Gilbert Arizona
Flash Headlights
It's funny, but when I had my 69 Stingray we used to flash headlights when Corvettes crossed paths. Not sure where that started but I've been doing the wave since I got my 07 C6. And yes, I even wave when I'm driving my wife's Lexus and she laughs at me. It's simply muscle memory at this point.....LOL 
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 119
From: Bellevue WA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,071
Likes: 317
From: Central Florida
From what I can attest too is most of the drivers of Corvettes who have owned one for a while, or are on the second plus Corvette know about the wave, and usually do wave. Those newbies who have purchased their first Corvette, really don't know about it yet. So its a matter of just letting the new folks (first time owners), know about the tradition.
Regardless, you will always have some that will no participate performing this tradition, just the way people are.
For the record, I WAVE, and have told new owners about the wave, which the admitted they did not know about.
That's my story and I will stick to it....
Regardless, you will always have some that will no participate performing this tradition, just the way people are.
For the record, I WAVE, and have told new owners about the wave, which the admitted they did not know about.
That's my story and I will stick to it....