The Wave...
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 208
Likes: 139
I'm in New Mexico...everybody here is angry and pissed off all the time. The only wave you get out here is the middle finger. Grew up in Iowa...EVERYBODY waves at you back there, no matter what you're driving...everytime I go home my wife is like..."do you know that person" Nope, everyone is just friendly. We get back here and wait 2-3 minutes to allow someone to let us merge in and they flip you off! Demographics make a difference.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 151
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I always try to wave - nice tradition.
I remember my Dad telling me of the sports car days back in the 50s - there was a pecking order of who initiated a wave; lower end cars would wave (Triumph) and the higher end car would respond (Jaguar). Not sure how formalized this was, but not too many sports cars around in the early 50s (at least not US built ones).
Save the Wave!
I remember my Dad telling me of the sports car days back in the 50s - there was a pecking order of who initiated a wave; lower end cars would wave (Triumph) and the higher end car would respond (Jaguar). Not sure how formalized this was, but not too many sports cars around in the early 50s (at least not US built ones).
Save the Wave!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,151
Likes: 294
From: Opelousas, Lousiana
CI 6-7 & 9 Veteran
I have been driving Corvettes for many years. Sometimes I wave and sometimes I do not see the other Corvette in time.
Either way, it is OK. No need to sweat it.
I will say this, when I go to a Corvette event at the NCM, the waving can get a little tiresome with 1000 Corvettes in town.
Either way, it is OK. No need to sweat it.
I will say this, when I go to a Corvette event at the NCM, the waving can get a little tiresome with 1000 Corvettes in town.
Malinois Dad
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 554
From: Kent WA
I'd guess I get return waves about 60-70% of the time. I honestly don't care if I get one back - hopefully those that don't will eventually get enough waves that it'll sink in. I do get a lot of thumbs up and waves from others, even occasionally Porsche drivers!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 1,171
From: Keswick, Virginia
I would say that the ratio of "return" waves is about 75 percent. This is especially easy if the other Corvette driver doesn't have tinted windows or they have their top down/removed.
I think that those who don't return the wave simply don't see me wave in the first place. Remember that so many people have a lot of 'distractions' nowadays.
I think that those who don't return the wave simply don't see me wave in the first place. Remember that so many people have a lot of 'distractions' nowadays.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 771
Likes: 220
From: Saint Clair Shores Michigan
Waved yesterday at a white (or Ceramic Matrix Gray) Convertible C7 Stingray yesterday - almost missed it because the Tony Jambroni in front of me took his sweet time to step aside.
Also, they condensed west bound I-696 to one lane today
so lots of stop and go traffic. I noticed a white C4 behind me...and knowing I wouldn't get a chance to do it otherwise, I rolled down my window to wave with hopes that he would see it and know what I was doing. Not only did he wave, but the passenger did too.
2/2 this weekend
Also, they condensed west bound I-696 to one lane today
so lots of stop and go traffic. I noticed a white C4 behind me...and knowing I wouldn't get a chance to do it otherwise, I rolled down my window to wave with hopes that he would see it and know what I was doing. Not only did he wave, but the passenger did too.2/2 this weekend
Last edited by Judgment Day; Jul 13, 2019 at 08:24 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,067
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
It's summer. I wear sunglasses and the A/C is on and the windows closed. I can't see the driver in an oncoming car so how can I tell if they're waving or not? Back in the day, my C3 had no A/C. In the summer we drove around with the windows down all the time. I didn't need glasses back then, so sometimes I had sunglasses, sometimes not. At any rate it was way easier to see if someone was waving than it is today in our air conditioned world. In the spring and fall, when A/C is not required and the windows are down and the top comes off, then I see more waving.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 199
Likes: 92
From: Wynnewood Pennsylvania
Just returned from a long weekend trip to Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos, with 100% return of waves in both directions. This is a much better result than is typical locally, which runs about 75%.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 771
Likes: 220
From: Saint Clair Shores Michigan
Waved yesterday at a white (or Ceramic Matrix Gray) Convertible C7 Stingray yesterday - almost missed it because the Tony Jambroni in front of me took his sweet time to step aside.
Also, they condensed west bound I-696 to one lane today so lots of stop and go traffic. I noticed a white C4 behind me...and knowing I wouldn't get a chance to do it otherwise, I rolled down my window to wave with hopes that he would see it and know what I was doing. Not only did he wave, but the passenger did too.
2/2 this weekend
Also, they condensed west bound I-696 to one lane today
so lots of stop and go traffic. I noticed a white C4 behind me...and knowing I wouldn't get a chance to do it otherwise, I rolled down my window to wave with hopes that he would see it and know what I was doing. Not only did he wave, but the passenger did too.2/2 this weekend
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,997
Likes: 6,805
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
You are not alone in your experience. Things change, and what was may no longer be. So, seems the "wave," since many who buy Vettes today don't seem to care. Many are in their own worlds, and are hardly alone in that respect. 
Last edited by Avanti; Jul 15, 2019 at 01:01 AM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 157
Likes: 24
From: Simpsonville SC
Some of us are X-Harley riders.....carrying on the tradition......others feel it is beneath them to acknowledge a fellow corvette owner. Personally always experienced a return wave, as well, returned a wave from an admiring drivers.......I will add I have never, ever, got a wave from a BMW driver. 
Exception ID 10T
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 509
From: NW of Jacksonville FL
I had a harley give me the motorcycle wave last week. I returned a wave, don't know if he saw or not. Can't really tell if vette owners around here are waving back or not. Almost all of them have heavily tinted glass, and with our daily temps topping out close to 100 with comparable humidity, nobody drives with top down/top off/windows down.