Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive
Admittedly, when I think corvette, the driver I envision is in his 50s, has a beer belly and a Tommy Bahama shirt. Yes, gold chains might enter the picture.
I think there might be a hint of truth to my stereotype, but is this something the general public notices, or is it strictly a thing auto enthusiasts would think of? Is my stereotype totally wrong?
I've seen plenty of the guys I described in Porsches as well.....
Sometimes I think the general public views all of us sports car guys as pr!cks, and doesn't care about the particulars. |
To be honest, that quite an astute description of a typical Corvette Club guy.
My Dad had a C5 Vert, red with red leather interior and white roof. It was a really nice clean car. He joined the Corvette club and started getting involved with the socializing. He invited me to Vette shows that were near my house and I went to a couple wondering what to expect, trying to put my deep down disdain for these cars aside and have an open mind.
It was just as you described, mostly mid 50's men with pot bellies all anal over how clean their cars were. Some went as far as to armor all the tire treads on their cars in an effort to win the car show.
Not my scene and I never went to another of his functions.
I was very good friends with the owner of a prominent Autocross driving school. I have sponsored a few private driving schools, 1 for MINI Coopers, and a few for RX7's, I have never had any incident at any of my events, nothing, no accidents no epic failures, considering RX7's reputation you would think the later would be prevalent.
The owner of the autocross school was telling me that a very large Corvette aftermarket company decided to do the same thing int heir parking lot. A Vette only event. There were 2 blown engines, 1 totaled car and 2 wrecked cars by the end of the day. It was decided to never do that again.
My neighbor a couple of blocks away sold his C6 to buy a 2007 Porsche Carrera. He promptly joined the PCA. I had stopped by his house a few times to talk cars, I had my 911 at the time and he used to tell me he wished he had the guts to buy an older one but needs a new one for dependability. IT is his only source of transportation, he daily drives his.
I asked him when I would see him at a PCA event and he told me he had been to a few already. I was surprised to hear that, I had not seen him at any. Upon further prodding it became apparent why, I only attended Autocrosses and he was only attending dinners and non-driving events. I gave him some crap telling him to get out and drive that car. He told me everyone at the dinners said the same thing, most of them Autocross and do DE's with their cars. He said it was a stark contrast to the Corvette crowd that mostly discussed waxing and detailing techniques. He said everyone at the dinners were talking about their track and AX adventures. Sadly, he still has not taken his car to a actual driving event, I have even invited him a few times.
The publics perception is probably pretty much spot on. From my encounters with the Vette crowd I have found all my preconceived stereotypes to be right on. Of course there are exceptions, just like my neighbor that will not track his Porsche there are Vette guys that use their cars as intended... but that is another conundrum... too many times I see Vettes at track days and AX's and the owners are in way over their heads, a hazard to everyone around them.
One of the first things I teach a new Autocrosser when we are working out on the course together is to never turn your back on a Corvette. Watch it at all times even when you think it is too far away from you to hit you.... it isn't.