My Daily Driver



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by Bobby McCarthy
Copyright (c), 2003, My Daily Driver -- All Rights Reserved

I suppose that since I have never owned a Chevrolet Corvette, I may be a bit out of line with this column. However, since I am the "Senior Columnist" of My Daily Driver.com, I pretty much can speak my mind. Normally, the Daily Drives column begins with,
I was driving my car last week... and we reflect upon a singular moment frozen in time. For this particular entry, I did have an "incident" occur during my drive last week involving a Chevrolet Corvette. The "incident" is unimportant, just a typical jerk manuver in rush-hour traffic. To appreciate what prompted this column you need to understand my lifelong experience with owners of 'Vettes.

As long as I can remember, there has been a division, a separation if you will, between the owners of stout muscle cars, classic cruisers, daily drivers and the owners of Corvettes. Be advised, I do not suffer from 'Vette-envy. Never had, never will. In my opinion, since 1971, Chevrolet has kept the moniker of "The only true American Sportscar" alive only by "borrowing" existing styling and targeting unfulfilled adults with money to burn. Sound harsh? We'll let the record speak for itself.

I have never been a "Fortunate Son". I never hung out with the "fellows" down at the country club. My buddies and I drove Impalas, Coronets or some other steel tonage from Detroit. In addition, we were "known" by the local law enforcement community. Growing up, I only knew one guy my age who owned a Corvette. His dad owned the Chevy dealership in Altoona. He drove a 'Vette and he was a jerk. Vette guy

Whether it's how a Corvette is angled parked consuming two spaces or how the owner stops in the middle of the street to stroll to a mail box, 'Vette owners 'expect' preferential treatment. Is there a special orientation that a new Corvette owner has to complete prior to driving their car? Perhaps they are required to pass a stringent personality profile prior to the purchase. Maybe a special ointment is used to soften the leather interior that induces a certain arrogance from the occupants.

Case in point, I attend a "Cruise" gathering on Saturdays that attracts hundeds of vintage cars and the 'Vette owners try to park together. No big deal, right? I mean, I park along side my fellow Mopar owners so what is the difference? Well, The 'Vette owners form a "circle" with hi-tech composite folding chairs and converse only among their own kind. As spectators slowly approach to examine the "plastic" vehicles corner, worried glances are flashed between the members of the tribal inner "circle". Strained whispers of "Biff, those people are getting too close" or stern warnings like, "Please don't stare so hard, don't you know I paid a fortune for that "327" emblem".

Ok, maybe I am being a tad extreme, but this is the karma, the aura or just the bad 'Vibes' I intercept when I'm within close proximity to a tribe of Corvette owners. Perhaps I am missing something. Something intangible, that I will only experience after I purchase a Corvette. Not likely. I suppose some folks dream of owning a 'Vette, as if this mystical vehicle will cure all that is lacking in their lives. As for me, I prefer to associate with the 'Blue Collar' owners of classic cars. I'll pass on brunch at the Country Club, thank you.

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