<VV> Corvette 1st Impressions (no Corvair)

[Terry Denk]

When I was in high school, I had a 64 Monza convertible 110 and liked to 
drive it like it was a race car.  One day my cousin let me drive his Olds 
442 Herst with a 455.  The first corner I came to, I hit the gas hard in 
first gear like I always did with the corvair.  I spun the car 3/4 of a 
circle with the tires burning and smoke everywhere.  Scared the hell out of 
me but I learned about controlled power and how well the corvair handles 
that day.

Terry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brown, David (San Jose)" <David.Brown at bsci.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 11:24 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> Corvette 1st Impressions (no Corvair)


I have only driven one- but what a ride it was!  I was 17 & helping my
older brother keep my parent's car dealership open for the weekend while
they were gone.  It was a 1967 (in 1970) 427 Butternut yellow
convertible with a low ratio Hurst 4 speed.  I was just going to
Jack-in-the Box to pick up some lunch & thought I would try it out.  The
1st 3 times I took off I was impressed, but thought, no big deal, I can
handle this 'beast'.  What a man!!  Little did I know I was taking off
in 3rd!  Well, you guessed it, as luck would have it, when I came out of
J&B I was in 1st.  I floored it like I did the 1st 3 times and
WHOA!!!!!!!!  OH MY GAWED if that thing didn't start screaming bloody
murder, with the wheels spinning like no tomorrow!  I saw everyone at
J&B stretching their necks to gawk & had the good sense to shift to 2nd
before blowing it up, but it only dropped about 300-500 RPM & left
another long stretch of rubber. I vaguely remember shifting to 3rd &
4th, but all I remember after that was trying to lock it up back at the
car lot.  My hands were still shaking so bad I could hardly find the key
hole in the door.  There was NO doubt in my mind that this car was more
than I was ready to handle for now!! (but I think I might be ready
again!)
Dave
Corvair Houston