Should I drive it to Auburn or not?

[trent81]

I know to some of you this seems like a ridiculous question and the obvious answer should be YES, you idiot!!

But, here's the deal....I have an 81 that I bought when I was a Senior in High School. Drove it the first year and a half of college and then parked it at home and drove it when I was there, which wasn't much. After graduating High School I joined the Air Force as a pilot and never drove it. I got out of the Air Force in 1997 because of a broken back. Now, my car just turned 22,682 miles, all original. Some of you have seen the car and it looks as good as it did the day I drove it off the show room floor.

I'm not saying its any better or any worse than any vette here, as a matter of fact there are quite a few better than mine.

Its approximately 600 miles to Auburn from Memphis, I know the car would make the trip a hundred times. But, A lot can happen during a trip that long.

I have had the car appraised for value and insurance purposes. If I wrecked the car on a trip that long it would be basically worthless because of the restrictions of my carrier. The car was appraised at $22,500.00 three years ago, not sure what its worth today, could be less or it could be more.

I Love the car, I love driving the car, Hell I just like to sit and stare at it! My wife thinks i'm nuts (Rare81 can vouch for that). Its like looking at a time warp, taking me back to my glory years

If I drive it and wreck it, it would kill me. I'm not so much worried about my driving, as I am about everybody elses. My two kids were rear ended within a week of each other. If I wreck it, I would have then wasted all of this time by not driving the car, and that would drive me insane.

I know it sounds crazy but what would you guys do?

Or should I just buy a late model and drive it to Auburn? Say, a 94 or 95.

Trent81

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Drive it. The cars were meant to drive. If you don't have the right insurance, get it. If you do, what are you waiting for?

 

[atmmac]

Man you need to chill out. Whats the point in having it if your not going to drive it. Its a car its made to move you from place to place. A vette does just that only faster and better looking. I highly doubt youll be in an accident. Just keep it around 80 in the left lane....Youll be fine!

Have Fun,
-Andy

 

[jclit]

I would chance it and drive it. That's what it was made for (driving). Have fun!!

Jim

 

[Imachad]

If i were in your shoes i would be partial to trailer it too. I know these cars are built to drive, but these cars are also our pride and joy. Not to mention all the rocks that chip your paint. I swear to everything holy that everytime i take my car out (which is'nt that often) i find a new rock ding. If you would sleep better at night if you trailerd it, i say go for it! Do what YOU think is right...

Chad

 

[Yoda]

Trent,

Only you can make this decision

I bought Rare in 1997 and she had 56,800 miles on her, she now boosts over 81,000 and that's not a lot. She has never run better. The trip to California from Rochester Hills, MI almost was her undoing. The poor thing sat for years and by the time I got her out her, I fried the main shaft and bearings in the tranny, the rear end was pretty much toast and I couldn't put power steering fluid in fast enough ad. IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ROAD READY. I told the guy if I like the car I would be driving it back to CA...

Insurance... I insure with Haggerty... I told them I was driving her back to Bowling Green, (2 years in a row) and they had no problem so long as it was to attend a Corvette function, they weren't thrilled about driving 5,000 miles round trip, but hey I can't help the events I chose to attend are that far away

I bet if your L81 could talk to you, she would probably say something like.... "How dare you... how dare you even consider leaving me behind"

Bud

 

[trent81]

Bud,

This is why they call you Yoda and why we all have so much respect for ya.

I know its a crazy notion and I would be nuts to not drive her and I really want to, real bad. But my logical side is saying "Hold on there buddy, if you drive her you put more miles on her and god forbid if you wreck her what does that do to the value of the car, remember ole buddy, this could be your kids college fund."

You see what I mean?

I guess I have to decide wether (is that a word) this car is an investement or my toy.
Thats the problem I want it to be both!!!

Trent81

 

[Yoda]

Trent,

As I recall you have a really nice NEW pickup.. well it was new in 2001 and from what I remember it was big enough to haul that jewel to Auburn and back without even breaking a sweat..

Are JB & Brad hooking up with you to run up to Auburn.. wrestle that DDL guy and the "Trouble Maker" too

BLACKDOG is primed and howling at the moon already

Bud

 

[ArkShark]

I'd call your insurance agent, and tell them to increase the coverage for the trip.

Then, I'd purchase a front end bra to protect the nose from road rash.

 

[GerryLP]

Everyone,

I was fortunate when Trent offer me a ride to the Corvette Museum from the Hotel in BG, and I swear to you that if you have not seen this L81, then you would undestand his concern when and if you do. Cherry does not begin to describe it. Heck I kept my hands on my lap and tried to not move a whole lot...I looked constipated...:L...the cabin felt smaller that the one for my car..:L

Trent,

Trailer-it if you can. You'll feel better, and you'll reduce the chance of some idiot raming your car from behind or at an intersection. I suspect that you plan to leave it for your kids someday, and your parents took care of it while you were out of commission at the hospital, and alot of effort has been taken to preserve its pristine image...trailer-it and drive at Auburn. If something happens to it after all these precautions, then it was meant to be ...I guess...heck, you can leave it behind and the garage could catch on fire or a freak tornado rolls in, or...or...or...

Like Bud said..."only you can make that decision", and I experienced being there at BG without my car, and I felt so disconnected, that I left one day early...(plus my heart was tugging at me towards the fact that my kid was visiting on a weekend pass from the USMC and he was expecting to go to the middle east).

So I would ask you to consider at least to have your pride and joy L81 with you at Auburn -Trailered or driven.

 

[trent81]

Trent,

As I recall you have a really nice NEW pickup.. well it was new in 2001 and from what I remember it was big enough to haul that jewel to Auburn and back without even breaking a sweat..

Are JB & Brad hooking up with you to run up to Auburn.. wrestle that DDL guy and the "Trouble Maker" too

BLACKDOG is primed and howling at the moon already

Bud

Yea, I still have the truck not to many more miles on it than the Vette.

Man I remember when we hooked up the first time in Memphis and caravaned up to BG, now that was a blast. It was cool to see all those sharks lined up on the interstate doing eighty all the way up there.:cool

The last time I talked to JB he indicated that he and Brad would be hooking up with me here in Memphis and we could hook up with DDL-81 in ole Kentucky if he was still going.

The truck would definitely haul her up there. Something to ponder.

Trent81

 

[BLACKDOG]

Drive that baby up there Trent !! Hell, the DoG may not be a filet like yours is, but Yoda and I are doing it again. Throw in some of that Sunoco jet fuel and file a flight plan ... then CRUISE !!! arf-arf !!!

 

[trent81]

Everyone,

I was fortunate when Trent offer me a ride to the Corvette Museum from the Hotel in BG, and I swear to you that if you have not seen this L81, then you would undestand his concern when and if you do. Cherry does not begin to describe it. Heck I kept my hands on my lap and tried to not move a whole lot...I looked constipated...:L...the cabin felt smaller that the one for my car..:L

Trent,

Trailer-it if you can. You'll feel better, and you'll reduce the chance of some idiot raming your car from behind or at an intersection. I suspect that you plan to leave it for your kids someday, and your parents took care of it while you were out of commission at the hospital, and alot of effort has been taken to preserve its pristine image...trailer-it and drive at Auburn. If something happens to it after all these precautions, then it was meant to be ...I guess...heck, you can leave it behind and the garage could catch on fire or a freak tornado rolls in, or...or...or...

Like Bud said..."only you can make that decision", and I experienced being there at BG without my car, and I felt so disconnected, that I left one day early...(plus my heart was tugging at me towards the fact that my kid was visiting on a weekend pass from the USMC and he was expecting to go to the middle east).

So I would ask you to consider at least to have your pride and joy L81 with you at Auburn -Trailered or driven.

Gerry,

Thanks for the kind words. Not sure what i'm going to do, I know that I am going to Auburn just not sure which method of transportation it will be.

Trent81

 

[trent81]

Drive that baby up there Trent !! Hell, the DoG may not be a filet like yours is, but Yoda and I are doing it again. Throw in some of that Sunoco jet fuel and file a flight plan ... then CRUISE !!! arf-arf !!!

Dog,

I knew I could count on you to give me that "throw caution to the wind" advice.:blow I love you man!! Now can I have your Bud Lite?

Are the blenders ready?

What are you talking about, the Blackdog is a thing of beauty even if it does have to bring you along.

You know my granddaddy had a big black lab at one time, but he had to shoot him, the dog kept eating my grandmothers panites!!!

Dog you are the man! nuff said.

Trent81

 

[Chas]

My 2 cents...

I passed on takin mine to the 50th in Nashville......and i have mixed feelings now.
on one hand we were doing 75 to 80 mph most of the way......AFTER Ohio....To all of our protectors(police officers) ...i was keeping up with the flow....so i did that speed for 6.5 hours, in my T-bird.....im not sure if i was prepared to put the Vette thru that .....I also live in the "flatlands" and it is tougher on the tranny from where your at as well.....and lastly i also had my wife and kid....so it made the choice easy to not take her....

BUT...
I also was at the biggest event Corvette has ever had....I was there and my Vette wasnt!
what a shame...here i am drooling over all these beautiful machines and i dont get to show mine off....In looking back , I would have gladly run slower and just made a 6 or 7 day trip out of it....My Corvette missed out...should have been there....they took really sweet pics of each car as they came into the event out of the caravans.....I dont have one.

its my thoughts...if shes ready and road worthy of the few hours you have to run....BRING it to the party....it will be worth it...your gonna have pics to recieve from e-mail...i plan on takin pics and sending them to everybody...im sure there will be a ton of things that your car will be included in....there will be so much knowledge at this party as well....wont it be easier to ask a body expert how to fix the flaw that drives you crazy? and have it there to point at...this is going to be as educational and entertaining as any Corvette event I have ever been to...I have learned more about this car here than ANYWHERE i have surfed...bar none...and to get the chance to show these great people i have met here, the things THEY have helped me accomplish, is a rare chance indeed....my thoughts....Bring her...you wont regret it pal.
Chas

 

[BrianB]

Drive it! As a boat owner, I tow the OTHER baby around a lot here in the desert. No water, have boat, doesn't make sense, but that's another forum. I would much rather be in the Vette making the trip than towing it on a trailer. You are just adding that much more risk pulling that kind of weight and value. Personal choice. If you have the right equipment and can do it right, OK, tow it. Trailering is a whole nother ball game......

 

[mike weyman]

having a nice vette and not driving it, is like having a beautiful, big breasted girlfriend,and having no hands.
i have almost 15,000 spent on mine in the last year,it will be on the road soon,and it will be.investment,yes.....trailer queen,hell no.

 

[Imachad]

having a nice vette and not driving it, is like having a beautiful, big breasted girlfriend,and having no hands.

Love it....

Keep up the good work mike!

 

[BLACKDOG]

Hey-Hey Trent !! You know the DawG too well ... I toss everything to the wind !!! :L

Was just ops-checking the 10-speed Osterizer and must have over-revved as i see some smoke !! Looks like a run to the local Wal-Mart when we hit Auburn !! ... or maybe just rent one of those big cement mixer trucks and do a mega-batch of slides ?? hehehe
Send my best to Brooke !!

 

[DDLS3]

DAWG Gotta love it!!

Trent, I drove my 81 from Maine to BG-to Missouri to visit the grand kids and back to Maine. Never a hic-up, drove it like I stole it all the way. Investment or toy.............hmmmmm tough call, and one I've been wrestling with. I have an appraised value insurance on mine, no deductable. Stiil if you wreck I suppose the value is shot. But hey none of us are going to live forever.......enjoy all you can while you can. I say it