The joy of driving a Sting Ray streetmachine that is capable of two to five thousand mile road tours is sometimes offset by knowing that, after 24 years of fun, I doubt I will ever feel like installing the 427 engine.
At those times, I consider having the 390 horsepower big block in the corner of the garage rebuilt. At other times, I consider selling the car along with the bagged and crated big block drive train, so that someone else can enjoy putting it on a show field. The decision is always put off for some future day when I will be too old or infirm to drive the roadster as it was meant to be driven.
That thought is easily erased by getting behind the wheel and driving farther than a block from my house. The feeling of handling and suspension less sophisticated than modern sports cars, combined with the sounds, smells, and road feel of an old high powered car creates a powerful addiction. I feel alive and in touch with the world, especially with the top down and the wind rushing past. I treasure the moments, and I never want them to stop.
Driving a great car while meeting interesting people and seeing the USA and Canada.
About Me
- Dave (A.K.A. magicv8)
- Working on an old Corvette is the only thing that is almost as much fun as driving one. I drove my 1966 Sting Ray from coast to coast and borber to border for more than twenty-five years. There were trips to Colorado and Montana to hike while my roadster spends the day parked at a trailhead, weeks on the road with National Corvette Restorer Society members, weeks with hot rodders seeing seven states in seven days with nine Hot Rod Power Tour, and weeks of just driving two lane blacktop for fun. During my ninth Hot Rod Power Tour, I found that arthritis pain was making daily clutch operation take all the fun out of long road tours. I sold the Corvette in 2013 and replaced it with a six speed tap shift Cadillac Sportwagon, which took me and my wife on Power Tour number ten. I occasionally miss rolling down the highway in a Sting Ray show car, but I accept that my time to wander recklessly down the highway in fifty year old sports car has ended. Having a "garage queen" to have and occasionally take to a car show is not my idea of enjoying a performance car.
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