Winter driving

jtower1969 · #1 12-07-2007, 05:28 PM

I don't store my car away for the winter. As long as the roads are clean, I'll take it for a quick spin on Sunday to get everything up to temperature..."and to get me out of the house".

I know just letting it idle in the driveway is bad...so how far is correct? I usually do the same loop which is about 10 to 15 miles....some in town, some highway.

Thanks

GeorgeLyons · #2 12-07-2007, 06:04 PM

For many years, like 20, I have made it a point to drive my fully restored Cascade Green '57 Corvette the full week before Christmas and thru til New Years Day unless we have snow covered roads. Temps are not an issue, the heater works. Yes, I have been caught in some light blowing snow flurries a few times and temps below 20 degrees. The looks, smiles, thumbs-up and shaking heads I encounter are the best time I have with any of my cars. People are amazed at 7:30AM, 30 degrees cold, snow piles from the last storm and here comes some nutball into the school parking lot dropping off his kid in his 50 year old Corvette. The best is Christmas Eve loading stuff into the trunk from various stores while people are gawking and smiling with their gloves and scarves on. And you know what.....that my friends IS HOW IT REALLY WAS.....this was somebodys car, driven for transportation 365 a year. If it's 6PM, dark and cold, a little snow in the air, T-3's doing their best and I'm motoring along on my way home on the road alongside Lake Erie, it's a little time travel for me back to the past and in my mind just how it must have felt if you were fortunate enough to have been the guy to own this car in 1957. I can tell you the feeling has made the hair stand up on my arms more than once if I let myself drift there. But I am a little whacky if you ask my wife.

**Charley Lillard** · #3 12-07-2007, 06:23 PM

Ahhh, great story George. My hat is off to you.

novarichie · #4 12-07-2007, 06:40 PM

good for you geo,i too had a 57 vet back in 1965,drove it all the time with no tops rag /hardtop, had 48 ford straight axle,first street gasser around, post some pic,s as soon as i learn how,from pgh,in the city

**PeteLeathersac** · #5 12-07-2007, 07:17 PM

Great thoughts Geo and a nice reminder of the lives these cars have led and were actually made for...also neat knowing of one that's still kept truly alive!

.

~ Pete

**John Brown** · #6 12-07-2007, 07:19 PM

Here's my 57 Corvette in 1963. Drove it summer and winter. Had a hardtop and black wheels w/moons in the winter.

GeorgeLyons · #7 12-07-2007, 07:28 PM

Super Awesome Picture..........Thank You, Keep'em comin guys, great gift to share for the holidays.

jtower1969 · #8 12-08-2007, 04:10 AM

George, those pictures are too cool. I do drive my car often. Truth be told I would rather drive it than sit next to it on a lawn chair.

I had plans to drive it all Thanksgiving week because I took some vacation time...but it rained all week.

I'm off again on the 17th until the new year so I have high hopes of making it my daily driver. My car was my daily driver back in 1994 so I understand that these cars were purchased for transportation...I guess my original question was geared to..How long does the short trip have to be not to do more damage than good. i.e.. gas in the oil that type of stuff. Sometimes I just don't have the time to go for the long ride...just a quick trip to keep everything working.

jimbo · #9 12-08-2007, 05:03 AM

Daily driven for the last 10 years. I have put just under 100,000 miles on it! I do put different wheels on in the winter. [image]

[/image]

akcamaro · #10 12-08-2007, 05:21 AM

South Central Alaska hasn't gotten much snow this year, but the lakes are nice and solid. I am definitely seeing some high speed lake donuts in the near future, for my 78 TA.