STUPID IDEA?

[Rick Kopec]

Every time we have, as a group, made special arrangements for wives and girlfriends to do something away from the convention (sightseeing, shopping, etc) it has never been successful. It seems to me that relatively few wives/GFs need to be coddled like this. Most actually enjoy the convention. Some put up with it if it makes their husband/BF happy. A very small minority seem to require some kind of distraction and they usually don’t come to a second convention.

I think a really smart guy will try to involve his partner in convention activities so that she does not feel like a burden or a fifth wheel. The first convention where we had drag racing was SAAC-5 in Dearborn. We drove out in 6S118 and Colleen wanted to make a few runs at Milan Dragway. I figured, why not? What could go wrong?

I made a couple of runs, mostly because I was curious to see what it would do. I still have a time slip on my bulletin board with a 14.22 sec. Colleen wanted to make a few runs and as she had never really drag raced (stop lights don’t count) I tried to explain the basics to her, telling her to just go out and have fun. Don’t try to break any records and forget about the car in the next lane. All easy to say.

She did an admirable job, and was really into it. I told her I thought we should bolt the exhaust pipes back onto the headers, put everything else back into the trunk and head back to the hotel. She didn’t want the day to end. “Just one more run. Just one more run!”

We don’t have kids but at that moment I knew how a parent feels at the amusement park. I tried reason. We both had a great time. The car was running great. And we did have a 600-mile drive back home after the convention was over. “Let’s not push our luck.”

I might as well have been talking to a tree stump. “Just one more run. Pleeeeese.” I had no desire to turn a bright, sunny day into rainstorm. It was easier to say “Yes” than to argue. “But this really IS the last run.”

And it was. She got rattled and started off in 3rd instead of 1st. The clutch was glazed and it was good for an “I told you so” moment. But no lasting damage was done and we made it back to the hotel and eventually back home without a problem.

The moral of this story is, if your wife/GF joins you, try to make the convention fun for her. Don’t just expect her to trail along after you like a puppy dog. Convince her to get behind the wheel during the parade laps or the Thursday afternoon cruise, or Friday afternoon’s drag races. Making it fun for her will make it fun for you. Trust me on this. I’ve been happily married for 40 years and we’ve attended every convention.

[George Mariotti]

Rick,

that is great advice and i do intend to do just that, i was just getting my plan B worked out as well, i know my 2 boys aged 6 & 11 will love it.

thanks to everyone else that gave advice and ideas as well, its good to know im not the only one out there that may also need a plan B of some sort for their spouse. and a sw e are comming all the way from Australia and have never been to the US before its great to get some tips. so thanks again

Regards
George Mariotti

[gt350hr]

     Doug ,
      I don't know Robert's wife , but I would rather watch her slam gears than change a clutch!
      Randy

[Rick Kopec]

Rick,

that is great advice and i do intend to do just that, i was just getting my plan B worked out as well, i know my 2 boys aged 6 & 11 will love it.

George Mariotti

George:

When you rent a car, rent something that you (and your wife) will have fun drag racing. And be sure to get the insurance.

Rick

[George Mariotti]

Rick,

thats a great idea!, i will check the car hire companies over the internet and see what i can find.

do insurance companies actually cover you for drag racing over there?

i was thinking of buying a car when i get there, and bringing it back to Australia with me. (convertible for the wife maybe a roush cobra, who knows)

then i probably couldnt get insurance anyway, because im not a resident in the US.

has anyone on here done or seen this situation before that can give me some ideas?

Regards,

George Mariotti

[5S545]

George:

When you rent a car, rent something that you (and your wife) will have fun drag racing. And be sure to get the insurance.

Rick

Rick,

thats a great idea!, i will check the car hire companies over the internet and see what i can find.

do insurance companies actually cover you for drag racing over there?

i was thinking of buying a car when i get there, and bringing it back to Australia with me. (convertible for the wife maybe a roush cobra, who knows)

then i probably couldnt get insurance anyway, because im not a resident in the US.

has anyone on here done or seen this situation before that can give me some ideas?

Regards,

George Mariotti

Hi George,

I think what Rick was referring to was the insurance that will be offered when you rent a car here in the US.  You don't want to actually mention the drag racing to them though 

Your credit card may offer the same kind of insurance on the rented car, you would need to check with them.
In any case, you want the insurance that will cover the most damage with no additional cost.

I can't help you with the buy a car here plan, but I suspect you're right, you might not be able to insure it here, although you might be able to add it to your policy in Australia, effective on purchase of the car......?

Deborah

[Rick Kopec]

George:

Deb was right. When you rent a car over here they ask you if you want additional insurance. In some cases your normal auto insurance will cover a rented car. The trouble is,most people don't carry a copy of their policy with them when they travel, and if they did they probably couldn't read the fine print. Rather than taking a chance, or having to argue with your insurance company after an accident, a lot of people just sign up for the additional insurance because it covers most damage without a hassle.

One year, in the convention information, I suggested that when renting a car, "be sure to ask about the on-track insurance." I was only kidding, of course, and I thought everyone would get the joke. The joke being that no rental car company would ever insure one of their cars if it was driven on a race track. Of course, there was one bozo who didn't get the joke. He was at the airport rental car counter and he actually asked about on-track insurance. They refused to rent a car to him and he had to go somewhere else, a little wiser this time.

Driving any car on a race track will void any insurance policy faster than you can say "Oops."  if you attempt to make a claim after an "incident" you'll discover you were not insured and will have to pay the costs out of your pocket. But the chances of your having an accident on the track — especially a drag strip — are slim, and many people feel the risk is worth the reward. If an "incident" did take place, I've seen the car dragged out of the track, down the road, and then the accident claim reported. Not that I am advising anyone to do such a thing. Perish the thought. We're all choirboys here.

[GT350H]

Reminds me of a story I heard from a fellow I met last year at a local car show where I had my '66 Hertz Shelby.  He said when he was a young man he had a job with Hertz in Southern Cal., with one of his job duties being the retrieval of broken down rental cars.  He told me it was amazing how many Hertz Shelbys he had to pick up with mechanical problems that were within about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile of a nearby drag strip.

[GT/CS Registrar]

Interesting Thread....

If you bring your better half, I'd suggest also bringing some seating, too.  A pair of fancy folding chairs, and food & drink.  Some of these chairs now have these awning tops on them for the sun.  It may be hot out at the track, but there's always an afternoon breeze from the ocean.

Renting a Drag/Track car?  Dare I ask what anyone might have in mind as a choice?  Something Ford, like a 2010 Mustang GT, or....what else?  Taurus SHO? The new hot Focus should be out by June.  Maybe a 2011???
(Don't use your custom-photo'd credit card with that shot of you smokin the tires at your local drag strip, when renting a car)....

Will we need to form a "Incognito Rental Class"??  Someone could make a few bucks on the side with some numbered meatball stickers. When I was at the SAAC con in Portland, OR, all of these women showed up to watch.  Drag racing seems to be a magnet....  (and where else would you see a drag car arrive on the flatbed of a logging truck!).  Note to single guys--bring more seating!!

Sears Point is kinda out there in the rolling hills, not real close to city stuff.  It's not THAT far, but it's a drive of about 20-30 minutes to Petaluma (north) or San Rafael (south).  I agree with Rick about hanging out at the events, track, etc.  If you can believe this--the Model RR conventions (that I've um..heard about...) have these sewing rooms for wives/GF to go to.  Kewl huh??  (in a "last century" kinda way..)...
 

[SFM5S000]

Interesting Thread....

 It may be hot out at the track, but there's always an afternoon breeze from the ocean.

No, end of August at SearsPoint? it's generally really hot 95 degrees+ and dry, make sure you bring a hat of some sort or be prepared to burn the top of your head! Ocean breeze, not a chance it's too far in. Nights/evenings on the other hand, temps can drop real quick. Excellent cruise weather. A drive say from the hotel up 101 to Lucas Valley road heading out west towards the beach or to the cheese factory, this side of Marshall then head south on Nicasio Valley Rd to Sir Frances Drake Blvd then back to San Rafael over Whites Hill can handle a spirited drive, just watch/mind the speed limit signs as you get back into San Rafael city limits. This is about a 28-32 mile loop it's short and has nice roads. Ocean breeze maybe. Be safe and back for evening activities. Great photo opportunities.

~Earl J

[SFM5S000]

Or if you want something really breath taking a drive up the old Bolinas rd out of Fairfax to ridgecrest blvd then to Panoramic then down to Sequoia Valley Rd to Edgewood ave then to Molino ave then a left on Linden (2AM club on the corner) your now in Mill Valley you would have thought you were up in a plane flying your shelby/cobra at altitude. This is about an hour and a half drive (up and down Mt Tamalpias, work your way back to 101 then up to san rafael.

just a thought.
Earl J