Save the wave!!
#21
Instructor
Member Since: Sep 2014
Location: Gurnee IL. so close to Wisc. I can smell it when they cut the cheese
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I'm not sure when the wave got it's start but I feel it's been around since the first two cars finally past each other. The wave is used by countless groups from Miatas to Harleys. With the sheer number of Harleys a weekend ride can be 80% wave and 20% ride......no longer special or fun. The wave among Corvette owners IS still special. I will never forget driving my Corvette home the first time. I was on the interstate driving in the middle lane when a 63' split window coupe white with red interior (same combo as my 97') slows down next to me and I see an older gentleman wearing a tweed cap and driving gloves look over and with a big grin give me "The Wave" and then proceeds to boogie on down the road. It was awsome! I have recieved thousands of waves over the years but none of them made me feel as welcome. So if I see you rest assured I AM going to wave because whether it's your first or one thousandth wave it means we are driving a very special car, and to those who don't wave oh well it's your loss.
#24
Melting Slicks
I wave (if i catch you in time) and get waved at, its alive and well here in the Chicago area
it is true though the C6 & C7's some times give me a flash, it does take away from the wave but it does help to notice them better
it is true though the C6 & C7's some times give me a flash, it does take away from the wave but it does help to notice them better
#25
I think it is a great part of Corvette ownership. I always wave but am never unhappy if it is not returned. I have had a number of Viper drivers wave as well. Only one Porsche in all the years I have owned my 03. If it is a sports car/hot rod/muscle car/antique I wave.
#26
Drifting
I've had a few chicks not wave, but other than that I have gotten most waves. I waved at a C7 while I was pulled over for 72 in a 55.
I wave on my bike all the time, too. What's funny is my lady has caught me waving at Corvettes when I am driving my Silverado (my C5 is my DD).
<edit> Besides waves, I have had 2 cars flash me to warn of speed traps ahead (first was a Mercedes, the second was a Honda or something). Then last week I had a SHERIFF flash me just before I passed a city cop on the side.
I have signaled on a motorcycle to other bikes, but never thought to flash a car, but people flash Ester.
I wave on my bike all the time, too. What's funny is my lady has caught me waving at Corvettes when I am driving my Silverado (my C5 is my DD).
<edit> Besides waves, I have had 2 cars flash me to warn of speed traps ahead (first was a Mercedes, the second was a Honda or something). Then last week I had a SHERIFF flash me just before I passed a city cop on the side.
I have signaled on a motorcycle to other bikes, but never thought to flash a car, but people flash Ester.
Last edited by 66dts-v; 01-07-2015 at 01:21 PM.
#27
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Nov 2014
Location: Havre de Grace Maryland
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Wave should be in Owners Manual
I wave every chance I get also, but in many cases the other driver does not acknowledge it. And from what I have seen, it covers all the generations of the Corvette. Sad that a tradition is in decline.
And you're right about some in the C7 section. For them it may be their first Vette and unfortunately they do not seem to have an appreciation for where the C7 came from. Hopefully with more exposure to the Vette ownership experience, their attitude will change.
And you're right about some in the C7 section. For them it may be their first Vette and unfortunately they do not seem to have an appreciation for where the C7 came from. Hopefully with more exposure to the Vette ownership experience, their attitude will change.
ET, any contacts left at GM that can get this done?
#29
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: small town in S.E Pa. PA
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
The wave is not a Corvette thing or a biker thing. The wave had it roots in WWII. toward the end of WWII, G.I.'s coming home from both theaters had an option, to bring back a crated jeep for the cost of 50 dollars. Once back in the states, these military jeep could be easily built and they started to appear on both coasts. It was soon realized that the owners of these jeep were bothers in arms returning from the war. It started out as a salute to each other that soon became a wave. this was 1945 through the early fifties when people here in the States where buying English sports cars, Austin Healy's, Austin Sprints, MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars etc, These guys picked up on the wave and started the trend with their sports cars. IN 1953, Corvette came out and not a wave was insight. by 1954 and 55 Corvettes became the American sports cat and the Corvette wave was born... Ford, and the T-bird never adopted the wave, but the Corvette wave became a part of the landscape. I remember waving with my first Corvette in 1958. people would meet at hamburger drive-ins, Many had something called a Corvette Coral, a blocked off area where Corvette owners could park together. So the History of the Corvette wave is not proprietary but stolen from Gi's returning from the War in 1945.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; 01-08-2015 at 05:29 PM.
#32
Instructor
Member Since: Oct 2014
Location: Brandon MS
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After I recently bought my first-ever Corvette, I waved at every corvette I saw even before I knew about "The Wave" (as I was educated recently about it). I enjoy driving and tinkering on mine and I can only imagine that other owners feel the same and I can't help but wave whenever I see another one!
#33
Advanced
I think the wave is alive here in the tidewater area. I've never felt like I've gotten snubbed and my wife gets a big kick out of giving the wave to all the other Vetts we see.
#34
Miles of Smiles
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: Omaha Nebraska
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2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
The wave is not a Corvette thing or a biker thing. The wave had it roots in WWII. toward the end of WWII, G.I.'s coming home from both theaters had an option, to bring back a crated jeep for the cost of 50 dollars. Once back in the states, these military jeep could be easily built and they started to appear on both coasts. It was soon realized that the owners of these jeep were bothers in arms returning from the war. It started out as a salute to each other that soon became a wave. this was 1945 through the early fifties when people here in the States where buying English sports cars, Austin Healy's, Austin Sprints, MG's, Triumphs, Jaguars etc, These guys picked up on the wave and started the trend with their sports cars. IN 1953, Corvette came out and not a wave was insight. by 1954 and 55 Corvettes became the American sports cat and the Corvette wave was born... Ford, and the T-bird never adopted the wave, but the Corvette wave became a part of the landscape. I remember waving with my first Corvette in 1958. people would meet at hamburger drive-ins, Many had something called a Corvette Coral, a blocked off area where Corvette owners could park together. So the History of the Corvette wave is not proprietary but stolen from Gi's returning from the War in 1945.
#38
The very first time I brought my C5 'vert home I got a wave from an old guy in a blue C5 that was stock but in prestine condition. Honestly, I was excited / shocked / happy that he waved lol considering that here in Springfield, IL people are mostly conservative
Well..... that was the last wave I ever got I have seen C5's C6's, C7's, Stingrays, etc. and they never wave. Seems like after I did some "upgrades", I mostly get mean looks
I'm not that old, but too old to worry about stuff like that anymore. Now we just enjoy driving it when the weather is nice and its just me, her, the Vette and the road ahead
Seems like the society we once knew, is gone....
Well..... that was the last wave I ever got I have seen C5's C6's, C7's, Stingrays, etc. and they never wave. Seems like after I did some "upgrades", I mostly get mean looks
I'm not that old, but too old to worry about stuff like that anymore. Now we just enjoy driving it when the weather is nice and its just me, her, the Vette and the road ahead
Seems like the society we once knew, is gone....