I May Be Crazy.....

[Vintage Racer]

I've now had my Viper for three weeks and today I let my 23 year old son drive it to work. My wife is telling me I'm crazy. Son goes into the Navy in December and is slotted to become a SEAL. I thought back to my days as a Navy submariner and how tiring,lonely and scary military duty can be. I pictured my son sitting in Crotchrotistan and thought a day with Dad's Viper might make a nice memory.

Sure hope this works out.

 

[Janni]

Has he driven it WITH you?

I wouldnt say you were crazy if he's had enough seat time - but at three weeks of ownership.... I am not so sure.

As you know, driving most any other car does not prepare you for the torque the Viper has.

Post tomorrow, OK?

 

[Casey]

Usually, a Father knows his son the best and should have a good idea what the kid can handle and not handle.

Where does he work? And who does he work with? That may be a larger concern.

 

[01sapphireGTS]

No matter how the day drive turns out, give him my thanks for serving.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I was 23 when I bought my Viper and have been told i'm too young for a Viper. The only experience I had in actually driving a Viper was when i testdrove a 94' Viper about a year ago. As long as he has the maturity to understand what massive power Vipers have and respect the car, I dont see a problem with your son driving yours. If he is mature enough to be part of the Navy, i'm sure everything will go just fine with him driving your V10. I fully agree that with him about go to in the Navy, he deserves to get behind the wheel and drive the Viper a little bit. I wish him the best and give him a "thank you" from me too for being one of our servicemen!

 

[Inferno]

You are crazy, but you seem to be a good Dad.

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

If my son knew how to drive a "manual" transmission, I would let him drive my car and he's only 16.
Though to be fair to the Viper, I would rather teach him to drive a manual transmission on a rental car, if they even exist.

23 yrs old is a man, and dad should know how responsible his kid is, and if he's going into the service, god bless him for making life easier for all of us.
Let him drive it.

 

[Vintage Racer]

Casey

Son works at Ohio National Financial Inc. in their call center. He deals with brokers. He's crewed for me for years and I trust him to completely prep my race cars before I take them on the track. I think he's got the responsibility thing down okay. Wife thinks otherwise.


Hmmmm.

 

[2BADD 4U]

Dan, you are not crazy. You have a good heart. You know him best.

Just instill in him to NOT get on the gas in ANY turns!

I let my son drive my GTS when he was 19 years old. I was with him on those rides. It is rewarding to see the enjoyment they recieve when given the chance to prove their responsibility.

Congrats, and you did right! It will be a GOOD permanent memory for him, and something you both can relate to and talk about. Good male bonding. I let my son Danny drive when he gets the chance.

Dave

 

[AviP]

Crotchrotistan

 

[MAVERICK]

you are doing the right thing!

 

[Warfang]

I've now had my Viper for three weeks and today I let my 23 year old son drive it to work. My wife is telling me I'm crazy. Son goes into the Navy in December and is slotted to become a SEAL. I thought back to my days as a Navy submariner and how tiring,lonely and scary military duty can be. I pictured my son sitting in Crotchrotistan and thought a day with Dad's Viper might make a nice memory.

Sure hope this works out.

You don't strive to be a SEAL if you're an irresponsible punk. You did the right thing, but a day-class at Skip Barber makes a great going away gift before BUD/S. If he's ever in California, he can drive my Viper anytime.

 

[JUCD VPR]

Thats awesome you let your son take your viper out. I'm 23 and a U.S Marine Embassy Guard in West Africa, it sure does get lonely and he is going to have an awesome memory of when his dad letting him take the viper out. Wish my dad had a viper when I was leaving for the Marines LOL

 

[Vintage Racer]

Thanks for all the nice responses. Son returned from work smiling from ear to ear with a big "thank you".

BTW, car was fine and now Mom is fine.

 

[Vintage Racer]

Crotchrotistan

You know the place, it's just to the south of Bungholeistan.

My brother in law was an Intell. guy for special forces for several years. They have a whole list of names like this.

 

[smfettig]

Dan,

I have the opposite happen to me. I am the son with the viper and get nervous letting my dad drive it. I do however give it him every other month for a few weeks to cruise around in. Of course my mom has the same reaction as your wife. I guess all mothers are the same regardless of who is in the drivers seat.