[Suzy Cruisy]

So, there are about TEN Northern California Corvette Clubs I can choose from for doing activities or joining once our car comes. I generally comb thru their websites to look for car show type events to attend, since we don't have our car yet and can't do drives and can't join any of them yet.

What I found curious though is that there is a remarkable LACK of activities in the November - February time of year. I was actively looking yesterday because our car ETA is probably around Thanksgiving, and I'd like to just drive and drive in the weekends after that until I hit my insane busy time of year in February.

I CAN understand the lack of car SHOWS in the Winter. But I can't understand not driving for a day.

So, I'm curious. Do you or will you do drives for a full day or overnight in your Vette in the time of year when the days are short? And please answer what you PLAN to do if yours is on order.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

If I were going to drive the car in winter, or temperatures at freezing or lower, all season tires would be a very good idea. The rubber in summer tires is less effective in cold weather.

 

[Rsmith]

While I currently only have a C4, I do drive it in the winter, but usually just shorter day time cruises when the weather is particularly nice. I live in Colorado at 6,000ft and I don't want to get caught out in anything icy with my car. I haven't put winter tires on it, the amount I drive doesn't warrant the cost. For kicks I did get the car out of the garage one winter with an inch of snow on the ground. Even with just a rated 240hp (at sea level), drop it to 180 or so at the crank due to altitude, the car went no where fast! They gravel and salt the living daylights out of the roads so driving your spiffy car (heck any car) sucks when you hear all the gravel nailing your front end and window. I don't drive the curves out here spiritedly until after the first few rounds of thunderstorms.

California is a different story. I grew up in the bay area and would drive year round out there!

 

[Suzy Cruisy]

Yeah, I'm particularly interested in what the California (non mountain snow), Arizona, Oregon folks do that don't have to deal with extreme temps etc. Do they really garage them?

So, the drives might be shorter.... they'd still be fun! There would still be lunch in the middle with friends!

 

[elegant]

If I were going to drive the car in winter, or temperatures at freezing or lower, all season tires would be a very good idea. The rubber in summer tires is less effective in cold weather.

Rob, as you saw, I like your post. Thanks. Many Corvette owner drive their cars in winter in all but the worst weather but, they first put on their second set of all-season tires (safe and smart, and they get to drive their Corvettes so much more than most).

One tiny note, that current Corvette tires are less than 20% actual rubber.

 

[FCCCVPMan]

So, there are about TEN Northern California Corvette Clubs I can choose from for doing activities or joining once our car comes. I generally comb thru their websites to look for car show type events to attend, since we don't have our car yet and can't do drives and can't join any of them yet.

What I found curious though is that there is a remarkable LACK of activities in the November - February time of year. I was actively looking yesterday because our car ETA is probably around Thanksgiving, and I'd like to just drive and drive in the weekends after that until I hit my insane busy time of year in February.

I CAN understand the lack of car SHOWS in the Winter. But I can't understand not driving for a day.

So, I'm curious. Do you or will you do drives for a full day or overnight in your Vette in the time of year when the days are short? And please answer what you PLAN to do if yours is on order.

Hey Suzy,

As VP of Falls City Corvette Club I would tell you to check out several club meetings and events of the club you are thanking about. We have over 130 members and I think of most of them as family. We do over 40 events each year. We have about 5 months here in Louisville, KY and Southern IN. area and we get Rain and Snow starting in Late Oct. thur March. We do dinner drives and parites in the winter but we drive our Iron cars. My Car is due the last part of Aug. and any day it is nice I will try to get in a Show, Cruise or just a short drive until it goes up for the winter. We have a large indoor car show in Feb. that last for 3 days I will have it there and it will be trailered.. Lol

Have fun with your New Ride and I would encourage you to join a club that fits your life style...

 

[tmcternan]

So, there are about TEN Northern California Corvette Clubs I can choose from for doing activities or joining once our car comes. I generally comb thru their websites to look for car show type events to attend, since we don't have our car yet and can't do drives and can't join any of them yet.

What I found curious though is that there is a remarkable LACK of activities in the November - February time of year. I was actively looking yesterday because our car ETA is probably around Thanksgiving, and I'd like to just drive and drive in the weekends after that until I hit my insane busy time of year in February.

I CAN understand the lack of car SHOWS in the Winter. But I can't understand not driving for a day.

So, I'm curious. Do you or will you do drives for a full day or overnight in your Vette in the time of year when the days are short? And please answer what you PLAN to do if yours is on order.

Suzy, check out the Cameron Park Corvette Club, which I've been a member of for several months. They're about 30-miles east of Sacramento on Hwy 50. They've got to be one of the most active clubs I've ever seen and they're always doing something all year round. I heard they throw one hell of a Christmas bash every year and they welcome all. A month our two ago the club went on a cruise to north shore Tahoe for lunch we participated in. After driving around the lake some stopped in south shore and stayed the night while some of us returned home the same day. We took Hwy 50 on the way back, which has about a zillion twisties and turnies, which was a kick in the pants. They have a site so check them out on line. I too don't have my Corvette yet. I have a deposit and hopefully soon to be on order 2015 Z06 with Mike Furman at Crisswell Chevrolet. Hopefully sometime this coming spring.

 

[greggshere]

Mine is a daily driver and I will drive it as long as the temperature is above 32 degrees and there is no snow. I don't trust the other drivers down here, because they do not know how to drive in the snow. I lived in the midwest for 40 years, so it's not an issue for me.

 

[U.S. Marine]

Suzy, I drive my Vette everyday rain or shine, it will clean up! I need to invest in some all season tires before winter. I like how GM has the driving select mode, W-weather, E-economy, T-touring, S-sport, Tr-track. Now there are some Vette owners out there they will never let a drop of rain touch their Corvette, and that is cool by me. I want to test all of my C7s capabilities, I still need to drive a road course. GM could have offered two different options: W-weather or G-garage.

SF
Rick

 

[rdslon01]

Suzy, you don't have an option in your poll for "Daily Driver."

 

[docMonty]

Hi Suzy, Canada here so come October I'm swapping on real Blizzak rubber. Mine is a daily driver and I've been caught out so many times in the past in other cars when snow surprised me. The performance winter tires really work in the snow and they have pretty decent stickiness when its cold out but clear pavement. Are you sure you won't be getting any snow in Northern California this winter?....

 

[rdslon01]

Hi Suzy, Canada here so come October I'm swapping on real Blizzak rubber. Mine is a daily driver and I've been caught out so many times in the past in other cars when snow surprised me. The performance winter tires really work in the snow and they have pretty decent stickiness when its cold out but clear pavement. Are you sure you won't be getting any snow in Northern California this winter?....

It depends on what part of NorCal you are talking about. We will get snow here in the Bay Area up on the tops of the mountains, but will not get any down where 99% of the population lives. Other than up on the mountain tops, it only snows on the lower elevations about once every 20 years, and that goes away in a few hours. On the coast, it is 58 degrees at this latitude during winter. You can get a few degrees one way or the other, sometimes even as much as 15 degrees off from that one way or the other (especially if the wind is blowing from inland instead of from the ocean, or if you get far enough from the coast), but, if I had to guess right now what the temperature will be here on Christmas day this year, I would guess 58 degrees F, and probably be correct.

 

[Suzy Cruisy]

Suzy, you don't have an option in your poll for "Daily Driver."

Yeah, I know. But I was striving more to get feedback on playtime and not commute time, i.e. times you'd do stuff with local corvette clubs socially not just just be driving by yourself.

I was pretty impressed with the Cameron Park Corvette Club that Tom mentioned. They DO have activities in all the months it seems.

 

[Z51Stingray]

Suzy, I drive my Vette everyday rain or shine, it will clean up! I need to invest in some all season tires before winter. I like how GM has the driving select mode, W-weather, E-economy, T-touring, S-sport, Tr-track. Now there are some Vette owners out there they will never let a drop of rain touch their Corvette, and that is cool by me. I want to test all of my C7s capabilities, I still need to drive a road course. GM could have offered two different options: W-weather or G-garage.

SF
Rick

It would actually be nice to have the option when you order your car to have all weather tires instead of summer only tires.

 

[blakebird]

I live at 6,100 ft in Colorado....and we enjoy quite a few sunny days in the winter along the front range.
I'll drive on those days, but have a 4wd truck for seriously inclement weather.

A few years ago I had an '05 GTO (w/ 400hp LS2 6spd Corvette drivetrain) - as my only car.
I have a 6 mile commute, and go in early....so on snow days I drove it. Had to.

Pretty much drop it in 3rd gear and idle all the way to the office.... Starts, stops, and corners were interesting, but at the hour I go in there was very little if any traffic.
One winter we had 18" of snow every 8 days and the GTO was undriveable for the month of December - ended up selling it and buying a Jeep.
Glad I have a 4wd vehicle this time

 

[Geo Vette]

Need option for a daily driver.
Drive mine everyday rain or shine.
Even in winter where it might get to
40 degrees and summer at 103.