Laura tames the Cat...

[Al N.]

Tonight I did something crazy. Crazier than trying to co-organize the Dragon meet. Crazier than a Cosworth head swap on a 200 HP Superlight R.

 

Tonight I sat in the passenger seat of my car — while my wife drove it.

 

Believe it or not, today is the first time in the 2 years and roughly 3000 miles we've had the car that she's driven it. She's never shown much interest, perhaps due to my rants about getting hit in the face with pebbles or blown hoses (Raceline water rails for everyone!) or how scary fast it is that I can't even bring myself to wide open throttle it. Keep in mind that Laura learned to drive a stick as a teen (probably before I did) and was the only person among myself, my brother, and his wife to successfully drift a full 360 on the wet skidpad when we all went to Skip Barber many years ago.

 

Inspired by the sight of Erin V. at the wheel on the Dragon non-parade, Laura started talking about driving the car from the moment we left Robbinsville. And so, with our kids up at my folks for the week for summer camp, we made a date to go out on roads she was familiar with (she declined my offer down at Deal's Gap). We ran down to the local ice cream joint. And we both lived to tell.

 

Since it was her first time, she didn't really wind it out much. I did notice that she shifted a bit too slowly, not used to how the revs fall off so quickly compared to the TT, so the first few miles were a little rough. But she got the hang of it and even seemed to enjoy herself. To her credit, the one time that she put it into first instead of third (), her speed and reaction time was such that she didn't over rev the motor....

 

I'm looking forward to more drives in the passenger seat. Perhaps we'll have enough significant others interested in driving to have an "estrogen run" (Erin V's words, not mine) at the next national meet.

[solder_guy]

Go Laura Go! Al you might have to install an "oh my god" bar in the passenger side dash.

 

Rob

 

[slngsht]

:hurray:

 

I will share this with Gail... she has a bit of a lead foot though

[JohnCh]

Ever since my wife attended a drivers’ skills day with the Porsche club, she has been all over me to drive the Westfield. While I was out of town last week on business, she even took the 993 out a couple of times to “exercise it” for me. I have to find a better place to hide the keys…

 

I can't even bring myself to wide open throttle it

Then why are you contemplating a head upgrade?

 

-John

[Donnie]

You go girl. Corky wouldn't even ride in my Frog Eye Sprite. She rode in the Seven once before 7-7-7, around our subdivision (30 MPH max). She kept saying "Slow down for the next corner, OK". She did one of the 7-7-7 tours on Saturday and, although she didn't complain (much) I know she didn't enjoy it. In her defense, I don't know if I would be comfortable in a Seven at speed with someone else in control. Come to think of it, I should be nervous with me in control. Don Freeman

[BusaLoco]

I love my Wendy to bits, but she will NEVER drive our SR7!...In fact she is terrified of even riding in it!

When I finished building the car I took her for a spin around the neighborhood.

All she could do was scream "SLOW DOWN", "YOU'RE GOING TOO FAST" and "WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE"!

We were going 15 miles an hour!

After several more outings Wendy is much more at "home" with the 7 now, but by her own admission she says that she feels safer as a passenger than a "would be" driver.

 

Cheers!

Jim Gould